The guard team.
The new recruit training ground.
Zhang Kaishan stood at the front with his hands behind his back.
Jiang Shuai had been absent for two days, and as the one recommended by his father, Zhang Kaishan naturally couldn't say anything.
Although his face was gloomy on the surface, he didn't actually give Jiang Shuai a demerit.
Jiang Shuai arrived late, nodding slightly:
"Sorry, Brother Kaishan, I've been delayed these past few days." Zhang
Kaishan's face darkened even more.
"In the military camp, address each other by rank."
Jiang Shuai nodded and quickly agreed.
The surrounding recruits secretly exchanged glances, a hint of mockery in their eyes.
Someone muttered to himself.
This newcomer is quite good at currying favor, trying to ingratiate himself with the training officer, but he got a cold shoulder.
However, Jiang Shuai didn't care about these glances.
The training ground was divided into several areas, and because Jiang Shuai had chosen the axe and bow, he was taken to the melee axeman training ground.
There were already more than thirty people in the ground, standing scattered about.
Jiang Shuai glanced around; there were new faces, as well as young people who looked not much older than him, their condition varying.
"Those from Outpost Seventeen, stand on the left,"
the training officer who brought him said.
Jiang Shuai saw the two young men who came with him stand there and then understood.
Those eliminated from Outpost Seventeen were training with the new recruits from Outpost Eighteen.
In other words, half of these thirty-odd people were eliminated.
He didn't think much of it and found a place to stand.
Not long after, a person walked up to the front of the training ground.
"My name is Tang He."
"From now on, I will be responsible for teaching you the basic martial arts of close combat axemen."
"Sixteen Forms of Slaying Demons."
Tang He's gaze swept over everyone, his tone calm.
"These sixteen forms, combined with stance training, are the foundation for you to deal with the demons, and also the core of the assessment in half a month." As
soon as he finished speaking, Tang He stopped talking, walked to the wooden stake in the center of the training ground, and planted his feet shoulder-width apart, firmly planting them in the stance.
The next second, he swung his battle axe.
A cold light flashed, the movements were neat and powerful, every move was precise and forceful, the axe wind howled, carrying an extremely strong impact.
The sixteen moves flowed seamlessly, without the slightest hesitation. The final move, the axe-retracting technique, even caused the ground to tremble slightly.
The training ground was deathly silent; all the new recruits were stunned, their eyes filled with awe.
Tang He finished his stance, wiped the sweat from his brow, and announced the assessment rules.
"Within half a month, you must smoothly combine your stance training with the sixteen moves of the Demon-Slaying Technique. Those who pass will be promoted to second-class private."
He paused, his tone becoming more enticing:
"Second-class privates will receive one mid-grade Demon Stone per month, and a daily dose of the Demon Beast Crimson Feather Chicken as a nutritional supplement, enough to cultivate your strength."
"Demon Beast?"
Jiang Shuai frowned, softly asking the bearded recruit beside him.
"Brother, what's a Demon Beast?"
The bearded recruit glanced at him, quite enthusiastic:
"Demon Beasts are exotic beasts found around the stronghold, specifically used to supplement our new recruits' nutrition. However, hunting them is extremely difficult, almost as strenuous as felling spirit trees."
Jiang Shuai nodded, understanding the situation.
Tang He continued,
"Whoever can cultivate the first wisp of Qi first
will enter the Qi Refining Realm!"
"They will be directly promoted to Private First Class and qualify for the advancement to the next level."
"Advancement to the next level?"
The Qi Refining Realm is marked by the opening of all the meridians in the body, with the essence and blood flowing and steaming out, manifesting as vapor on the muscles.
Entering the Qi Refining Realm unleashes the true potential of the human body.
Only then can one officially enter the ranks of cultivators—Jiang Shuai knew this.
But he didn't understand advancement to the next level, so he asked again.
"What does that mean?"
The bearded man smiled:
"Advancement to the next level means progressing step by step from our base number eighteen inland, finally reaching base number one."
"I've heard that base number one is free from any strange attacks. People living there never see anything strange in their entire lives; that's truly a good life."
Jiang Shuai nodded slowly.
So it's a grading exam.
Tang He looked at everyone, not intending to demonstrate for those who didn't understand.
He waved his hand:
"Alright, the rules are clear, practice on your own..."
Just as he was about to leave the stage, he turned back and added,
"If you want to see me demonstrate the Sixteen Forms of Demon Slayer again, one low-grade demon stone; if you want me to teach you step by step, two low-grade demon stones."
Seeing that no one spoke, Tang He left.
After Tang He left, the recruits erupted in chaos.
"Demonstrate again, and they want demon stones too?"
"This is too outrageous! Isn't teaching us martial arts their job?"
Complaints rose and fell, but no one dared to say it to his face.
Jiang Shuai was also speechless. This guard team was even more corrupt and perfunctory than he had imagined.
But this kind of exploitation was useless.
Or rather, that was how it was for him.
Jiang Shuai took a deep breath and looked at the panel.
[Sixteen Forms of Exorcising Demons (Incomplete): (0/100)]
[Progress: Not Yet Mastered]
"...…"
Tang He taught an incomplete version of the Sixteen Forms of Exorcising Demons.
Jiang Shuai now understood what was going on with this guard team.
Demonstrating only once was to filter out the idiots.
Even those who could learn it after one look would fall into the trap because the teaching wasn't complete.
They taught half, left the other half; if you wanted the whole set, you'd have to bring a Demon Stone!
"I give up."
"They really don't do things without a reason."
He thought resentfully.
He had just used the effect of [Photographic Memory] he gained from [Reading]
to clearly engrave every movement and detail Tang He demonstrated in his mind.
