【Rear Courtyard Dormitories】
The winter at the Fulong Camp had long been soaked through with cold.
Outside the dormitory window, bare tree branches were covered in a thin layer of frost. Cold wind rolled up bits of snow and slapped against the window lattice, producing a low, howling sound that only made the room feel slightly warmer by contrast.
Li Xuan sat slumped on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. His silver hair swayed slightly with his movement, his brows tightly knitted into a knot. His mind had already exploded into chaos:
“I swear to god, what exactly is going on right now? Why am I entangled with so many people—I’m starting to look like some kind of scumbag.”
“Commander Zhao, Chu Wanran, Boss Bai, Mo Ying… If they’re into men, why don’t they just pair off themselves? I’d be happy just sitting on the side shipping them!”
Shen Qingci leaned against the bedpost across from him, a faint, ambiguous smile curling at his lips. There was a knowing glint in his eyes, as if he saw through everything.
He walked over slowly, his tone deliberately gentle:
“Brother Xuan, what’s bothering you? If something’s on your mind, tell me. Don’t bottle it up.”
“Kids should stay out of adult business! Go away!”
Li Xuan’s face instantly flushed red. Even his ears turned hot as he quickly turned away, not wanting his embarrassment exposed.
At that moment, Yan Chiyu, who was polishing his self-made weapon, looked up. The cold gleam of his black iron spear crossbow reflected in his eyes as he asked blankly:
“Brother Xuan, Brother Shen, why aren’t you nervous at all? The graduation exam is in five days. If we fail, we’ll have to repeat the entire year!”
Aman, sitting nearby with a short blade in hand, placed his hands on his hips and nodded heavily, his face full of honest seriousness.
Li Xuan’s heart jolted.
Right—five days until the final exam!
He slapped his forehead. The earlier chaos of emotions was instantly replaced by urgency.
Yan Chiyu’s eyes lit up. He stood and pulled out three pairs of black gloves from his pack. The gloves were embroidered with dark gold Xuanwu patterns.
“I made these specially for you guys. They can triple your punching power. If you embed red crystals, the power increases tenfold. Blue crystals greatly enhance defense.”
“You really went all out,” Shen Qingci said with a smile, patting his shoulder approvingly.
Li Xuan suddenly remembered the pouch Mo Ying had given him days earlier. The warmth of it still seemed to linger in his palm.
He untied it and opened it. Crystals of various colors shimmered inside.
“Take what you need,” he said.
Shen Qingci, Yan Chiyu, and Aman crowded around, their faces lighting up.
“Wow, Brother Xuan, you’re amazing!”
At that moment, Lao Zhan, who had been silently listening from the corner, stood up with a steady smile.
He was not participating in the exam, but he still gave instructions:
“On the battlefield, don’t wear heavy equipment. Agility comes first. The exam will be divided into five squads—teamwork matters more than individual strength.”
He scanned them and assigned roles:
“Xiao Shen, you’re good at scouting—frontline. Aman, you’re tank—hold the center. Yan Chiyu, long-range support with your crossbow. Chang Geng, you control the battlefield and handle healing support. Su Mo will rear guard and handle purification of chaotic energy.”
“As expected of Lao Zhan,” Shen Qingci praised. “Everyone rest well these few days. We go all out for the exam.”
【Back Mountain of Fulong Camp】
The back mountain was bone-chilling.
Dead trees stretched across the terrain. Frost on the branches glinted coldly in the morning light, shaking loose with every gust of wind.
Lu Changfeng stood at the base of the mountain in black combat robes. His voice rang out like a bell through the freezing wind:
“Today is the graduation exam, divided into two stages.”
“The first stage is individual assessment: Rupture disciples must accumulate enough damage points to pass; Purification disciples must accumulate enough purification points.”
He gestured toward the forest behind him.
“The mountain is covered in illusion arrays set by Elder Yu. Wooden puppets inside will transform into corrupted beasts or berserk soldiers. You only need to attack or purify—no need to hold back. Time limit is from now until noon. There are limited targets. Go.”
The moment he finished speaking, disciples scattered in all directions.
Some charged forward without hesitation; others moved cautiously, searching for targets.
Shen Qingci patted Aman on the arm.
“We’re going first. Good luck.”
The two quickly disappeared into the forest.
