I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 863: Chapter 583: The Crisis at Ice Extreme Pass, Qin Tian’s Return (Part 2)

This spirit pool is as large as a lake, with icy cold water that pierces to the bone, yet it contains extremely rich and pure spiritual qi, making it an excellent sacred place for cultivation.

With this spirit pool, the growth rate of the soldiers at Ice Extreme Pass will surely increase significantly, especially for those Spiritualists who are stuck at a bottleneck. With the dual assistance of elixirs and the spirit pool, breaking through the bottleneck will no longer be difficult.

This should have been a great opportunity for Ice Extreme Pass, but who would have thought that opportunity would instantly turn into disaster.

After discovering the spirit pool, Robert immediately ordered the White Tiger Legion to go and guard it, but before the soldiers of the White Tiger Legion arrived, an uninvited group appeared first—

The Moon Ghost Army.

Although this army bears the name “army,” it is not an official unit of the Empire, but rather a designation reserved for mercenary corps at the highest level of development.

The Moon Ghost Army is an S-Class Mercenary Corps with as many as three hundred thousand members, based in the Amaterasu Star Realm, with branches in the Central Star Realm, and its strength is extremely formidable.

Its legion commander is a Tier Eight Onmyoji, and under their command is a deputy legion commander of Tier Eight and more than twenty Tier Seven officers. In terms of combat strength, the Moon Ghost Army’s power even surpasses many of the Empire’s regular fleets.

And the newly established Ice Extreme Pass has no capability whatsoever to contend with the Moon Ghost Army.

Everyone knows that the Moon Ghost Army is a puppet for the Shinguji Clan, specifically handling those shady affairs where the Shinguji Clan can’t appear personally.

This time, they were obviously ordered by the Shinguji Clan, always watching Ice Extreme Pass’s every move. Once they discovered the spirit pool, they immediately came to seize it.

The Moon Ghost Army was extremely arrogant, claiming that they discovered the spirit pool first and ordered Ice Extreme Pass to vacate the premises immediately. Their words were filled with mockery and provocation.

At that time, only Xiong and the Barbarian Warriors led by Terreda were onsite. With Terreda’s fiery temper, how could he tolerate such humiliation?

A conflict erupted on the spot, which was exactly what the other party wanted.

The Moon Ghost Army’s Tier Seven officers immediately struck, ruthlessly and without mercy, severely injuring Xiong and Terreda, with the Barbarian Warriors suffering heavy losses, more than half wounded or killed.

Had it not been for Ran Tu leading the White Tiger Legion warriors to arrive just in time, and the Moon Ghost Army fearing the official military identity of the White Tiger Legion and not daring to fully confront them, Xiong, Terreda, and the Barbarian Warriors under them might have been annihilated with no survivors.

Afterward, Ran Tu brought the injured Xiong, Terreda, and the surviving Barbarian Warriors back to Ice Extreme Pass, while the Moon Ghost Army justifiably took over the spirit pool, sending an additional two Tier Seven officers to guard it, one of whom was a Tier Seven Nine Stars Golden Bloodline powerhouse, with unfathomable strength.

With two generals heavily injured and many Barbarian Warriors sacrificed, the news spread back to Ice Extreme Pass, causing immense anger and rage among the troops, all clamoring for revenge, their anger almost setting the council hall ablaze.

Yet at this moment, Robert, relying on his immense prestige, forcibly suppressed the impulsiveness of everyone.

He calmly analyzed the disparity in strength between both sides

The Moon Ghost Army has several Tier Seven powerhouses, while on the side of Ice Extreme Pass, besides himself, only Jie La, the Soul-Devouring Demon Vine guarding the main city, remains.

He is a Gunnery Master, and Jie La is a Spirit Plant; both tend toward supportive roles. Clashing head-on with those battle-hardened Tier Seven Spiritualists of the Moon Ghost Army would unquestionably be unwise.

Moreover, the number of Tier Six powerhouses in the Moon Ghost Army far exceeds that of Ice Extreme Pass, with a massive disparity in strength between the sides. If war were truly to break out, Ice Extreme Pass would surely suffer a crushing defeat.

This calm yet nearly brutal analysis was like a cold bucket of water poured over everyone’s heads.

They woke up, but the anger in their hearts was replaced by helplessness and frustration.

They suddenly realized that Ice Extreme Pass, which seemed to be in the limelight, unable to even rival a branch of a large mercenary corps, could do nothing but watch their comrades being hurt and sacrificed, and their just-acquired spirit pool being taken, without even the courage to fight back.

