Astral Apostle

Chapter 61: 061 The Imperial Hunter and the Undercurrent

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"Jace and Rosen... come with me."

Cole did not suspect him, and brought the two into the station, leading the way ahead.

Zhou Jing looked left and right to observe the situation in the station. The most numerous facilities on the road were the training grounds. There were hunters guiding batches of hairy boys to exercise, shouting and shouting.

These teenagers wore uniform simple leather armor, the youngest was eight or nine years old, and the oldest seemed to be no more than fourteen years old.

Seeing that Zhou Jing noticed these children, Cole introduced:

"They are apprentices who haven't received alien blood enhancement. When they complete the basic course and their bodies grow to their peak state, they will use alien blood potions. Those who survive will become preparatory imperial hunters, and they will complete their lives under the leadership of the old hunters. first hunt."

"Where did these children find them? If the reinforcement fails, is it okay to die?" Zhou Jing asked.

"Some are children sent by expatriate imperial hunters, some are teenagers found in the countryside, and some young people who have applied to become hunters... Among them are blood relatives sent by various tribes." Cole said casually: "When Hunters are inherently risky, and a group of people will die every year, depending on luck."

After speaking, he turned to look at Zhou Jing and said:

"You used to be a free hunter. After you officially join the army, you can also learn the imperial hunter's course."

Zhou Jing nodded, mainly because of this. Joining the Empire Hunter was much more efficient than asking for advice everywhere.

The two walked while chatting, and soon came to the archives of the resident, taking into account the role of enlistment registration.

"Can you write? If you can't, you can dictate my records." Cole asked for a blank booklet and placed it on the table.

Zhou Jing took it over and took a look. The above was a simple form, and he had to fill in the information, including his own origin, past hunting records, weapon proficiency, the number of abnormal blood enhancements, and enhancement tendencies.

He picked up the pen and filled it out by himself. During this time, he walked out of Baiyuan City and learned more about the customs and customs of the Terra Empire. At this time, it was easy to compile it, and he also filled in the information for Ross by the way.

The hunter records naturally do not write about the experience of Baiyuan City. While Zhou Jing opened the map in the past two months, he deliberately stopped in several towns, and left the hunter records of "Jess and Rosen" in various hunter taverns. He also participated in it easily. After a few simple crusades against alien beasts, real records were left... Although people may not send people to investigate on the spot.

Cole took the information of the two and looked at it carefully, and then looked at Zhou Jing with some surprise: "Did you strengthen it twice?"

"Not like it?"

"That's not... Most of the free hunters who enlisted in the army were strengthened for the first time, and it was rare to see the second strengthening to join actively. They are considered elites in the group of imperial hunters." Cole paid a little attention to Zhou Jing.

Zhou Jing was curious: "How many people in the Empire Hunters have various levels of strength? Who is the strongest?"

Hearing this, Cole didn't mean to hide it. After all, it was information that many imperial hunters knew:

"Currently, the highest number of imperial hunters has been strengthened five times, and there are two, one of which is the chief hunter conferred by the empire and the current commander of the imperial hunter.

There are twelve or three hunters who have been strengthened four times, some of them are in the station, and the others are sent out. There are fifty or sixty people in the three reinforcements, which are the backbone, and generally lead a hunter team. The second enhancement is the elite among hunters and the main force for crusade against alien beasts, and the first enhancement is the most, there should be more than 1,000 people. "

Zhou Jing blinked.

He always felt that the scale of the Imperial Hunters... was smaller than he imagined.

However, he thought about it carefully. The population of the alien world was not very large. The standing army of the Terra Empire seemed to be only tens of thousands. The proportion of imperial hunters with extraordinary combat power in the military force was already very high.

Moreover, most of the members of the imperial hunters are sent to various places to maintain the security of the towns. The high battle losses are high all the year round, and there are additional casualties due to failures in strengthening. To be less, dozens or hundreds of hunters die every year, which can accumulate to the current scale. It's not easy anymore.

Although the number is limited, the combat effectiveness is terrifying.

A blood warrior can fight against an army of dozens or hundreds of people, just like a super soldier. And one or two thousand super soldiers... On the battlefield of cold weapons, I am afraid it is the gods who block the gods and the Buddhas, and they can also destroy the standing army of the tens of thousands of people.

