The first light of dawn was faintly visible, and a soft scent of grass and wood drifted through the dorm courtyard of the Fulong Camp.
Shen Qingci grabbed Li Xuan’s wrist and shook it urgently.
“Li Xuan! Wake up! If you keep sleeping in, you’ll miss Master Su’s class!”
Li Xuan rolled over. His eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and he mumbled in a half-asleep daze:
“Help… I survived those hellish three years of college entrance exams, and now after reincarnating, I still have to suffer early morning classes again… what kind of karmic punishment is this?”
The other disciples in the dorm had already gotten up in small groups, washing up and grooming themselves. The sound of clothes rustling mixed with birdsong outside the window, carrying a youthful energy.
After finishing up, everyone went together to the dining hall, ate a simple breakfast of porridge and vegetables, and then headed straight to the Research Spirit Camp—today’s class by Master Su Manqing was something no one wanted to miss, because it concerned life-saving knowledge.
Inside the Research Spirit Camp, the room was already full of disciples. Wooden desks were neatly arranged, and the air carried a faint scent of ink and sandalwood.
Su Manqing stood at the front in a green robe, tapping the desk with a scroll, speaking loudly yet humorously:
“Disciples, today we’re going to talk about something real—survival knowledge: dimensional rifts and those who possess abilities!”
“This isn’t some storytelling in a teahouse. In the future, you will either hunt demons on the battlefield or guard villages. If you don’t remember these things well, when you encounter a high-level rift someday, you won’t even have time to cry!”
A few disciples couldn’t help but laugh softly, and the classroom atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Su Manqing cleared her throat and continued:
“First, the rift levels. This is like a difficulty ranking in the demon world. From lowest to highest, there are four levels, judged by the color of the anomaly.”
“Lowest is ‘Calamity’—faint yellow light. Only a few small demons, like stray dogs stealing chickens in the village. Easily dealt with.”
“Above that is ‘Disaster’—white light. Demon numbers double, and their ferocity increases. You need a proper team to suppress it, or it will tear your foundations apart.”
“Higher is ‘Wasteland’—blue light. High-level demon groups act together, affecting multiple cities, like bandit kings with their henchmen.”
“The most dangerous is ‘Tribulation’—blood-red light like spilled blood. A beast king is born within the rift. That level of power can flatten an entire nation. It becomes a matter for all nations to mobilize!”
“Corresponding to these demon disasters, the imperial court’s ability users are divided into two major types: Shura and Purification Masters.”
Su Manqing paused and scanned the class.
“Shura are the main combat force who go to the front lines and kill demons. They are the guardians of the land!”
“Their ranks go from lowest to highest: Soldier, General, Master, Army.”
“In our records, there are only a little over a thousand registered Shura in total.”
“Among them, high-level experts above Master rank number only thirty to forty!”
“You should feel lucky. Our Fulong Camp instructors are all Master-level Shura. It’s like having max-level veterans teaching beginners. You’re guaranteed to learn something useful!”
“Now let’s talk about Purification Masters—these are the life-saving support of Shura!”
Su Manqing’s tone became more serious.
“Shura constantly fight demons, and their bodies accumulate chaotic impurity energy. It’s like dust accumulating in an old house. If mild, it causes energy disorder and wasted cultivation. If severe, it leads to explosion or madness!”
“The job of Purification Masters is to clean this impurity. Their ranking system is the same as Shura’s, but they are extremely rare!”
“Across the entire world, there are only about fifteen registered. They are as precious as rare pandas!”
“Most serve in the Research Institute, the Imperial Palace, or the main headquarters of the Suppression Bureau. In the civilian or military field, most are Soldier or General level.”
“Master and Army-level Purification Masters are like living fossils!”
“As for advancement, both Shura and Purification Masters either gain merit by killing demons and slowly rising through ranks, or they challenge higher-level beasts and absorb their cores, which causes rapid power growth.”
“And the higher the purification level, the more effective they are at clearing stubborn impurities.”
“There is also a very interesting concept—soul compatibility!”
Su Manqing’s tone shifted, eyes smiling.
“The relationship between Shura and Purification Masters is like a blind box—there is a natural soul bond.”
“The higher the compatibility, the better the purification effect.”
“And even more extreme—high compatibility purification can feel so comfortable that it becomes addictive. Like drinking iced sour plum soup in summer or wrapping yourself in thick blankets in winter.”
“That feeling—once experienced, you never forget it.”
“Because of this, high-level Shura all desperately want a ‘exclusive Purification Master’. After all, who wouldn’t want a tailor-made tool?”
“Lastly, there are two methods of purification. The difference is huge.”
She raised two fingers:
“First: contact purification—physical touch. The more contact, the larger the purification range. Suitable for cleaning large groups of beginners.”
