Origin Paradise!

"As for the situation of the top-tier players you want to ask about, my answer is that it's hard to say. We might have had a general idea before, but now a large number of them have died, and given the current state of the Dark Forest, no one can accurately predict the future. But there are definitely Silver Age level powerhouses."

Jiang He asked doubtfully, "What if the Guardians of Order are defeated?"

“Then let’s send the executive officers up.” Wuhega chuckled. “Generally speaking, you are better at killing.”

As Jiang He digested the intelligence, unbeknownst to him, a turmoil encompassing the entire present realm suddenly erupted and then vanished without a trace, which could be seen as a stage in a new era.

After a short rest, Jiang He continued working on the vitality potion. The cost of one potion was two D-level military merits, but it could actually be reduced further.

Some primitive tribes place army ants on wounds and use their mouthparts to automatically suture the wounds. From a symbolic perspective, the mouthparts of army ants can replace medical sutures taken from wounded patients.

The existence of the Borderland Wilderness provides a foundation for raising army ants and geckos. The difficulty of clearing weeds after a fire is not high, and extraordinary creatures roam everywhere. As long as there is labor, resources can be accumulated quickly.

Jiang He looked at Wu He and said, "I plan to cooperate with your legion. You will command the production of bird breeding materials, and you will receive 30% of the profits from vitality potions. Let's expand our production scale."

"Good crow, good crow," Wuhe replied with great interest. The market for vitality potions was far from saturated, and there were great business opportunities.

Chapter 68 Red Knight Side Quest

Inside a private bunker.

Two hours later, Jiang He had completed the production of 40 vitality potions. The bullets and potions he had on hand were for his own use. In addition, he had more than 160 black gems and 12 yellow paper talismans that he had exchanged with Cangshan Fuxue, namely two tower talismans, two thunder talismans, two soul talismans, and six water talismans.

The alchemy work is finished.

Jiang He activated Garuda Mode III: Full Enhancement, generating a blue-red armor on his body. He then extended blood wings to wrap around his entire body, assuming a fully armed stance.

A black gemstone was placed on the table. Jiang He carefully picked up the Long-Hate Spear, preparing to crush it bit by bit.

Wuhe squawked in fright, flapped its wings and flew to the wooden beam, saying in surprise, "I don't recommend doing such dangerous things in an enclosed environment. Won't this thing explode?"

Jiang He wasn't sure either. "I can't say for sure. The Chaos Bomb is under my control, but it's still a bomb after all."

Seeing that he had put on two layers of defense, Wuhe immediately moved further away. If only power and range were considered, the Chaos Bomb was not particularly outstanding, but the extra damage to flesh and spirit directly elevated it to the level of a powerful gunpowder. In particular, the 10 points of true damage each of the multiple uses caused was not like a rare consumable.

The spear of eternal hatred crushed the black gemstone, which shattered upon impact. After several repetitions, a layer of powder was ground off.

Jiang He took out another twenty gemstones and continued grinding them, until he had a whole cup of gemstone fragments.

He took out a blood-stained double-headed eagle flag from the large package. It was the military merit treasure he had exchanged that morning. A powerful spirit resided inside, and according to the curse description of the item, it would invade the holder's dreams at night.

The shroud flag was spread across the table, and Jiang He evenly sprinkled black gemstone powder on it. When the two sides made contact, faint wails echoed in the private bunker, like sobs and lamentations.

[Hint: You are currently under attack by the "Dream of a Fallen Kingdom" campaign]

[Note: Mental resistance successfully resisted; mental save granted]

[Note: The Song of a Fallen Kingdom has no effect on you.]

As if sensing that the resistance was having little effect, the shroud flag began to flutter violently.

Jiang He quickly let go and retreated to the bunker entrance. The Everlasting Regret Spear, now detached from its user, immediately displayed its terrifying weight. The 3,000-pound spear fell, instantly breaking the table and firmly pressing the Corpse Banner to the ground, even creating a noticeable dent.

The black gemstone powder began to crackle and explode, like firecrackers during the Lunar New Year. After being crushed, its power was greatly reduced, but it effectively prevented the shroud flag from being destroyed by the explosion.

The targeted damage to the spiritual entity gradually took effect, and a humanoid black smoke rose from the surface of the Corpse Banner. Its face was ferocious and terrifying. Judging from its appearance, it was a woman who was struggling frantically, desperately waving her long, black, sharp fingernails at someone, and a piercing shriek rolled over.