Because targets were limited, strong attackers intentionally separated from weaker-output teammates like Su Mo, Li Xuan, and Yan Chiyu.
Li Xuan, Yan Chiyu, and Su Mo moved slowly through frost-covered paths. Dry branches snapped underfoot.
After half an hour of searching, they finally found their first wooden puppet in a shadowed valley.
“Su Mei, ladies first,” Li Xuan said politely, stepping aside.
Su Mo’s cheeks flushed slightly. She looked at him with gratitude and a hint of shyness.
“Thank you, Chang Geng.”
She took a deep breath and stepped forward, gathering purification energy.
Li Xuan and Yan Chiyu guarded the sides.
Half an hour later, the puppet dissipated into smoke.
“I passed! I’ll wait for you guys below!”
Su Mo waved and headed down the mountain.
Li Xuan and Yan Chiyu continued deeper into the forest. The terrain grew rougher, the wind harsher.
“Brother Xuan, these puppets are too hard to find!” Yan Chiyu wiped snow from his face.
“Don’t worry. We’ll find more,” Li Xuan said.
Suddenly, Yan Chiyu pointed ahead.
“Look!”
In a clearing stood a berserk hunter and a gray wolf.
“Perfect!” Yan Chiyu drew his crossbow.
“I’ll handle the wolf. Brother Xuan, the berserker is yours!”
The wolf fled into the forest. Yan Chiyu chased after it.
“Just one hour left…”
Li Xuan inhaled deeply.
“Then I’ll finish this quickly.”
“Return to origin—Primordial Forbidden Domain!”
A golden field expanded outward. Time slowed.
In an instant, Li Xuan closed in and struck. The berserker collapsed, revealing a wooden puppet that turned to ash.
“Too draining… only 40% energy left.”
Then—
“AH—BLOOD!!”
Yan Chiyu’s scream echoed from the forest.
Li Xuan’s heart jolted. He rushed toward the sound.
What he saw made his pupils shrink.
Yan Chiyu lay on the ground, arm torn open, blood pouring out.
A real Rift Wolf stood above him, snarling.
“This is real! Not an illusion!”
The wolf lunged.
“Move!”
Li Xuan activated his ability and shifted Yan Chiyu away.
“Fire the signal!”
BOOM—
A red flare exploded into the sky.
The wolf turned on him.
Li Xuan blocked the claw strike, but was kicked hard and sent flying into a boulder with Yan Chiyu.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
“Damn it… less than 30% energy left.”
The wolf advanced again.
“Fine… ultimate move.”
“Return to origin—Withering Rebirth!”
Green light erupted.
At the moment of contact, the wolf rapidly aged, decayed, and collapsed into a dried corpse.
But its final momentum still struck Li Xuan, smashing him into the rock.
Rain and snow fell together.
Li Xuan’s vision blurred.
In his final moment of clarity, he saw a black shadow in the distance—watching.
“Am I going to die this time…?”
His lips curled faintly.
“Maybe… I can finally return to my original world…”
He closed his eyes.
【Foot of the Mountain】
Lu Changfeng shot up instantly.
“Not good!”
He rushed toward the signal.
In the main hall, Zhao Chengyuan, Elder Su, and Elder Yi all felt the explosion and rushed out.
Chu Wanran grabbed Shen Qingci.
“Where is Li Xuan?”
Shen Qingci froze.
“He… hasn’t come back yet.”
Both of them bolted toward the mountain.
Lu Changfeng arrived first and found Yan Chiyu unconscious, the wolf corpse nearby.
He immediately lit a beacon signal.
Zhao Chengyuan arrived shortly after.
“Anyone else?”
“At the signal point there’s a Rift Wolf corpse. No others seen yet. I’m taking him to the infirmary,” Lu Changfeng said, already moving.
“Li Xuan hasn’t returned to the team!”
Chu Wanran’s voice came from behind. He and Shen Qingci quickly caught up, their faces full of anxiety.
Everyone’s hearts sank. They immediately rushed toward the direction where the signal flare had risen.
From a distance, they saw the dried-out wolf corpse beneath a massive rock. Zhao Chengyuan strode forward and, with force, flipped the corpse away—
Under it lay Li Xuan.
He was covered in blood, his silver hair soaked through and stained red. His face was as pale as paper, his eyes tightly shut. There was no sign of life.
