Chapter 3666: Recruitment

The elevator slowly ascended. After about half a minute, the elevator shook slightly, and the guard in front pulled open the metal bars, indicating that Su Xiao could leave this place.

Walking up the stairs, Su Xiao finally walked out from the open door. Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baja followed closely behind.

The sound of rushing torrents came through the thick pipe walls, and a damp, moldy smell permeated the air. Looking around, in front was a drainage ditch a hundred meters wide, surrounded by dense, intersecting metal pipes covered in iron-red rust. At the bottom of the huge black water tower high above, huge metal fan blades of unknown purpose rotated slowly.

Metal, heavy, huge—it was like coming to the land of giants. This was the first impression given by Beastman architecture. Although it looked rough and backward on the outside, it actually contained quite a bit of black technology. It was just not as flashy and gorgeous as the technology side; it was absolute pragmatism.

Several young orcs were playing on the metal pipes high above. From their agility, which rivaled that of a child Spider-Man, one could imagine how naturally gifted the Beast race was in combat. Looking at the large, slight indentations on the massive water tower, it was clear these rowdy kids were responsible for them.

After a loud shout from the administrator, who had goat horns, wore bottle-bottom glasses, and wore water-fork pants, the bear children on the high pipes ran away laughing.

Following the steel bridge, Su Xiao headed toward the central street district. After leaving the remote far west district, he saw bus trains on the street, as well as passing Beastmen. Interestingly, some Beastmen were less than a meter tall, while others were over ten meters tall. The airships high above even had food advertisements printed on them.

Su Xiao took a money bag out of the backpack on Amu's back. After opening it, there were coins of three textures. Compared to coins, the circulation of paper money was equally widespread.

This currency issued by the Beastmen had value, but compared to Soul Coins, it was not very good. In this world, whether it was the Beastmen faction, the Sea Race faction, or the tribal faction, even some small and medium-sized factions, they all welcomed Soul Coins as a transaction method.

After waiting for a while at the bus train station, a bus train stopped. After paying the fare and boarding, Su Xiao began to observe the station map on the wall. The place he was currently in was the main city of the Beastmen: Eternal Ring City.

This main city was divided into over 190 city districts, and each city district was very vast, or rather, the scale of a single city district was the royal capital specification in other worlds.

The sizzling sound of oil frying and the aroma drifted over. Su Xiao looked over at the sound and discovered that it was a small snack similar to fried meatballs being cooked in the dining counter in front of the bus train. A moment later, Su Xiao, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baja sat in a row on the window-side seats, all holding a few skewers of fried meatballs, their chewing movements somewhat synchronized.

Su Xiao's purpose this time was naturally not to sightsee the main city. He was going to the 70th city district, where there was a teleportation tower that could go directly from the main city to Iron Fortress City. Iron Fortress City was a city very close to the war zone, and one could reach the "Ancient Ruins" adjacent to the "Main Battlefield" through there. At the current stage, the Beastmen occupied the "Ancient Ruins."

The main battlefield of the Beastmen and Sea Race was adjacent to the "Ancient Ruins" in the west, leaned against the "Crystal Forest" in the east, the south side was "White Hoof Port," and the north side was the Sea Race's landmark building, "Ancestor Lighthouse."

First, talk about the "Ancient Ruins." The depths here were still an Abyss erosion zone. If it were another world, this place would have been sealed off long ago. But the Star Fall Continent was a Transcendent-Native World that had experienced a "Direct-facing" influx of the Abyss, so it could still control this "Residual" erosion zone.

The Abyss erosion zone in the depths of the "Ancient Ruins" could form or grow quite a few extraordinary resources in a cycle of about ten-plus years. Although its value could not compare to the "Luxuriant Star" of the Arcane Eternal Star, the resource output was about one-tenth of the "Luxuriant Star."

Not only the "Ancient Ruins," but the east side of the main battlefield was also a resource treasure land. Both the Beastmen and the Sea Race had technology using active crystals as energy. Therefore, the crystal stalactites growing in the "Crystal Forest," as long as they were picked and waited for their crystal quality to harden, were natural energy sources.

