Chapter 895: Extreme Corps Leader

Sein Plateau, Astat City.

The night on the plateau is long and cold; the city built against the mountains is covered by a thick layer of ice and snow, bone‑piercing wind howls outside the stone houses, and Astat, divided into five levels, has flames blazing in many places on each level.

That night, many Makurag people stayed awake all night.

In a spacious stone house on the fourth level of Astat, Ma Li Wu Si sat on a stone chair, watching Tai Li En standing on the central clearing, his eyes unblinking and his expression complicated.

Since following Lei En, Extreme Warriors take regular rotations, returning to their tribe to reunite with family, or to start families and raise children.

Tai Li En had returned a few days ago.

Last night, a dozen Extreme Warriors in the tribe held a celebration, honoring Lei En's election as Empire Consul.

Now, the Makurag barbarians share honor and loss with Lei En; with Lei En becoming Consul, every tribe member is thrilled, and some Extreme Warriors stationed at the Jin Gang Fort base rushed back to join the revelry.

But in the latter half of the night, the Extreme Warriors suddenly received some news, each showing a delighted expression, hurriedly leaving the banquet—some racing home to lock themselves in a room, others seeking a secluded spot to wait.

The tribe members were initially bewildered, then quickly caught on.

Their original bodies are about to ascend!

As symbionts, the stronger the original body, the more their own strength rises; Extreme Warriors are all Legendary, and over twenty team leaders and company commanders are Legendary Mid-stage, each roughly as strong as tribal chief Ma Li Wu Si.

If they don power armor, any Extreme Warrior could defeat the tribal chief.

Now they must ascend again…

Ma Li Wu Si learned the news at the banquet, feeling both joy for his people and a growing vexation, and gulped down several large bottles of strong liquor in one go.

Tai Li En originally intended to go home, but Ma Li Wu Si called him back.

He was raised under Ma Li Wu Si's watch; the two are uncle and nephew, so he could not defy the chief's order and guessed Ma Li Wu Si's intent, thus staying.

All night, Tai Li En's power kept rising.

He is the company commander of the 5th company of Extreme Warriors, Legendary Mid-stage, second only to the 1st company commander Xi Ka Liu Si; after this boost, he directly broke through to Legendary High-rank!

At this moment, Tai Li En stands over two and a half meters tall, his sturdy frame like a wall, skin shimmering with a dark‑gold sheen, and the overwhelming aura he radiates shakes the entire stone house, leaving Ma Li Wu Si, who watches him constantly, slightly suffocated.

When his aura steadied, Tai Li En let out a long breath.

"This feeling…"

He sensed his own power, his excitement overflowing, unable to describe it, finally exclaiming, "Ji Li Man above, this is too strong!"

Ma Li Wu Si couldn't help but say, "Tai Li En, you're already Legendary High-rank?"

"Yes, uncle," Tai Li En nodded.

"All your symbionts have reached Legendary High-rank, so Consul Lei En…" Ma Li Wu Si stopped, hesitant to voice the taboo even in private. Lei En now, as Empire Consul, is no longer someone he can speak against.

Tai Li En, unreserved, said, "The boss must have ascended to Holy Soul Wizard."

"Holy Soul Wizard!"

Ma Li Wu Si sighed, shaking his head, a young handsome face flashing in his mind; he never imagined that the young man back then would reach a level beyond his own admiration.

He knows the Empire's political landscape well.

A Holy Soul Wizard cannot serve as Consul; Lei En ascended to Holy Soul Wizard on the day he was elected Consul, and the news will shake the Empire.

However, he cares more about his tribe members.

"You're already Legendary High-rank…" Ma Li Wu Si sighed again, his tone full of helplessness.

He only broke through to Legendary Mid-stage a few years ago, still far from Legendary High-rank; relying on superb combat skill he could barely hold off Extreme Warriors, but it grew increasingly arduous, each returning Extreme Warrior being stronger than the last.

A few days ago, an Extreme Warrior who returned to Astat with Tai Li En, a member of the 1st company, wore power armor and took part in the battle at Banbei City.

Bringing the power armor back to the tribe this time caused a sensation throughout Astat.

He even demonstrated the armor's power in front of the tribe members.

Ma Li Wu Si was stunned, then overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness; he knew that an Extreme Warrior in power armor rivals a Saint Rank strongman, and he was no match, with no chance of victory.

It is said that over sixty brothers have equipped power armor.

All brothers will be outfitted in the future.

The Extreme Warrior Corps' brilliant record in the revenge campaign earned it the supreme title "World's Strongest Corps," driving the tribe members, who have spent their lives seeking glory, into frenzy.

These days, every Extreme Warrior in the tribe is adored by the tribe members.

Wherever they go, they are surrounded by tribe members asking all sorts of questions; everyone's main concern is the same: when will the Consul return to Astat to recruit Extreme Warriors?

