Chapter 189

Seeing Mu Yi treasure the wilderness relic so much, Kabe Sinya fell into thought, seeming to understand how to sway him.

Translation: "Seeing Mu Yi cherish the wilderness secret treasure so much, Kabe·Xinya fell into thought, she seemed to understand how to manipulate Mu Yi."

Check: "fell into thought / seemed thoughtful" = fell into thought / seemed thoughtful. "she seemed to understand how to drive Mu Yi" = she seemed to understand how to drive Mu Yi. We'll keep.

After all, she's the merchant guild's young lady; using profit to motivate someone is no trouble for her, given her background.

Translation: "After all, she is a lady of the merchant guild; using profit to drive a person, for her it is nothing difficult through constant exposure."

After all, she is the young lady of the merchant guild; using profit to drive a person is nothing difficult for her, given her constant exposure.

"A wilderness treasure?" Kabe Sinya's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Translation: "\"Wilderness secret treasure? \" A gleam of sharp light flashed in Kabe·Xinya's eyes."

But upon seeing her uncle rush over, Kabe Sinya could only hold back her thoughts for now and keep up the act of a caged canary.

Translation: "However, seeing her uncle run over, Kabe·Xinya could only temporarily suppress her thoughts, continuing to play the role of a caged canary."

Mu Yi gave Kabe Sinya a look; his intuition told him things were getting more complicated.

Translation: "Mu Yi glanced at Kabe·Xinya; according to his intuition, the situation seemed to become more troublesome."

"Honorable Lord Mu Yi, our scouts found a non‑human tribe ahead, dangerously close to the caravan's route; please help—detouring would be far too risky for us!" Bisol said, wearing a grim expression.

Translation: "\"Esteemed Lord Mu Yi, our scouts discovered a non-human tribe ahead, too close to the merchant convoy's planned route; please lend your aid, for detouring would be far too dangerous for us! \" Bisoer said with a bitter face."

They had already scouted this route, but now a newly moved‑in non‑human tribe has appeared out of nowhere—whether coincidence or plot, for safety he had to seek the aid of the mighty Mu Yi.

Translation: "This route was clearly surveyed by them in advance, yet now a newly relocated non-human tribe has appeared; heaven knows whether it's coincidence or conspiracy, for safety's sake he had to come beg this great deity Mu Yi for help."

It's not that the team lacks other Sun‑rank masters, but Mu Yi's price is unquestionably the lowest among them.

Translation: "It's not that there are no other Sunrise-level experts in the team, but compared to others, Mu Yi's price for action is undoubtedly the lowest."

"Old rule: one wilderness relic!"

Translation: "\"As per the old rule, one wilderness secret treasure! \""

"No thanks, I'll scout it out first!" Mu Yi turned down Bisol's suggestion.

Translation: "\"No need, I'll go check the situation first! \" Mu Yi refused Bisoer's proposal."

Mu Yi didn't care either—whether it was done via some wilderness relic or a hidden miracle, to him it was enough to exterminate the man‑eating non‑humans.

Translation: "Mu Yi also didn't care; whether it was achieved through some wilderness secret treasure or some miracle hidden behind it, to him, man-eating non-humans just needed to be wiped out."

Mu Yi bellowed, triggering his "swift as wind" ability, which surged the thousand‑strong unit's speed as he charged into the hyena‑folk's formation like a gust.

Translation: "Mu Yi let out a loud shout; the effect of 'swift as wind' activated, the Thousand-man Squad's speed suddenly surged, like wind following Mu Yi as he charged into the jackal people's formation."

"Cao Ming, form ranks!" Mu Yi drew his spear, leapt onto the Azure‑Water Golden‑Eye Beast, and prepared to strike first.

Translation: "\"Cao Ming! Form up! \" Mu Yi drew his spear, leapt onto the Azurewater Golden-eye Beast, and would take the lead in the attack."

Though we don't know what Mu Yi intends to do with these wilderness relics, everyone has their own secrets, and he has no desire to uncover theirs.

Translation: "Although no one knew what Mu Yi wanted these wilderness secret treasures for, everyone had secrets, and he did not wish to pry into them."