Wuhe asked curiously, "What did she say?"

Jiang He shook her head. "The note says 'Song of a Fallen Kingdom,' so it's probably a song."

After realizing that the spirits of the dead could not leave the flag, the man and the bird waited patiently.

The ghost struggled for a full five minutes. Jiang He then ground five more black gems into powder and scattered the powder far away. Immediately, the sizzling sound of burning grease filled the bunker.

boom!

The black smoke gradually thinned until it exploded with a deafening roar, sweeping through the bunker but causing no real damage.

Jiang He cautiously sprinkled out another portion of powder, and this time all the noise disappeared. He stepped forward to retrieve the Everlasting Hatred Spear and the Corpse-Wrapping Flag. The latter's item description no longer contained any curses or warnings. The ancient Byzantine Empire's double-headed eagle could grant royal purple-robed nobles a second set of knightly abilities.

"So many chaotic bombs, the price is really high." Wuhe was a little surprised by the investment. According to the intelligence he had collected, there were only a handful of knight families that could afford to pay 27 rare-grade consumables at once. Such rare and good items were treated like roadside pebbles by the executive officer.

"Of course it's worth it."

Jiang He reached out and grabbed the Corpse Banner. In the blink of an eye, the thing burst into flames. The flowing flames extended along his arm, leaving an eagle head pattern on each of his shoulders. The pattern on his back was just simple lines and was slightly blank.

"The only thing left is to accommodate the beast souls."

Jiang He felt that the Corpse Banner was very similar to the totem technology of the Great Shaman who contained the Black Tiger Soul in the previous derivative mission. As for the target, he already had a plan. In the real world, he tamed a Crimson Spider on the border, which had the ability to be poisonous and enhance blood drinking. If he transformed it into a second set of soul weapons and paired it with the Blood Bat weapons, it would have considerable growth potential. Moreover, the poison could further enhance the energy trait of corrosion.

The military merits gained through killing have now been fully transformed into strength and resources.

Jiang He casually picked up the newspaper on the table and flipped through it.

Against the backdrop of war, outside the stage of Lyden City, all sorts of things are happening in other parts of the world.

A Prussian lieutenant, wielding a Maxim machine gun, killed over two thousand enemy soldiers during the Battle of Verdun. It took three French knights, one dead and two wounded, to finally kill the lieutenant.

The war correspondent stated that the lieutenant was not a knight, but possessed eagle-eye-like abilities, which deserve attention from all parties.

Within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a man frequently gave impassioned speeches and frequented beer halls and cafes. After each speech, he would make a signature gesture of reaching out to the side. Due to the ambiguity of his identity, the man was arrested and executed by firing squad. However, until his death, hundreds of patrons who had been influenced by his speeches pleaded for his life.

Over the Western Front, Prussia's best pilot, Manfred, hailed as the ace of aces, finally met his match after shooting down dozens of enemy fighters. A middle-aged farmer from a French countryside village became famous overnight. At a party, he claimed to have thirty years of flying experience.

Jiang He kept looking around. These days, almost every newspaper's front page was about the Battle of the Somme, with the street fighting on the Lyden battlefield taking up half of the pages. His side spared no effort in promoting the Water Tank Project, but it still couldn't cover up the heavy losses of three infantry divisions being wiped out, and more than a hundred "soldiers" with knightly honors dying in battle.

In the evening, a lieutenant from the Lemon family delivered a brand-new newspaper, with the headline "Leden City Sniper Hero - Red Knight" prominently displayed on the front page.

[Hint: You have obtained the title "Red Knight"]

[Note: Red Knight title increases targeted damage against flesh and blood by 20 points]

[Hint: You have triggered the side quest]

[Task Name: Return to Silence]

[Mission objective: Defeat Emperor Otto (0/1)]

[Quest Reward: 2 Skill Points]

[Note: Only one side quest can be started per world trip, and there is no bonus to quest rating. Please choose carefully after triggering the quest.]

The Lemon family lieutenant said respectfully, "Sir, the colonel said you should meet with your other team members."

Chapter 69 The Gray Knight

As night fell, the campsite was covered in mud.

In the logging area on the outskirts, the four operatives arrived.