The Makurag tribe signed a pact with Lei En; to preserve tribal independence, Ma Li Wu Si has long intended to limit the number of Extreme Warriors, preventing too many tribe members from flocking to Lei En, lest the tribal chief lose authority.

To avoid suspicion, Lei En only came to Astat once, two years ago.

Both sides maintain a high degree of tacit understanding.

But this time, Ma Li Wu Si feels he can no longer suppress it; the minds of all the tribe's men are no longer on Astat, already soaring toward the Empire.

Now, Lei En has again ascended to Holy Soul Wizard, and all Extreme Warriors have broken through to Legendary Mid-stage, each capable of challenging the tribal chief.

Company commanders and team leaders led by Xi Ka Liu Si are even Legendary High-rank!

Even without power armor, Ma Li Wu Si cannot beat Xi Ka Liu Si; the Tai Li En before him could defeat him, and his talent is far inferior to his own, having been taught by him—once Ma Li Wu Si could easily knock him down.

When daylight spreads the news, how will the tribe members view him?

Ma Li Wu Si's heart is full of bitterness.

"Ji Li Man…" he stepped out of the stone house, gazing up at the highest temple of Astat, his mind bewildered, "What should I do in this situation?"

In fact, Ma Li Wu Si knows the simplest path.

It is to pledge loyalty to Lei En, joining the Extreme Warrior Corps.

From the Extreme Warriors' words, Lei En declined several Extreme Warriors' requests to establish a team leader, leaving the position vacant—an intention clearly meant for himself.

Xi Ka Liu Si has returned to Astat many times, subtly hinting in his words.

But Ma Li Wu Si has always pretended not to know.

He is, of course, tempted, but as the tribal chief of the Makurag people, the responsibilities and burdens on his shoulders far exceed those of ordinary tribe members; if he too became Lei En's symbiont, the entire Makurag tribe would become Lei En's vassal, never able to maintain an equal alliance.

Most importantly, how should he confront Ji Li Man?

The Makurag people have worshiped Ji Li Man for several thousand years, but apart from the successive chieftains, the tribe does not know that Ji Li Man is gravely wounded, and moreover, the statue in the temple is Ji Li Man's divine true form.

One day in the future, when Ji Li Man awakens again and discovers that the Makurag tribe has been controlled by a mortal, how furious will He be?

Will He allow Lei En to take away His last follower?

Will the two sides erupt into conflict?

Ma Liwu Si certainly does not think Ji Li Man would be defeated by a mortal; even if Lei En's strength were great, he could not match a deity, yet Lei En is backed by the entire Oriense Empire, the Twelve Holy Soul Wizards, and a massive Imperial army!

What fate awaits the Extreme Warriors and the tribe caught in the middle?

Ma Liwu Si stands in the wind and snow, gazing at the Astarte Temple beneath the night sky, his mood exceedingly heavy, yet he does not know to whom to speak.

At that moment, Tai Li En steps out of the stone house.

He is already taller and stronger than Ma Liwu Si, and as he approaches, he gives Ma Liwu Si a sense of pressure, then whispers, "Uncle, the boss has been waiting for you to join."

"I know," Ma Liwu Si replies.

Tai Li En adds, "If Uncle becomes an Extreme Warrior, no one can snatch the position of squad leader, and Xi Ka Liu Si would not dare to disobey."

"I know," Ma Liwu Si answers the same way, expressionless.

Tai Li En is puzzled, "Then why does Uncle keep refusing?"

He lifts the corner of his mouth, shakes his head, and says, "I understand Uncle wants the tribe to remain independent, but that is impossible. The Makurag people pursue power and glory, and these bosses can provide that, even more, far beyond the brothers' expectations, granting us things we could not even dream of."

"After dawn, Uncle's standing in the tribe will become very awkward; perhaps he can hold back the tribe for a while, but it cannot last long."

Ma Liwu Si replies, "I know."

Seeing him always answer that way, Tai Li En feels a surge of anger, his qi and blood roiling inside, the heavy snow melting on his skin into vapor, and he says gravely, "Since Uncle knows everything, what are you still hesitating about?"

"Alas…," Ma Liwu Si sighs, "You know nothing."

Tai Li En is completely bewildered.

He is about to press further, but sees Ma Liwu Si's complexion change; suddenly he turns his head toward the high temple, a mysterious divine light flaring in his eyes, his expression shifting constantly—astonishment, excitement, bewilderment, and so on.

"What's happening?" Tai Li En also looks at the temple, but sees nothing.

Half a minute later.

Ma Liwu Si's expression relaxes, the previous heaviness swept away, and he laughs, "Tai Li En, tell Consul, I am willing to join the Extreme Warrior Corps. Moreover, he may continue recruiting Extreme Warriors in the tribe, as many as he wishes."

