I Have Infinite Skill Points-Chapter 479: Prelude to the Hundred Regiments Battle

Chapter 479: Chapter 479: Prelude to the Hundred Regiments Battle

To outsiders, Wang Lan seemed to be slacking. Why only exert a fraction of your strength when you can give your all? Wang Lan certainly could have exerted his full power. With his capabilities as a Titled Strongman, single-handedly pushing the front line forward a hundred kilometers would have been trivial. However, conquered territory needed to be defended. Even if they advanced a hundred kilometers, what was the point if no one could hold it? There were several Titled Strongmen at the Pioneer Space headquarters. So why did they only handle emergency tasks instead of participating in pioneering and city defense? The reason was simple: if the Pioneer Space could only be guarded by the overwhelmingly powerful, it would become a prison for them.

For three months, Wang Lan and Jiang Xinyu had merely been coordinating with the command center’s overall strategy. It might have seemed like they were launching sporadic attacks, but in reality, they were preparing for a large-scale battle.

Ordinary Pioneers couldn’t see this. Only seasoned veterans who had spent a long time in the Pioneer Space, or individuals like Wang Lan who had reached a certain level of mastery, could perceive the underlying plan.

After accepting the mission, Wang Lan returned to the rear camp. He and Jiang Xinyu had a small, separate building there, easily constructed with Earth and Wood Attribute Star Martial Skills, so resources were no issue.

Entering their room, he found Jiang Xinyu sitting cross-legged on the bed. Star Power surged around her as two different attributes of it merged.

Jiang Xinyu had cultivated her third attribute, Fire, after breaking through to the Galaxy Stage. She had already mastered compound Star Martial Skills and was now attempting an even deeper level of Star Power Fusion.

If I can complete the Star Power Fusion now, while I’m at the peak of the Galaxy Stage, I’ll have a higher starting point when I reach the Star Sea Stage. Hearing the movement, Jiang Xinyu slowly opened her eyes.

"You’re back early today?"

"Yes, the command center has a mission."

"What is it?"

"The Hundred Regiments Battle! The command plans a major offensive in the southwest region to push the Chaos Mist back a hundred kilometers."

"That’s a huge operation. Participating will earn a lot of points, won’t it? The interns are in for a treat."

"We don’t lack points, but participating in such a large-scale operation sounds interesting. We report to the command post tomorrow morning; the Chief Commander will assign our tasks then."

Early the next morning, all the division commanders of the Green Maple Pioneer Legion gathered at the command post. The entire Green Maple Pioneer Legion boasted only three experts at or above the Galaxy Stage—and that was including Wang Lan and Jiang Xinyu. Without them, only the Chief Commander himself remained at that level.

Duan Qingfeng addressed them, "Everyone, the Hundred Regiments joint operation officially begins this afternoon. However, our Green Maple Pioneer Legion will move out ahead of the other legions. We must reach Ice Cliff before the general offensive starts this afternoon and secure it, preventing the Exotic Beasts beyond from being drawn by the commotion and swarming in.

"Our mission is vital to this operation; it signifies the command center’s trust in us. Thanks to Chief Wang and Deputy Chief Jiang being stationed here, the Green Maple Pioneer Legion’s reputation has soared these past few months.

"But listen up, all of you! Don’t think that just because Chief Wang and Deputy Chief Jiang are here, you can slack off and coast on their achievements. They’re here on an internship; they’ll leave eventually. Don’t let the honor they’ve earned for us be squandered the moment they’re gone!

"The Snow Demons beyond Ice Cliff, even the weakest, possess Star Cloud Stage Cultivation Levels. A significant number of them are at the Galaxy Stage. This will be an immense challenge for us.

"You’ve all been with me for at least seven or eight years. It’s time you showed some damn progress! Guo Xiao, how long have you been stuck at the peak of the Star Cloud Stage? Nearly a year and still no breakthrough? And you, Sulai! You’ve been stuck for half a year!

"Seize this chance! Both of you are to break through to the Galaxy Stage. If you fail, don’t bother coming back unless you want a thrashing from me!

"Chief Wang, this battle will be perilous. We’ll be relying heavily on you."

"No problem," Wang Lan replied.

"Alright, everyone return to your teams and prepare to move out."

"Yes!"

Fifteen minutes later, five hundred fully armed members of the Pioneering Legion stood ready to depart. Thanks to the Green Maple Pioneer Legion’s soaring reputation over the past few months, many Pioneers had joined out of admiration. In just three months, their numbers had swelled from just over three hundred to five hundred.

The Green Maple Pioneer Legion charged out, taking the southwest route into the depths. Their movements naturally drew the attention of other legions, whose members watched the departing figures with envy.

"They’re moving out early. Must be another high-point mission."

"If they complete this mission, the Green Maple Legion might even be absorbed by the command center. Why wasn’t Wang Lan assigned to our legion for his internship? That Duan Qingfeng must have connections high up."

As they headed west, the movement of such a large group inevitably alerted the Exotic Beasts in the region. While most beasts in the southwest were Lone Rangers, they all shared a certain mosquito-like trait. Normally, they kept to themselves and didn’t interfere with one another. But the moment Star Martial Warriors gathered, they would swarm like mosquitoes drawn to the scent of blood. The larger the concentration of Star Martial Warriors, the more Exotic Beasts would converge.

Soon, dozens of Exotic Beasts resembling Velociraptors appeared before them. These were Fire Attribute beasts, their thick tails sporadically erupting in flames. These Velociraptors possessed wind-like speed. Unlike their prehistoric namesakes, their forelimb claws were not short but rather long, sharp blades. Their hardened hides could resist most conventional blade attacks, and their powerful tails could easily shatter stone.

