I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield

Chapter 391: Chapter 345: Infiltrating Flame Mountain

Inside the tent, the flickering lights cast the shadows of the people onto the coarse canvas walls.

Qin Tian sat at the head, tapping his fingertips on the table. The eight battalion commanders and several core officers sat down in sequence, the sound of their boots on the ground had just ceased when he spread out a hand-drawn defense map on the table.

The densely packed red dots on the map resembled a prairie fire, spreading along the front lines of the three battle groups, shocking to behold.

“These are the enemies that our three battle groups are currently facing.” Qin Tian’s fingertip pointed to the densest area of red, “Judging by the deployment, the danger level of the Infernal Demon Sea is much more severe than the front line we previously guarded.”

He paused and recounted his experiences in the Xingyuan Battle Group—the relentless demon tide, the warriors fighting while wounded, and the state of the entire battle group stretched to its limits.

“…With nearly ten thousand people, the Xingyuan Battle Group has five Tier Six experts among them, yet they were forced to the brink of collapse.”

As his words fell, the tent fell into silence. The orange-yellow lights reflected on the solemn faces of the people around.

Even the battle-hardened battalion commanders couldn’t help but feel a chill at the heart upon hearing of such a situation—the peril of the Infernal Demon Sea that could force such a large battle group to the edge was clearly more terrifying than they had imagined.

“I believe that if we only adopt a strategy of strict defense, we will end up in the same predicament as the Xingyuan Battle Group. The demons will attack our lines wave after wave, exhausting everyone and increasing casualties.”

Qin Tian paused, speaking in a serious tone: “Therefore, we must take the initiative to attack.”

Hearing this, everyone’s hearts tightened, but Qin Tian’s decision did not seem to surprise them.

Because they knew, compared to other battle groups, the Chijin Battlegroup had an unparalleled advantage: exceptional mobility.

Other battle groups choosing to launch an attack risked being caught in a deadly situation if other demons attacked their camp during their operation—their defensive forces were already thin, and a hasty return would only result in being torn apart by the demons, and once their offensive faltered, they would be stuck between advancing and retreating.

But the Chijin Battlegroup was different.

The leader’s space teleportation ability allowed the main force to return instantly, and the rapid mobility seemed like an invisible barrier over the camp.

Even when deep inside the Demon Nest, as long as the leader gave the order, the warriors could quickly retreat to a safe area. Such confidence was beyond the reach of the Xingyuan Battle Group and most other groups.

Li Wufeng leaned forward slightly, speaking with a few degrees of certainty: “With the leader’s teleportation skill, our confidence in launching an attack is indeed much stronger than the Xingyuan Battle Group.”

Qin Tian drew large circles on the map, encompassing numerous red dots: “Precisely because of this, I have proactively added assault missions in the joint defense plan. Space teleportation is our advantage and must be used effectively; these are our upcoming targets for clearing.”

Everyone looked closely and saw that Qin Tian had circled at least 20 red dots, calculating an average of 1,000 demons per red dot, they needed to eliminate at least 20,000 demons next.

Without a doubt, it was a very difficult task, but if completed, everyone’s military merits would significantly increase.

Qin Tian glanced around and found no sense of fear or trepidation on their faces, instead, they looked full of confidence; seeing this, he nodded in satisfaction.

However, he was also acutely aware that as long as that Demon Source existed, the demons would be endless; no matter how many Demon Caves they destroyed, new demons would always fill the void.

“So, I still have to go there and take a look~”

Qin Tian thought silently.

……

The Gate of Space quietly opened at the rugged mountain peak, the edge’s silver halo flickering like a breath. When Qin Tian stepped out from it, even the mountain winds were not disturbed in the slightest.

He entered invisibility mode, concealing his aura to the extreme, and looked down at the blazing Purgatory below.

Entire Flame Mountain seemed like a waking Ancient Giant Beast that had been spewing fiery tongues tirelessly for millennia.

The crimson mountains were etched with crisscrossing ravines from overflowing magma, hot rock streams winding down the valleys, converging into bubbling seas of fire at the mountain’s base, the searing heat waves distorting the air, even slightly wavering the view.

More astonishing is the pervasive demonic qi. Dense as ink, black fog burst forth from mountain fissures, intertwining with the magma’s heat waves into gray-purple chaotic flow, spreading along the mountain slopes, where even tough obsidian was corroded into honeycomb-like holes.

At the very center of the mountains, the mass of seemingly substantial demonic qi spun like a vortex, as if an inexhaustible demonic well lay hidden beneath, tirelessly nurturing the evil on this land.

Countless demons roamed, loitered among the mountains—Little Flame Demons frolicked in the magma, Red Flame Demons patrolled the territory with large clubs, occasionally, gigantic Tier Six Flame Demons poked their heads from mountain dips, growling threateningly from their throats.

The atmosphere was charged with tumultuous energy, entangled with heat waves and demonic qi, forming a suffocating sense of oppression.

In the distance, faintly came the roars of demons battling each other, the crisp sounds of sharp claws tearing flesh mixed with the muffled sounds of breaking bones echoed repeatedly through the valleys, showcasing the most primal law of survival in this land.

Qin Tian’s gaze penetrated through layers of demonic fog, landing on that demonic qi vortex at the center, a flash of sternness in his eyes, there lay the Demon Source, where demons were birthed unceasingly.

He descended slowly; as his toes touched the scorching rocky ground, his whole aura abruptly transformed. His bones crackled, muscles swelled and bulged, the previously well-fitted combat suit was torn by the fast-growing body, crimson scales emerged from beneath the skin, layering over the entire body, gleaming with metallic luster under the firelight.

In just moments, Qin Tian had transformed into a nearly five-meter-tall Flame Demon—with curved black horns on his head, ghostly fire danced in his eye sockets, ten sharp claws like knives left deep scorch marks on the ground with a casual swipe.

As he slightly lifted his arms, a flame of black fire sprang up in his palm, licking the air, emitting a temperature more scorching than the surrounding magma, even low-level demons wandering nearby instinctively took a few steps back, treating him as a high-tier entity among them.

Blending in with the demon crowd, Qin Tian deliberately mimicked a Flame Demon’s posture to emit a low growl, but his gaze discreetly swept the surroundings, ingraining the terrain of Flame Mountain and demon distribution into his mind.

The Shadow Concealing Ring was nestled between the scales, allowing him to perfectly simulate a Flame Demon’s aura, the black fire flickering in his palm akin to his concealed thoughts at the moment—with this disguise, he could infiltrate the most concentrated core area of demonic qi.

Qin Tian raised his head, looking at the center of Flame Mountain, then strode forward decisively.