But he hadn't learned the complete version.
As one of the second type of person who could learn it after one look, Jiang Shuai hadn't expected Tang He to have a backup plan!
"Damn it."
"Do I really have to cut my losses?"
Just as Jiang Shuai was internally complaining, he ultimately decided to contact them first.
What if the panel could help him complete the set?
It's not too late to hand over the strange stone if there's absolutely no other way.
Right now, Jiang Shuai firmly planted his foot in the stance, warming up his back. Then, he picked up his new axe and began practicing the moves from memory, step by step.
Starting stance, waist sinking, hands raised, steps forward and backward.
He opened his eyes again and began to practice.
The first time, clumsy.
[+1]
The second time, a little smoother.
[+1]
The third time, the stance and hand movements began to align.
[+1]
Jiang Shuai didn't know how long he practiced, only that fewer and fewer people were in the arena, and more and more were slumped on the ground, panting.
Half an hour.
Half the people had collapsed.
Jiang Shuai was still practicing.
Sweat streamed down his neck, his back was soaked, his legs were trembling, but he didn't stop.
As he started to practice again, his peripheral vision caught sight of someone at the other end of the arena.
A young boy.
Not very old, thin, standing in a corner practicing slowly.
Jiang Shuai didn't pay attention at first, but after looking at him a few more times, he stopped.
Something was wrong.
The boy's movements were the same in framework as Tang He's demonstration, but the details were different.
It was smoother, more complete; a small extra movement at certain transitions connected the entire move, maintaining its power.
Jiang Shuai squinted, observing closely.
The boy's movements were low and subtle; without careful attention, the subtle differences would be unnoticed.
But Jiang Shuai could.
His [Superior Comprehension] began to take effect.
He compared the boy's movements with Tang He's and quickly found the answer.
This boy's practice was the complete one; perhaps he had secretly practiced with Tang He beforehand!
As the technique was completed, feedback appeared on the panel, the progress dropping from 100 to 50!
[Sixteen Forms of Demon Slayer: (8/50)]
[Progress: Not Yet Entered]
That's more like it!
Jiang Shuai wiped away sweat, looking sincerely at the boy.
He murmured to himself,
"Great kindness needs no words of thanks."
He licked his dry lips and smiled slightly.
He then looked at the yurt where Tang He was.
"You have your clever plans, but I have my countermeasures!"
"The assessment in half a month—promotion to private second class and a chance to advance in the elite circle!
" "That's naturally mine!"
Jiang Shuai was engrossed in his practice.
The sixteen moves of the Demon-Slaying Formation flowed more and more smoothly in his hands, each strike carrying a steady force.
He became increasingly absorbed and excited with each move,
glancing at the boy more and more frequently. Not far
away, the boy practicing his stance alone raised his head.
The boy was tall and straight, his brows furrowed with a tenacious spirit that refused to admit defeat, his gaze fixed directly on Jiang Shuai. He frowned, thinking that Jiang Shuai was deliberately staring at him, wanting to compete with him. Without much hesitation, the boy adjusted his posture, re-establishing his stance, his eyes locked on Jiang Shuai, secretly determined to challenge him. Jiang Shuai ignored the commotion around him, focusing all his attention on his cultivation. He practiced the Sixteen Forms of Demon Slayer one after another, from the opening move of the first form to the steady movement of the tenth, all with perfect control. But when he reached the eleventh form, a sudden change occurred. A sudden weakness came from his limbs, his breathing became erratic, and his chest felt slightly tight. Jiang Shuai's heart skipped a beat; he knew this was a sign of exhaustion. If he forced himself to continue, not only would he not achieve any results, but he would also damage his body. Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Shuai slowly stopped practicing. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, gently moved his stiff arms and legs, and regulated his disordered breathing. On the other side, seeing Jiang Shuai stop, the boy's tense body instantly relaxed. As if he had exhausted all his strength, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, his face full of exhaustion. After resting for a moment, the boy stood up first and walked towards Jiang Shuai. "Hey, you're practicing the Sixteen Forms of Demon Slayer too?" he said cheerfully, with a hint of familiarity. "My name is Song Che. What's yours?" Jiang Shuai looked up at him, his expression calm, and slowly said, "Jiang Shuai." "Jiang Shuai?" Upon hearing this name, Song Che's eyes lit up instantly, his weariness vanishing almost entirely, his tone full of surprise. "You're the Jiang Shuai who single-handedly carried back a Ghost Ironwood tree unscathed?" Jiang didn't elaborate. He knew that the story of him carrying back the Ghost Ironwood tree had already spread throughout the stronghold a few days ago, but he hadn't expected that this young man had also heard about it. Song Che completely lowered his guard, rubbing his hands together as if he were a fly, and said, "I'm from the Daytime Logging Team." Jiang Shuai did indeed remember the Daytime Logging Team; the captain's surname was Song, so Song Che was clearly a member of the Song family. This logging team was a considerable force in the stronghold, with a full thirty people. Although they only had three types of soldiers—shieldmen, spearmen, and axemen—their strength was not to be underestimated. Moreover, it was said that they could harvest four spirit trees together almost every month, demonstrating their formidable strength. "I came to the Axe and Bow Camp for two reasons: first, I want to become an archer myself, and second, I want to select a few skilled archers for our logging team," Song Che stated frankly, his eyes filled with determination. "After I retire from the guard team, I'll add a new type of soldier to our logging team." " That will further enhance our combat strength!" After speaking, he looked