Chapter 551

"It will end in three days? So soon?"

Xu Jingming was somewhat surprised, followed by waves of heartache.

These were all Ability Points!

He hadn't expected that in just the first wave of attacks, a full 30,000 had died!

"This isn't considered fast."

Su Su Qingli shook her head and said softly:

"The casualty statistics for our side have also been tallied.

2,134 killed in action, 1,213 seriously injured, and 3,215 lightly injured.

Seriously injured Awakened need at least two or three days to fully recover before they can rejoin the battlefield.

In other words, just from this first wave of attacks, we have lost over 3,000 in combat power.

The total number of Awakened in Zhen'an City is only 40,000.

If the fighting lasts any longer, we will need to request reinforcements."

Awakened are already rare; out of the Great Xia's 2 billion population, the vast majority are just Awakened.

There are likely fewer than 10 million Awakened at Rank 1 or higher.

Most of them are active in the wilderness areas; only official legions and large societies stay on the front-line battlefields to fight.

If it weren't for mandatory conscription, they wouldn't have come at all.

And the current state of the war is far from reaching the point where ordinary Awakened need to be forcibly conscripted.

"I see." Xu Jingming understood.

In his past life, once a war started, it would almost always last for months.

But the lethality of Awakened and fierce beasts is simply too great; the speed of casualties once the fighting starts is far faster than in his past life.

"Besides, the fierce beasts won't fight us to the end either."

Su Su Qingli added, "For the fierce beasts, this war is just equivalent to a cruel, bloody elimination.

When the number of fierce beasts has been culled enough, the Flame Dragon Emperor will withdraw its troops.

According to past experience, when the 160,000-strong fierce beast army is reduced to about 40,000, the Flame Dragon Emperor will retreat."

"Bloody elimination?"

Xu Jingming was stunned; this was the first time he had heard such a theory.

"For us humans, fierce beasts are treasures from head to toe.

Fierce beast hide is the raw material for making combat suits, and their flesh and blood are also rare and valuable things.

Some high-rank rare fierce beasts have essence blood that belongs to the SS-level resource category.

Even the skeletons of certain fierce beasts possess incredible power.

For example, that piece of space beast bone your teacher Ling Shuang lent you.

Correspondingly, the flesh and blood of human Awakened are also highly nourishing for fierce beasts.

Devouring the flesh and blood of human Awakened allows fierce beasts to break through to higher ranks more effectively than devouring their own kind.

Therefore, the Flame Dragon Emperor's main purpose in launching the war is to eliminate a batch of low-rank fierce beasts.

The remaining fierce beasts, having devoured the flesh and blood of human Awakened,

have a higher probability of advancement, greater potential, and stronger combat power, making them qualified to be taken back."

Su Su Qingli sat on the sofa and explained.

Her long, slender right leg, tightly wrapped in a dark cyan combat suit, was casually crossed over the knee of her other leg, accentuating the taut curves of her beautiful legs.

With this explanation, Xu Jingming finally understood completely.

Indeed, the world of fierce beasts is far more cruel than that of humans.

Only the powerful individuals who survive on the battlefield can advance further.

"By the way, Teacher Su, after killing a fierce beast on the battlefield, can we take the corpse away ourselves?" Xu Jingming asked.

"Are you planning to kill that Azure Void Thunder Bird?" Su Su Qingli asked curiously.

"I want to try." Xu Jingming did not hide it.

The Azure Void Thunder Bird is a Rank 7 mid-tier fierce beast; its flesh, blood, and feathers are all treasures.

If he could take the corpse away after killing it, it would count as a decent income.

"Not bad, an Awakened should have such an indomitable spirit."

Su Su Qingli showed appreciation and said softly:

"Fierce beast corpses are uniformly recovered and processed by the military; soldiers cannot claim them individually.

However, that applies to ordinary soldiers; for members of your vanguard team,

the fierce beasts you kill are considered your own spoils of war, and you can just take them away."

The battle merits obtained after killing fierce beasts are actually equivalent to the soldiers' rewards.

But since the members of the vanguard team are all Rank 7 Masters, their benefits naturally have to be better.

"Understood." Xu Jingming nodded.

The only pity is that the power of his Doushen Doushen Shenlei is too great.

Fierce beasts below Rank 5 are directly obliterated, so he can only collect the corpses of fierce beasts Rank 5 and above...

Seeing that Xu Jingming not only had no discomfort on his first time on the battlefield but had instead broken through to Rank 6,

Su Su Qingli was completely relieved, chatted for a while longer, and then left with peace of mind.

Not long after she left, the specially prepared nutritional meal arrived.

After breaking through to Rank 6, the fatigue Xu Jingming felt after the fierce battle was greatly reduced.

After finishing the nutritional meal, his condition was almost restored to its peak!

As soon as he returned to his room, he hurried to recharge his depleted Lei Lei Jitai.

But unfortunately, six hours later,

before he had time to inject his ability for the third time, the war horn sounded again.

"Roar—"

"Awoo—"

"......"

It was already nine o'clock at night, and the wind was high and the night was dark.

Yet outside Zhen'an City, a dense patch of 'red lanterns' lit up.

Those were the scarlet eyes of the fierce beasts!

Such a scene, coupled with the densely sounding, brutal roars of the fierce beasts,

would likely require no small amount of courage for an Awakened who had not been baptized by war to even stand on this city wall.

"Jingming, be careful later; the Rank 8 fierce beasts have likely already noticed your existence.

It's hard to say if they won't give you another hit during the battle later.

Your protective talisman has already been used; once you fail to dodge, you will be instantly killed."

On the thirty-meter-high city wall, Zhou Yan, captain of the Fourth Vanguard Team, warned earnestly.

Fierce beasts are not stupid.

Xu Jingming, a Rank 5 Awakened, was actually able to hold his own against a Rank 7 mid-tier fierce beast.

The fierce beasts would easily realize that this was a super genius among humans and would try every means to target him.

"Don't worry, my protective talisman can still be used." Xu Jingming grinned.

He had two protective talismans on him, both in the style of bracelets.

One was a peak Rank 8 gift from Su Su Qingli, and the other was an ordinary Rank 8 gift from Ling Shuang.

The former could be used repeatedly, while the latter was a one-time consumable.

With both combined, it could be said that unless the Flame Dragon Emperor took action personally, there was no possibility of life-threatening danger.

And even if the Flame Dragon Emperor disregarded martial virtue and attacked wantonly, Su Su Qingli and the others would also join the battle.

"Hm? This isn't a one-time protective talisman?" Zhou Yan was shocked.

The surrounding people like Sha Ke also looked over, casting envious glances.

One-time Rank 8 protective talismans were already very rare, but he hadn't expected Xu Jingming to possess the kind that could be used repeatedly!

"As expected of the beloved disciple of the Rank 9 Wu Sheng Master Su; these safety measures are too comprehensive."

Zhou Yan couldn't help but sigh, his expression full of envy.

Su Su Qingli could be said to be the youngest Rank 9 Fa Sheng in the entire Great Xia.

And since this was her first time taking on a disciple, naturally, she threw every good thing she had at Xu Jingming.