The thousand troops flanked Mu Yi on both sides, forming a V‑formation, with Mu Yi as its keen point.

Translation: "The Thousand-man Squad closely followed on both sides of Mu Yi, together forming a V shape, with Mu Yi being the sharpest tip of that V."

The hyena‑folk carried rough shields, yet those shields were useless against the flame‑forged spears.

Translation: "The jackal people held crude shields, but these shields were useless against the flame-forged javelins."

The thousand troops lifted their arms and flung flame‑forged spears one after another.

Translation: "The Thousand-man Squad raised their arms high and hurled spear after spear made of flame."

"Kill!"

Translation: "\"Kill! \""

"Spear throw!"

Translation: "\"Throw spears! \""

On impact, the javelins exploded, scattering flames that set ablaze nearly half of the hyena‑folk in an instant.

Translation: "These javelins, upon hitting their targets, rapidly burst open, spreading outward and igniting more than half of the jackal people in an instant."

A non‑human tribe is an ideal inaugural foe for the new legion.

Translation: "A non-human tribe makes a perfect first opponent for the new legion."

As a merchant, he cares only for profit; knowing too many secrets is never advantageous.

Translation: "As a merchant, he needs only profit; knowing too many secrets is not a good thing."

Mu Yi extended his hand, unleashing his domain and dragging every hyena‑person into a reincarnation barrier.

Translation: "Mu Yi reached out and directly unfolded his domain, pulling all the jackal people into the Reincarnation Barrier."

Can a mere mortal body really stop such an onslaught?

Translation: "Can a flesh-and-blood body really withstand such a charge?"

When the enemy hyena‑tribe howled and charged at Mu Yi's group, their loosely ordered formation instantly disintegrated into chaos.

Translation: "Upon discovering the enemy jackal people's tribe howling and charging at Mu Yi and his group, their originally somewhat orderly formation instantly collapsed into a loose sand."

"Deal, I'll round up the troops for you right away!"

Translation: "\"Deal, I'll go gather manpower for you right away! \""

For a non‑human tribe that has always been ignorant of intelligence, this is utterly beyond imagination.

Translation: "For a non-human tribe that has remained ignorant in intelligence, this is simply unimaginable."

As the hyena‑folk closed in, Mu Yi swung his spear and gave the attack command.

Translation: "At the moment the jackal people drew near, Mu Yi waved his spear and issued the attack order."

Mu Yi arrived at the non‑human tribe by traveling the route the scout had described.

Translation: "Mu Yi reached the non-human tribe along the road indicated by the scouts."

Thus its market price is far below that of a normal wilderness relic, giving him leeway; he saved money, Mu Yi secured the relic—a pure win‑win.

Translation: "Thus, on the market its price was far below that of a normal wilderness secret treasure, which also gave him room to maneuver; he saved money, Mu Yi obtained the wilderness secret treasure—a complete win-win."

Bisol could only be glad that Mu Yi sought only a wilderness relic, not anything else; though such relics are precious, their powers vary in rank.

Translation: "Bisoer could only be relieved that Mu Yi needed only the wilderness secret treasure, nothing else; although the wilderness secret treasure is precious, its efficacy varies in grades."

A handful of spears striking the Azure‑Water Golden‑Eye Beast were instantly warped and detonated; the hyena‑folk gripping those spears suffered a horrific fate as the fragments tore into their bodies, and before they could even cry out, the beast trampled them with unstoppable force.

Translation: "A few spears striking the Azurewater Golden-eye Beast instantly exploded under twisted force; the jackal people clutching spears met a gruesome fate, the shards piercing their bodies, and before they could even wail, the Azurewater Golden-eye Beast crushed them with unstoppable force."

"Thud‑thud‑thud!" A deep, muffled noise echoed, sounding a mournful horn.

Translation: "\"Thud-thud-thud! \" A dull sound rang out, triggering a mournful horn."

Under Cao Ming's command, the thousand troops took up a mandarin‑duck formation as mist rose and then wrapped around them.

Translation: "Under Cao Ming's leadership, the Thousand-man Squad assumed the Yuan Yang Formation; cloud energy rose up and then enveloped the soldiers."