It was even the case that some Sea Race tribes with mass-production capabilities could catalyze the growth speed of lower-level individuals by relying on such crystals with biological energy characteristics. That kind of Sea Race tribe could be completely seen as a simplified version of the Zerg.

At the current stage, the Beastmen were occupying the "Ancient Ruins," while the Sea Race was occupying the "Crystal Forest." It was clear that the Sea Race had more advantages. After all, they had obtained strong reinforcements from the Arcane Eternal Star not long ago.

In Su Xiao's view, wanting to retake the "Crystal Forest" with his own strength was unlikely. There were over 30 legions of the Sea Race there. Calculated by the Beastman legion establishment of 500,000 Beastmen per legion, the defensive strength of the Sea Race stationed in the "Crystal Forest" would reach over the ten-million level. This did not even count the reinforcements from the "Main Battlefield" and "White Hoof Port."

Wanting to move the "Crystal Forest," at the very least, one had to have a fief, thereby organizing five legions with the Beastman warriors on the fief, and adding the effect of the War Lord title, to have a certain possibility of retaking the "Crystal Forest." Of course, once successful in retaking the "Crystal Forest," that would be a massive amount of faction reputation acquisition.

Everything is difficult at the beginning. Su Xiao was in this situation now. Fortunately, he already had a countermeasure. Since he currently had neither a fief nor a Beastman legion, he would take the elite route by relying on the Sun Lord title promoted to eight stars.

【Sun Lord】

Origin: Reincarnation Paradise

Quality: ★★★★★★★★

Category: Title: Rare

Basic Effect: Because the title wearer's own strength exceeds the upper limit (far exceeding elite-level units), this title will not bring you bonuses.

Title Effect: Sun Protection (Passive), all elite units under the Hunter's command will trigger the following bonus effects when the quantity reaches 10, 20, 50, 80, and 100, and the following bonus effects can be stacked.

1. All real attributes +20 points (10 elite units can trigger this effect).

2. All ability levels increased by Lv. 18 (20 elite units can trigger this effect).

3. Elite unit loyalty increased by 70 points (this is to forcibly "reverse" the subconscious cognition of elite units with Sun Power; 50 elite units can trigger this effect).

4. When under the illumination of the sun, all elite units will obtain the "Sunshine Nourishment" effect (80 elite units can trigger this effect).

Sunshine Nourishment: Restore 1% of maximum health per second.

Prompt: This ability only takes effect when under the illumination of the sun. You can crush a "Sun Stone" to temporarily create an environment rich in sun energy.

5. Elite units carry the "Fierce Sun" effect when attacking in melee/ranged (100 elite units can trigger this effect).

Fierce Sun Effect: Causes 320～470 points + 0.2%～15% of maximum health in real burn damage to the enemy (units with the Fierce Sun state, when attacking the enemy target for the first time, will cause 470 points + 0.2% of maximum health in real damage; subsequent attacks will cause the Fierce Sun mark on the enemy to stack one layer, and the maximum health damage suffered increases by 3%, stacking up to 15%).

Prompt: The Fierce Sun mark stacks up to five layers (this is full stack) and will exist for 60～9000 seconds (determined according to the current number of layers).

When the enemy is in the full "Fierce Sun Mark" state: all "melee" elite units on your side will carry 470 points + 15% of maximum health in real burn damage when attacking this enemy unit, and carry a knockback effect.

When the enemy is in the full "Fierce Sun Mark" state: all "ranged" elite units on your side will carry 320 points + 10% of maximum health in real burn damage when attacking this enemy unit, and carry a severe treatment containment effect.

Introduction: Praise the Sun.

Price: Cannot be sold.

……

From the perspective of real attribute improvement, the eight-star Sun Lord is 10 points lower than the eight-star War Lord, but the powerful point of the Sun Lord is not in this aspect.

Actually, the 20-point all-attribute bonus is already very powerful, not to mention the second bonus is all ability levels increased by Lv. 18. To make a simple metaphor, assuming a Beastman Chieftain has a passive ability of Lv. 62, that ability is at the Tier 7 level. But after being increased by Lv. 18, it directly reaches Lv. 80, which is a Tier 9 level passive ability.

