Chapter 2749 - 2750: The Gap

"Uh, only you and Qiu Hanmo from the Red Fire Team passed the test?"

On the road, during casual conversation, Feng Yuan learned of a surprising piece of news, nodded, and Yang Hongzhi said,

"That’s right, so I wanted to take them to the Empire Timeline, but Han Mo kept saying it wasn’t suitable."

"Hmm, your Red Fire Team should have participated in the patrol as well, yet despite the reduced difficulty for contribution, you haven’t passed..."

Touching his chin, Feng Yuan hesitated, theoretically, given the Red Fire Team’s track record, they shouldn’t have struggled like this. After all, their displayed strength, in terms of talent, should be higher than that of Qi Chen’s team.

Unfortunately, this is reality. No matter how good the theory sounds, if reality doesn’t align, it doesn’t help.

"Well...we did participate in the patrol, and not just our Red Fire Team but several other renowned teams as well..."

Yang Hongzhi didn’t know how to respond momentarily. If he were unaware of Qi Chen’s situation, he might have thought this was normal. However, in Yang Hongzhi’s view, the members of the Red Fire Team have potential not lower than Qi Chen’s team. Why couldn’t they pass?

"In terms of quantified contribution, we didn’t do as well as they did."

Qiu Hanmo said with a faint smile. He noticed Yang Hongzhi stealing glances at Qi Chen’s team and naturally guessed what Yang Hongzhi meant. He could actually understand why this situation had arisen.

Just as Dou Yanlan feared, Qiu Hanmo’s abilities in gathering, analyzing information, and strategizing far exceeded that of Dou Yanlan’s team. Therefore, he easily guessed what Yang Hongzhi was thinking and why Qi Chen’s team, whose potential seeming inferior to the Red Fire Team on paper, could easily pass the ascension challenge.

According to the information he gathered, Qi Chen’s actual contribution was far greater than those of patrol members like them, even though in terms of strength, before the test, Red Fire Team and others were stronger than Qi Chen’s team.

But the other side had support. Feng Yuan was the variable here, as he enabled Qi Chen’s team to possess Qi Realm Stance and the power of Mythical Transformation. Although this method can’t be used frequently, they only used it a few times according to the information. Yet, each time they used it, it decisively turned the tide.

Compared to the non-impactful patrols, it was clear such actions garnered much more contribution, just as it did for him.

It’s not that he didn’t want to assist his team’s members, but he couldn’t. Qiu Hanmo could guess he easily passed the test, possibly due to his assistance in official planning during that period influencing the situation.

After all, his displayed abilities had been on the military’s radar in Maomu City, yet because he expressed that he wished to complete his studies first, they didn’t bother him further.

"How could that be?"

Yang Hongzhi was unaware of these intricacies. He looked at Qiu Hanmo incredulously. If Feng Yuan had said it, he might have doubted if there was something wrong, but Qiu Hanmo...

This cunning old fox wouldn’t lie casually to his own people, much less about such trivial matters.

"Hmm, that makes sense. You wouldn’t misuse the Mythical Transformation. If used at critical moments to turn the tide, the contribution indeed surpasses that of simple patrols greatly."

Feng Yuan mused thoughtfully. He hadn’t noticed this situation before, though it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

As for affecting contributions maliciously? Feng Yuan could only say that’s overthinking. They weren’t acting alone, following the main team with Dou Yanlan and Qi Chen. If they withheld Mythical Transformation until the situation deteriorated, would the others not see through it?

Don’t take everyone for fools, not to mention their main team also had other commanders. If they operated like this, they certainly wouldn’t remain in that team for long.

So Feng Yuan saw no issue with it.

"Mythical Transformation... Oh right, I forgot about that."

Yang Hongzhi was taken aback and realized the power of Mythical Transformation was formidable, granted by Divine Beasts. With such power, it’s only natural it could turn the tide at crucial moments.

Regarding contribution, actions in such situations certainly warrant more than patrols. After all, while the Red Fire Team is strong, their strength is limited. Handling minor issues is fine, but direct confrontation with the Imperial People is on an entirely different scale, which naturally means contribution distribution won’t yield much to them.

"It seems if we want to easily acquire another Ascension Stone, it’s also a challenge..."

