Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Great Military Competition! The Prodigal Father! (Seeking First Subscription)
Jianghai, in the easternmost part of Linzhou, adjoins the vast West Dragon Lake but lies hidden within a secluded expanse of mountains and forest. This area is considered the outermost region of Linzhou. It doesn’t fall within any urban zone and is rarely visited. However, within these mountains and forests, lies a sprawling complex of imposing buildings. High walls and specialized partitions, deep within this primeval forest, clearly indicated the nature of this place. This is a massive Legion base. Although near West Dragon Lake, as a land-based Legion base, it primarily serves as the station for two Jianghai Province land army Legions. Among them was, undoubtedly, the Forest Wolf Land Army.
Within the base, at the command center of War Wolf Division A, two figures were gathered. Judging by their ranks, they were clearly high-ranking officers of War Wolf Division A.
A man in his forties, frowning slightly, sat in a large chair in the center of the room, looking at Zhang Lie before him:
"A kid the same age as your son? A brand-new Forest Wolf Evolver? Heart of Woods?"
The man smacked his lips. "Old Zhang, you hurried back from Linzhou just to tell me you’ve found such an extraordinary Genius Breeder?"
Clearly, the cautious man standing before him was Zhang Lie, who had appeared at the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base yesterday. After seeing the Wanmu Wolf Evolutionary Body, the leader of the Forest Wolf Troop had barely paused before immediately returning to the Legion. And he had reported the matter to the officer before him.
The man didn’t doubt Zhang Lie. He had been Zhang Lie’s squad leader when Zhang Lie first enlisted as a raw recruit, so he knew his character well. Zhang Lie wouldn’t lie or spout nonsense about such matters. This was also why, after the Forest Wolf Troop had suffered a significant defeat in an exercise against Division C’s Rock Tiger Troop, he had been lenient. If any other troop leader had been responsible, he wouldn’t have hesitated to, figuratively speaking, throw them to the pigs, or something nearly as severe. But since it was his old comrade, he had only made him write a self-criticism report and, incidentally, instructed him to learn from the experiences of their brother division.
The War Wolf Division specialized in Beast Tamer corps that used Wolf Pets as their primary force within the army. For an army Legion, only a few types of Pet Beasts were suitable, and Wolf Pets were undoubtedly among the most outstanding. They are highly obedient and disciplined. Therefore, Wolf Pet Beast Tamers were the most numerous type of Beast Tamers in the army’s land-based corps. Such Wolf Pet Breeders were needed not only by the outside world but even more so internally by the Legion.
However, despite his trust, this all sounded a bit far-fetched, didn’t it?!
A kid about the same age as his son, a Breeder? Not only had he cultivated the rare and precious Wood Heart Skill, but he had even developed a new Evolutionary Body. Do you even know what you’re talking about, Zhang Lie?
Nevertheless, he knew a thing or two about this soldier who had always followed him and said with a slight frown, "You’re a Troop Leader now, with decision-making power over certain matters. I can tell you the truth right now; this isn’t a simple issue. General Zhao himself has been dissatisfied for years with the worsening state of talent cultivation within the Legion, and now he sees an opportunity for change. So, in fact, it’s not just your Forest Wolf Troop. The entire Forest Wolf Land Army—our division and others—will also be conducting elite cultivation, encompassing Evolutionary Bodies and Cultivation Skills. Moreover, when the time comes, the Legion will hold a grand competition based on the results of the elite squads’ cultivation. Not only I and the other division commanders, but several generals, including General Zhao himself, will be there to observe!"
With that said, the man needed not say more, as he had made himself quite clear. If the Forest Wolf Troop still finished last in the grand competition, it wouldn’t just be a humiliation within the division. The entire Legion would know that War Wolf Division A’s Forest Wolf Troop was nothing but a bunch of losers! It could even lead to a reassessment at the command center regarding whether the Forest Wolf Pet Beast is still suitable as a main combat Pet Beast for an army Legion-level unit. This could reduce the required number of enlistees. Perhaps in a few years, the Forest Wolf Troop might even be downgraded to the Forest Wolf Company. The consequences of such an outcome would be unimaginable and unbearable!
Upon hearing this, even Zhang Lie was slightly startled; he had not realized the situation was so grave. However, the image of what he had witnessed yesterday at the small Heart of Wood Cultivation Base emerged in his mind once again: the Wanmu Wolf that could summon the jungle, moving unseen within it, terrifyingly formidable.
Zhang Lie gritted his teeth. "Chief, around when will the grand competition begin?"
"This time, it’s not a large-scale competition but one for elite teams. However, these won’t be the usual ten-member squads, but five-member tactical squads. Therefore, the cultivation period won’t be long. It will start in two months, coinciding with the new recruit enlistment! The announcement will be made throughout the entire Legion in two days! I’m telling you this in advance so you can get a head start on preparations!"
After a pause, the man continued, "Simultaneously, the highest Level for the cultivated tactical squad elites must not exceed the Commanding Rank. If they reach Monarch Level, the elite squad cultivation loses its comparative value. Additionally, each Beast Tamer can only summon and use one Pet Beast to fully demonstrate the combat effectiveness of this elite cultivation."
Two months, huh!