The two set out toward the Fulong Camp in the southeast of the Lingqu River.
—— This branch of the Towning Beast Division could be called a “slaughter demon fortress” within this chaotic world. To the north it borders the remaining veins of the White Mist Mountain, and to the south it guards the water-and-land gateway of Lingqu County. Half of it is built upon solid riverbank foundations, its gray-blue giant stone walls covered in sword and blade marks—
those were medals from years of fighting demonic beasts.
The other half is anchored into the riverbed by thirty-six massive coiled-dragon stone pillars, each so thick that several people must embrace it together. The pillars are carved with demon-suppressing runes, darkened to a deep brown sheen from constant soaking in river water. Beneath the surface, faint iron chains can be seen winding about, said to be capable of binding even giant beasts crossing the river.
The entire complex is filled with towering structures. The tallest “Demon Suppression Tower” pierces the sky, while twelve auxiliary towers surround it. At each tower tip are “Thunderfire Rotating Ballistae” personally overseen in construction by Prince Guang Zhao Zongkeng.
—— The ballista bodies are forged from black iron, the strings made from dragon sinew. Their dark muzzles point toward the sky, and the arrow grooves are preloaded with sulfur-wrapped iron arrows. Once fired, they turn into a rain of fire like falling meteors, capable of long-range killing flying demonic beasts.
The riverbank base and water camp are connected by suspended corridors. Half-height stone railings line both sides, embedded with luminous pearls, making the place bright as day even at night. Beneath the corridors hang countless merit plaques of hunters, and when the wind blows, the copper plaques collide and ring out clearly, as if recounting past demon-slaying deeds.
This place is the “gold rush sacred ground” of all cultivator-warriors in the country—not only are the bounties shockingly rich, but rift appearances are also ranked number one nationwide. Sixty percent of the top demon-slaying cultivators in the country gather here, because only the most brutal real combat can forge the strongest warriors.
The plaza beneath the Fulong Archway was as lively as a temple fair.
Stalls selling talismans and healing medicine lined up densely. The passing crowd wore various combat uniforms, with sabers and swords at their waists, all carrying lingering killing intent.
Li Xuan followed behind Chu Wanran, looking at the crowd packed shoulder-to-shoulder of applicants.
His pale brows slightly furrowed as he silently complained inwardly: “With this scale, it’s not an exaggeration to say a thousand people are fighting for one position. So how did that B-rank rift the night before nearly wipe out the entire squad? So the experts are all queuing here, while the ones actually working are part-timers?”
In front of them, the Fulong Archway was carved from a single block of white jade. Eight gilded characters read: “Fulong Suppresses Beasts, Seas Calm and Rivers Peaceful,” written with powerful, flowing strokes and righteous aura.
Behind the archway stood a thousand-step cloud ladder piercing into the sky. The stone steps, worn smooth by time and countless cultivators’ feet, were still steep enough to inspire awe. This was the first test of the Towning Beast Division—training both body and will. Those who could not even climb the steps were unworthy of speaking of demon-slaying.
“After passing this thousand-step cloud ladder, you reach the training field. The assessment will be held there,” Chu Wanran said, turning around. His folding fan pointed toward the end of the stairs, his eyes carrying both teasing and concern.
“Changgeng, I still have matters at the Prince Guang estate to handle, so I won’t stay with you.”
“When your assessment is over, come find me at the ‘Listening Tide Teahouse’ across the street. I’ve reserved a private room to celebrate your success.”
He patted Li Xuan’s shoulder. His fingertips accidentally brushed the exposed wrist, and recalling yesterday’s lingering numbness, his ears turned faintly red. He then turned and disappeared into the crowd.
The scorching sun of Lingqu County burned like fire, baking the black iron bricks of the training field hot enough to cook eggs.
Li Xuan ascended the steps. For him, the thousand-step ladder was merely ordinary training. When he reached the top, his breathing remained steady.
The training field spanned hundreds of acres. It was the core ground used for duels, military review, and ability screening.
The ground was paved with black iron bricks capable of withstanding full-force strikes from demonic beasts. Fine runes were carved across the surface, and at the center was a massive Eight Trigrams formation. Once activated, it could triple gravity, used specifically to temper cultivators’ bodies.
