According to Old Liang, this was taught by one of his officers and can better strengthen the foundation at the Specialized Level stage.
Moreover, since seventy to eighty percent of life force is absorbed clean by ’traits’, it is used to reinforce the domain.
Your own breath will also drop to a very low level, roughly less than half of normal strength.
This is why several Specialized Level experts in White Poplar Barrier City couldn’t see through Qin Shi’s details.
"Qin Shi. He should be the most outstanding one among this batch of new recruits."
Returning to the office, Lin Lei received the "scoring board" handed over by the adjutant.
There is one thing he hasn’t told everyone — ever since stepping into the Netherworld training camp, all recruits start with a full score and get points deducted or remain unchanged based on their performance.
Currently, that new recruit named "Qin Shi" is ranked first, without losing a single point.
"This kid is quite interesting. He chose the Fourth Battle Group’s "Art of Soldier Attack". His life force fluctuation is the highest among everyone; I estimate it exceeds sixty points."
Lin Lei glanced at the scoring board held by the adjutant.
"I asked you to check his background; did you find anything? Doesn’t seem like a guy from a regular route."
The adjutant replied with a smile:
"It’s from Central City, appears to be directly from the pioneering Qin family, a bona fide ’young master’.
No idea why he ended up in White Poplar. Logically, if he wanted to gain credentials, he should head to the Eastern Front where advancement is smoother and easier."
Stopping his finger tapping on the table, Lin Lei narrowed his eyes:
"This kid doesn’t seem like a privileged young master. I have a keen sense; I can smell it. We’ll give him extra training to test the waters.
If he performs well, consider placing him on the cultivation list."
As the chief instructor of the Netherworld training camp, he could dictate almost everything, and no one could pressure him.
In terms of seniority, military achievements, even strength, this former lieutenant colonel ranks among the top in White Poplar Barrier City.
"Oh, by the way, in three days, issue a piece of ’Black Medicine’. It’s best suited for cultivating the ’Art of Soldier Attack’."
Lin Lei said solemnly.
"Black Medicine... it’s considered a semi-forbidden item. Qin Shi is under twenty, and his life force doesn’t reach the seventy-point passing line, so taking it is risky."
The adjutant hesitated.
He has been working with Lin Lei in the leadership team for a while, familiar with the other’s working style.
In a good sense, it’s called "adventurous, daring to try".
But in a negative sense, labeling it as "disregarding new recruits’ safety, indifferent to life" is also fine.
"Trust me, he can handle it."
Lin Lei didn’t lift his head, focusing on compiling data.
"Today’s resistance training and weighted physical training — he completed it without breaking a sweat.
What does that indicate? Either his foundation is exceptionally solid, or his physique is outstanding.
Either way, he can withstand the fierce effects of the Black Medicine."
The adjutant’s expression was conflicted; the Netherworld training camp has always been criticized for its high casualty rates, facing great accountability pressure from the top.
It’s why he was told to "watch over" Lin Lei, preventing him from going overboard and causing serious, irreparable trouble.
"Among the three major training camps, the Netherworld willingly took on the push-forward tasks to gain open access to various military supplies."
Noticing the adjutant wasn’t leaving, Lin Lei lifted his head expressionlessly, his tiger eyes calm.
"White Poplar Barrier City occupies only seven percent of the total allocation on the Western Front.
Seven percent — can it supply nearly thirty thousand soldiers, plus logistics and maintenance personnel — a total consumption of about eighty thousand?
Definitely not enough! Now the pressing task isn’t fully upon us. Once the first batch of advance troops can’t hold on, there will be a need to supplement a large number of troops to launch coordinated offensives."
"How long do you think White Poplar can hold out?"
The adjutant was stunned.
The instructors at the Netherworld training camp don’t participate in strategic planning.
How could Lin Lei know this well?
"A month and a half. The affiliated creatures aren’t small monsters waiting in place to be cleared by the pioneering army.
Following the usual rhythm, they initially dispatch small-scale skirmishes in the wilderness, harass transportation convoys, then gradually ramp up intensity, cutting off major routes between barrier cities."
Lin Lei’s expression turned serious, pointing to the tactical map on the desk.