at Jiang Shuai, his tone sincere: "Chen Shan said your spirit wood was of dubious origin, which was clearly intentional, because I checked that day, and you were the only one in the northern forest." " Moreover, spirit wood is extremely difficult to identify, and logging it is extremely difficult. The risk of stealing it is very high." "A slight mistake could lead to being killed by the logging team." "I'm just curious how you managed to cut it down all by yourself!" "But these are all irrelevant." " I really want to befriend Brother Jiang!" Jiang Shuai looked at his enthusiastic manner and did not refuse. At the same time, he thought to himself, "I didn't expect that even though I'm of the 'brother' generation, I'm still being addressed like this by the young master of the Song family's logging team." Jiang Shuai nodded slightly: "Okay." Song Che's face instantly lit up with a smile. To show goodwill, he leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "By the way, is the Sixteen Forms of Exorcising Demons that Brother Jiang is practicing incomplete?" "I have it here..." Jiang Shuai quickly interrupted. "Thank you for letting me know." " I'll handle the rest myself." Song Che now had a higher opinion of Jiang Shuai; he was neither humble nor arrogant, and not easily bribed. He wanted to win over this kind of person with principles. It wasn't just because of the value Jiang Shuai had shown—finding spirit trees to cut down and avoiding the demonic beasts and their aura. There were people with these abilities in the Day and Night logging team, but very few who could be recruited and maintain their own integrity. The logging teams within the stronghold were rife with infighting. Because of the limited resources around them, they often sent spies to each other, and there were frequent betrayals. Therefore, when the logging teams left the stronghold, they had to guard against not only the demons but also their own people who might stab them in the back. Once they left the stronghold, they had to entrust their backs to reliable people, people who wouldn't easily betray them. Clearly, Song Che valued Jiang Shuai's character. Seeing that he remained unmoved, Song Che didn't think much of it. He smiled and took out two flatbreads from his pocket, handing one to Jiang Shuai: "Brother Jiang, have something to eat. You must be hungry after training for so long."
"Then I'll accept it without hesitation."
"Thank you, brother."
Jiang Shuai took the pancake, broke off a small piece, and slowly ate it.
The two sat on the ground, chatting idly, the atmosphere quite harmonious.
Just then, a thin figure slowly walked over.
The man was pale, thin, and looked sickly, his steps somewhat unsteady.
His gaze fell on the pancake in Song Che's hand, his voice weak:
"Song Che, give me a pancake, I'm starving."
Song Che looked up, saw the man, smiled helplessly, and handed him half a pancake:
"I knew you'd come, here you go."
Then, he turned to Jiang Shuai and introduced him:
"This is a scholar I've met recently, who calls himself Zhi Shi Lang."
"My name is Kong Xijun."
Kong Xijun took the pancake and wolfed it down. After finishing, he looked up at Jiang Shuai.
His gaze swept over Jiang Shuai before he spoke first:
"Young man, you look unfamiliar. Are you also a new recruit in the Axe and Bow Camp?"
Jiang Shuai nodded: "Yes, Jiang Shuai."
"Jiang Shuai?"
Kong Xijun paused for a moment, then introduced himself.
"You can call me Zhi Shilang. I'm one of the survivors of the previous order..."
"A half-scholar."
"Come on,"
Song Che immediately retorted, rolling his eyes.
"The previous order was six hundred years ago. How could you possibly have survived from that time?"
"You're just spouting nonsense."
"I'm not spouting nonsense!"
Zhi Shilang immediately became agitated, his face turning bright red.
"I!"
"You!"
"Sigh..."
The two argued back and forth, neither willing to give in.
Jiang Shuai didn't interrupt, his gaze falling on the bundle beside Zhi Shilang.
The bundle was bulging, and the edges of books could be vaguely seen peeking out from inside.
A thought struck him. His reading skills hadn't improved much, and he was worried about not having enough books to read, yet he didn't want to spend money to buy them. Wasn't this an opportunity?
After the two had finished arguing, Jiang Shuai slowly spoke, his tone respectful:
"Mr. Zhishilang, I see you have quite a few books in your bundle. May I borrow a few to read?"
Kong Xijun was initially delighted, as no one had ever actually addressed him as Mr. Zhishilang.
His expression immediately darkened, and his tone turned cold:
"No, these books are my treasures, I don't lend them out."
Jiang Shuai wasn't discouraged; he had expected to be refused.
He leaned forward slightly, looking at Kong Xijun earnestly, his tone even more respectful:
"Sir, I am also a scholar, but I am currently short of funds..."
"But seeing that you have so many ancient books..."
"I mustered up the courage to trouble you."
These words struck a chord with Kong Xijun.
Appropriate, knowing when to advance and retreat.
Revealing his need, yet proactively seeking guidance.
A slight blush even appeared on Kong Xijun's face.
"Since you respect knowledge so much," Kong Xijun said, bending down to open his bundle.
"Then I'll make an exception and let you choose a few books. " Jiang Shuai was delighted, squatted down, and after a long time, finally selected two: "Daily Records" and "Monthly Records ." Kong Xijun looked at Jiang Shuai and exclaimed, "You really know how to choose; you've picked two historical records from the last era." "Thank you, sir." Jiang Shuai stood up, bowed slightly to Kong Xijun, and spoke respectfully. Kong Xijun waved his hand, looking smug: "It's alright, just remember to return them to me after you're done reading, and don't damage them." "Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo" A horn sounded in the distance. Song Che heard the horn, stood up, and dusted himself off: "Alright, training is over for today. It's time to go home for dinner. The camp doesn't provide our meals." Just as the three were about to leave the camp, a voice came from behind. "Jiang Shuai, wait a minute."
"Jiang Shuai, wait a moment."
The three turned around in unison and saw that it was Zhang Kaishan who had come.