At the sight, Zhao Chengyuan felt as if an invisible hand had violently clenched his heart. A sharp, tearing pain spread through him.
Carefully, he lifted Li Xuan into his arms. His voice trembled uncontrollably as he roared:
“Treatment! Now!”
Elder Yi immediately stepped forward, condensing healing spiritual energy and slowly channeling it into Li Xuan’s body.
Elder Su took out a vial of healing medicine, trying to pour it into Li Xuan’s mouth.
But Li Xuan was already unconscious, his teeth clenched shut. The medicine could not be administered.
Zhao Chengyuan snatched the vial, opened it, and drank it in one gulp. Then he lifted Li Xuan’s chin and lowered his head, pressing his lips to his, slowly transferring the medicine into him.
【Solitary Confinement Cell】
The cold, oppressive confinement room was filled with biting chill.
A black-clothed figure silently arrived and stopped outside Qin Kuai’s cell. A key slid into the lock and turned softly.
Click.
The door opened.
The black-clothed figure threw a set of military uniform inside and lowered their voice:
“Put it on. We’re leaving.”
Qin Kuai had already been awake. A trace of impatience flashed in his eyes as he quickly put on the uniform.
“You’re too slow. I’ve been waiting long enough.”
“Security has been tight lately. It wasn’t easy finding a chance,” the black-clothed figure replied irritably.
Qin Kuai adjusted his collar.
The figure glanced outside sharply.
“Everyone’s attention is on the training grounds and the back mountain. This is the perfect time to escape.”
They exchanged a look, quietly opened the cell door, and slipped out toward the camp’s exit.
【Medical Room】
The Fulong Camp medical room was brightly lit with candles.
Li Xuan lay on the bed, still pale as paper. His silver hair had been carefully cleaned, but the bloodstains on his neck still hadn’t faded.
Elder Yi sat beside him, hands glowing with soft healing energy as he frowned deeply.
“His pulse has stabilized, but his spiritual energy is nearly exhausted. His soul is still adrift. Whether he wakes depends entirely on his own will.”
Zhao Chengyuan stood by the bedside. His black cloak was still dusted with frost and dirt from the back mountain. He had not moved an inch. His eyes were bloodshot, his aura suffocatingly heavy.
Chu Wanran walked in carrying a bowl of warm medicinal soup. Seeing that Li Xuan still showed no sign of waking, concern flashed in his eyes.
“You’ve been here too long. Go rest for a while. I’ll keep watch here.”
Zhao Chengyuan didn’t turn around. His gaze remained fixed on Li Xuan’s lifeless face.
“I’ll wait for him to wake.”
At that moment, Deputy Commander Lu hurried in, his expression grave.
“Commander, the elders are waiting in the council hall to discuss the back mountain incident.”
Zhao Chengyuan was silent for a moment. He gently brushed back the strands of hair on Li Xuan’s forehead—an uncharacteristically tender motion.
Then he turned. The warmth in him vanished instantly, replaced by a bone-chilling cold.
“Let’s go.”
【Council Hall】
Candles flickered in the council hall, casting unstable shadows over every face.
Elder Yu, Elder Su, Lu Changfeng, the Shadow Guard Commander, and all responsible personnel were present. The hall was silent except for the cold wind outside.
Elder Su held a white jade tray. On it lay several crystalline insect eggs, glowing faintly with an eerie light.
Zhao Chengyuan walked to the main seat and sat down heavily.
His gaze swept across the room like a blade.
“During today’s final exam, a mature Rift Wolf appeared in the back mountain and severely injured two disciples. Who will take responsibility?”
The disciple in charge of the barrier immediately dropped to his knees, trembling.
“Commander, please spare us! The barrier was personally set by Elder Yu. We inspect it daily with no flaws. A Rift Wolf that large could not possibly have breached it!”
Elder Yu spoke calmly.
“My barrier can not only block beasts but also detect spiritual fluctuations. If a Rift Wolf had entered, I would have sensed it immediately. Yet during the exam, I detected nothing unusual—as if the wolf had always been inside the mountain.”
“Always inside?”
Zhao Chengyuan let out a cold laugh.
“The back mountain is patrolled regularly and thoroughly searched before exams. How could such a beast be hidden there?”
He shifted his gaze.
“Elder Su, any findings?”
Elder Su stepped forward and presented the tray.