Upon encountering the Velociraptors, the column immediately halted.

"Guo Xiao, Sulai, they’re yours," Duan Qingfeng ordered calmly.

"Yes!"

Two squads instantly broke from the formation, charging toward the Velociraptor pack. Unless the disparity in strength was too great, Wang Lan generally wouldn’t intervene. At most, he would step in at critical moments to prevent fatalities.

Although I’m powerful, I represent only the tip of the spear. These Star Martial Warriors are the true foundation, and a foundation must be tempered through countless trials to become strong.

The two squads numbered just over twenty, facing forty to fifty Velociraptors; they held no advantage in individual prowess or numbers. However, the Pioneering Legion had tactics and coordination—their greatest assets for survival in the Different Dimensional Space.

Instantly, the Star Martial Warriors split up. While the two squad leaders engaged the front, the remaining members executed a pincer movement, fanning out to encircle the Velociraptors. The beasts roared warnings at the approaching Star Martial Warriors.

"Attack!"

Once outflanked, the battle’s outcome was virtually decided. Attacked from front and rear, left and right, the Velociraptors were thrown into disarray. If they charged the enemy before them, attacks rained down from behind. If pain made them turn to strike their rear assailants, their flanks were struck.

The Velociraptors didn’t understand fighting back-to-back for mutual cover, let alone the tactic of concentrating force to break through a single point. Thus, kited by the two squads, the battle concluded in under ten minutes.

The Green Maple Pioneer Legion’s mission was to march one hundred kilometers. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be a difficult task for regular Star Martial Warriors. However, the presence of Exotic Beasts made it formidable.

Especially the deeper they ventured, the more numerous and powerful the Exotic Beasts became. Over the past three months, Wang Lan had cleared out most of the powerful Exotic Beasts in the immediate vicinity, but his operational range hadn’t extended beyond thirty kilometers.

Therefore, once they ventured beyond this thirty-kilometer boundary, they began encountering larger groups of Exotic Beasts, including some at the Galaxy Stage or higher. Now, Wang Lan could no longer afford to remain a spectator.

A horde of several hundred Exotic Beasts, led by about thirty at the Galaxy Stage, charged toward the Green Maple Pioneer Legion like an iron torrent, their momentum overwhelming.

Every Exotic Beast’s eyes gleamed with a crazed bloodlust. They had encountered many Pioneer Legions like this one before. But they’d never seen one so weak dare to venture this deep. Reckless fools!

Usually, humans daring to venture this deep were elite scout squads from Pioneer Teams. Such scouts possessed not only formidable individual strength but also stealth-type Star Martial Skills, typically retreating immediately after gathering intelligence.

But this group of five hundred, openly broadcasting Star Cloud Stage Star Energy Fluctuations? Marching so brazenly? Are they not a meal delivered right to our doorstep? A free buffet! How could we possibly refuse?

"Dance of the Dark Butterfly!"

Instantly, dozens of colorful Nether Butterflies appeared amidst the horde of Exotic Beasts, one flitting near each of the Galaxy Stage creatures. Such delicate things? The Exotic Beasts paid them no mind, dismissing them as insignificant.

But in the next moment, Wang Lan’s figure materialized among the Nether Butterflies. His blade flashed, and Galaxy Stage Exotic Beasts were cleaved in two before they even comprehended what had happened.

Galaxy Stage Exotic Beasts were those whose Star Power cultivation had reached the Galaxy Stage, but this level didn’t always reflect their actual combat power. Some Exotic Beasts, despite lower Cultivation Levels, possessed defensive capabilities far exceeding the Galaxy Stage.

Exotic Beasts came in myriad forms: some boasted thick armor, others had reflective carapaces, some were incredibly agile, and others were colossal in size. But regardless of how their strengths were allocated, they were like paper before Wang Lan’s Breaking Swords.

With swift strokes, dozens of Galaxy Stage Exotic Beasts were slain on the spot.

The Exotic Beasts continued their charge. A second later, however, those at the forefront skidded to a halt. In that instant, they realized their powerful leaders—the Galaxy Stage beasts—had vanished.

Wait... without the Galaxy Stage Exotic Beasts, what were they? A pack whose strongest members were merely at the Star Cloud Stage? Weren’t they just a disorganized mob now?

"KILL!" Duan Qingfeng roared, drawing his battle blade. The cry echoed across the land. Behind him, five hundred legionnaires drew their weapons in unison and charged toward the distant Exotic Beasts.

Mage-type Star Martial Warriors unleashed a barrage of ranged Star Martial Skills. Support-types instantly coordinated to deploy crowd-control Star Martial Skills, dividing the Exotic Beast horde. What followed was a one-sided slaughter.

The ferocity of the Pioneers was the most astounding Wang Lan had ever witnessed. They might not have been individually the strongest, but their fighting style was one of reckless abandon, a willingness to trade life for life.

Previously, the Green Maple Pioneer Legion might have shown some hesitation, some concern for injury. But since Wang Lan’s arrival, they had cast aside all such reservations. The Exotic Beasts were savage, but the Pioneers were even more so.

Perhaps it’s a peculiar law of the battlefield, Wang Lan mused. The more you fear death, the faster it claims you. The more you dread injury, the more susceptible you become. Yet, the less you value your own life, the harder it is to take.

The ferocious Green Maple Pioneer Legion annihilated the Exotic Beast horde—a group nearly equal to their own numbers—suffering only minimal injuries. Those who were wounded were swiftly restored by Wang Lan’s Life Light.

"We need to advance at full speed!" Duan Qingfeng announced. "We have forty kilometers to go, but only three hours remain until the main offensive begins. We must reach Ice Cliff within that time and secure its natural defenses!"