Coupled with the fact that elite units are different from soldier units, a Tier 9 elite unit must at least have 7～8 types of abilities. If a Beastman Chieftain with 7 types of passive abilities gets the bonus of all ability levels increased by Lv. 18, the improvement in combat power will be quite shocking. Saying this is a big chieftain is no problem.

That is to say, as long as 30 elite units are recruited, the combat power of these 30 elite units will first reach the Chieftain level, and then due to all ability levels increased by Lv. 18, reach the Big Chieftain level.

The direct ranking is: Elite level < Chieftain level < Big Chieftain level < Small boss level < Leader level < Lord level < Overlord level.

If the "Sunshine Nourishment" and "Fierce Sun" bonus effects are obtained, then these hundred-plus Beastman elite units can reach the small boss level from the elite level. Just imagine what it would be like to lead a group of small bosses.

But this is not the final lineup. Don't forget Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's aura ability. In the past legion-flow, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang could not provide auras. There were too many friendly targets, and an aura was not a completely cost-free ability. Providing auras to too many friendly targets would make Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang quickly exhausted and drain his body energy. But providing auras to over a hundred elite units was still no problem, or rather, this was the most powerful point of an aura.

After the improvement of potential awakening time and time again, Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's current aura ability is:

"Aura Mastery (Passive, Lv. 60), constant level and range of all aura skills Xiang Bubu Teni has mastered. The level and range of all aura skills are based on this skill.

All aura skill levels: Lv. 60.

All aura skill ranges: 1090 meters.

All aura skill bonus attributes: Real Charisma attribute.

The mastered aura skills are as follows:

Ice Goddess's Gift Lv. 60: All friendly targets within the aura range restore 610 health and 56 mana per minute.

Spirit Gift Aura Lv. 60: Within the aura range, all friendly targets' maximum health is increased by 35%.

Awakening Aura Lv. 60: Within the aura range, all friendly targets' stamina recovery speed is increased by 40%.

Swift Aura Lv. 60: Within the aura range, all friendly targets' movement speed is increased by 20%."

……

That is to say, when the elite units under Su Xiao's command reach over a hundred, the total bonuses they can obtain are: "All real attributes +20 points," "All ability levels increased by Lv. 18," "Sunshine Nourishment," "Fierce Sun," "Ice Aura," "Maximum health increased by 35%," "Stamina recovery speed increased by 40%," "Movement speed increased by 20%."

These bonuses are enough to directly increase an elite-level unit to the combat power of a Leader-level unit.

Although Su Xiao is a Lord identity this time, his strength is definitely not just at the Lord level, but at the Overlord level. That is to say, when the Sun Lord bonus faction takes shape, it is an Overlord level leading a group of Leader-level units.

Is this an elite team? No, this is a boss team, and it is a boss team with a group of boss-level bosses. This is the power brought by the eight-star title Sun Lord combined with Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's aura ability.

After viewing the attributes of the Sun Lord title, Su Xiao's train of thought for slaying the spellcaster Absolute Strong was clear. As long as the boss team was successfully organized, this boss team was simply a killer of the strong. The combination of melee and ranged posed a great threat to the strong.

Of course, directly facing an "Absolute Strong" with the boss team would definitely not get any cheap deals. Although the boss team had the means to kill an "Absolute Strong," it would also be instantly killed by the Absolute Strong. The key was to look at the timing and terrain.

As long as the boss team was recruited, there was a way to solve the negative reputation problem. Su Xiao was not prepared to use the boss team to kill enemies on the main battlefield, not only because the risk was too high, but also because the return was not big enough.

The advantage of the boss team was that individual combat power was strong, and the action was flexible. Cooperating with Baja's ability to open interdimensional space for concealment, it could completely penetrate deep behind enemy lines. Whether it was "White Hoof Port" or "Ancestor Lighthouse," these were important areas for the Sea Race. Launching a surprise attack on these two key areas, coupled with killing Sea Race high-level officials, would definitely obtain a large amount of faction reputation.