What truly astonished Mu Yi was that the hyena‑folk seemed to have had military training; their tactics were clear, with patrol units and hidden sentries surrounding the tribe.

Translation: "But what truly surprised Mu Yi was that these jackal people seemed to have undergone military training; their tactics were clearly discernible, with patrol squads and sentries around the tribe."

Mu Yi watched the tribe curiously, but upon seeing human bodies strung up in the camp with obvious bite marks, his killing intent flared uncontrollably.

Translation: "Mu Yi observed the tribe with interest, but when he saw the human corpses hung in the camp bearing obvious bite marks, his killing intent could not be contained."

"Reincarnation barrier!"

Translation: "\"Reincarnation Barrier! \""

The leading hyena‑folk panicked, but before they could form another thought, the Azure‑Water Golden‑Eye Beast had already charged straight at them.

Translation: "The jackal people at the forefront panicked, but before they could think further, the Azurewater Golden-eye Beast had already charged to the front."

Some hyena‑folk were hurled several meters; even before their sunken chests struck the ground, their twisted bodies already showed they were dead.

Translation: "Some jackal people were even flung several meters away; before their sunken chests could hit the ground, their twisted bodies already proved their death."

After listening to Bisol's demand, Mu Yi held up a finger—this was also their second pact: he would charge one wilderness relic per engagement.

Translation: "After hearing Bisoer's request, Mu Yi extended a finger; this was also the second agreement they had reached, each engagement costing one wilderness secret treasure."

It's just like the ring he once gave Mu Yi—the lowest‑grade wilderness relic, showy but practically worthless.

Translation: "Just like the ring he previously gave Mu Yi, it is the lowest grade of wilderness secret treasure, its functions flashy but ultimately useless."

Over this hundred‑pace stretch, the Azure‑Water Golden‑Eye Beast thundered forward with heavy strides, like a mudslide bearing down; each hooffall felt as if it were crushing the hyena‑folk's hearts.

Translation: "Within this hundred-pace distance, the Azurewater Golden-eye Beast advanced with heavy steps at high speed, like a mudslide descending head-on; each hooffall felt as if stepping on the jackal people's hearts."

A hyena‑folk tribe with more than eight hundred members is already a sizable group.

Translation: "A jackal people tribe numbering over eight hundred is already considered quite large."

"Charge!"

Translation: "\"Charge! \""

"Hearing is deceiving; seeing is believing!"

Translation: "\"What you hear is false, what you see is true! \""

The dense formation moved forward slowly but steadily; Asura warriors donned Asura armor, appearing on the troops, and the blazing karmic fire condensed into spears in their grasp.

Translation: "The heavy formation advanced at a slow yet steady pace; Asura Warriors manifested asura armor on these soldiers, and the burning karmic fire condensed into a spear appearing in their hands."

But attempting this before Mu Yi, a seasoned commander, is surely just showing off before an expert.

Translation: "However, trying this before Mu Yi, a Military Strategist officer, is undoubtedly showing off one's skills before a master."

The frightened hyena‑folk quickly mustered; though disordered, a formation was visible, already resembling the early shape of an army.

Translation: "Panicked jackal people began to gather immediately; though chaotic, a formation could be seen, already amounting to the embryo of an army."

Mu Yi aimed his spear at the hyena‑folk, squeezed his legs, and the Azure‑Water Golden‑Eye Beast began to move forward with its heavy tread.

Translation: "Mu Yi pointed his spear at the jackal people, clamped his legs, and the Azurewater Golden-eye Beast began to advance with heavy steps."

Some hyena‑folk attempted to brace spears together to resist the charge—a standard infantry anti‑cavalry move—but the strength gap was so vast that even this classic tactic proved as flimsy as paper.

Translation: "Some jackal people tried to pool together to erect spears to resist the charge, a standard infantry anti-cavalry tactic, but the disparity in strength was too great; even this classic tactic was as fragile as paper."

The beast's charge toppled a large swath of hyena‑folk, tearing a huge hole in their line; the troops on the sides flooded in, and hand‑to‑hand fighting erupted.