After the lieutenant led someone to this place, he immediately turned and left. Jiang He glanced around and observed the other three.

The thin man sitting on the wood looked to be around thirty years old, with gloomy eyes and a somewhat taciturn demeanor. Even after his teammates arrived, he kept his head down, concentrating on carving the wooden statue with his dagger, oblivious to the outside world.

Beside him stood a tall, muscular young man with a cigarette dangling from his lips, arms crossed, looking impatient, with two prominent bone spurs on his neck that made him appear quite inhuman.

Jiang He shifted her gaze, and in her line of sight, Tommy, leaning against a large tree, nodded in response.

"Very good, everyone is here."

The middle-aged colonel clapped his hands. He was in charge of the quartermaster department, a trusted confidant of the lieutenant general, and the third most powerful figure in the entire Leden theater. His personal presence showed how much importance the theater attached to this mission.

"You are all among the Empire's finest knights, and this time you bear a great mission. According to reliable sources, the Prussians are plotting an inhumane and unjust heinous act. They want to reverse their inevitable defeat in the war by resurrecting the ancients. In response, the King's Shield has decided to deliver a crushing blow to these arrogant Prussians and expose their ridiculous and pathetic conspiracy!"

The middle-aged colonel did not forget to emphasize his position.

Just when he thought no one would respond, the tall young man clapped enthusiastically.

“Sir, well said! My arrival symbolizes their failure, not to mention that Mr. Grey Knight is also involved in the operation. However, the two of us are enough. The Order of the British Empire is only awarded once a year. I can accept Mr. Grey Knight receiving it, but let’s forget about those who are just there to make up the numbers.”

The middle-aged colonel frowned. The Order of the British Empire was one of the highest honors for a knight, symbolizing the empire at its peak, comparable to the Order of the Hunt. He was qualified to receive it for thwarting the major plan of the Reverse Tree Sword to mobilize all its forces, but only a very few people knew about it at the moment, and he hadn't said anything yet.

"Porcupine, Rhine and Tommy are all battle-hardened knights who have completed two important ambush battles, and their merits have been recognized."

The tall young man nicknamed "Porcupine" scoffed, "One is a hastily trained sniper who relies on the Black Knight to shoot from the shadows, and the other is a lucky guy with no knightly power but only good luck. These two guys lost the position and failed to complete the mission of holding the line. I don't like to associate with deserters."

The middle-aged colonel said coldly, "You may be dissatisfied, but the operation has been approved by the three leaders. You must cooperate with each other. This is not a discussion, but an order."

The porcupine was about to open its mouth when it was interrupted by the thin man.

"Enough. Since it's an order from above, arguing is pointless. Everything should be done with the mission accomplished."

The porcupine snorted twice and then fell silent.

The thin man carefully tucked the wooden carving into his pocket, stood up and said, "I am the Grey Knight of this generation. I used to operate in the West District. You can call me Lehman. According to the notice, I am the captain and observer. Mr. Red Knight is the vice-captain and sniper. Porcupine is the demolition expert. Tommy was previously in the East District. This time, he will serve as the navigator."

“In an hour, we will enter Lyden City to investigate and destroy the plan to destroy the Reverse Tree Sword. Our first stop is the East District Railway Dispatch Center. Before the Battle of Lyden broke out, an intelligence agent who went deep behind enemy lines returned with important items, but was ambushed and killed en route. There is no detailed information now, so my decision is to use this as a starting point.”

Tommy introduced himself: "Wildhorse Rider, from Birmingham."

"Sniper, accurate shooting distance 600 meters."

Jiang He lowered her eyelids slightly. As expected, the wooden carving in the Gray Knight's hand was the most valuable tortoise treasure on the military merit list. It was exactly the same as the photo on the list, which meant that the other party was also a "executioner" with outstanding military merits. It was just that she didn't know why he hadn't used the treasure yet. Keeping this thing was bound to arouse covetousness.

Lehman said in a somber tone, "I see everyone is ready. We'd better set off tonight. There are some military supplies under this pile of timber; take what you need."

"I wish you success in your mission."

The middle-aged colonel stood still, raised his hand to light a cigarette, and watched as the group packed up and walked into the dense forest. Deploying two monochrome knights was already the limit of manpower that could be mobilized in this local battlefield.

……

Night covers the earth.