Anger, frustration, indignation, and an ineffable sense of desolation spread in everyone’s heart.

The atmosphere in Ice Extreme Pass grew increasingly heavy.

Later, Ice Extreme Pass brought in the best Healing-Class Spiritualists on Mingwang Planet to heal the injured warriors, yet the wounds of Xiong and Terreda remained beyond cure.

The weapons that severely injured them were specially crafted by the Shinguji Clan, imbued with the clan’s unique aura of calamity, strange and domineering, beyond what ordinary Healing-Class Spiritualists could dissolve.

With their current capability and connections, they couldn’t summon high-tier Pill Masters and couldn’t get anyone from the Dongfang Clan to help. They could only watch helplessly as Xiong and Terreda struggled with severe injuries, their wounds worsening by the day. Xiong grew emaciated, while Terreda, tormented by unbearable pain day and night, became increasingly irritable.

“Mr. Robert, I believe we can’t just sit and wait like this; it’s too damaging to morale.” Li Qi slowly spoke, his tone icy, “The polar night is approaching quickly, and this time, I will personally take action.”

With the polar night descending, Mingwang Planet will be shrouded in endless darkness, which is the domain of the Night Demon race and a paradise for assassins. Even if the Moon Ghost Army has multiple Tier Seven powerhouses, so what?

They might be no match in a direct confrontation, but assassination is the specialty of The Shadow Division. Even just by poisoning, Li Qi was confident he could kill half of their people and avenge their sacrificed comrades.

“No.” Robert shook his head, his tone firm, “I can say with certainty that the Moon Ghost Army has long set a trap, waiting for us to walk into it. Acting now will only increase our losses.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions grew more and more grim.

They had no doubt about Robert’s words.

During this period, with the various events at Ice Extreme Pass, Robert had never made a mistake.

His nearly omniscient insight and judgment, almost like having a third eye, made any schemes unable to escape him, establishing unshakable credibility among everyone.

“Then what should we do?”

The youthful and impetuous Kane couldn’t help but ask, his tone filled with anger and unwillingness, even a tinge of the red Immortal Phoenix flame flickering in his pupils, “Just watch them hurt our people and squander the spirit pool we discovered?”

The rest of them also frowned deeply.

So many warriors sacrificed and severely injured, yet Ice Extreme Pass dared not take action, and this matter had long been the talk of the town on Mingwang Planet.

Whether it was the internal merchants and mercenaries of Ice Extreme Pass or other forces on Mingwang Planet, they all secretly laughed at Ice Extreme Pass.

They all knew that if they couldn’t protect their own warriors and didn’t retaliate for their comrades’ sacrifices, Ice Extreme Pass’s credibility would completely collapse.

In the future, those forces and talents originally intending to settle in Ice Extreme Pass would surely question and hesitate because of this event.

This would be a devastating blow to the future development of Ice Extreme Pass.

As the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heavy, Robert remained calm.

He knew in his heart that this was the optimal solution calculated based on the current situation. Once a war began, defeat was certain. The best approach was to conserve strength and wait for the one who could change everything to return.

And he knew that person had already returned.

“How could we possibly let those who harmed my people off the hook.”

At this moment, a clear and familiar voice suddenly came from the doorway, penetrating all the oppression and silence, echoing throughout the council hall.

In an instant, everyone’s bodies tightened, the seriousness and frustration on their faces froze, and the next second, wild joy swept over everyone like a tide!

“Military Lord!!!”

“Boss!!!”

The originally oppressive and silent council hall was instantly flooded with fervent excitement.

Tap, tap, tap.

Two figures walked slowly into the hall.

One of them was wearing a crisp Major General’s uniform, with a bright gold star on the shoulder badge, and a stern face with a hint of coolness.

It was their long-yearned-for Military Lord—Qin Tian!

Beside Qin Tian stood a woman in a white alchemist robe, her appearance pure and beautiful, with a gentle demeanor. The most striking thing was the seven golden stars embroidered on her robe’s chest.

This was the exclusive mark of a Seventh Grade Alchemist; this young girl was surprisingly a genuine Seventh Grade Alchemist!

“Military Lord! (Boss!) You’ve finally returned!”

Everyone surrounded them, their tone full of excitement and joy.

Looking at Qin Tian, all their anxiety, frustration, and fear vanished completely at this moment.

The backbone of Ice Extreme Pass had returned.