At this moment, the field looked like a massive “superpower marketplace.”
Some unleashed purple lightning from their fingertips, burning wooden stakes into charcoal.
Some carried three-zhang-tall mechanical ape constructs, whose gears turned as they threw thousand-jin punches.
Others turned their skin into gray stone, enduring heavy hammer strikes without moving an inch.
Yet Li Xuan, among these rough, murderous cultivators, looked completely out of place.
He wore a moon-white robe with green trim, his figure slender and upright like a bamboo standing in snow.
His waist-length silver-white hair was loosely tied with a blue ribbon. Under the blazing sun, it shimmered with a soft glow, fluttering in the wind more eye-catching than the banners in the square.
Most striking of all were his deep emerald eyes, clear like ancient jade. Paired with his flawless pale face, he looked like a noble young master who had accidentally wandered into a battlefield.
He quietly stood at the end of the assessment line, expression indifferent, watching the field’s chaotic abilities like a detached observer.
Such an overly striking appearance could not possibly remain unnoticed.
Soon, a coarse mocking voice came from behind:
“Well, well, where did this pretty boy come from? With that soft skin, did you walk into the wrong place and end up in the back of a pleasure house?”
Li Xuan lowered his eyelids and did not turn around. The next moment, a tall shadow covered him.
In front of him stood a man eight feet tall, his skin dark gray and covered in ridge-like patterns—clearly the result of long-term stone-type ability cultivation, like a moving stone Buddha.
The man spat onto the black iron brick with a sharp sound.
His palm, like a fan, reached straight toward Li Xuan as he said viciously:
“Towning Beast Division is for chopping demon heads, not for a face like yours to seduce people! If you know what’s good for you, get lost, or grandpa here might break your legs by accident later and make you cry for your nanny!”
The surrounding cultivators burst into laughter, crude insults rising one after another, clearly used to bullying newcomers.
Just as the man’s hand was about to touch the strand of silver hair, a sharp, icy shout rang out.
“Bang—!”
A pitch-black greatsword, wider than a grown man, slammed down at the man’s feet. The black iron brick cracked instantly, three tiles shattering and flying outward.
The one who struck was a short girl, around fifteen or sixteen years old. Her height only reached Li Xuan’s waist.
She wore a washed-out gray combat outfit, both arms wrapped in thick bandages. Her exposed forearms were firm and strong. Her messy hair looked like a bird’s nest, but her eyes were sharp, like a starving wolf.
She glared at the man:
“Pretty person, what does, it, have to do with you?”
“Stop, acting tough, I dislike it! Don’t use, bullying, to build reputation, Lao Zhan.”
Her name was A Man, a veteran of the training field who stayed here year-round and loved intervening in fights.
After speaking, she turned and looked up at Li Xuan’s silver hair swaying in the wind. After a long moment, she squeezed out two words, cold but softer than before:
“You, pretty. I, protect.”
Li Xuan blinked, emerald eyes full of confusion, clearly unable to follow this sudden development.
The man, Lao Zhan, staggered back from the impact, humiliated by the cracked ground beneath him. Furious, he roared:
“You little wild thing, you dare block my way!”
His stone ability surged, his body becoming even harder, fists cracking loudly as he prepared to strike.
At that moment—
A shadow, like ink dropped into water, silently formed behind him.
“Oh my my, why such a big temper, brother?”
A clear, teasing voice sounded.
A young man in dark cyan narrow-sleeved attire appeared beside him without anyone noticing, as if he had always been there.
He was extremely handsome, with sharp brows and bright eyes, but carried a cunning, worldly air, like a noble youth wandering the streets.
“My name is Shen Qingci, just an unknown nobody.”
He twirled a short blade between his fingers, moving left and right like a shadow, impossible to lock onto.
“I see this little brother here,” he said, winking at Li Xuan, “is as beautiful as jade. If you break him, not even the Grand Commander—or even the heir—could spare you. How about letting this matter rest?”
He leaned close to Lao Zhan’s ear and whispered:
“The Ten-Thousand-Gold Alliance is watching.”