The four-person team left the forest camp.

Jiang He carried the Crimson Baptism sniper rifle on his back, with 120 rounds of regular ammunition in four waterproof waist packs. In addition, he carried military boots, a water bottle, a bayonet, and other items. Given the relatively cramped environment of Lieden City, he also brought a gas mask.

Tommy was positioned at the center of the team. Since the start of the Battle of Lyden, he had been operating in the East District, participating in numerous street battles and was quite familiar with the local environment. With landmark buildings being extensively damaged by fighter jets, his ability to guide the correct direction through the ruins was extremely important for the operation.

The heavy rain overnight turned the area around Leden into a quagmire. From the air, the trenches of the two opposing battle lines to the north and south were almost like dams. Inside the city, the bodies of countless fallen soldiers began to decompose rapidly, and even with the incessant rain, a gradually fermenting stench spread to the surroundings.

This harsh environment made the porcupine increasingly irritable. Because of its massive size, every step it took sank deep into the mud.

In the middle of the night, guided by Tommy, the action group passed through the large factory in the south, which served as the entrance for the British army, and advanced northeastward. As the war progressed, more and more soldiers gathered in Lyden, and the intensity of street fighting continued to rise, which meant that the enemy might suddenly appear from all directions.

The sound of booming artillery fire echoed from the direction of the library.

This signifies that the action team has entered the Eastern District.

In the alleyway of broken walls and ruins, Lehman, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped. Two streets ahead, the loud shouts of an officer could be faintly heard. The distinctive creaking sound of artillery wheels hitting gravel alerted the four men. The sound of their footsteps sinking into the mud was very dense.

"A rapidly advancing army heading to the library."

Grey Knight Rayman turned his head and said in a low voice, "Major Tommy, can your Wildebeest Knights distinguish friend from foe?"

The porcupine sneered: "Mr. Grey Knight, I think we shouldn't put our lives on luck. If we encounter a battle, they might have already escaped by the time we turn around. Deserters should be court-martialed."

The Grey Knight remained silent, only asking Tommy with his eyes.

Tommy shook his head helplessly. "It was a flash of inspiration, almost like intuition. I could only tell that we would encounter difficulties if we continued forward. As for whether the troops ahead were ours, it was hard to say; there were all sorts of possibilities."

"Hmph, coward," the porcupine sneered.

Tommy frowned, his blue eyes turning slightly cold. "Does chiming in with a few words give you any sense of superiority? You and I both know perfectly well that fighting each other is out of the question. The importance of the mission is self-evident, with two monochrome knights being sent by command. You and I are essentially just assistants, the difference being that your words are currently meaningless."

"You mean you're indispensable for this mission?" the porcupine asked, his face contorted with rage.

Jiang He calmly said, "My suggestion is that we should be more mindful of the occasion when we speak in the future. Alternatively, we could split into two groups to carry out the mission, or I could simply kill the porcupine and report it as a casualty of battle to avoid trouble."

The porcupine's forehead veins bulged, and Grey Knight Rayman felt a bit tired. He said, "Everyone, stop. Let's rest at the factory next door and talk again when the troops ahead have gone some distance."

Chapter 70 Proof of the Legion

Night fell, and dark clouds obscured the moonlight.

The area around the Lyden Library was engulfed in flames of war.

With reinforcements constantly being sent by both sides, the battlefield has become a meat grinder, and the library has become the center of the vortex, determining the strategic ownership of the entire Leden East District.

The team slowly made their way into the abandoned factory next to the alley, along the wall.

Without needing to communicate, the four knew that the factory, being a high-altitude building offering a panoramic view, definitely housed people, and they were likely on the same side as the troops they had passed through earlier.

A small raven landed on someone's shoulder, and because of the quiet surroundings, Ubu reported the message using the exclusive chat channel between the executive and the intelligence officer.

The factory has three floors. There are booby traps on the stairs to the first and second floors. There are seven people on the third floor: one sniper, two people with submachine guns, one flamethrower, and three riflemen.

Jiang He relayed the intelligence, but since the team members were all knights, no one asked about the source of the intelligence.

Grey Knight Rayman said, "I can paralyze all seven of them, but I need the exact location and some preparation time. The paralysis will last for seven seconds. You three should try not to use guns to take them out. Leave the detonation of the booby traps to Porcupine; he's a top student."