Global Catastrophe: I Begin to Evolve from an Ancient Tree-Chapter 82: Fruitful Victory

Northern Continent.

It has now become a chaotic scene.

Otherworldly creatures invaded, and the Federation rose to fight back. Both sides deployed no less than six-figure numbers of cultivators. It has been about a day since the invasion began.

After the battle.

The otherworldly side left tens of thousands of corpses and retreated in disgrace.

Looking at the Federation’s side, although their casualties were significantly less than those of the otherworldly beings, they also lost more than twenty thousand cultivators.

Among them.

Dozens of fourth-tier cultivators fell, and the rest of the casualties were primarily third-tier and second-tier cultivators. Observing the casualties of the first-tier cultivators, they were only slightly more than those of the fourth tier, far less tragic than the third and second tiers.

This is to be expected.

After all, in this battle, the second and third tiers were the main forces, with the fourth tier being the advanced combat power. The otherworldly side had a formidable strength, with several fifth-tier experts appearing, and even a sixth-tier expert showed up.

Compared to the Federation side, whose strongest was only the fourth tier, winning this battle was already a stroke of luck.

If it weren’t for the timely intervention of the Kunlun Divine Realm, repelling that self-proclaimed Saint Master of the Ancient Wilderness, the Federation would have undoubtedly faced annihilation.

Immediately.

The Federation’s military high command ordered the battlefield to be cleared, ensuring all fallen warriors received a proper burial while compiling a list of the deceased. If the fallen had families, they were to receive compensation.

After all, the military is the true ruler of the Federation now, and they cannot allow the hearts of the common people to grow cold.

The first invasion by otherworldly beings is just the beginning; a second, third, and even more wars are bound to follow.

Compensation is unavoidable.

...

"It’s over!"

Zhang Ming leaned against a large rock, his clothes a blackish-brown due to dried blood, with a strong smell of blood emanating from him.

The blood belonged both to him and his enemies.

Visible on his exposed skin were several terrifying scars. Although these wounds had healed and crusted over, they hadn’t truly recovered.

Meanwhile, his chest was exposed, showing a fearsome wound still oozing blood.

This battle.

Was the toughest Zhang Ming had ever faced since he began cultivating.

Even the powerful beast tide during the third blood rain a few years ago couldn’t compare to this battle.

In just one day, Zhang Ming forgot how many otherworldly cultivators he killed; it might have been dozens, hundreds, or even thousands.

The strongest cultivator he killed was fourth-tier upper grade.

The wound on Zhang Ming’s chest was from the last counterattack of that fourth-tier upper grade cultivator, who pierced his chest with a sword, barely scratching his heart.

If the sword blade had deviated even a bit, Zhang Ming would be dead.

However—

This battle brought Zhang Ming significant benefits as well. Surviving a life-and-death struggle gave him a unique insight.

Zhang Ming had a premonition that if he went into seclusion afterward, he could surely break through to fourth-tier middle grade.

Then.

Zhang Ming calmed his mind and looked at the Divine Kingdom chat group, which was bustling with conversation. Those who hadn’t participated in the battle were eagerly discussing the changing situation.

Zhang Ming just glanced over these topics without engaging, before turning his attention to the battle merit rankings.

Instantly.

A line of text appeared before him.

...

Name: Zhang Ming

War Merit: 362,500 points

Rank: Ninth

...

"Ninth rank on the battle merit board, not bad!"

Zhang Ming felt a surge of joy, and a smile appeared on his face, but it tugged at his wounds, causing him to grimace in pain.

Compared to the pain on his body, the battle merit ranking was what Zhang Ming truly cared about.

"Based on mission rewards, the top ten in the battle merit rankings can get a five million contribution reward. Considering my killing of otherworldly beings, I’ve earned about 5.36 million contributions this battle!"

What is called war merit is essentially what one earns by slaying otherworldly creatures.

The calculation of war merit is linked to contributions.

For example, by killing a fourth-tier otherworldly cultivator, Zhang Ming could gain 50,000 contribution points, which would equal 50,000 war merit points.

With 362,500 war merit points, it shows that Zhang Ming earned an equivalent amount of contribution from his kills.

Adding in the reward for being in the top ten of the battle merit rankings, just from the Saint Master mission, Zhang Ming already has 5.36 million in war merits.

But it should be known that.

The contribution Zhang Ming truly gained is beyond this.

When he killed otherworldly cultivators, he often used the Sacrificial Technique, offering them to the Cyan Yang Divine Tree to exchange for contributions.

Considering the contributions from sacrifices, Zhang Ming’s war merit this time exceeded 5.5 million. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Add in existing contributions, Zhang Ming’s total contributions have surpassed 5.8 million.

"With 5.8 million contributions, I can redeem a top-grade fourth-tier cultivation technique. Until I break through the fifth tier, I won’t have to worry about cultivation techniques anymore!"

The Ninth Grade Bright Jade Body was just a fourth-tier lower-grade cultivation technique, and Zhang Ming had already cultivated it to its limit. Even if he felt a breakthrough coming, lacking a fourth-tier middle-grade cultivation technique as a follow-up, breaking through would be impossible.

But now, with 5.8 million contributions, Zhang Ming can go all the way and directly redeem a top-grade fourth-tier cultivation technique.

Then.

Zhang Ming glanced at the first name on the battle merit board, and only then did the burning heat in his heart abate somewhat.

First on the battle merit board was Gu Fang, and second was Ji Xuan.

These names were certainly not unfamiliar to Zhang Ming.

The latter was the marshal of the First War Zone, highly respected in the Federation military, while the former was the marshal of the Ninth War Zone, who had risen to fame and was now hailed as the top expert of the military, on par with Ji Xuan.

Currently, with Gu Fang at the top of the battle merit board, he would receive a ten million contribution reward.

Such a generous reward made Zhang Ming a little envious.

But—

Zhang Ming knew that envy was useless.

Gu Fang and Ji Xuan’s positions at the top were likely related to intercepting fifth-tier otherworldly experts. Although that fifth-tier expert was eventually slain by Gu Qingyang, the war merit from the interception should have gone to the two of them.

"If I had ten million contributions, I could undoubtedly become the top expert in the Federation. Unfortunately, this opportunity went to the military."

After this battle, the military’s power will likely be unmatched, unshakable by any other forces.

Zhang Ming shook his head slightly.

Among the top ten in the battle merit board, several names belong to the military, and these alone would bring the military twenty to thirty million more contributions.

Not to mention that in the top hundred positions, the Federation’s military occupies nearly half.

Strictly counting, just from mission rewards, the military gained roughly eighty to ninety million contributions this battle.

With so many contributions piled up, it’s clear they will produce a batch of top experts.

Fortunately.

Zhang Ming never planned to oppose the military; their increased strength doesn’t impact him much.