"But Han Mo, I still don’t understand why you stop me from taking them along? With Najia’s help, there’d definitely be no issue."

Yang Hongzhi said, looking puzzled at Qiu Hanmo, who shook his head slightly, saying,

"It’s not appropriate."

"Why isn’t it appropriate!"

"Hmm... Is it a matter of strength? Given the current situation, without Legendary Level strength, achieving something substantial is difficult, even with your help, since this time it’s essentially a mob acting."

Feng Yuan said, glancing at Qiu Hanmo, and when Qiu nodded though shook his head, Feng Yuan sighed, saying,

"Qiu Hanmo, are you not planning to go with him to the Empire Timeline?"

"I’m not needed there."

"Indeed, you see this action as unlikely to grant much contribution from mere combat, don’t you? To significantly reduce the difficulty, one must lead an operation to at least capture a town, which could earn the leader enough contribution to lower the challenge’s difficulty."

Glancing at Qi Chen’s group, Feng Yuan spoke. He wasn’t worried about it. Before the operation, it would suffice to have Tamur apply Mythical Transformation to them. With Qi Chen’s current strength, daily battles don’t require it, but during operations, exhibiting Mythical Transformation with Najia’s aid, capturing a town wouldn’t be a problem.

But this only extends to Qi Chen and Dou Yanlan; other Beastmasters below Legendary Level can’t play this way, as their base strength is limited, and Mythical Transformation only temporarily elevates them to a Legendary Level, which isn’t enough to capture a town.

As for turning the tide at key moments?

It’s easier said than done. Not only does it require grasping the timing, but with the current haphazard actions of this mob, even Qiu Hanmo might struggle to timely judge when and how to act.

Simultaneously, Feng Yuan also surmised Qiu Hanmo’s reluctance to join Yang Hongzhi in the Empire Timeline stems from his strategic prowess being less useful now.

No, it can’t be put like that. If he did act, it could yield surprising benefits, but it would be much more effort, just as Feng Yuan hasn’t lacked the ability; truly, were he to maneuver, he could manipulate others efficiently as well.

But conducting it this way is too troublesome and mentally taxing. If an issue can be resolved directly, why complicate things unnecessarily?

"Not just merely engaging in combat?"

Yang Hongzhi looked at Feng Yuan in surprise; he genuinely wasn’t aware of this, and Qiu Hanmo, after a moment of silence, remarked,

"That’s approximately it, although it’s just my guess. Relying solely on common combat rarely effectively lowers the difficulty unless one possesses phenomenal talent."

"For you, combat will suffice, as Najia’s contributions would count towards you too. Clearly, Qi Chen and the others can’t operate that way."

Glancing at Yang Hongzhi, Feng Yuan remarked, slightly exasperated. The difficulty of the ascension challenge is apparent, and since he had participated, he naturally knew the situation. Qi Chen and his team are quite talented, yet passing easily seems nearly impossible.

However, with his help, acquiring another Ascension Stone isn’t too difficult. As for what level must be achieved to directly claim an Ascension Stone this time, Feng Yuan was also uncertain.

Because this time, there isn’t a unified force organizing the action.

The Alliance? They’d like to, but clearly, other nations don’t have the same intention, as it’s unrealistic to suggest they’re devoid of other motives.

This is where the Alliance feels helpless. Originally, the Divine Beast Hall was being suppressed by them, yet leveraging the United Army, the Divine Beast Hall’s situation rapidly improved.

Conversely, the Alliance finds itself disadvantaged now. Although, in terms of Divine Beasts, they still hold an edge, the ordeal with the United Army allowed the Divine Beast Hall to re-establish relations with many Divine Beasts.

During this operation, the Alliance hoped to match the conditions of the United Army, yet accomplishing this seems impossible. The United Army’s formation was due to repeated Imperial assaults disrupting the Main World’s order, necessitating Divine Beast intervention.

Now, that issue doesn’t exist; it merely involves human infighting, so naturally Divine Beasts won’t interfere. Without Divine Beast assistance, forming a similar United Army as the Alliance seems nearly impossible.

Without a leading force, who knows how chaotic this war might become? Trying to accumulate contributions through conventional combat? Feng Yuan could only shake his head, saying that the difficulty might surpass that of leading a team to capture a town by himself.