Seeing Zhang Kaishan call out to Jiang Shuai, Song Che and Kong Xijun also left tactfully.
"Captain Zhang."
Jiang Shuai bowed respectfully, but Zhang Kaishan waved his hand and turned around directly:
"Come with me, I have something to tell you."
Jiang Shuai was puzzled, but he silently followed.
...
Inside the yurt.
As soon as they sat down, Zhang Kaishan got straight to the point.
"I already know that you haven't been participating in training these past two days because you've been helping Uncle Mingyi with his funeral arrangements."
"And you also completed the wedding with Tingyi."
Zhang Kaishan sighed, a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
"Uncle Mingyi and my father have a long-standing friendship. They went through thick and thin together back then, and I only just learned that he was injured by the monster."
He paused, then added:
"Tingyi is all alone, and my father and I were planning to bring her here."
As he spoke, he looked at Jiang Shuai, his tone full of approval:
"You beat me to it."
He smiled.
Jiang Shuai scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed:
"It's nothing, Tingyi has helped me a lot. I got into the guard team through Uncle Zhou's connections."
Zhang Kaishan waved his hand, then changed the subject, his tone becoming serious.
"That's why I came to you."
"Now, I advise you to give up practicing archery."
"That way the assessment will be easier. I just found out you chose two troop types, axemen and archers."
"Don't bite off more than you can chew."
Zhang Kaishan said worriedly.
"You and Tingyi are raising three teenagers from the Li, Wang, and Zhang families."
"The pressure is immense. A slight mistake could lead to being killed by the timber tax and expelled from the stronghold, which would be disastrous."
Jiang Shuai had gained a new understanding of this man; he was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
But Jiang Shuai immediately shook his head:
"Thank you for your kindness, Captain Zhang."
"I still want to continue practicing archery."
"What do you know!"
Zhang Kaishan frowned, his tone somewhat urgent.
"I know what you're thinking. You see archers as having a high skill ceiling and easy promotions."
"But archery isn't something you can master just by practicing."
He stared at Jiang Shuai, his tone firm:
"I've heard you come from a lumberjack background and have never received any archery training. No matter how much you practice, it'll just be a waste of time, and you won't pass the final assessment."
"You know that?"
"Most people only focus on one branch of the military in
their entire lives." "You'll be distracted like this." "
In the end, it'll all be for nothing. Don't blame me for not warning you!"
Seeing Jiang Shuai remain silent, Zhang Kaishan became even more helpless.
"Why are you so stubborn!"
Zhang Kaishan continued to persuade him earnestly.
"With your skills, focusing on axemen is excellent. Why are you so fixated on archers?"
"Have you considered Tingyi?"
He knew that words alone wouldn't persuade this boy.
After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Kaishan stood up, his tone somewhat forceful:
"Come on, follow me to the shooting range."
"I'll show you how far you are from a real archer."
Jiang Shuai obediently followed.
He knew Jiang Shuai was confident, but the other man didn't.
...
At the shooting range.
The area was spacious, with over a dozen targets planted in the ground, each over two inches thick, specifically for testing archery skills.
There was no one at the range at the moment.
Zhang Kaishan casually picked up a bow from the nearby weapon rack and tossed it to Jiang Shuai.
"Here, seventy paces away. If you can hit the bullseye, I won't mention transferring you to another camp."
His tone was full of disappointment, clearly not expecting Jiang Shuai to succeed.
In his view, an untrained lumberjack, let alone hitting the bullseye at seventy paces, would be lucky to even hit the target at fifty paces.
Jiang Shuai chuckled.
His unerring accuracy within a hundred meters was no joke.
The target was positioned seventy meters away, giving him a significant amount of room to maneuver.
Jiang Shuai calmly took the bow and quiver, and stood seventy paces away. He
narrowed his eyes and activated his "Sharp Eyes and Ears" skill.
The target seventy meters away instantly magnified in his eyes, larger than an instrument panel.
Zhang Kaishan stood to the side, arms crossed, clearly waiting to see Jiang Shuai make a fool of himself.
Jiang Shuai held the bow in his left hand, nocked an arrow, and drew the string with his right. In an instant, the bowstring was easily drawn to its fullest extent, the arrow tip aimed at the bullseye seventy paces away, motionless.
Zhang Kaishan's expression changed from initial disdain to a hint of seriousness. Jiang Shuai's bow-drawing posture was indeed not that of a novice.
In the instant Zhang Kaishan was stunned, Jiang Shuai released his grip.
"Whoosh—"
The arrow shot out with a whooshing sound, its speed leaving only a blur.
"Bang!"
A muffled thud, and the arrow struck the bullseye precisely. Its force was so great that it pierced through the two-inch-thick target, the fletching swaying slightly behind it.
Zhang Kaishan's expression turned utterly grave.
But the next moment, Jiang Shuai nocked another arrow.
"Bang!"
One.
"Bang bang bang."
Three arrows fired in quick succession.
"Bang!"
The last arrow—all five arrows in the quiver had missed. The person reporting the target ran over from afar, carrying the target.
Zhang Kaishan's eyes widened as he stared at the target, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit a fist.
His face was filled with disbelief. Hitting the bullseye
with one arrow wasn't so difficult.
The key was hitting all five, and all at the same spot!
Was this some kind of sharpshooter?
And it was a burst of fire, without even aiming?!
Zhang Kaishan was speechless for a long time.
After a long while, he slowly came to his senses, his voice trembling slightly:
"Good, good, good, Commander Jiang!"
"Excellent archery!"
"I was blind, I misjudged you!"
He never expected that a young man who came from a lumberjack background and had not received professional training could shoot an arrow through the bullseye from seventy paces away.
