When the body felt comfortable, the system directly stopped the notification sound for the increase in diligence value.

Bai Xiaolong was moved to the point of tears.

Seeing fire in the Wet Zone was simply a miracle.

"After we eat, we'll take you to meet Jiao Qingyuan, the only Grandmaster in this mining zone. He rarely meets people."

Jia Weisu said again.

"Grandmaster?"

"Brother Jia, isn't the mining area surrounded by the Toxic Beehive Forest, where Grandmasters are forbidden to enter?"

Su Yue was stunned.

Mu Cheng had explained it very clearly to him at the time.

Bai Xiaolong was stunned too.

There's a Grandmaster in the Toxic Beehive Forest?

This is simply impossible.

The toxic bees can detect the aura of a Grandmaster and will relentlessly pursue and kill them. This is the law of the second battlefield; otherwise, such a critical source mine wouldn't be guarded by a few Fifth-Grade Martial Artists.

"The forest is indeed forbidden for Grandmasters, that's correct.

"But if you undergo a breakthrough within the mining zone, there aren't so many issues.

"After all, toxic bees are just insects; they have no intelligence and rely solely on instinct, so sometimes they misjudge. If someone breaks through within the forest, they won't consider it an invader, and hence won't recklessly attack.

"Therefore, Jiao Qingyuan has become this exception."

Jia Weisu explained.

Su Yue and Bai Xiaolong exchanged glances.

Such a mysterious phenomenon—the Human race actually has a Grandmaster in the mining zone.

Most people in the Military Department don't know about this.

"Are you wondering why Divine Land doesn't continue sending Fifth-Grade Martial Artists close to a breakthrough, specifically to break through in the Toxic Beehive Forest, allowing numerous Grandmasters to guard it?

"You're overthinking it.

"Toxic bees indeed misjudge, thinking a Grandmaster is an innate presence in the forest, yet they won't allow too many such powerful beings.

"One Grandmaster is the utmost limit of tolerance for the toxic bees. Moreover, we Martial Artists who regularly garrison near the Toxic Beehive Forest occasionally get stung by the toxic bees. Although it's not lethal, nor does it cause injury, quite a bit of the bees' venom remains in the body.

"This venom is inconspicuous and non-lethal but is crucial for the toxic bees to differentiate between their kind and outsiders.

"Any Martial Artist lacking this venom who dares to break through will instantly be swarmed and killed by the bees, relentlessly."

Jia Weisu further explained.

"So that's how it is."

Su Yue suddenly understood.

Stationing here inevitably leads to being mistakenly hurt by toxic bees.

Three or five wounds aren't lethal.

But over time, even if the wounds heal, the body will retain the characteristics of the toxic bees.

Toxic bees have no intelligence; their instinct leads them to believe you're a local species. Your strength increase is considered a natural phenomenon.

However, they won't permit a threat to themselves, allowing only one Grandmaster.

As for external Fifth-Grade breakthroughs, they're deemed invaders because they lack the aura of toxic bees, a presence requiring gradual accumulation.

These unintelligent beings are, in fact, the most terrifying.

Since they feel no fear, once they start attacking, it's to the death, relentlessly.

"Captain Wang Anhu is about to break through, so he has two paths.

"The first is for Jiao Qingyuan to choose retirement, allowing him to become the major general guarding the mining zone.

"The second is for Jiao Qingyuan to continue suffering here as the guardian, while the captain becomes a major general in another Yan Gui Corps battlezone.

"Actually, the major general guarding the mining zone lives in utmost hardship.

"Jiao Qingyuan lives alone in the mining zone; he only has one day of leave per month to return to Earth.

"But he has no family, no friends, no property. Each visit back to Earth, General Jiao Qingyuan only sits in the Heroic Spirit Mausoleum for an afternoon before returning again.

"The cycle repeats, akin to an ascetic monk."

Jia Weisu sighed.

It was clear he spoke with great admiration for Jiao Qingyuan.

Su Yue also felt deep respect.

No family or friends, guarding alone in a desolate mining zone—what a profound spirit of sacrifice.

Bai Xiaolong bit his lip.

His heart was deeply shaken.

Jiao Qingyuan is absolutely a model for the Seventh Military.

"Actually, we all hope Jiao Qingyuan could retire so he can live on Earth for a while.

"Although the captain's wife and child died in the Wet Zone, he is somewhat cheerful. If he guards the mining zone, the four of us can visit him often, chat, and joke, reducing loneliness.

"Jiao Qingyuan's personality is too solitary; the five of us can't really talk with him, quite pitiful."

Jia Weisu shook his head.

"By the way, Brother Jia, I have a question which may seem impolite.

"Last time during the West Battle Dao chaos, I heard the aliens reached the mining zone. As the only Grandmaster, General Jiao Qingyuan could have slaughtered them. Why didn't he act?"

Zhao Chu furrowed his brows.

Because in the Toxic Beehive Forest, that battle involved no Grandmasters. Jiao Qingyuan was the one who could have turned the tide.

"You're thinking too simply.

"If under normal circumstances, Major General Jiao Qingyuan might have been able to act, but that day happened to be the mining period, requiring him to suppress the chill using Grandmaster Qi Blood, or else those coming to mine, the Third and Fourth grades, couldn't withstand the frigidity.

"And the Fifth-grade in the mining zone couldn't appear extensively, as this would provoke the toxic bees, which is why only Third-grades can mine, with Fourth-grades needing extreme caution.

"The Toxic Beehive Forest requires balance; the slightest mistake can cause a catastrophe.

"On the day of the West Battle Dao war, it just happened to be General Jiao Qingyuan's weakest moment, so you can't blame him. He was contending with the Wet Zone climate, even Grandmasters could perish.

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