"With the addition of the Pang brothers, your team is now formed and meets the minimum requirements for entering the Star River battlefield. However, I suggest you don't rush into combat within the Star River in the early stages. You can train at the War Base for a while, practice some combined attack techniques, and improve your synergy."
True Immortal Mu Shan said, "Only when large-scale wars break out will the War Base mandate participation. It's relatively free otherwise."
The Pang brothers were the two individuals who registered as new recruits with Zhang Fan and the others earlier. They were indeed twins; the elder brother was named Pang Qing, and the younger brother was Pang Yun. They hailed from a low-level starfield.
"There's no rush for that," Zhang Fan nodded in agreement. When a team is first formed, the most crucial aspect is integration, fostering trust and默契 (mòqì - tacit understanding) among teammates. A united team naturally possesses stronger combat power than one with scattered morale.
Furthermore, as newcomers to the Starry Sky Battlefield, they were unclear about much of the battlefield information. Although Zhang Fan had learned some from the memories of True Immortal Zi Yue, it was only superficial.
A battlefield that gathered over a hundred thousand cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage, with much more information to gather and understand, would be no different from suicide to enter rashly.
"Isn't that Captain Mu Shan? Still leading new recruits? Just doing odd jobs, how can your strength improve?" A thin, dark-skinned man approached, his words laced with mockery, and a strange smile in his gaze towards Mu Shan.
Behind Iron Monkey were several cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, all members of Iron Monkey's team. Their eyes were fixed on Nan Zun and the others, a hint of provocation in their gaze.
"Iron Monkey, don't cause trouble," Mu Shan frowned upon seeing the newcomer.
"Captain Mu Shan, what are you talking about? You know my character. I'm just looking out for the new recruits. They've just entered the Starry Sky Battlefield and don't know its cruelty."
A smile spread across Iron Monkey's gaunt face. He then turned his gaze to Zhang Fan, his eyes filled with scrutiny. "I heard you come from the Savage Starfield?"
"Indeed," Zhang Fan replied honestly.
"Impressive. To reach the Spirit Refining stage after being born in the Savage Starfield, you must be the strongest in your starfield. I'm also a Four-Star General. How about we spar?"
"Their team has just been formed, and they have many things to do. They don't have time for you to spar!" Mu Shan quickly interrupted, beckoning Zhang Fan and the others to prepare to leave.
"Mu Shan, you're holed up in the War Base all day. Are you also going to let these new recruits be as unpromising as you?" Iron Monkey sneered.
Mu Shan's body stiffened slightly. Although he was also a Four-Star General, his strength was considered lower-middle among them. Leading a team into battle was extremely dangerous, and they only went out to fight during large-scale wars when absolutely necessary.
Fortunately, he was born in the Purple Cloud Starfield. Relying on this background, he could accept some easy missions within the base and earn some military merits, but this also invited jealousy.
Despite Iron Monkey's mockery, he could only endure it, as Iron Monkey's strength was considered top-tier among Four-Star Generals, and he couldn't do anything about it.
"Sigh, the new recruits nowadays are getting more cowardly. In future wars, we old soldiers will have to rely on ourselves," Iron Monkey said with feigned melancholy.
Zhang Fan paused upon hearing this. Nan Zun and Blood Demon Flood Dragon exchanged a glance, both seeing a smile in the other's eyes.
The Pang brothers, however, began to worry, fearing their captain might lose his temper and actually fight.
"Fellow Daoist Shi Jue, don't be rash," Mu Shan secretly transmitted, reminding him.
Zhang Fan patted Mu Shan's shoulder and said, "Captain Mu Shan, rest assured. It's just a spar. Even if I get injured, I'll recover quickly at my current realm."
Hearing Zhang Fan's words, Iron Monkey's face lit up with a smile. He quickly agreed, "Fellow Daoist speaks wisely. We all belong to the Purple Cloud Starfield. Killing a teammate is punishable by military law."
"Let's go. We'll try the duel arena. I'm also eager to feel the difference between soldiers who have been to the battlefield and us new recruits," Zhang Fan said with a smile.
The veteran soldiers who were merely watching the show suddenly became interested. They didn't expect this new recruit, who had cultivated to the Spirit Refining stage, to be so impatient. A few perfunctory taunts from Iron Monkey had enraged him.
Some even regretted that such a good opportunity had fallen into Iron Monkey's hands.
"No rush. My Daoist name is Iron Monkey. May I ask your name, fellow Daoist?" True Immortal Iron Monkey asked.
"Shi Jue."
"Fellow Daoist Shi Jue, according to the rules of our War Base, duels are primarily for sparring and exchange, but there's always a wager. I see that your blood and qi are vigorous, suggesting you're a body cultivation expert. I happen to have a pair of Immortal Treasure gauntlets. We can use them as stakes. What do you say, Fellow Daoist Shi Jue?" Iron Monkey stared at Zhang Fan, smiling.
"Only one Immortal Treasure? Forget it," Zhang Fan shook his head, seemingly unimpressed.
"Oh?" Iron Monkey was somewhat surprised. This cultivator from the Savage Starfield seemed to have high standards. He stared at Zhang Fan with a half-smile and said, "Then how do you propose we play, Fellow Daoist Shi Jue?"
Zhang Fan waved his hand, and a total of ten Immortal Treasures floated before him, radiating brilliant light and attracting the attention of the surrounding cultivators.
"Ten pieces?" Iron Monkey's eyes flickered with a sharp glint. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at Zhang Fan, slightly astonished.
While cultivators at the Spirit Refining stage were not short of Immortal Treasures, and each usually carried a few suitable ones, producing ten at once was rare. Iron Monkey himself didn't possess that many.
"Fellow Daoist Shi Jue is truly generous, wagering ten Immortal Treasures just for a spar," Iron Monkey exclaimed, a hint of caution creeping into his mind.
Being able to produce so many Immortal Treasures at once meant either immense power or considerable fortune. However, Iron Monkey preferred to believe the latter.
As a veteran soldier of the battlefield, he was confident in his own strength. Moreover, after Zhang Fan's strength test, he had sent people to investigate and had a good idea of his capabilities.
"Do you have that many Immortal Treasures? If not, I won't play," Zhang Fan said with a hint of playfulness, staring at Iron Monkey.
The Pang brothers were stunned by Zhang Fan's extravagance. It was extremely difficult for them to acquire even one Immortal Treasure, yet their captain casually produced ten as stakes.
This was the difference.
Seeing this, True Immortal Mu Shan was also slightly surprised by Zhang Fan's grand gesture, but he was already worrying for him, sighing inwardly. The situation had escalated to this point, and it was clearly impossible to stop it.
As a cultivator at the Spirit Refining stage, Zhang Fan wouldn't be without his own plans.
"Of course, I do." Iron Monkey immediately shouted without hesitation, "Chi Huo, lend me five Immortal Treasures. I'll return six later!"
"Here you go." From within the crowd, a red-bearded old man unhesitatingly took out five Immortal Treasures and threw them to Iron Monkey, his mouth nearly splitting with a smile.
Earning Immortal Treasures was too easy. Regardless of whether Iron Monkey won or lost, he would have to return the five Immortal Treasures lent to him, a sure bet.
...