Lao Zhan’s expression changed instantly. The Ten-Thousand-Gold Alliance was the largest merchant association in Lingqu County, backed by Prince Guang’s estate.
A lone cultivator like him could not afford to offend them.
In the end, he gritted his teeth, glared at Li Xuan, and cursed as he left the line.
The crowd fell silent.
Li Xuan looked at the two unusual people—one a cold, strong, blunt-hearted girl, the other a slick and elusive young man—and clicked his tongue inwardly.
“Thanks,” Li Xuan said lightly, his tone polite but distant.
Shen Qingci immediately sheathed his blade and leaned closer with a familiar smile.
“No need to thank me! I, Shen Qingci, am a warm-hearted man. I cannot stand seeing handsome men bullied. From now on, let’s stick together in this Fulong Camp. No one will dare touch you!”
Li Xuan remained expressionless, but internally complained:
“This guy talks like he’s coated in tea fragrance. But the killing intent he just showed… definitely not ordinary. His background is probably not simple.”
“Move, move! Excuse me, big brother!”
A hurried voice suddenly came from below.
Li Xuan looked down and saw a teenager squatting beside him, carrying dozens of clanking gears around his waist and a half-person-sized wooden box on his back, like a walking machine workshop.
The boy held a glowing metal disc, its pointer spinning wildly.
His face was red with excitement:
“Perfect! Absolutely perfect! This energy frequency is like a freshly manufactured precision instrument, zero noise at all!”
Shen Qingci sighed helplessly:
“Yan Chiyu! Are you secretly measuring people’s spiritual waves again? Do you want to get beaten?”
“This is not measurement, this is art!” the boy said, lifting his head, eyes shining.
“I’m Yan Chiyu from Iron Foundry Workshop! Your equipment in the future, I’ll handle it all! Weapons, armor, talismans—anything you want! Just let me… let me take a look at your ability core—just one glance!”
“Hey!” Before he finished, A Man kicked him three zhang away expressionlessly.
Yan Chiyu crashed onto the iron bricks with a dull thud, gears scattering everywhere.
“Don’t harass,” A Man said coldly. “Like a pervert.”
Li Xuan: “……”
The newcomers of Fulong Camp were truly all extraordinary.
At that moment, a piercing eagle cry rang across the training field.
“SILENCE—!”
The voice was not loud, but carried overwhelming pressure like thunder, instantly suppressing all noise.
Everyone subconsciously stopped and looked toward the high platform.
On the platform stood a figure in black.
Zhao Chengyuan had just returned from patrol in White Mist Mountain, still carrying lingering blood and killing intent.
He wore a black robe with red lining, embroidered with golden dragon patterns. His cloak billowed like dark clouds. At his waist hung the massive “Zhenyue” heavy sword.
He stepped down the stairs. Each step made a heavy “thud,” like a hammer striking everyone’s heart.
“This… is the Grand Commander!”
“So this is this year’s recruits?”
His purple eyes swept across the field until they landed on the striking silver hair.
He paused.
That figure felt strangely familiar.
But he suppressed the feeling and sat at the assessment seat, though his gaze never left Li Xuan.
Finally, it was Li Xuan’s turn.
The examiner asked:
“Name, courtesy name, origin, ability?”
Li Xuan stepped forward.
“Li Xuan, courtesy name Changgeng, origin: Medicine King Valley. Ability—Return Origin.”
“Return Origin?” the examiner frowned.
Zhao Chengyuan suddenly snorted from the platform.
He grabbed a shattered glass cup and crushed it further with his force, sending fragments flying toward Li Xuan’s feet.
“Show it to me.”
The entire crowd erupted.
Li Xuan calmly crouched.
He placed his palm over the fragments.
“Return Origin, Restoration.”
A pure white light spread.
In three breaths—
The shattered cup reassembled completely, flawless.
Silence fell.
Zhao Chengyuan stood abruptly, eyes shrinking.
Not restoration.
It was reversal of time.
His breathing tightened. That feeling… was exactly like “White Owl.”
But White Owl was already dead.
Impossible.
Zhao Chengyuan stepped down, grabbed Li Xuan’s chin, forcing him to look up.
Their gazes met.
His voice was low:
“Li Changgeng…”
“Your life… belongs to this commander.”