This talent was something that even the best archers in the camp might not be able to do when they first started out.
Jiang Shuai put away his bow, a faint smile appearing on his face:
"Thank you for your recognition, Captain Zhang."
Zhang Kaishan patted his shoulder, his tone sincere:
"Practice hard."
He paused, then added:
"After a few days of training, come directly to me to get your monster. Eat more to improve your physique, and your archery skills will definitely improve faster."
Jiang Shuai was taken aback and quickly declined:
"Captain Zhang, no need, this is..."
"Don't mention it."
Looking at Zhang Kaishan's determined eyes, Jiang Shuai knew that there was no point in declining again, so he could only nod:
"Then thank you, Captain Zhang."
Jiang Shuai cupped his hands in thanks, turned, and left the shooting range.
He walked to the recruit training camp.
A line of text immediately appeared before his eyes.
[Skill - Archery: (150/300)]
[Progress: Apprentice]
[Effect: Excellent hearing and eyesight, within 100 meters, every arrow hits its mark.]
"I've made most of my progress now, and I believe I'll improve again soon."
Then, Jiang Shuai headed home.
...
The Chen family mansion.
The atmosphere in the main hall was oppressively tense.
Chen Long, wearing a white veil, sat in the main seat.
Two men stood before him.
One was Zhou Hanxing, a member of the guard team investigating Chen Shan's death.
The other was Chen Kaiming, a confidant of Chen Shan and a guard at the recycling point.
Zhou Hanxing looked at Chen Long respectfully.
"Reporting to Second Master, we've investigated. The eldest master's death might indeed be the work of a strange entity that infiltrated the stronghold."
Chen Kaiming, however, offered a different opinion.
"Reporting to Second Master, this matter is not simple."
"The eldest master recently seized a lumberjack named Jiang Shuai's spirit wood."
"And then he died."
"Too strange."
Hearing this, Chen Long's eyes deepened.
"Tap, tap, tap."
Chen Long lightly tapped the table.
The atmosphere in the main hall grew increasingly oppressive.
Chen Long pondered, Chen Shan was nominally his elder brother, but in reality, he was the son of their uncle, Chen Shimei.
Chen Shimei, to secure his position as tax official, deliberately killed his wife and married into her family. Later, he achieved his goal but couldn't have a son, so he had to let his younger brother raise his eldest son.
He even arranged a job as a timber tax official for Chen Shan.
But now, his elder brother Chen Shan is dead.
Chen Long, who thought he'd be a shadow for life, sees an opportunity.
"I must find the murderer; this is a great chance to climb the ladder."
"As long as I find the murderer..."
"I might not be able to catch the culprit, but I can catch a lumberjack."
"Who cares if he's the real killer!"
"Let's vent the old man's anger first!"
"Then, maybe the old man will let me take the timber tax official position!
" "Even..."
"A hundred years later, I might even become his adopted son!"
Having calculated his scheme, Chen Long
looked at the two below and coldly said,
"What should you do?
Jiang Shuai pushed open the door, and the house was lit.
It was barely a light, just a lamp with a flickering, eerie flame, the wick low and the flame weakly burning, barely illuminating the stove area with a warm yellow light.
Zhou Tingyi was squatting in front of the stove. Hearing the door open, she turned around, a smile spreading across her face.
"
You're back?"
"Yes."
Jiang Shuai closed the door tightly and bolted it. In the Eternal Night's stronghold, the door was life; if it wasn't properly closed, life was in danger.
Zhou Tingyi had already stood up, brushed off imaginary ash from her hands, and came over to take the things from his hands.
Jiang Shuai handed her the empty bag he had brought back, and casually squeezed her hand.
It was cold.
"You didn't want to burn firewood again?" He frowned.
"It was burning, just put out."
Zhou Tingyi pulled her hand away and turned to walk back to the stove.
"I've left some hot water in the pot for you. Wash your face first, the food will be ready soon."
Jiang Shuai watched her retreating figure without saying anything more.
He was indeed hungry, but he was more concerned about the two books in his arms.
Jiang Shuai sat down at the table and opened the books.
The paper was yellowed and the edges were slightly curled, but the handwriting was clear. It wasn't printed; it was a handwritten copy, each stroke meticulous and neat. The person who copied the book must have been a conscientious person.
He turned to the first page.
"In the 3700th year of the old calendar, the sun shone brightly in the sky, spiritual energy surged like a tide, and all people could aspire to the path of immortality."
Jiang Shuai's gaze sharpened.
The Old Order.
He knew about the Old Order; the old people in the stronghold had all talked about it, saying it was a golden age hundreds of years ago, with the sun in the sky and spiritual energy on the ground. People didn't live to endure death, but to become immortals.
He had heard it countless times, but had never seen a single word of it.
This was the first time he had seen something written by someone from the Old Order themselves.
He continued reading.
"The emperor was originally an immortal, ruling over the central realm and governing all directions. In his early years, he worked diligently to expand the territory, winning the hearts of the people. However, in his later years, he became senile and greedy, using his supreme power to monopolize the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, day and night, year after year."
Jiang Shuai frowned.
Monopolize spiritual energy?
"Spiritual energy is finite. The emperor monopolized eight or nine tenths, leaving less than one or two. Cultivators throughout the land gradually made no progress."
"The path to immortality was thus severed." "
The people complained bitterly, the kings became disloyal, and internal strife broke out frequently."
He turned a page.
"The extraterrestrial demons have been lurking for a long time."
"Taking advantage of our internal strife, they broke through the boundary and entered. The Emperor only now realized his mistake, but it was too late."
"The demons are endless, and the cultivators have no spiritual energy to absorb, so they are defeated one after another."
