Chapter 149: Seizing Ten Strongholds!

Such righteous and solemn words immediately touched the hearts of these Martial Artists, making it seem as though the person standing before them was not merely a Martial Artist, but an angel sent from heaven to redeem all.

“He’s truly… I could cry—”

“Damn it, how did sand get in my eyes!”

“I’m convinced. It’s been so long since anyone besides my parents treated me this well. Even if it’s toxic positivity today, I’ll take it!”

“How laughable. I’ve lived nearly thirty years, seen all kinds of deceit and treachery, yet today I’m being helped by an outsider.”

The people gazed worshipfully at the man beyond the campfire.

“We can’t let you fight alone. I, Fang Qiang, am willing to join!”

“I, Chong Ming, am willing too! We can’t let a hero fight in isolation. We must break the resource monopoly of those Prodigies—not just for ourselves, but for all Rogue Cultivators in the Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground!”

“Jiang Yan, let us fight alongside you!”

The crowd cheered fervently. Even Yang Qing, who knew some of the inside story, felt moved.

He knew Jiang Yan intended to establish a Dueling Arena, but he didn’t know that Jiang Yan’s sole purpose for building it was to gather Battle Intent.

Yang Qing had always believed Jiang Yan’s original intention in creating the Dueling Arena was to give those disadvantaged Martial Artists a chance to enter the treasure grounds.

If even Yang Qing thought this way, the others were even more convinced.

And the reality wasn’t far off.

Although Jiang Yan’s true motive wasn’t to help them, objectively, he had indeed achieved a redistribution of resources.

Martial Artists could earn Duel Coins through combat and thereby obtain cultivation resources.

Meanwhile, the resources in the hands of the strong were seized by Jiang Yan. To continue cultivating, they had no choice but to fight in the Dueling Arena, sharing cultivation resources with those disadvantaged Martial Artists.

What could have been hoarded alone now had to be shared!

This was the difference brought about by Jiang Yan’s actions.

And such behavior was undoubtedly draining the lifespan of the entire Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground!

Originally, when Geniuses monopolized resources, they were used individually, and resource regeneration could barely keep up.

But universal sharing accelerated resource consumption, drastically shortening its lifespan.

Yet Jiang Yan didn’t care about any of this.

Whether it benefited or harmed the Martial Artists, whether it damaged the interests of the strong within the Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground—he didn’t care.

As long as he could grow stronger, any sacrifice was worth it!

Night fell, and the clanging sounds of construction echoed from outside the camp.

To repay Jiang Yan’s kindness, these Martial Artists decided to contribute in their own way.

“Jiang Yan doesn’t want us to join the expedition. Is he… sparing our lives?”

“He’s truly a good person. I misjudged him before~”

Slap!

That person slapped himself while carrying a bag of cement.

“At first, I thought he was deceiving us. I really deserve to die!”

“Sigh, me too. I should have realized earlier—how bad could someone who slays Demon Lords and rids the people of evil really be?”

…

Martial Artists were physically strong and highly efficient.

Moreover, Jiang Yan had advised in advance that for now, they only needed to build a few arenas for fighting. Expansion and additional construction could wait until more people joined.

In just one night, three martial platforms had been erected.

They were built using Flowstone from within the Starfall Outpost’s territory, which was excellent in hardness, impact resistance, and other aspects, ensuring it could withstand a certain degree of impact.

At the very least, it was more than sufficient to handle the force of Martial Artists below the True Intent Realm.

By dawn, these Martial Artists, having stayed up all night, had completed one more martial platform.

And just then, Jiang Yan returned.

Yang Qing moved closer.

“Bro Jiang, we now have four martial arts platforms. Though they’re still quite rudimentary, they’re barely usable.”

“Mm. Later, arrange for a few people to go out of the Hundred Prisons to purchase materials and hire professionals to study how to renovate the martial arts platforms. They need to at least withstand attacks from True Intent Realm Martial Artists.”

“Yes! I’ll make sure it’s done properly!”

Yang Qing declared with conviction.

“Alright, I have an announcement to make first.”