"And one more thing! It’s well-known that the death of affiliated creatures will lead to increased Netherworld rift occurrences, thereby reducing firepower, inevitably leading to hand-to-hand combat!"
The more the adjutant listened, the more his heart sank, feeling a cloud pressing down on the city.
"I’ve checked the past expansions. Even the one with the greatest advantage saw nine barrier cities fall."
Lin Lei’s eyebrows twitched; despite his calm tone, the adjutant could perceive an extremely suppressed intense emotion reflected in life force fluctuations.
The flow of air in the office seemed to be sucked dry as Lin Lei slowly stood up, hands pressed against the table.
"Do you think White Poplar will fall? If it does, to what extent will casualties expand?
I’ve said many times; the academy’s theories don’t apply to the grand expansions of the New Star of Heng Province.
The supplies and equipment delivered by the Governor’s Mansion to the frontlines are merely a drop in the ocean when facing almost endless affiliated creatures.
Do you think the grand expansion is akin to gardening in one’s backyard? Simply running a mower over it a couple of times?
This planet’s invaders are not the affiliated ones; we are.
As long as the Star God exists, the affiliated creatures can never be eradicated, and the pollution will continue.
We are fighting a never-ending war of attrition!"
The adjutant fell into complete silence.
Lin Lei’s assessment of the battlefield situation left him speechless.
"Instructor, you shouldn’t stay in the Netherworld; you could easily be at the headquarters..."
Lin Lei shook his head:
"It doesn’t matter. The grand expansion is a broad war. If sacrificing White Poplar could achieve a massive advance on the Western Front, would you say it’s worth it?
In war, the most worthless thing is life. My perspective only allows me to see this barrier city beneath my feet."
The adjutant silently brought his heels together and saluted Lin Lei before leaving the office. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI★Fire.net
"Why did the Governor’s Mansion open two fronts on the east and west? With the current capabilities of the New Star of Heng Province, it can only support one front."
Lin Lei frowned deeply, deeply puzzled. He believed that with Tai Monarch as the think tank analyzing the situation, the Lord Governor should see more clearly than himself.
The advancement on two fronts not only increases human casualties but also gradually increases Netherworld rift occurrences, thus bringing the material world closer, forming a large-scale sinking.
"If both eastern and western fronts face obstacles, extending the duration to six months or even a year, our chances of victory are less than forty percent."
This was what Lin Lei couldn’t comprehend the most, and also why he chose not to head to the headquarters to become a commander or leader.
"The Governor came from a battle group; don’t they understand that affiliated creatures are indestructible weeds and it’s not worth using the lives of Heng Province’s people to fill in... unless!"
A chilling thought rose in Lin Lei’s mind.
Immediately, he subconsciously dismissed it, as if eagerly shaking off a haunting nightmare.
If that assumption were true, the sacrifices of all soldiers on the eastern and western fronts would be meaningless.
"Hundreds of thousands..."
Even though Lin Lei had stated that the most worthless thing in war is life, yet nothing is more precious.
On the third day at the Netherworld training camp, Qin Shi consistently maintained the best performance, gradually earning the respect of other recruits.
Those high-intensity training sessions, enough to squeeze everyone to the limits, leave them with not an ounce of extra strength, Qin Shi was always the first to complete.
Even the most competitive and self-assured Gao Pao had to admit, this guy was like an upper-grade student repeating kindergarten.
Quickly, the first batch of "eliminated" recruits appeared.
Average ones who chose advanced materials finally saw the adverse effects.
Advanced materials required greater nutritional supplementation and consumed more for cultivation.
Under such high-intensity training, it’s almost impossible to sustain unless you’re like Qin Shi, always topping every metric and enjoying the most abundant supplies.
"Only twelve ’wastes’ eliminated in three days means my training is gentle enough."
Lin Lei stood like a tower on the playground, arms crossed behind him.
"Since you’ve adapted so quickly, we’ll increase the intensity.
I have a batch of ’Black Medicine’ here — it’s a forbidden resource, but in the Netherworld, no one can control it.
If anyone can complete the polluted zone exploration mission, they’ll enjoy ’Black Medicine’ that stimulates potential.
A friendly reminder, this stuff is potent, but if you’re lucky enough, it can double your life force at the Amateur Level."