As for where to find over a hundred Beastman elites or Beastman Chieftains, this was the reason Su Xiao was going to the 70th city district to go to Iron Fortress City via the teleportation tower there.

Iron Fortress City, as a large city near the front line that was the most chaotic, was mixed with fish and dragons, and there were many Beastman Chieftains. Normal Beastman Chieftains and Big Chieftains were unlikely to join Su Xiao's command. The reason was that although Su Xiao was a Lord, he had no fief. To put it bluntly, it felt like there was no future.

If Su Xiao had a fief, after a Beastman Big Chieftain joined his command, the other party's wife and children, and even all family members, would move to his fief and enjoy various treatments corresponding to the Big Chieftain's power position.

There was a slum in Iron Fortress City, where many Beastman elites who had committed mistakes and received punishment lived. These guys with bad records had skills, but no Lord was willing to employ them.

In the past, Su Xiao would not recruit such subordinates. This time was different. With the "Elite unit loyalty increased by 70 points" added by the Sun Lord, the scope of recruitment expanded all at once.

The scenery outside the bus train window flew by. Because the main city: Iron Fortress City was too large, there was a feeling of taking a long-distance train at this time. Looking at the wheat fields and the like outside the window, this feeling was even stronger. This was the 130th city district. Most of the fresh meat, fresh milk, etc., of the main city district were provided by several nearby city districts.

Half an hour later, the train stopped. A Beastman wearing a formal suit and a small round hat got on the train and walked toward Su Xiao in big strides.

"Lord, this is the thing you need."

The person handed over a small booklet and got off the train before the train door closed.

Su Xiao opened the booklet. On it were names, ages, genders, addresses, positions once held, etc. This item was a side gift from the transaction with Grand Commander Kane. In a place as large as the main city district, there must be Beastman elites who had once committed mistakes and were no longer employed.

This was the thing that had to be done before going to the 70th city district. Su Xiao excluded the names on the notes one by one, and soon, he found the Spotted Fox tribe named Pilu. This guy was once a finance officer, but he chose wrong in a critical choice and ended up in a bleak situation.

When the bus train arrived at the 35th city district, Su Xiao got off. According to the location recorded in the notes, he came to a small alley full of garbage and smelling of garbage bins.

Thump thump thump!

Amu knocked on the iron door covered in rust. After at least half a minute, a voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

Baja looked at the sewage that was almost full in the gutter and said: "Repairing the drainage pipes."

"You guys still know how to come? I've been waiting for... don't kill me, the money is all under the mattress."

Spotted Fox tribe Pilu said while retreating into the room. Seeing this, Amu moved the Dragon Heart Axe that was pressed against his neck away.

A moment later, Su Xiao and Spotted Fox tribe Pilu sat opposite each other at a small table in the room.

"I think highly of you. Work for me from now on."

Su Xiao spoke. Hearing this, the Spotted Fox tribe Pilu opposite him was full of hesitation. Clearly, the -17 points of Charisma attribute played a key role.

"This Lord, who are you?"

"A Lord without a fief."

"Lo... Lord?!"

Spotted Fox tribe Pilu's face showed astonishment, but then he felt worried. He probed and asked: "Lord, you are looking for me because?"

"……"

Su Xiao didn't speak. A crystal card similar to a Scarlet Card gathered in his hand. He placed it on the table. Baja on the side said: "Take this thing to Iron Fortress City. When you need to do things, someone will contact you."

After Baja left this sentence, he left with Su Xiao. When only Spotted Fox tribe Pilu was left in the dirty room, his thief-like eyes looked at the crystal card in his hand, then sneered and threw it into the drawer.

"Things that will cost my life, I won't do."

Spotted Fox tribe Pilu said with a laugh to himself, but after a while, he looked around the dirty room that was permeated with a faint strange smell, and his expression became silent. A moment later, he looked at the photo frame on the bedside cabinet. Through the cracks in the glass, he could still see the smiling faces of his wife and children, but all of this, after he lost his official position and was decadent and alcoholic at home, was pushed away by him time and time again. When he came back to his senses, there was no one around him. This actually couldn't be blamed on others.