“Commander, everyone. These are parasitic eggs extracted from the wolf’s brain—Soul Devouring Insect eggs.”
A murmur of shock spread through the hall.
“That insect releases mimic substances,” Elder Su continued. “It can disguise spiritual fluctuations and guide beasts using illusionary signals. It also suppresses their aura, making them effectively invisible.”
“The eggs require abundant spiritual energy to hatch. The insect lures its host toward dense energy sources. The back mountain, with its constant cultivation activity, became the target.”
Deputy Lu frowned.
“Even so, how did the barrier fail to detect it?”
“That is the second anomaly.”
Elder Su continued.
“We found a hidden underground tunnel near the valley where the Rift Wolf appeared. It was covered with dead wood and weeds. Fresh excavation marks were still present. The tunnel may extend all the way to Feng’an Warehouse in a neighboring country.”
“Feng’an Warehouse?” Zhao Chengyuan’s eyes sharpened.
“Yes,” Elder Yu added. “The barrier in the tunnel was deliberately destroyed with expert precision. This was a long-term operation. The wolf was likely transported through the tunnel into the back mountain and released during the exam. It bypassed patrols and detection entirely. This construction would take at least two to five years.”
Zhao Chengyuan tapped the armrest slowly.
“Only someone deeply familiar with the camp’s layout and barrier formation could do this.”
He looked at the Shadow Guard Commander.
“Why didn’t the guards assigned to protect Li Xuan intervene?”
The commander’s expression changed.
“Commander, I accept responsibility! The two guards reported they saw no abnormalities. They kept watch over Li Xuan the entire time. Only after the rescue signal did they rush over—but by then he was already severely injured.”
“They both gave identical testimony. They saw Li Xuan running toward another direction in panic, as if he were in danger.”
“They assumed he was under attack and followed, but it was only an illusion. By the time they returned, the flare had already been fired.”
Elder Su added quietly:
“There were traces of illusion energy in Yan Chiyu as well. He was affected too.”
Elder Yu narrowed his eyes.
“To interfere within my illusion array and layer another illusion over it, misdirect guards, use insect eggs and tunnels… Whoever did this is highly skilled. Only a handful of people in our kingdom possess such advanced illusion techniques.”
Zhao Chengyuan’s voice turned icy.
“So someone like that infiltrated my territory—and I knew nothing?”
Deputy Lu stepped forward.
“Commander, Qin Kuai is also missing. He escaped during the afternoon. A guard saw a black-clothed figure—possibly female—rescue him from confinement. They even wore Fulong Camp uniforms to slip out during the chaos.”
“Qin Kuai?”
Zhao Chengyuan’s eyes darkened.
“A prisoner… worth this much effort?”
He let out a cold laugh.
“I underestimated him.”
After a moment, he issued orders:
“First, fully capture Qin Kuai and all accomplices.
Second, investigate Feng’an Warehouse and interrogate all personnel.
Third, seal the underground tunnel and reinforce the barrier.
Fourth, increase protection on Li Xuan. No further mistakes are allowed.”
“Yes!”
After the meeting dispersed, Zhao Chengyuan headed toward the medical room—but was stopped by Elder Yu.
“Commander, please wait.”
They moved to a secluded corridor outside the hall.
Elder Yu lowered his voice.
“That black-clothed figure you mentioned… female build, familiar with our layout, skilled in illusion and barrier knowledge—I may know who it is.”
Zhao Chengyuan’s eyes sharpened.
“Who?”
“Illusion Butterfly Shadow—Mo Feiyan.”
“She stayed in Fulong Camp for two years five years ago, specializing in illusion techniques. She assisted me in constructing the back mountain barrier and knows its weak points well.”
Zhao Chengyuan repeated the name slowly.
“Mo Feiyan…”
“I feel I’ve heard it before.”
Elder Yu nodded.
“She left three years ago with a group of veterans. The former commander, General Li Zhantian, had connections with her. You may wish to consult him.”
Zhao Chengyuan’s expression darkened.
“General Li has been in seclusion for three years.”
He paused.
“But this matter is too important. I must visit him personally.”
He turned toward the medical room again, his steps heavier than before.
Mo Feiyan, Qin Kuai, tunnels, Soul Devouring Insects, Feng’an Warehouse—
All the threads intertwined.
Something far larger was unfolding beneath them.