'If such a huge group of extraordinary powers unite, wouldn't it be a matter of minutes to overthrow the Terra Empire? ' Zhou Jing was speechless.

He suddenly discovered that the rule of the Terra Empire seemed to be stable, but it was actually sitting in the crater, ready to be burned by the magma spewing from the bottom of the butt at any time.

It can only be said that, fortunately, the ancient ideological traditions of the tribal era are still in play. Most hunters have high moral standards and like to hack. They only want to crusade alien beasts to protect the people, otherwise it would have become a chaotic world... Terra is still It is enough to pull, in fact, it is impossible to control the hunter group at all, and most of them rely on self-consciousness.

Thoughts ran through his mind, but Zhou Jing's face didn't show it. He changed his words and asked:

"By the way, how about the imperial hunter's workshop? I have always heard that it is the highest level, but I have never seen it before."

Cole nodded and said with a smile: "Yes, the Imperial Hunters have the largest workshop in the country, and the craftsmen in it are all elites, including master-level pharmacists and blacksmiths, who study various new craftsman techniques and new Different blood medicine formula, the latest results are given priority to supply to us."

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Zhou Jing smiled: "That's great, I've always wanted to do the third boost of different blood, but I haven't come across a suitable potion. I hope there's something to be gained here."

"... Are you planning to do three enhancements?"

Cole's eyes suddenly flashed, as if he had heard that the student was going to take the Ph.D.

Even for the imperial hunters who received the best supply of resources, only a few were willing to risk sudden death to continue to strengthen the alien blood.

Every time it is a gamble, giving life to the illusory luck, once or twice is fine, but after winning a few bets, you will not consciously fear the tail. Not everyone has this kind of courage.

Those who dare to continue to strengthen, either have a firm attitude, and be brave and diligent.

… or a gambler.

Cole was a hunter who had been strengthened for the second time and did not dare to continue strengthening. At this time, he couldn't help but have a little admiration for Zhou Jing. For those who dared to continue on the road of different blood, no matter the final success or failure, the hunter treated him differently.

The identity registration went smoothly. After filling it out, it was handed over to others for a simple review. Kerr immediately took Zhou Jing to one of the training grounds for a practical test.

Seeing is believing, this is a necessary part of joining the imperial hunter. The hunter test is not full of bells and whistles, it is all actual combat.

The two stood at the training ground, separated by a distance.

"You are strengthening for the second time, and I am also strengthening for the second time. Let's play a game and let me see your level."

Cole smiled and pulled out the special long knife on his back with his backhand. The blade was longer than ordinary, about one meter seven, with an arc, which was very useful for cutting giant creatures.

It looked like a weapon held by both hands, but he raised one hand steadily.

"Choose a weapon, do you like to use a knife too, what kind of knife?" Cole pouted at the weapon rack beside him.

Zhou Jing looked at Cole's skilled knife-holding posture, his eyes lit up, and he was happy to see the hunter.

Yo, too swordsman!

It can be considered that I have met a good player who plays with knives, and I just touched it.

He walked to the weapon rack, glanced at it, took out a long knife of the same style, and played a few knives at random, like an arm.

Due to the improvement of the sword skill aptitude, the training speed has returned to the original efficiency. Within two months of opening the map, [Weapon Mastery - Sword Skill] has successfully risen to Lv5, and the proficiency has greatly improved.

In addition, the increase in physical fitness and resistance aptitude has also slightly increased the training speed of each hunter's breathing technique. In the past two months, the upgrade is only a step away.

Seeing Zhou Jing's naturally skilled temperament when he picked up the knife, Kerr's eyes became more serious.

Although he has received systematic training, he does not underestimate the free hunters of wild ways. It is a taboo to underestimate the enemy. Old hunters rarely make such mistakes.

The shouts on the training ground weakened, and the hunters and apprentices who were exercising cast curious glances at the two who began to confront each other in the corner of the training ground.

"Who is that person, I don't seem to have seen it before."

"It should be a new hunter, I don't know what level."

The crowd chatted quietly.

Cole observed Zhou Jing's posture, looking for loopholes. Seeing that Zhou Jing showed no sign of attacking, he was not polite and rushed on the ground.

bass!

The long blade stabbed, and the cold light at the tip of the blade trembled, like a swept streamer.

Zhou Jing's eyes blinked, instead of retreating, he advanced, sliding forward, holding the handle of the knife with one hand and touching the back of the knife with the other, rounded out a crescent moon.