"In the final battle, the Emperor burned his immortal body to protect the Heart of the Sun."
"But the Heart of the Sun is shattered, and its light and heat are gradually fading."
"A hundred days later, eternal night will descend."
Jiang Shuai was so engrossed in reading that he only came back to his senses when the panel appeared before him .
[Skill - Reading: (2/100)]
[Progress: Beginner]
[Passive: Increased knowledge absorption speed, superior comprehension, photographic memory]
Jiang Shuai looked at the panel, nodded in satisfaction, and was just about to continue reading.
"Shuai, dinner is ready."
Zhou Tingyi's voice came at the right time.
He put away the book, got up and went to the kitchen.
He was puzzled: What is the Heart of the Sun?
Zhou Tingyi was ladling rice into a bowl when she saw him approach. She looked up and smiled,
"Perfect timing, wash your hands and eat."
The rice was a thick porridge of wild vegetables with a few grains of some unknown substance added. Jiang Shuai took it and sat down to eat.
Zhou Tingyi sat opposite him, sipping her own portion.
After the meal, Zhou Tingyi cleared the dishes, and Jiang Shuai returned to the courtyard.
He began practicing his stance training.
He took a deep breath, spread his legs, lowered his waist and hips, and slowly raised his arms.
His breathing became deeper and slower.
+1
+1
+1
Experience was slowly increasing.
He closed his eyes, breathing in and out.
The chill of the eternal night quietly crept in.
Jiang Shuai's feet were firmly planted on the ground, his hands hanging naturally, his breathing even and long.
Jiang Shuai finished his training, a slight sweat on his body.
He glanced into the house; Zhou Tingyi had already made the bed and was sitting by it waiting for him.
He stopped and took out a strange stone from his pocket.
The strange stone felt cold to the touch.
Jiang Shuai gripped the strange stone tightly, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, allowing it to be rapidly absorbed by the panel.
The strange stone quickly shrank and withered, finally disappearing completely.
A warm power spread from his palm throughout his body, nourishing every inch of his skin and subtly strengthening every muscle.
Jiang Shuai opened his eyes and clenched his fist.
[Constitution: 231 (Strange Stone Tempering Basics)]
[Spirit: 165 (Perception Talent)]
[Resilience: 95 (Survival Ability)]
He glanced at his stance training progress again:
[Martial Arts - Stance Training: (308/500)]
[Progress: Apprentice]
[Passive: Energetic, Unfazed by Evil Qi]
Jiang Shuai looked at the panel with worry.
The effect of low-grade evil stones on enhancing his physique was becoming increasingly minimal.
Physical strength was crucial for martial arts cultivation.
Now, his progress was slow, his improvement minimal, and his consumption high; sooner or later, he would run out of resources.
He had originally thought two evil stones would help him break through to 300, but it seemed far from enough.
"I have to go to the forest tomorrow,"
Jiang Shuai thought, standing up to grab his bow.
"Shuai,"
Zhou Tingyi's voice came from inside the house, soft and slightly reproachful.
Jiang Shuai turned around; she was already at the door, standing in the lamplight looking at him.
"Still practicing?" she asked.
Jiang Shuai paused.
He wanted to say, "Practice a little longer," but seeing her slightly furrowed brows, the words changed.
"No more practicing,"
he said, walking back into the house.
Zhou Tingyi stepped aside to let him in, bolted the door, and turned around to find Jiang Shuai already sitting on the edge of the bed. She walked over and sat down beside him.
The lamp was still lit.
Jiang Shuai turned his head to look at her. The light from the oil lamp shone from the side, outlining her profile with a soft golden edge, her eyelashes casting faint shadows under her eyelids.
She seemed to sense his gaze, turning her head away, her eyes shining.
"What are you looking at?"
Jiang Shuai didn't answer, finding the woman in his arms incredibly alluring.
He reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
With a gentle blow, the lamp went out.
...
Afterwards, Jiang Shuai leaned against the headboard, Zhou Tingyi resting her head on his shoulder, her breathing shallow, as if she were asleep.
This was their first time consummating their marriage.
It was over in the blink of an eye, frankly, a bit too fast.
Just as Jiang Shuai felt he hadn't performed well and was about to go to sleep,
[Constitution: 236 (Basic Stone Tempering Chain)]
increased by 5 points?!
He looked down at Zhou Tingyi in his arms, then at the number on the panel, and remained silent for a moment.
At that moment, Jiang Shuai trembled all over!
"This works? Good heavens, a full five points!"
"You know, a low-grade strange stone can only increase his points by 30."
He'd gained five points in just half an hour!
Then, he hugged Zhou Tingyi even tighter.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Tingyi groggily opened her eyes and found Jiang Shuai looking excited.
"Want...want more?"
"Hehe, I didn't perform well just now, let's do it again!"
Hearing this, Zhou Tingyi blushed.
…
In the blink of an eye, it was the first half of the night.
Jiang Shuai looked at his current physique [281] with satisfaction.
He got up quietly; Zhou Tingyi was already awake, sitting up to watch him get dressed.
"Are we going to training today?" she asked.
"No, we're leaving the stronghold today to see if we can find any spirit wood."
Upon hearing they were leaving, Zhou Tingyi immediately tensed up, after all, her father's situation…
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Noticing Zhou Tingyi's anxiety, Jiang Shuai could only reassure her.
"Call Wang Chan, Zhang Tong, and Li Yan over for dinner later."
Jiang Shuai walked to the door, glancing back at her. She sat on the bed, the blankets pulled around her, her hair slightly disheveled, her eyes calm.
"Lock the door," he said.
Zhou Tingyi obediently nodded.
