Chapter 152: A Chorus of Shame

After enduring these repeated shocks, all members of the hunting squads, including ordinary villagers, finally came to a profound realization—

Yu Yan was serious!

She would never allow anyone who disrespected her or disobeyed her orders to gain even the slightest advantage over her.

Since then, everyone had become self-disciplined. Unless someone was deliberately antagonistic, no matter what they thought internally, at least they would show respect and obedience whenever they faced Yu Yan.

At this moment, it was no different.

Seeing Yu Yan about to speak, even the most rebellious members of the hunting squads dared not step forward to show off.

Yu Yan was very satisfied with this.

Clearing her throat, she said, “When evaluating the outstanding hunting squads, we naturally adhere to the principles of fairness and justice.”

“According to the first regulation of the Phoenix Base management rules, anyone found engaging in favoritism or abusing power will be demoted one rank upon the first offense, and kicked out of the management team upon the second. Do you really think the Phoenix Code I established is just for show?”

“Do you still think I would deliberately cover for those close to me out of favoritism?”

“If you think that way, you are gravely mistaken!”

“Precisely because they are close to me, if they break the Phoenix Code, it is tantamount to betrayal.”

“My demands on them are only higher and stricter.”

These words immediately subdued a significant portion of the resentment and dissatisfaction among the crowd.

The authority of the Phoenix Code had deeply rooted itself within the entire Phoenix Base.

Especially the twenty-four standard Phoenix Code rules, which after nearly a month of strict enforcement, had sent nearly twenty troublemakers packing. No one dared doubt they were merely for show.

Yu Yan continued, “As for the doubts you raised, I can answer them one by one.”

“You say the team that brought back the most spirit beast corpses, including a first-rank high-level spirit beast, is the squad led by Yu Nan, right? Yes, you brought back the most corpses; there’s no denying that.”

“But your team also suffered the heaviest casualties.”

“After a week, not a single member remains mentally or physically intact.”

“Yu Nan was even more severely injured—he lost a leg.”

“This is currently an injury that none of our Phoenix Base healers can cure. To heal Yu Nan’s leg, we must find the specific bone-regenerating spirit medicine in the future.”

“Do we really lack a few spirit beast corpses, whether unranked or even first-rank, here at Phoenix Base?”

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“Just the fifth-rank spirit beast meat I distributed to you for refining your supernatural abilities is worth more than all your gains combined over the week.”

“I allowed you into the dungeon to enhance your combat capabilities, not to send you in to die.”

“Don’t talk about bringing back twenty-three unranked spirit beast corpses and one first-rank high-level spirit beast corpse. Even if you multiplied that number three or five times, it still wouldn’t compare to the value of Yu Nan’s lost leg in my eyes!”

Yu Yan’s words struck like thunder.

Among the crowd, Yu Nan, whose life was no longer in danger thanks to the healers’ treatment, stood pale-faced, leaning on a cane carved from wood. Hearing Yu Yan’s words, he bowed his head in a mix of gratitude and regret.

Indeed, his desire to win and the rewards from the spirit armor had clouded his judgment.

Driven by his competitive spirit, he recklessly led his squad into peril multiple times to slay more spirit beasts.

If the highest-level dungeon they entered had not been only grade E, and most encounters were with unranked or ordinary beasts, with a low chance of facing ranked spirit beasts, his squad might have been wiped out.

The Phoenix Leader was right—she was willing to spend precious fifth-rank spirit beast meat on them.

And she invested so much effort, watching over their growth all along.

Therefore, their lives should be worth more than the corpses of fifth-rank spirit beasts!

How could they fight to the death over mere first-rank or even unranked dungeon monsters?

Besides Yu Nan, all other members of the hunting squads were deeply moved by these words.

For the first time, they clearly realized how much their personal safety mattered to Yu Yan.

Many who had previously suspected Yu Yan’s “training” had ulterior motives, and even secretly disparaged her—

That Yu Yan was just using them to enter dungeons to kill monsters and collect materials for her—

Now felt varying degrees of shame.

Indeed, although they had reaped considerable gains recently, continuously hauling unranked and even first-rank spirit beast corpses to the ancestral hall, apart from their rightful shares, all the rest went into Yu Yan’s personal fund.

But upon reflection, all those rewards paled in comparison to the scraps Yu Yan gave them!

No matter how much spirit beast meat they obtained, it was impossible for them to awaken supernatural powers on their own.

Not to mention directly acquiring a first-rank supernatural ability.

And the reason they could hunt down so many spirit beasts was precisely because Yu Yan gave them fifth-rank spirit beast meat to awaken their abilities beforehand! Given this, handing over a portion of their gains was only natural.

Expressions among the crowd varied widely.

Phoenix Base’s second standard regulation—

Whenever a battle squad enters a dungeon, seventy percent of their gains must be handed over as resources for the base’s development.

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The remaining thirty percent is distributed among the squad based on their contributions.

Over time, this rule had accumulated significant dissatisfaction among squad members. At this moment, it was like a balloon with several holes being punctured, releasing those grievances. Though not entirely drained, they felt much lighter than before.

Yu Yan’s voice rang out clearly as she continued, “Furthermore, some say that the squad entering the most dungeons is the one led by Yu Yuze, right? Heh, yes, your squad enters dungeons frequently.”

“But seven or eight times out of ten, you come back empty-handed.”

“Never mind slaying dungeon monsters, at least bring back some unranked spirit herbs or fruits, right? Is this what you call entering a dungeon?”

“Every time, you conveniently encounter monsters you cannot defeat and can only flee?”

All eyes beneath Yu Yan’s platform turned toward one squad.

The ten squad members immediately flushed with embarrassment!

Especially their leader, Yu Yuze. He thought Yu Yan was too busy to notice the details of daily affairs. With thirty-six hunting squads and countless trivial matters, she surely couldn’t keep track of everything.

So he had tried to be clever and show off a little.

He never expected that despite her busyness, Yu Yan regularly inquired about matters related to Phoenix Base.

She might not personally handle everything, but she was fully aware of the major, important issues!

For example, the names of all thirty-six squad leaders—she had recorded them since the hunting squads were first established. Now, she knew them like the back of her hand and could easily match any leader she saw.

Yu Yan proceeded to systematically refute the objections she heard from the crowd.

In conclusion, she said, “In short, Phoenix Base will never shortchange any comrade who works earnestly and plays fair. But we will never give an inch to any rotten apple who tries to cheat and play dirty.”

“If you want rewards and the best treatment, show your true skills and compete openly and honestly.”

“Not by trying to be clever with tricks!”

“Nor should anyone lose their mind over winning and end up harming themselves or the group…”

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