The stabbing long knife was blocked by the blade, and a stream of sparks was drawn, causing a short and sharp metal friction sound.

Zhou Jing flicked his wrist, easily flicked Cole's weapon, and narrowed his eyes.

Slow, too slow.

Light, too light.

Both are secondary reinforcements, but Cole's speed and strength are too weak in his eyes, and there is no pressure.

When the physical fitness reaches the second-order, the attributes do not seem to be much different, but the characteristics brought by it make the physical quality completely different. There is a clear gap with the first-order physical fitness, and the agility and flexibility are greatly enhanced.

In Zhou Jing's eyes, Cole's movements seemed to slow down.

Originally, Jason's attributes were higher than those of normal hunters with secondary enhancements, and with the addition of his traits, he was now even more capable.

After realizing Cole's strength, Zhou Jing knew it in his heart. Instead of directly crushing it with his explosive physical fitness, he controlled his strength and speed to a level comparable to Cole's, and simply fought with the opponent.

On the one hand, it is to leave some face to the other party. On the other hand, I also want to fight with a master swordsman for a long time... I finally found someone to slash against each other, and let's talk about it.

The training ground was dusty, and the two of you came and went, and the sword light flashed. The continuous cold light was moved by the two to avoid them, wiping their bodies and stabbing them in the air.

The knife light rolled into a ball, and the whistling sound of breaking through the air and the clashing sound of Qingming were intertwined.

Slashing, slicing, thrusting, parrying and other swordsmanship movements emerged one after another in the hands of the two of them, dazzling and precise at the same time.

The superb swordsmanship of the two made the apprentices in the field dazzled, and they all stopped their exercises and watched from the side.

The hunters guiding the apprenticeships didn't stop... They wanted to see it too.

Seemingly evenly slashing for a while, Cole was keenly aware of Zhou Jing's strength, and his eyes changed slightly.

As an old hunter, he can feel whether the opponent has released water.

'This person seems to be deliberately controlling the strength, just using the swordsmanship to learn from me... But the swordsmanship alone is not under me. Level, it seems that he is also an old hunter who has experienced many battles...'

Cole's thoughts flashed in his heart, and he also became competitive, and suddenly jumped back and exited the battle circle.

"Don't fight anymore?" Zhou Jing was ready to stop when he saw this.

Cole shook his head, pointed the knife directly at the tip of Zhou Jing's nose, and said solemnly: "I can see that you have reservations, come on, use the knife with all your strength, don't worry about anything."

After all, Cole didn't wait for an answer, and made a move of accumulating power, then smashed the ground and attacked brazenly.

The knife is in front of people, and it cuts horizontally!

Whether it is strength, speed, or tendons, this knife plays at a high level, calm and fast, as if it can cut through all obstacles in front of it.

Opponents of the same level must avoid the edge in front of this knife, and Kerr has a strong confidence.

However, a dark shadow that was so fast that he could barely react, suddenly crashed into his line of sight.

Then, a cold light flashed from bottom to top.

clang! !

A strong force suddenly exploded along the long knife, bursting with a trembling force.

Cole couldn't hold the weapon with his five fingers, and the long knife came out of his hand, swirled and flew into the sky, and fell into the ground not far away.

In front of him, Zhou Jing maintained the posture of lifting up, the blade still trembled slightly, making a humming sound. Valley

Cole, who was empty-handed, froze on the spot.

In the moment just now, Zhou Jing suddenly started, his muscles twisted all over his body, his advanced body burst out with explosive acceleration, causing the long knife to roar out, and the high speed turned into an extremely heavy force, which directly lifted Cole's weapon away. .

This knife is fast and heavy!

And the timing that he grasped is even more precise and exquisite, so that Cole, who is good at making knives, also feels the beauty of knife skills.

Cole looked at the broken palm, and then at Zhou Jing, who looked relaxed, and fell into silence.

Have you been beaten by a knife

After being stunned for a few seconds, Cole couldn't help but speak:

"Are you really a secondary reinforcement?"

"Yes." Zhou Jing shrugged.

"… sharp."

Cole sighed all over his face, he didn't lose, and he secretly admired it.

At the level of secondary reinforcement, there is such strength...

Only after going through too many battles on the edge of life and death, can a second-strengthened body be tempered to this level, right

Hunters have always admired the strong, and Cole was in awe.