Jiang Shuai, carrying his bow and axe, opened the door and stepped into the darkness.
The streets of the stronghold were deserted; occasionally, one or two doors had lights on, but they were dimly lit, like old people unable to endure the night.
He walked towards the stronghold's gate.
"Brother Jiang!"
someone called from behind.
Jiang Shuai turned around; two figures quickly caught up. As they drew closer, he recognized them as lumberjacks Niu Eryuan and Wu Wei.
Both were panting, their faces pale.
"Brother Jiang, are you going to the forest?" Niu Eryuan asked, his voice a little weak.
"Yeah."
Wu Wei rubbed his hands, looked at Niu Eryuan, then at Jiang Shuai:
"Um... Brother Jiang, we're really out of food at home, we can't last more than a few days."
"We heard you can recognize spirit wood, and now that you've joined the guard team, your skills have greatly improved, so we just wanted to..."
"Could we come with you?"
"You go ahead and chop your things, we'll just look for some scraps nearby, we definitely won't steal anything from you, and we won't hold you back."
Jiang Shuai looked at them.
Both of their faces were thin and somewhat sunken, but their eyes shone brightly, with the light of extreme hunger.
"The forest is dangerous, the eerie energy can be dangerous." Jiang Shuai said.
"I know."
Niu Eryuan nodded, "But staying here will just mean starving to death."
"We haven't had a full meal for three days in a row since we paid the timber tax."
Jiang Shuai was silent for a few moments.
"Let's go."
The two were stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, nodding repeatedly:
"Yes! Yes! Let's go, let's go!"
Jiang Shuai turned and walked towards the gate.
Niu Eryuan and Wu Wei quickly followed, their steps more forceful than before.
The stronghold's gate slowly opened.
The three disappeared into the darkness.
The three left the stronghold.
Wu Wei took out a mouse from his backpack, about the size of a palm, with grayish-brown fur, a long tail, and a pointed nose.
"A Spirit-Seeking Mouse."
He waved the creature in his hand.
"It's a family heirloom, a low-level monster beast, specifically used to find spirit wood."
"Although the chance of finding spirit wood is lower than that of a dedicated wood finder, it's still better than blindly searching."
The mouse twitched its nose, its small eyes darting around.
Niu Eryuan, who had searched on Google
, came over and looked at Jiang Shuai with envy:
"Wu Wei relies on this thing for his livelihood; the little thing's nose is sharper than a dog's."
Wu Wei stuffed the mouse back into his backpack.
"I raised this one for three years before it became docile; it throws a tantrum if it doesn't eat a low-grade monster stone per meal."
Jiang Shuai glanced at it and silently noted it down. Since monster beasts could be raised, it meant that it was a skill that could be acquired through the skill panel.
It seemed he would have to keep an eye out for it in the future.
He would raise a monster beast that he liked someday.
Several stone pillars stood at the edge of the forest. They were
about half a person's height, grayish, and their surfaces were engraved with rough patterns.
These are all spirit-suppressing stakes made of strange stones.
The people of the Eternal Night World, forced to coexist with the supernatural, learned to use its power to fight it.
The naming of these spirit-suppressing stakes should also reflect this survival wisdom of fighting fire with fire.
Niu Eryuan patted one of them as he passed by:
"It's still safest in the stronghold."
"With these spirit-suppressing stakes, the strange energy can't get in, I can sleep soundly."
Wu Wei laughed:
"You sleep like a log, you won't even wake up if the strange energy gets in one day."
"Let's go."
Wu Wei stuffed the rat back into his backpack.
"This time we're going to the Greenwood Forest, we're sure to gain something."
Jiang Shuai paused upon hearing Wu Wei's words.
"Greenwood Forest?!"
Niu Eryuan noticed Jiang Shuai's confusion and lowered his voice:
"Brother Jiang, let's be honest with you."
"Our target this time is Greenwood Forest."
"Although that place is controlled by the Chen family's logging team, it's much less dangerous than the North District."
"Back then, the Chen family made us risk our lives to fill it in, cutting down trees, setting fires, and burying anti-evil stakes. It took three years to suppress the eerie energy."
"And the result?"
"After suppressing it, they wouldn't let us in."
He became increasingly angry as he spoke:
"What kind of logic is that?"
"We put in the hard work to develop it, and they reap the rewards."
"Brother Jiang, there are quite a few spirit trees in Greenwood Forest, and the Chen family has taken them all as their private property."
Jiang Shuai was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Let's go."
The three of them turned into the forest path, familiar with the area.
...
Greenwood Forest area.
The eerie energy was indeed faint.
Wu Wei pointed deep into the forest:
"Brother Jiang, what we're looking for this time is the Azure Wood Treasure Tree."
"The Azure Wood Treasure Tree is a mid-grade spirit tree, several times more valuable than the Ghost Ironwood you carried back last time, Brother Jiang."
"One tree can be exchanged for three mid-grade Mystic Stones." Niu
Eryuan clicked his tongue:
"Three?!"
"Yes, three, and this spirit tree is a treasure from top to bottom."
Wu Wei continued.
"It can be used in medicine, made into armor, roots, bark, leaves—nothing is useless."
Jiang Shuai raised his eyes: "Then why didn't you come sooner?"
"That thing is very evil,"
Wu Wei smiled bitterly, "The old lumberjacks all say that these things become intelligent after living for a long time and can recognize people."
"If they encounter a tough opponent, they will hide; if they encounter an easy target, they will chase." "
The most frightening thing is that they recognize the archers in the team, because archers are ranged attackers in the lumberjack team and are also the commanders."
"If the commander falls, the team is in chaos, so these spirit trees will specifically target the commander."