Tai Li En thinks he misheard.

How, in the blink of an eye, the chieftain's attitude completely reversed, a total polarity shift.

But that does not hinder his joy; he shouts, "Good! I'll contact the boss immediately." Original-body symbiosis allows constant communication with Lei En, and soon Tai Li En, beaming, says, "Uncle, the boss says he will come to Astarte shortly after dawn, recruiting three hundred brothers; please be ready."

"Fine," Ma Liwu Si nods.

In recent years the tribe's economy has been prosperous, living conditions improving, and its territory has expanded, conquering several nearby barbarian hamlets. The captured women were allotted to the brothers; many wealthy Extreme Warriors kept four or five wives, constantly bearing children, so the tribe's population surged, already doubling.

Although the youngsters are not yet grown, drafting three hundred elite warriors is easy.

Astarte has over a thousand adult males.

This time Lei En recruits three hundred Extreme Warriors; subtracting the previous three hundred, the remaining adult males number just over four hundred, just enough to defend the tribe and stay to train the next generation of warriors.

In a decade or so, when this batch of newborns reaches adulthood, the Extreme Warrior Corps can expand again.

Dawn breaks quickly.

The news that the Consul will come to recruit Extreme Warriors spreads, and all of Astarte erupts; the men rush to tell each other, gathering on the plaza before the temple without even having breakfast, each eager and restless, waiting.

A little over an hour later, a thunderclap echoes from the horizon toward Jin Gang Fort.

Boom!

Ma Liwu Si sees a massive bolt of lightning streak across the distant sky, vaguely shaped like a figure, moving at an incomprehensible speed; the thunder still reverberates in his ears, and in a blink it arrives before him.

The lightning that spanned the sky suddenly vanishes, as if it were an illusion.

Immediately, a tall, upright figure appears silently on the plaza; he wears mithril light armor, a blood‑red great cloak draped behind, his handsome face bearing a gentle smile, and before he speaks, a faint aura emanates from him.

Some keen‑sensed Makurag people perceive the power within the aura, merely the tip of an iceberg, causing their souls to tremble.

Consul, Ryan Augustus!

Holy Soul Wizard!

Ma Liwu Si takes a deep breath; truly seeing Lei En makes him understand the terrifying power of a Holy Soul Wizard. He steadies the tumultuous waves in his heart and leads the bow, saying, "Greetings, Consul."

A dozen Extreme Warriors shout, "Boss."

"Greetings, Consul," the Makurag people on the plaza bow in unison, their eyes full of awe and fervor.

Lei En looks toward the temple on the side of the plaza, seeming a bit dazed.

A few seconds later he turns back, smiling broadly, "Chieftain Ma Liwu Si, and brothers, no need for formalities."

Ma Liwu Si's attitude flips a full 180 degrees, surprising Lei En, who guesses it may be related to Ji Li Man. The first time he came to Astarte, he knew the temple housed Ji Li Man's true form; he just used his upgraded Soul Eye to observe the other side, yet received no response.

Ji Li Man seems to awaken only briefly at intervals, communicating with the outside world.

Perhaps only Ma Liwu Si can tell the truth.

Ma Liwu Si suddenly half‑kneels, shouting, "Consul, I have decided to join the Extreme Warrior Corps, to pursue my own glory. My people will also follow you more, hoping the Consul will honor the pact between Makurag and Glamorogen."

"That is natural; our pact is forever valid," Lei En says solemnly.

"Good!"

Ma Liwu Si, without further doubt, immediately slices his palm with a dagger and loudly swears, "Loyalty is my life, loyalty is my belief, loyalty is my glory! I, Ma Liwu Si, under Ji Li Man's witness, devote my loyalty to Ryan Augustus, obey his Willpower, carry out his commands, forever loyal, never betray!"

The oath lifts the blood into the air, swiftly forming an Element contract of original-body symbiosis.

"I accept your loyalty."

Lei En lightly touches the blood sigil; a powerful Willpower merges into his body, reaching straight to his soul space, sprouting a fresh branch on the world‑tree like a towering tree, bearing a leaf. Simultaneously, a portrait icon of Ma Liwu Si appears on the phone interface.

Original-body symbiosis is achieved; a link is established between the original body and the symbiosis.

In an instant, Ma Liwu Si's body undergoes violent change, countless energies surge from all sides, like a storm flooding his form; a terrifying aura radiates, causing the surrounding barbarians to recoil in shock, their faces pale.

In just a few seconds, Ma Liwu Si's physique expands two tiers, breaking through the Mid-stage of legend, soaring wildly, reaching the Legendary High‑rank peak without stopping, his power still climbing.

"The clan leader is about to be promoted to Saint Rank?" the knowledgeable Extreme Warriors exclaimed.

(End of chapter)