Seeing Zhou Jing's second to Cole, many hunters and apprentices onlookers were surprised.

Cole is not an unknown person, and he is also a master among the imperial hunters. Except for the few who have been strengthened three times or more, he is the best among the remaining hunters.

Being able to defeat Cole is equivalent to being a top-notch expert among the hunters of the second-strengthened empire.

'It seems that a very powerful newcomer has arrived this time... '

Everyone looked at Zhou Jing, and their thoughts flashed.

"With your strength, you can join the elite team when you officially join the army." Cole said in admiration, "Commander Kreiber will definitely value you."

Crabbe is the current chief hunter, the commander of the imperial hunter.

Zhou Jing smiled. He was also curious about the attributes of the most enhanced alien warriors in existence.

At this time, Cole turned his head to look at Ross and said, "This partner of yours has to be tested too... By the way, why hasn't he spoken?"

Zhou Jing's face did not change:

"He is actually my apprentice. During a hunt, his throat was poisoned by the poison of a different beast, and his head was also traumatized and confused. Only some fighting instincts remained. He has lost the ability to hunt alone, but he can still fight with I cooperated, so I took him with me."

"That's it." Cole patted Rose's shoulder respectfully, agreeing, "We can't abandon any hunter who is wounded for crusade against alien beasts."

Ross looked down at the palm resting on his shoulder, and quietly touched the dagger in his arms.

"Cough!" Zhou Jing hurriedly put his elbow on his waist to stop Ross from drawing the knife, and said, "Go, give him a job."

After hearing this, Ross gave up drawing a knife to give Cole a hard blow, and without hesitation, walked to a grindstone on the training ground and slammed into it.

Click!

The rock cracked.

Ross wiped the white ashes from his forehead expressionlessly.

"What the hell!" Cole was startled.

A serious hunter has a tough body, but how can anyone casually use their head as a weapon, doesn't their brain hurt

Ruthless!

"This, this way, won't my head break?" Cole couldn't help but say.

Zhou Jing coughed and tried to explain with a sullen expression: "It is because his head is not good, so his head is good."

… This is quite philosophical.

Cole wiped his sweat, not knowing it.

Anyway, it's okay to hit the boulder with the head, there must be a level of strengthening, and he didn't dare to let Ross show it any more, for fear that he would have to collect the corpse for others, and the happy event would turn into a funeral.

The group left the training ground, and Cole took Zhou Jing to an empty simple house.

"This is your temporary residence. When you complete the last test, which is to conduct a hunt under our supervision, and show your hunter level, you can officially become an imperial hunter... And a strength like yours, no The old hunters need to lead the team like the reserve hunters, so let’s just wait for Commander Kreber to come back and let him arrange it. The commander is out hunting and will be back in two days.”

Cole turned back to explain.

Zhou Jing was looking at the room, and when he heard the words, he looked back at him and asked, "What level of beasts do you want to kill in a general hunting test?"

"It varies from person to person, and it also depends on what strange beasts have appeared recently..." Cole rubbed his chin and pondered: "But the Empire Hunters only cleaned the surrounding area a while ago, and it seems that there are no powerful alien beasts. The conditions may let you go to the Colosseum to find an opponent."

"The Colosseum?" Zhou Jing raised his brows.

"Huh? Don't you know?"

Cole was stunned for a moment, then he thought that Zhou Jing was not from Wangdu, so it was not surprising, and explained:

"When conditions permit, the imperial hunter team will capture alien beasts and bring them back to the animal trainers to breed. Otherwise, where can there be a stable supply of materials for workshops to study various alien blood potion formulas? And the Colosseum is A matching venue allows some inexperienced imperial hunters to practice actual combat... By the way, to make a little money, we also need funds and extra money."

Speaking of which, Cole's expression was a little subtle.

Do you charge ordinary people's ticket money for watching a movie...

Zhou Jing's expression was complicated. In an environment where alien beasts threaten human beings, the appearance of such a bloody facility where hunters fight alien beasts for fun is quite subtle and should not exist.

He has visited many towns, and only the capital has such facilities... and it seems that this is the only place where large-scale farming of alien beasts occurs.

"It is said that the empire is studying how to tame some farmed alien beasts, turning them into mounts and equipping them with the army and imperial hunters. There are already some results. Our commander is an alien beast knight." Cole said casually.