Translation: "The behemoth's charge knocked down a vast swath of jackal people, leaving a huge gap in their lines; the flanking troops surged in, and face-to-face melee had already begun."

But the fighting had scarcely begun before it was over; the hyena‑folk could not resist the commander's elite troops slicing through, their formation shattered in one blow as if fate had sealed it.

Translation: "Yet the melee had barely begun before it ended; the jackal people could not withstand this fierce general leading elite troops in a penetrating split tactic, their formation pierced in one go as if by fate."

"Huh?"

Translation: "\"Huh? \""

In the midst of the battle's chaos, Mu Yi felt a magical ripple; tracing it, he spotted a hyena‑person holding a staff, radiating clear magical power.

Translation: "Amid the chaotic battlefield, Mu Yi sensed a magical fluctuation; following it, he saw a jackal person gripping a staff, emitting obvious magical undulations."

Without hesitation, Mu Yi nocked his bow; the chief aim of this fight was still to drill the troops, so he held back, simply setting an example to raise morale and let the soldiers sense the spread of elite prowess.

Translation: "Mu Yi without hesitation drew his bow; the main purpose of this battle was still to temper the soldiers, so he exerted little force, merely leading by example to raise morale while guiding the soldiers' will to feel the spread of Elite Talent."

In melee, the Asura‑forged armor absorbed the blows, killing the Asura warriors while the rank‑and‑file suffered only light wounds—yet a magical strike could be fatal.

Translation: "In close combat, the Asura-forged armor took the damage instead; the Asura Warriors died, while the soldiers themselves at most suffered minor injuries, but if struck by magic they could die."

He fired an arrow straight off; it was blocked by a guard next to the hyena‑person, but it detonated, its anti‑magic effect instantly shattering the hyena‑person's spell and causing the runaway magic to explode.

Translation: "He loosed an arrow straight away; the arrow was blocked by the jackal person's guard, but it exploded, its anti-magic effect instantly dismantling the jackal person's spell, the runaway magic instantly bursting apart."

Like an exploding powder keg, orange‑red flames burst forth from the hyena‑person mage's spot.

Translation: "Like a powder keg detonating, orange-red flames burst directly from the jackal mage's position."

The hyena‑folk nearby instantly turned to charcoal; those slick with flame reeked of burnt grease, and their desperate, anguished cries sounded like the wails of demons from the abyss.

Translation: "The jackal people nearby instantly turned to charcoal; those smeared with flame gave off a piercing stench of burnt fat, their desperate wails like the howls of abyssal demons."

"It's actually still a high-level spell?"

Mu Yi was somewhat surprised; judging by the destructive power of this spell, the jackal-people mage's level is not low. If it really fell on our own soldiers, it could easily kill over ten people.

How could a native tribe produce a jackal-people mage capable of using such high-level magic?

Driven by curiosity, Mu Yi easily wiped out the blocking jackal-people; the Asura Armor extending from his Iron-blooded Slaughter LV5 glowed with a crimson light.

Where the jackal-people mage exploded, his staff remained intact; Mu Yi picked it up and discovered it was also a wilderness secret treasure.

Karmic Fire Staff

Category: Curio

Effect: Amplifies fire spell effects, stores spell — Blazing Fireball, usable once per day.

Mu Yi tossed the staff into his pack; this wilderness secret treasure of the public secret realm is far more interesting than he imagined — if he gathered a bunch of such treasures, he might even be able to create a monster.

I've heard that those top-tier fighters, besides being strong themselves, also possess the highest-grade wilderness secret treasures, though I don't know what their effects are.

The jackal-people had already begun to scatter and flee; the shattered corpses and mournful howls had long since scattered their sanity, and fear eroded their minds.

The harsh, barren survival environment had long accustomed them to facing death's threat, yet confronted with a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood like a slaughterhouse, even life‑indifferent exotic beings felt an uncontrollable chill.

The enemies' eyes were blood‑thirsty and fervent; they felt like prey stared down by a tiger, able only to lie on the ground and tremble.

The thousand‑man squad kept its small‑team formation and fiercely pursued the enemies; upon encountering a lone jackal‑person, they howled like hounds seeing fresh meat and swarmed forward, tearing the jackal‑person to pieces.