"Its attack is like a pitcher plant; the vines wrap around people, tie them to the tree trunk, and slowly suck them in."
Niu Eryuan nodded beside him:
"It's true."
"I heard Old Chen say that once when their lumberjack team encountered a group of trees, those things managed to bypass three axemen and only chased after the archers."
"Once the archers died, the rest of the team panicked, and in the end, four of them were killed before they managed to escape."
"So the Chen family's logging team monopolizes this forest, and they can't even get a few trees a year."
"Then how do they catch them?" Jiang Shuai asked, puzzled.
"Fire arrows."
Wu Wei pulled an arrow from his pocket, the arrowhead wrapped in tarpaulin.
"If you shoot it, it'll take root and extinguish the fire. Once the roots are in the soil, it can't move, and then we can cut it down."
Jiang Shuai suddenly realized that these two had been waiting for him here.
They knew he had become an archer, which was why they recruited him.
Wu Wei handed him five arrows with arrowheads tempered by a strange fire, adding,
"Brother Jiang, if we really encounter a grove of spirit trees later, you stand at the back."
"You're the archer, our eyes. Leave the melee to us."
"If you fall, we're blind."
Niu Eryuan patted his chest:
"Don't worry, Brother Jiang, our axes aren't the most powerful, but they can still hold you off."
Jiang Shuai didn't speak, putting his arrows back into his quiver.
The three continued deeper into the area.
Wu Wei lit a ghostly fire, its eerie blue light dancing in his palm. Niu Eryuan also lit one, and the two of them, crouching low, focused on the ground.
The spirit-seeking rats were released, sniffing around.
After a while, there was no movement.
Jiang Shuai stood still, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. He felt it was too slow.
At this moment, he activated the passive skills of [Archery] [Sharp Ears and Eyes] and [Lumberjacking] [Sensing Spirit Wood] again.
When he opened his eyes again, everything in his vision was clear. The texture of the earth, the fallen leaves on the ground, the marks of broken branches.
There it was!
He walked over, squatted down, and brushed aside the fallen leaves.
A shallow drag mark, crushing half a withered leaf, stretched into the depths of the forest.
Niu Eryuan leaned closer: "Found something?"
Jiang Shuai pointed to the ground.
Niu Eryuan looked down, paused, then looked up at Jiang Shuai:
"Brother Jiang, you..."
"Your eyes are sharper than an animal's."
Wu Wei kicked him.
Niu Eryuan quickly waved his hands:
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I meant, Brother Jiang, you're even more..."
"Damn it, shut up."
Wu Wei's face darkened.
Jiang Shuai sighed and stood up: "Follow me."
The three followed the drag mark.
After about four miles, the forest grew denser. The eerie atmosphere thickened, and a chill could be felt with every breath.
Wu Wei lowered his voice:
"Ahead lies the northern border, the eerie atmosphere is heavy, and there are eerie beasts being manipulated by the supernatural."
Jiang Shuai raised his hand, signaling to stop.
He stared ahead, his brow furrowed slightly.
The drag marks on the ground became more pronounced, densely packed, several intersecting each other.
"It doesn't look like a spirit tree."
Wu Wei leaned closer, his tone grave: "Brother Jiang, something's wrong, these marks..."
Before he could finish,
*Boom !*
The ground trembled violently.
Five streaks of azure light suddenly appeared in the forest, and four azure treasure trees burst forth from different directions, their trunks twisting and their branches growing wildly like whips.
No, to be precise, there were five!
The fifth tree flanked from the side, its branches weaving into a net in the air, swooping down upon them.
"Damn it!"
Niu Eryuan looked up, his face pale.
The net of branches and vines fell instantly.
Jiang Shuai, on high alert, already had his bow in hand.
He nocked a rocket, drew it fully, and released it.
"Whoosh!!!"
The movement was fluid and seamless.
The flames tore through the air, precisely piercing the trunk of the tree directly in front. The branches stiffened, and those closest to Niu Eryuan abruptly retracted, like tentacles that had been scalded.
"Get out of here!" Wu Wei roared.
As Wu Wei finished speaking, Jiang Shuai simultaneously fired his rockets, which grazed Niu Eryuan's head and embedded themselves in another tree.
Niu Eryuan scrambled to his feet, his legs trembling, and ran towards Jiang Shuai.
Three rockets were embedded in two trees.
The two Green Wood Treasure Trees instantly burst into flames, their roots rapidly growing and embedding themselves in the earth, and the flames gradually subsided.
But the remaining three began to move at high speed.
They paused for a moment, their branches slowly contracting, their trunks slightly turning.
The movement seemed like adjusting their orientation.
More like searching for a target.
Then, two of the Green Wood Treasure Trees turned simultaneously and charged towards Jiang Shuai.
"Brother Jiang!"
"Run!"
Niu Eryuan's voice changed.
Jiang Shuai's pupils contracted slightly.
The branches of the two trees did not swing blindly, but instead contracted inwards, protecting their trunks.
They were defending, advancing,... closing in on Jiang Shuai!
Jiang Shuai's heart skipped a beat:
Just as Wu Wei had predicted, the remaining spirit wood was attacking the command core!
The thought had barely formed when the third rocket fired.
Niu Eryuan's voice cracked:
"Wu Wei!"
"Quickly, go help Brother Jiang!"
"He's out of rockets!"
Wu Wei had only brought three rockets, all of which he'd given to Jiang Shuai. He hadn't expected that Jiang Shuai would miss them all while trying to save Niu Eryuan.
Niu Eryuan's eyes reddened with anxiety:
"Damn it!"
"Brother Jiang, run!"
"Don't let them get close!"
"!!!!"