Chapter 174 - Termite Battle (1/2)

”Do you want to ask our boss to sign a blood pact? How dare you? We won't let you do it.” Dae-Won, the leader of the guard group serving Long Tian, ​​exclaimed in a quivering voice of anger. Soon after, he and Hide, Xinya, and William drew their weapons. As bodyguards, they couldn't allow anyone to impose themselves on their boss that way, regardless of whether it was a spirit beast or a human being.

”Stop.” Long Tian raised a hand, gesturing for his four guards not to attack. Then he turned to the five lords of the forest. ”What exactly do you want from this blood pact?”

'A warranty. That you will keep your word about everything you promised today.' the second level bear replied to the Imperial Prince.

”Okay. In any case, it was my intention to keep the word. Signing a spirit pact changes nothing. It's just that I cannot promise you that there will be no human raids at all. After all, not all humans who live on the continent respect the laws of the empire. I hope you understand this.”

'We understand. Good, since you've accepted, let's proceed then.'

”Wait. I haven't finished yet. Since we are making a blood pact, I would like you to respect what you promised as well. Furthermore, since you are the five lords of the forest, all five of you will have to sign the blood pact. Otherwise, I should consider the contractor the true lord of the forest and the others his subordinates.”

At Long Tian's words, the five second-level spirit beasts showed signs of anger and disgust. All of them had long been rivals, and their pride prevented them from even imagining themselves subordinates to one of the other four. Therefore, Long Tian's words forced all five of them to sign the blood pact.

To the side, Feng Chen and Hu Jie had a slight smile on their lips. They knew Long Tian well and knew of his ability to take advantage of his interlocutor's pride to get what he wanted.

'So, his every move, every word he said, it was all in order to obtain a blood pact with all the five lords of the forest. In this way, he obtained an assurance from all the parties involved.' Hei reflected as he watched the blood pact process between Long Tian and the five spirit beasts.

Signing a blood pact was no trifle. You had to be very careful with the terms of the pact, or you would have risked death in the event of a break. In addition to that, the signing process itself was considered to be a dishonorable gesture because it meant having fallen into a desperate situation so as to require a blood pact.

After the blood pact was signed, the five lords of the forest left to prepare for battle. Hei, Long Tian, and everyone else returned to camp, where their classmates were waiting for news.

”I bet you are impatient to know what happened a little while ago. As you know, I sent Hei forward to find out about the c.o.c.kroaches. He was able to bring useful information. Our real enemy is not the c.o.c.kroaches but a pair of termites who have taken control of the c.o.c.kroach colonies. From the information we have, the termite king is a newly advanced third-level spirit beast.”

When Long Tian uttered the words' third level' terror and despair spread through the fort, after all, the first year students were just spirit soldiers; those with the highest cultivation didn't go over the third stage. How then could they face a third level spirit beast that was comparable to a spirit master?

”I know. A third level spirit beast is not something that each of us can face alone. However, you aren't alone. You have your comrades. In any case, your opponents will only be second-level spirit beasts. I will be the one to take care of the termite king. Besides, we managed to make an agreement with the five lords of the forest. They, together with their subordinates, will help us destroy the termites once and for all.

Just one little clarification. The raid mission will be very dangerous, and many of you are unlikely to survive. If you want to stay here, there will be no repercussions. You aren't yet a soldier, and therefore you aren't imputable of desertion according to martial law. But be aware that if you decide to stay here, you will be immediately given the number of spirit cores that correspond to you but nothing more. Not even the prize from me. After all, this prize is for anyone who is willing to give me all his strength to the end.

Furthermore, your safety will no longer be my concern. Therefore, you will have to think for yourselves if you get attacked, and I'm not just talking about c.o.c.kroaches. The agreement with the forest lords concerns only the troops who will come with us to attack the c.o.c.kroaches nest. You have an hour to think about it. After that hour, we will leave.”

Without pausing to explain further, Long Tian went to his tent, followed by his guards and all the others who had accompanied him before.

Once inside, Feng Chen finally asked what he had been keeping inside all this time. ”Long Tian, ​​you said that you would take care of the third level termite king. Are you going to use it?”

Long Tian nodded yes, ”Yes. There is no other way. The Battle Formation of the Imperial Family is our trump card. Even if I don't like to use it, I am forced this time. With the enhancement of the Battle Concert, I should be able to acquire a power comparable to the termite king.”

Hearing this, Hei was amazed and asked. ”Can you reach the termite king's power level?”

Long Tian turned to him, ”If it's a newly advanced spirit beast, yes. The Battle Formation of the Imperial Family is an atypical battle formation. Instead of making the users fight according to a precise pattern, this formation takes away the spirit power of those who use it to channel it into a single person. Dae-Won and the others can perform it, and thanks to them, I can momentarily reach the seventh stage spirit soldier. With the enhancement of the Battle Concert, I would reach the level of a spirit teacher who is just advanced. However, the problem is that I don't know how much the termite king consolidated his cultivation. I need someone who can fight with me.”

”I doubt anyone is capable of reaching that level of power at the moment. Xieren and I can use a pair battle formation. But at best, we could reach the fifth spirit soldier stage. But if there are no better candidates, you can count on us.” Feng Chen said as Huli Xieren confirmed with a nod of their heads.

”The same goes for me. Even if I don't have a battle formation, as you know, my skin is rather hard. I should be able to hold on for a while without dying.” Hu Jie also proposed to fight together in Long Tian.

”In that case, I think the best candidates are Lian and me.” All of a sudden, Hei said these words.

”What do you mean?” Long Tian turned to him.

”Lian and I are able to enter a battle formation with Ye and Xing, my two spirit beasts. With the enhancement of the Battle Concert, we should achieve a power similar to yours.”

This time it was Long Tian's turn to be surprised. He didn't expect such a card from Hei. Even if he came from a remote place like the Forgotten Ocean, Hei once again proved to have techniques not inferior to the Eight Big Families, and to the Imperial Family.

”Okay, then. If you say you can do it, you, Lian, and your spirit beasts will fight alongside me. Feng Chen, Hu Jie. You take care of the termite guards instead. Even if the lords of the forest said they could handle the guards on their own, I don't trust them enough to leave entirely such a task to them. And that even if they are under the influence of the blood pact. We can't afford any of the guards to interfere in the fight against the termite king.”