Recognition struck like lightning.
The Wind Wolf Hunting Squad—veterans whose Silver Moon Marten hunt had provided his first copied talent. Elementary speed enhancement that had saved his life against Shadow Li Cun's assassination attempt.
Gratitude flooded his consciousness as memories crystallized. Without their inadvertent assistance, he'd have died in that academy grove months ago. The debt demanded acknowledgment.
"If opportunities arise to assist them during this mission, I'll provide support."
The moral obligation was clear, though practical recognition remained one-sided.
Wind Wolf and his team showed zero indication of remembering the minor Martial Apprentice they'd encountered briefly during their hunting expedition. Perfectly understandable—he'd been insignificant then, barely worth acknowledgment from experienced warriors.
Physical Transformation
But dramatic changes had reshaped his entire appearance since that first meeting.
Height: 1.7 meters to 1.8 meters through cultivation-enhanced growth.
Build: Lean adolescent frame to muscular warrior physique.
Demeanor: Innocent student to battle-hardened killer with tangible aura.
Months of systematic beast slaughter had etched violence into his very presence. Sixteen years of chronological age masked by the maturity that only came through repeated life-or-death encounters.
Wind Wolf's failure to recognize him was inevitable rather than surprising.
Strategic Concealment
Rather than approach the hunting squad immediately, he positioned himself in the assembly area's periphery. Social isolation provided observation opportunities while avoiding premature attention.
Several warriors attempted conversation—his apparent youth combined with early Martial Artist achievement suggested exceptional talent worth cultivating as future connections.
Their assessments were catastrophically incomplete.
None possessed sufficient cultivation to pierce his aura suppression techniques. Even Elite Martial Artists struggled to evaluate peers accurately without combat demonstration or deliberate revelation.
If they knew his true Elite classification, shock would paralyze their nervous systems completely.
But premature exposure served no strategic purpose. Once Divine Power Ant strength talents were acquired, concealment would become unnecessary. Until then, maintaining the facade provided tactical advantages.
Leadership Arrival
"Lin Mingzhi approaches!"
The crowd's energy shifted toward electric anticipation as the Lin family's heir made his entrance.
Ye Tian's mental database provided comprehensive intelligence on the approaching figure.
Lin Mingzhi: Thirties, Elite Martial Artist peak, intermediate cultivation talent.
Political heir to Linhai Base's dominant family, possessing genetic potential for Great Martial Artist advancement—though early-stage ceiling represented his absolute limit.
Still sufficient for regional dominance given the Lin family's overwhelming power concentration. Their peak Great Martial Artist likely possessed advanced cultivation talent but had failed Grandmaster breakthrough due to age-related limitations.
Mission Briefing
"Everyone quiet!"
Lin Mingzhi's authoritative presence commanded immediate attention from the assembled warriors.
"Your participation in this beast clearance operation will transform Linhai Base's future permanently. Our settlement's resource limitations constrain advancement—trade route establishment enables access to medium-base treasures completely unavailable through local acquisition."
His presentation emphasized benefits while minimizing dangers—standard recruitment rhetoric for high-risk operations.
"Rewards match the mission's importance. Individual hunting spoils remain completely yours. Oversized beast corpses will be transported back with fifty percent distribution to successful hunters."
Murmurs of appreciation rippled through the crowd.
"Additionally, direct compensation: Martial Artists receive twenty intermediate beast blood vials plus two million yuan. Elite Martial Artists earn three high-grade beast blood plus ten million yuan."
Excitement erupted throughout the assembly.
Such generous compensation exceeded most warriors' annual earnings. Combined with hunting spoils, successful participants could achieve financial security for years.
But Ye Tian's analysis focused on darker implications.
"Survival prerequisite for payment collection."
The Lin family's risk assessment was brutally pragmatic. Dead warriors collected nothing—failed operations cost minimal actual resources while successful clearance generated massive territorial and commercial advantages.
Free expendable labor with enormous upside potential and minimal downside exposure.
"Brilliantly calculated exploitation."
Two hundred warriors present, plus major family contributions, suggested over one thousand total participants. Nearly half of Linhai Base's entire martial population committed to single operation.
Either complete success or devastating population loss awaited.
Strength Assessment
Yuan Force-powered strength testing equipment appeared—sophisticated technology clearly imported from major settlements. The crystalline pillar could analyze combat capabilities through simple impact measurement.
Individual warriors approached for evaluation, results determining task assignment groups.
Ye Tian deliberately suppressed his output to late-stage Martial Artist levels—impressive enough to avoid weak team placement while concealing his true Elite classification.
Even restrained demonstration caused sensation.
"Incredible talent! Elite advancement inevitable!"
Lin Mingzhi personally approached with recruitment overtures, clearly impressed by apparent genetic potential in someone so young.
Polite refusal deflected the attention without creating offense. From Lin Mingzhi's perspective, intermediate cultivation talent wasn't sufficiently valuable to pursue aggressively after initial rejection.
Perfect strategic misdirection.
Team Formation
Classification-based grouping separated Elite and Martial Artist contingents for appropriate task assignment.
Elite teams: Intermediate fierce beast elimination.
Martial Artist teams: Low-level threat clearance.
The Wind Wolf Hunting Squad clustered nearby—eight members requiring two additional teammates for optimal ten-person unit composition.
Debt Repayment Opportunity
"Captain Wind Wolf, would you accept me as teammate?"
Direct approach eliminated uncertainty about their receptiveness.
Wind Wolf's hesitation was visible—his team contained only one late-stage member while other available groups boasted superior overall cultivation levels.
"Little brother, your talent suggests elite team placement might serve you better. We're grateful for interest, but don't want to limit your advancement opportunities."
Professional concern rather than rejection. Wind Wolf genuinely believed higher-tier associations would benefit someone with Ye Tian's apparent potential.
"I value Captain Wind Wolf's reputation and character over pure strength optimization. If you'll have me, I'd be honored to contribute."
"Then welcome to our team!"
Wind Wolf's handshake sealed the arrangement with genuine warmth.
The debt would be repaid through action rather than words.
Divine Power Ant acquisition remained his primary objective, but protecting the hunters who'd unknowingly saved his life provided meaningful secondary purpose.
The dangerous expedition was about to become far more personal than simple talent collection.
[End of Chapter 27]