"Tsk~"

Spotted Fox tribe Pilu looked at the crystal card in the drawer and hesitated again and again before picking it up. Perhaps no one would have thought that a guy who was obviously weak in combat but made the Sea Race hate him to the point of gnashing their teeth would appear.

……

42nd city district, Old Street, inside a tattoo shop.

Ding-ling~

The shop door was pushed open. Su Xiao walked into the tattoo shop. A faint smell of alcohol drifted over. He looked at the recliner and the workbench. The shop owner was not working. Judging from the panting sound from the back room, the shop owner was busy with other things.

Finally, the door of the back room was pushed open by a Rain Fox tribe member wearing eyeshadow. After counting the banknotes, she walked away with a graceful posture. Afterward, the person who walked out from the back room was a man who looked like a Human but had snake-like vertical pupils and gray-white hair. He was shirtless, and there were large areas of tattoo ink on his side abdomen, seemingly using this to cover up some kind of mark.

"This guest, what do you want to tattoo?"

The tattoo shop owner spoke enthusiastically with a smile. Su Xiao closed the tattoo booklet in his hand and threw it onto the workbench.

"Go to Iron Fortress City before tomorrow morning. Someone will contact you then."

Su Xiao placed the translucent blue crystal card on the workbench. Seeing this, the tattoo shop owner showed suspicion and asked: "This guest, I don't provide door-to-door service for tattoos."

"Oh, then you can spend the rest of your life here."

After saying this, Su Xiao walked toward the outside of the tattoo shop. He began to count silently in his heart: 3, 2, 1. Afterward, the other party would say, 'Guest, my price is very high.'

Just as Su Xiao pushed the shop door open and prepared to walk out, the tattoo shop owner behind him, the man known as Viper, said:

"Guest, my price is very high, and there are as many small roles like me with bad records as there are hairs on a cow. Why did you find me?"

"……"

Su Xiao didn't pay attention to Viper behind him, just pushed the door and left.

Only Viper was left in the tattoo shop. He picked up the crystal card on the workbench and pondered for a moment, shook his head, and put it into the tool box. Afterward, he picked up the drawing pen and backboard to continue the creation of the tattoo pattern. But after drawing for a while, he frowned in agitation and tilted his head to look at the crystal card in the tool box.

"Still... don't take the risk. Life now is also not bad, hehehehehe."

Viper made a unique laughing sound, which, combined with the snake-scale-like patterns on his skin, made people feel a sense of palpitation. Although he was vengeful, he was a bit of a wall-grass and was good at instigating. This was Viper.

Viper's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. He suddenly had the thought, why not go and see? It wouldn't lose anything. Just at this moment, the tattoo shop door was pushed open, and a man who looked like a werewolf walked into the shop.

Seeing the person coming, Viper said with a smile: "Echi, today I encountered a good thing. A big shot is prepared to hire me at a high price."

"Pfft~, are you drunk?"

Soul Wolf tribe Echi was amused. Hearing this, Viper picked up the crystal card and slapped it on the workbench, angrily saying: "Fart! This is the proof of employment. As long as you take this thing to Iron Fortress City before tomorrow morning, someone will come to meet you."

"There isn't even a fixed location, how will they meet you?"

"This is a positioning mark, or rather, it is more like proof, proof of passing that big shot's test. Forget it, you wouldn't understand if I said too much."

"Is this really happening? Then congratulations."

"I got two bottles of good wine yesterday. I'm happy today, so I'll treat you to a drink. Wait."

Viper made a gesture to put the crystal card into his clothes pocket, but discovered that he was shirtless and had no pockets on his pants. He could only lock the crystal card preciously in the safe next to the workbench, then got up and went to the back room.

After a few minutes, Viper came back with two bottles of wine, but discovered that Echi was already gone. He opened the safe and discovered that the crystal card inside had disappeared. Seeing this scene, Viper smiled. He took out a tracking device from under the workbench, completed the positioning, and muttered to himself: "This is heading straight for the Space Tower? Quite active."

