The last team member was a young man of medium build and ordinary appearance, easily lost in a crowd. His eyes were a bit unfocused, as if he wasn't quite used to being the center of attention.
“Codename: ‘Ash Scent’, real name… Wang Yuan.” His voice was a bit low. “Support type, Energy Condensation Stage Lv.1, ability: Spirit Scent Perception.”
He closed his eyes, his nostrils subtly flaring, as if he was sniffing something!
“Innate Spirit Skill: Scent Tracking!”
Wang Yuan opened his eyes! “Olfactory sensitivity increased by 500%! Can distinguish energy residue, life aura, and special substance scents!
Derivative skills: Danger Prediction (Lv.1)! Energy Fluctuation Perception (Lv.1)! Specialties: Tracking! Reconnaissance! Early Warning! Trap Detection!”
He pointed to an inconspicuous corner of the training ground! “There… three minutes ago… a faint fire-element energy fluctuation remained… intensity… around Energy Condensation Stage Lv.1…”
He then pointed in another direction! “There’s a very faint scent of a special lubricant over there.”
A scout! A human radar! The eyes and ears of the team! Extremely valuable! Especially in complex environments or when performing reconnaissance missions!
The Soul Jade Physique’s cold will instantly confirmed the accuracy of his perception! This ability is crucial for avoiding risks, tracking targets, and discovering clues! His loyalty seems cautious and timid? He needs both carrot and stick!
“Sharp perception.”
A peculiar glint flashed in Ling Chen’s eyes!
“The eyes of the team, none other than you.”
Introductions finished! Five team members! Two beast transformation types (Shadow Leopard Han Feng, Giant Bear Shi Lei)! One elemental type (Wind Controller Su Qing)! Two support types (Shield Chen Mo, Spirit Scent Wang Yuan)! Plus Ling Chen’s crowd control (Mud Swamp Domain).
A relatively complete and complementary team! Initially formed!
“Very good!” A satisfied smile appeared on Ling Chen’s face!
“Ash Claw’s assault! Ash Rock’s defense! Flowing Wind’s strike! Ash Shield’s protection! Ash Scent’s reconnaissance! Plus my crowd control! This is the new strength of our Ashes Squad!”
His gaze sharpened! “Old K Captain showed us with his actions! Ash never fears burning! It only becomes tougher and more dazzling when tempered in flames!”
“From today on! We are no longer scattered individuals! We are a whole! A single fist! Our goal! Is to become the sharpest spear of the Hunter Guild! The strongest shield! Let the name of Ash resonate throughout Shengjing!”
“Tell me! Do you have confidence?!”
“Yes!” Han Feng roared first, battle intent burning in his eyes!
“Yes!” Shi Lei echoed in a booming voice, his fists clenched!
“Yes!” Su Qing’s clear voice carried a hint of determination!
“Yes!” Chen Mo and Wang Yuan also gathered their courage and shouted!
“Very good!”
A cold arc formed at the corner of Ling Chen’s lips!
“Then! Training begins! First item: practical combat coordination drill! Objective: In the miniature tactical arena! Persist for ten minutes! Without being completely annihilated by the simulated enemy!”
He raised his hand and activated the training ground console!
Buzz—!!!
Inside the miniature tactical arena! Countless red light dots instantly lit up! Simulated gunfire! Energy beams! Trap activation sounds! All sounded at once! A fierce simulated confrontation began!
Ling Chen stood outside the arena, his deep black eyes calmly observing the performance of the team members inside! The Soul Jade Physique’s cold will operated at high speed!
He analyzed each person’s combat habits, coordination, and reactions under pressure!
Han Feng’s Shadow Leopard form weaved through the shadows, seeking opportunities for surprise attacks, but he was too aggressive and was nearly focused down several times!
Shi Lei’s Giant Bear strength withstood frontal firepower, but his movement was slow, and he was ambushed by simulated enemies who flanked him!
Su Qing’s wind blades struck accurately, and her wind barrier provided timely support, but her energy consumption was too fast!
Chen Mo’s shield was stretched thin, his single-target shield switching was not timely, and his group shield range was limited!
Wang Yuan’s early warning played a role, reminding his teammates to avoid traps several times, but he lacked combat ability himself!
Their coordination was rusty! They fought individually! Full of loopholes!
But this was exactly what Ling Chen wanted!
Deep within the Soul Jade Physique’s cold will, a larger, colder plan was slowly taking shape!
The Ashes Squad was his first chess piece for establishing himself in Shengjing!
He wanted to forge this team into a blade that would obey him completely, sharp enough, and tough enough!
Then, he would use this blade to cut through Shengjing’s seemingly impregnable defenses!
The mysterious core area of Ash Canyon, the secrets the Xuan Niao Guard kept hidden, might be there!
The Central Special Task Force’s vast technology tree, ability database, and even research data on the Qingdi Longevity Body might all be in some top-secret archives!
Most importantly… that legendary spirit artifact; with it, Ling Chen would possess almost infinite vitality, no longer fearing dying of old age due to exhausting his lifespan by unleashing the Reverse Scale to boost his power, an absurd way to die.
And Bai Zhi, that innocent little loli with the Qingdi Longevity Body, she herself was a walking treasure!
Approach her! Gain her trust! Even, when the time is right in the future, guide her to be used by me!
All of this required power! Required influence! Required a legitimate identity and channels!
The Ashes Squad was the best springboard!
He would, as the acting captain,
Lead this team to continuously complete high-difficulty missions! Accumulate contribution points! Increase authority! Access more core information!
He would temper this team in actual combat! Make them stronger! More loyal! More dependent on him!
He would smooth out Han Feng’s rebelliousness! Solidify Shi Lei’s loyalty! Unleash Su Qing’s potential! Transform Chen Mo’s protection into personal allegiance to him! Guide Wang Yuan’s caution into absolute obedience to his commands!
Even if… after this group underwent tempering, not a single one survived, or even if they were replaced by another batch.
Then, he would use this fully controlled power to explore the core area of Ash Canyon! To search for ancient ruins or mutated beast secrets that might exist there!
Perhaps there would be opportunities for him to grow rapidly!
Perhaps there would be deeper secrets about the Soul Jade Physique!
Perhaps there would be the key to Shengjing’s most core secrets!
The risks were immense!
But the rewards were equally astonishing!
A cold greed and a hint of madness flashed in Ling Chen’s deep black eyes!
He looked at the flustered and mutually blaming team members in the training ground, a cold arc forming at the corner of his lips!
“Training over!”
Ling Chen’s voice sounded, interrupting the chaos in the arena!
“Failing grade!”
The team members stopped, panting, their faces showing frustration and defiance!
“But it doesn’t matter!”
Ling Chen’s voice carried a strange allure!
“Failure is the stepping stone to success! From today on! I will personally guide you! Develop exclusive training plans! Unearth your potential! Compensate for your shortcomings!”
“Remember! The Ashes Squad does not need weaklings! Does not need useless people! And certainly does not need a scattered mess!”
“Either get stronger! Or leave!”
“The choice is yours!”
The cold words, like a heavy hammer, struck hard at the heart of every team member!
The Soul Jade Physique’s cold will, like an invisible shackle, slowly enveloped the entire training ground!
The taming had begun!