Jiang Yan shifted his gaze away from Yang Qing and looked toward the Martial Artists busy constructing the martial arts platforms.

“Everyone, take a break.”

“Those among you who have reached the Half-Step True Intent or the True Intent Realm, step forward.”

As soon as Jiang Yan finished speaking, ten people gradually stepped forward.

A burly man patted his chest and said earnestly,

“Bro Jiang, are we going to fight? Although my Talent isn’t great, I’ve been active in the Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground for two years. My strength was genuinely forged through real combat. I definitely won’t hold you back when the time comes.”

Jiang Yan waved his hand and stated plainly,

“I didn’t call you out to fight. I’m having you take over some nearby outposts.”

“Damn, did you already conquer an outpost, Bro Jiang?”

Jiang Yan shook his head.

“Uh… right, the people in the recent outposts aren’t weak. It must be difficult to take them down.”

Jiang Yan still shook his head, made a gesture, and said calmly,

“It’s ten.”

“Hiss—”

“How many?!”

Not only the burly man, but everyone else also looked at Jiang Yan in shock.

“Ten!”

When Jiang Yan uttered these two words, everyone’s first reaction was to think he was insane. But recalling Jiang Yan’s Divine Might that night, none dared to step forward and question him.

It was as if…

This was only to be expected from him.

“Fengxiao Outpost, Mahong Outpost, Longteng Outpost…”

Jiang Yan quickly listed the names of ten outposts, assigning them one by one to the ten people who had just stepped forward.

“Longteng Outpost! That’s the Longteng Outpost, one of the four great academies!”

“Longteng Outpost isn’t declining like Wantao. Recently, powerful experts from the academy have been stationed there one after another. Its status in the entire Hundred Prisons Hunting Ground is at its peak. Jiang Yan actually managed to conquer Longteng Outpost single-handedly? This…”

People regarded Jiang Yan as if observing a deity. By now, only admiration remained in their hearts, with not a trace of resistance left.

“The people there have already been subdued by me. If any remain unyielding, you ten just send me a message.”

Jiang Yan instructed these individuals.

The resources within the scope of ten large outposts could be described as vast. Jiang Yan now had no shortage of cultivation resources whatsoever.

The remaining resources would be reasonably distributed to these Martial Artists, and then he would harvest a wave of Battle Intent.

A double boost!

Now that the foundation was laid, he could preliminarily enter the experimental phase.

At noon, the martial arts platforms officially opened.

Twelve outposts, over a thousand Martial Artists, nearly twenty True Intent Realm experts gathered here.

They had been defeated by Jiang Yan and, to save their lives, submitted willingly or unwillingly. Now, they could be considered to have joined Jiang Yan’s faction.

As before, Jiang Yan didn’t need their loyalty. Whether they harbored ulterior motives or otherwise, it didn’t affect his collection of Battle Intent.

The martial arts platforms weren’t enough, so they fought in the open. Jiang Yan collected Battle Intent with great delight.

Pure Battle Intent was stored within Jiang Yan’s body.

Half a day passed, and a Phantom Image of a War Ruins Engraving condensed.

The difference between refined Battle Intent and ordinary Battle Intent is vast. When there were many people, Jiang Yan could even instantly condense over ten War Ruins Engravings.

Now, after half a day, Jiang Yan had only managed to condense a single Phantom Image of a War Ruins Engraving by relying on the occasional refined Battle Intent emanating from the Martial Artists.

But Jiang Yan was not disappointed at all, because refined Battle Intent is permanent!

The current reserve is already enough to condense half a War Ruins Engraving.

Moreover, the upper limit is still unknown.

Therefore, in theory, Jiang Yan can infinitely stack engravings as long as there is enough Battle Intent—and it is sufficiently refined!

On the arena, two Martial Artists exchanged fierce blows, their Battle Intent soaring.

The battle continued, and the Battle Intent provided by the arena flowed endlessly, like installing a solar power generator, equivalent to Jiang Yan engaging in continuous, unceasing combat.

But it was too little.

Jiang Yan was very dissatisfied.

So, expansion was still necessary!