“Second: ‘nectar contact’—using bodily fluids of a Purification Master as a medium. Such as saliva or blood essence. The deeper it enters, the faster and more thorough the purification. It is like deep detox therapy for Shura—used for high-level impurity removal.”
“Because high-level Purification Masters can both mass-clean and deeply purify, their status in the court is extremely noble—like walking national treasures!”
“Alright, that’s the end of the lecture. Any questions, feel free to ask. Don’t be shy!”
Li Xuan was already half-asleep on the desk, internally screaming:
This is just modern guide theory with a medieval packaging…
I studied this crap until I wanted to die when I took my S-rank guide certification…
So sleepy… I just want to lie down…
Just as he was about to fall asleep, Su Manqing spoke again:
“Now let’s talk about Shura abilities. They’re more diverse than a marketplace!”
“There are nine fundamental attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, dark, sound, and mind.”
“For example, metal users are good with weapons; wood users grow plants for offense and healing; water controls ice and storms; fire is destructive; earth builds and tunnels; wind is speed; thunder is overwhelming power; dark is stealth; sound is control; mind is telekinesis.”
“Most people only have one attribute.”
“But there are rare cases of dual abilities.”
“And even more mysterious—hidden abilities!”
At this point, a disciple asked:
“Teacher Su, what are hidden abilities?”
Su Manqing nodded.
“Hidden abilities are powers even the user themselves don’t know about. They only awaken under special conditions—life and death situations, specific people, specific monsters, even timing and location requirements.”
“Some people may never discover it their entire lives.”
“So don’t underestimate anyone. And don’t underestimate yourself either. You might be hiding something powerful.”
She clapped her hands.
“Any more questions?”
Li Xuan suddenly raised his hand, eyes bright:
“Teacher! Who in our country has dual abilities? And who has hidden abilities?”
Su Manqing smiled.
“Dual abilities are extremely rare—about one in a hundred thousand. Most are legends.”
“The origin of this idea reportedly comes from the early era of dimensional rifts, recorded by the Mo Clan, which has since disappeared.”
“As for hidden abilities, there is also a legend of a Shura with immortality ability.”
“But whether such a person truly exists is unknown. No one knows their appearance or location.”
“Immortality could mean eternal life, youth preservation, or something else entirely.”
Li Xuan’s heart suddenly jumped.
His mind exploded:
Could my reincarnation itself be a hidden ability?
Oh my god…
Am I the chosen one?!
Excitement surged like a stampede, his heart pounding wildly.
He suddenly felt life had meaning again.
Even early morning classes didn’t feel so painful anymore.
[Afternoon]
The sun was harsher, and the stone ground of the training field burned hot.
Vice Commander Lu Changfeng stood on the high platform, scanning the disciples sharply.
“In battle, it is kill or be killed. Physical training is the foundation of survival!”
“Don’t think this is enough. It will only get harder!”
“On the battlefield, you must protect yourself, and if possible, also your comrades. Saving one more person is merit!”
“Frontline, rear guard, healing, purification—none can be missing!”
“If you can’t win, running is not cowardice. Survival is the priority!”
“UNDERSTOOD!” the disciples responded weakly.
The training field was already full of exhaustion. Twenty laps had drained many people, especially weaker Purification Masters.
“Am I going to die on the training field before I even reach a rift…”
Yan Chiyu gasped, holding his knees.
“I’m just a weapon maker… why am I also forced to do this…”
“You talk too much,” A-Man said coldly.
Shen Qingci ran effortlessly beside Li Xuan.
“I thought you were a spoiled young master, but your stamina is pretty good!”
Li Xuan thought inwardly:
Of course. I used to run five kilometers without stopping.
This body is unexpectedly strong too.
At that moment, shouting came from behind:
“Move! Move! Trash!”
Lao Zhan rushed forward with his followers, knocking weaker disciples aside.
Yan Chiyu was knocked down hard.
He stood up angrily:
“Why are you hitting people?!”
Lao Zhan sneered:
“You weak trash don’t deserve to be here.”
A-Man said coldly:
“Apologize.”
Shen Qingci tried to mediate, but Lao Zhan mocked everyone—including Li Xuan.
Li Xuan smiled:
“I’m just saying… bullying teammates isn’t exactly battlefield behavior, right?”
Lao Zhan exploded and tried to attack—
“STOP!”
Vice Commander Lu Changfeng arrived, furious.
“You dare cause internal conflict on the training field?!”
Lao Zhan was punished: 30 laps and apologies.
Order was restored.
The disciples looked at Li Xuan with new respect.
Li Xuan thought:
Troublesome idiot. Saved me effort.
At the edge of the forest above the field, a black-robed figure stood silently on a tree branch.
Zhao Chengyuan.
He watched everything quietly, eyes deep and unreadable.
Then he disappeared into the wind.