"Well, that's a feasible solution..."

Zhou Jing couldn't help but think of the situation in which the Earth Skeletons domesticated the Tyrannosaurus.

It seems that among the existing auxiliary functions, there is a [pet function]

Well, since the king has such conditions, the next time you use a new apostle, maybe you can try this function.

Cole said some more precautions and then left.

After all, this world is a bit primitive, and the various rules and regulations are not rigorous and perfect. I can already move freely in the imperial hunter station... But I can't enter the capital for the time being.

Zhou Jing tidied up the bed, and through the window, he could see the majestic outline of Tarn City, the royal capital in the distance.

He looked in the direction of the capital, and his eyes flashed slightly.

'It shouldn't be a problem to sneak into the Empire Hunter. I've already arrived at the foot of the capital. I can find a chance to contact the power core of the Terra Empire... Let's wait and see the situation first, and then see how to use the information that Lut kindly gave me. '

At the same time, the royal palace, a room somewhere in the castle.

Roman stood in front of the window, silently overlooking the row upon row of cities, as if stepping on the capital of the king.

He is a fat middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance. He wears a supple satin brocade coat with jewels on his clothes. He looks like a fat man who is greedy for pleasure, but he has an inexplicable temperament, which makes people unconscious in front of him. cautious.

On the table behind him were several secret letters, and two henchmen stood at the table with their heads lowered and did not speak.

After a long time, Roman said in a low voice:

"Root died, I don't know what he revealed, and who kidnapped him... This is the report you gave me after investigating for a month?"

The two confidants trembled slightly and hurriedly replied:

"Sir, there is really no clue. We investigated all the alien blood warriors in Baiyuan City, as well as all hunters who left Baiyuan City, even the warriors of the Root tribe, no one can match the number, we still don't know the murderer. Who is it?"

"We also went to check the so-called Wood family according to your meaning, but there is no blood relatives of this tribe at all. It's not that we don't work hard, and we can't find it at all!"

Since Root's death, a slew of spies have sought out the identity of the killer.

After a large number of villagers from Shuangmu Village moved to Baiyuan City, some spies even quietly dug up Jason's grave at midnight, but found that the body inside was fine and had not been transferred.

No matter how hard you check, you can't find the "dead" head.

When Roman heard the words, he turned to look at the two of them.

The two who had been chatting and explaining were swept away by his half-smiling eyes, and their backs suddenly shivered, and they immediately shut their mouths.

Roman did not get angry, but smiled and comforted:

"Okay, okay, I never doubt your ability to do things. It seems that this murderer is really mysterious and difficult to find out."

His tone was friendly, but the two didn't dare to pick up each other at all.

Roman rubbed his wrench and said again: "If you can't find it, continue to look for it slowly, don't worry... This matter has been uncovered for the time being. How is the investigation about that faction?"

A confidant quickly replied: "Sir, we have found their lair, but it seems to be abandoned there, there is no one, I don't know where they went."

Hearing this, Roman showed an inexplicable expression and said to himself: "That group of people somehow cut off contact with me and disappeared for no reason. They have all kinds of strange abilities... um... hehe."

The two confidants looked at each other and didn't dare to talk. They didn't know what Roman was thinking.

After a while, Roman waved his hand and ordered:

"Continue to investigate the identity of the murderer and the whereabouts of the mysterious force, and send some people to secretly contact the lords of various tribes, telling them that plans may change at any time, pay more attention. By the way, pay attention to the movements of the royal family. Someone should point it out, maybe they've noticed something...

The court is still discussing the candidates for the new lord of Baiyuan City, and let the servants eavesdrop. I want to know the thoughts of each minister... The position of the lord of Baiyuan City must be given to the new partner I found in the Root tribe. Root is dead, save him a new buddy to get rid of. "

After giving an order, Roman let the two confidants back down.

The two of them left quickly as if they had been granted amnesty.

Roman retracted his gaze, picked up a few secret letters from the table, and rubbed his fingers slightly.

The flame of the candlestick next to it seemed to be grabbed by an invisible force, turned into a fire snake, and landed on the secret letter in his hand.

call!

On, off, all in an instant.

Several secret letters turned to fly ash in the blink of an eye.

Roman's fingers were unscathed, he put his hands into his sleeves again, and continued to overlook the city outside the window, wondering what he was thinking.