Viper made a gesture to get up, but suddenly, he froze in place, because on the workbench in front of him, a crystal card was placed on it. Before, that crystal card had the Beastman language number 2 on it. This time, this one had the Beastman language number 3 printed on it.

Viper picked up the crystal card on the workbench and discovered a note underneath, which read: 'Before tomorrow morning, don't be late.'

Cold sweat seeped from Viper's temples and forehead. Being able to silently place this crystal card and note on the workbench in front of him also represented being able to cut his throat.

……

On the moving bus train, Su Xiao opened his eyes. Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's evaluation of Viper was similar to what was recorded in the notes: cautious, good at hiding in the dark, waiting quietly for things to develop, like a hidden poisonous snake, only striking at the critical moment.

Compared to Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang's side, Baja's side was not very smooth, almost fighting with the elite Beastman he wanted to recruit, but the result was okay. Judging from the performance of that elite Beastman, there was a high probability that he would go to Iron Fortress City tomorrow morning.

After checking the time, Su Xiao prepared to go to Iron Fortress City now. The remaining dozen or so elite Beastmen on the main city side were all the responsibility of Xiang Ignoring Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baja.

When Su Xiao arrived in front of the Space Tower in the 70th city district, it was already past five in the afternoon. After passing the guards smoothly with the Lord badge, he went to the top floor, stood on the teleportation array, adjusted the scale, and started it. Just at the moment the teleportation array started, unstable space fluctuations emerged. Such a space tower should not have such space fluctuations.

Bang!

Su Xiao smashed the central disk of the teleportation array with one hand. At the same time, although he wanted to penetrate space with Dragon Shadow Flash, one after another semi-transparent tentacles had already entangled his left arm and left leg. The space teleportation was completed. With calculation against no calculation, it was truly difficult to guard against. However, for this kind of sudden situation, Su Xiao always had a trump card, which was the life-saving prop 【Drifting Bait】 gratuitously sponsored by Morei.

On the street outside the teleportation tower, a Beastman with a wild hairstyle sat on the railing on top of the building. He tilted his head and said to the shadow nearby: "The person was sent over, but with that intensity of teleportation, what was sent over should be a corpse. This guy is too sensitive, almost rushed out of the teleportation."

"It doesn't matter if he is alive. This collaborator of Kane's, who doesn't know where he came from, must be eliminated. The unknown is the most dangerous. Since he chose to cooperate with Kane, he is our enemy."

A voice came from the shadow. Hearing this, the Beastman with the wild hairstyle shrugged his shoulders noncommittally.

……

Boom!

The space teleportation ended. The world around Su Xiao quickly became clear. Although this teleportation was a bit bumpy, for him, it was within a completely acceptable range. The more important problem was, where was he teleported to at this time?

Looking around, Su Xiao discovered that he was on an open-air teleportation platform. Several stone pillars stood around, and there were many humanoid tribes wearing scale armor looking at himself. These guys had pale green skin, some even had gills under their jaws, and overall, they were strong with slightly moist skin. Some had bristle-like bone spurs on their shoulders and backs. If he wasn't mistaken, these were the Sea Race.

"How far is this from Iron Fortress City."

While Su Xiao was speaking, he inserted the sheathed Zhan Long Shan into his waist. If he wasn't mistaken, this was the main battlefield, and this place was a garrison point for a Sea Race legion.

Hearing Su Xiao's calm question, a Mermaid warrior nearby was stunned for a moment, subconsciously wanting to answer that it was not too far, but finally held back.

Semi-fluid dark red armor gradually clung to Su Xiao's body. It was the "quasi-daddy-level" Bloodthirsty Armor. The sunset in the sky shone over. Under the blood-like setting sun, Su Xiao drew the long sword from his waist, and in the surrounding area ten-plus meters away from him, it was already densely packed with Sea Race, so many that one couldn't see the edge. But, was it really Su Xiao who was surrounded at this moment? ===== CHAPTER 3667 =====