After the last jackal‑person was chopped to bits, the slaughter drew to a close. Gazing at the thousand‑man squad, exhausted from battle yet spiritedly different, Mu Yi nodded — war truly is the most convenient means of drilling troops.

Mental tension or excitement makes stamina drain quickly; combat actually tires people more easily than any heavy labor, so even those with a level‑10 foundation are basically listless after a fight.

Nevertheless, under Mu Yi's strict orders, they still gathered despite their fatigue.

Only Cao Ming and Li Xian were able to move freely.

"How are the casualties?"

Mu Yi sent all the jackal‑people's corpses into the Hell Path for recycling, while their souls had long been locked away and suppressed in the Hungry Ghost Path.

"One hundred and eight injured, three seriously wounded; everyone is receiving fire‑cleansing treatment, and not a single one died in battle!"

Mu Yi shook his head; still too weak. Even in this nearly one‑sided battle, with Asura warriors blocking blades, there were still so many wounded.

But the results are not bad; he already sensed the Iron‑blooded Slaughter ripple in over half the men, and after another bout they should all achieve Dual Elite Talent.

Mu Yi extended his hand, offering the pure power generated after the Hell Path burned the jackal‑people to nothing, using the Fivefold Offering, to the weary soldiers.

Pure war is naturally meaningless; war is never the goal — the goal is always the gains war brings, not just wealth but also increased strength.

Although the pure power refined once by the Hell Path is far less than the original massive amount, its purity makes it easier for the soldiers to digest, so it isn't wasted.

Before they awaken the Elite Talent of the Fivefold Offering, this method is more suited to their growth.

The originally weary soldiers, at the instant the pure power poured in, clearly felt strength rising from their exhausted bodies, gradually filling their empty frames.

Roughly speaking, each person's strength increased by about ten percent — seemingly minor, but enough to keep their enthusiasm for war.

One must establish a belief for war; growing stronger is a fine belief. Holding fast to the original resolve to grow stronger lets them keep the right mindset toward war.

A strong belief can make these soldiers' future will more resolute, promoting a virtuous cycle of strength growth.

After all, judging from Mu Yi's current outlook on the future, war will basically be unavoidable, and could even become everyday fare.

After breaking out of the barrier, Mu Yi spread his senses outward, wanting to see if there was anything good in the jackal-people's tribe.

Anyway, the jackal-people are all dead, so these possessions naturally became Mu Yi's spoils of war.

But obviously, what good stuff could there be in a native exotic tribe?

Being able to seize even a single wilderness secret treasure from the jackal-people mage is already the limit.

Mu Yi returned to the convoy and had Bi Suoer clean the battlefield; gathering loot is better left to professionals.

Bi Suoer works quickly, handling affairs with near‑thunderous efficiency; after tallying the loot, he bought it all with a check and loaded it onto the convoy wagon — more lice don't itch, and earning a little extra is still a gain.

Mu Yi slipped the check into his pack; according to his market knowledge, it's worth only about a tenth of a wilderness secret treasure — truly pitifully poor.

"I think we can also make a deal!" Ka Bei·Xin Ya appeared before Mu Yi without changing expression after Bi Suoer left.

"I know a place that stores a large number of wilderness secret treasures; if you're willing to trade with me, I can tell you where it is!"

Ka Bei·Xin Ya smiled faintly and laid out her terms.

"You're not…?" Mu Yi had thought Ka Bei·Xin Ya was just trying to trick him into helping her escape a marriage, but suddenly a message flashed across his retina, making him raise an eyebrow.

"Accept mission: Yearning for Freedom 2 — Frost Winter's Treasure!"

Mission: Yearning for Freedom 2 — Frost Winter's Treasure

Mission Recommended Level: 15

Mission Difficulty: Epic

Mission Reward: Hidden location of wilderness secret treasures (quantity unknown), Frost Winter Tribe reputation, Ka Bei·Xin Ya's friendship.

Mission Requirements: Unknown, requires completing the prerequisite mission Yearning for Freedom.

"Deal!" Mu Yi thought it over and chose to accept.

Since there's no conflict, there's no harm in giving it a try.