Chapter 97 Arrival Ahead, Baitan City

Chapter 97 Arrival Ahead, Baitan City

In the camp, Xu Yan's teammates were stunned as they listened to the conversation between the two.

The whole situation was bizarre.

Xu Yan, 17 years old, a farmer, Level 16.

Feng Wu, 23 years old, an S-rank Holy Knight, Level 28.

Yet, instead of Feng Wu evaluating Xu Yan, it was Xu Yan interviewing Feng Wu.

And rejecting him.

It was like a role reversal.

Feng Wu, the number one recruit, was actively lowering himself just to get into Xu Yan's circle.

And Xu Yan turned him down.

But what was even more impressive was Feng Wu's mindset.

To him, as long as there was money to be made, why care about status?

There was nothing shameful about making money.

But—

Unfortunately, his level was too high to receive Xu Yan's buffs, and that cut off any chance of immediate cooperation.

Still, Xu Yan had stopped him just as he was about to leave.

Feng Wu knew right away—

Xu Yan must have thought of another way.

Xu Yan continued,

"If your goal is just to make money, then there's still a way for us to work together."

Feng Wu's eyes lit up.

"How?"

"First, tell me—what's your target amount?"

"It's about 10 million. If I can earn 10 million, my family's mortgage can be paid off."

Xu Yan nodded.

"Alright. Then here's the deal."

"Until I reach Level 20, no one from your group is allowed to collect materials from disaster beasts above Level 25. Only Bai Ding from my group will collect them for you."

"Since Bai Ding's workload is high, he'll only focus on high-level disaster beasts. The rest of your group can handle the lower-level ones yourselves."

"I can't guarantee anything else, but at the very least—I can promise that every single high-level disaster beast will drop a core."

"If, by the time I reach Level 20, you haven't made 10 million, I'll make up the difference."

Feng Wu was stunned.

Xu Yan was guaranteeing him 10 million?

Just like that?

And Bai Ding…

His core collection rate was 100%!?

Feng Wu's mind was spinning.

"Wait… you're telling me Bai Ding always gets a disaster beast core?"

"That's right. 100%."

Hearing Xu Yan say that so casually…

Feng Wu was frozen.

He suddenly realized—

Liang Qiu's insane number of beast cores—

It wasn't luck.

It was Bai Ding.

And now, Xu Yan was offering him the same advantage.

Even if Bai Ding only collected cores from beasts above Level 25, the profits would be astronomical.

Feng Wu's breathing grew heavier.

"Xu Yan… how are we dividing the cores Bai Ding collects for us?"

Xu Yan's reply was immediate,

"We're not. They belong entirely to your group."

Feng Wu's eyes widened.

"Then… what's your condition?"

"Two things."

"Name them!"

"First, keep leveling up—but the moment you hit Level 30, you stop. You don't go past Level 30 unless I reach Level 21. We must stay within 10 levels of each other at all times."

"Second, when I reach Level 20, you come with me to a place and protect me. I won't say where right now, but there will be some risk."

"But with my buffs, the chance of death is extremely low."

"I trust Liang Qiu's judgment. She said you're trustworthy, and I believe her."

"So—"

"Do we have a deal?"

Feng Wu didn't hesitate.

"Deal!"

Xu Yan was giving him the chance of a lifetime.

How could he refuse?

The conditions weren't even hard.

The first was to level up to 30—which was inevitable anyway.

The second was to protect Xu Yan—which he could do easily.

Plus, by then, he'd be able to receive Xu Yan's buffs.

He had seen what those buffs did to Liang Qiu's team.

If Xu Yan's abilities worked on him, then…

He wouldn't just be a Holy Knight.

He'd be a God of War.

This deal was too good to refuse.

…

Xu Yan smiled.

"Alright. It's a deal. No regrets."

"Never."

Feng Wu got his way to make money.

And Xu Yan?

He got his ultimate bodyguard.

With Xu Ying's invisibility, Pain Mask's disguise, and now, Feng Wu's sheer power, his mission to dismantle the beast tide had become much safer.

A perfect four-layer insurance.

They shook hands.

Feng Wu left, completely satisfied.

…

At the same time—

A train arrived at Baitan City.

The announcement echoed through the speakers.

"The next station is Baitan City. Passengers disembarking, please prepare to exit."

Zhou Min's team tensed up as they stared out the window.

The cityscape outside was ruined.

Smoke. Rubble. Bloodstains.

Signs of battle everywhere.

Zhou Min gulped.

"Xu Yan… what the hell did you call us here for?"

Xu Ying's voice trembled.

"There's… there's a beast siege."

Chen Hao clutched his seat.

"I—I think I want to get off this train… right now."