War Begins

Nanyuan City.

The affairs of the distant Great Xia Prefecture were unknown to everyone.

Outside the academy, atop a tall building.

The woman did not appear. The middle-aged man stood with a gray-haired old man, gazing toward Nanyuan Middle Academy.

"Hall Master Chen, I didn't expect you to come in person this time..."

The middle-aged man wore a fawning smile.

"Mm."

The old man said little. He looked down below, his brow faintly furrowed. Only after a long while did he say, "Wuhen, do you think there's a trap?"

"A trap?"

The man paused for a moment before slowly replying, "I'm not sure. But Nanyuan truly only has two Soaring Realm experts at the moment. As for the City Guards, I can confirm that their thousand-man commander has not broken through to the Soaring Realm."

"Is that so?"

The old man said nothing further, but his brows remained tightly knit.

This mission made him somewhat uneasy.

First, the commotion was too great.

Second, Nanyuan had already made preparations. Under normal circumstances, a mission would have been canceled once that happened.

But this time, it had not been canceled.

The order from above was to continue!

As for Great Xia Prefecture, there would be no reinforcements. That was the answer from above. They were certain—utterly certain—that no reinforcements would come from Great Xia Prefecture.

There was also a third point: they were not actually familiar with Great Xia Prefecture.

The Ten Thousand Races Cult had not previously been most active in Great Xia Prefecture. They had some power here, but their understanding of Great Xia Prefecture was not deep enough. Launching this plan so rashly was somewhat risky.

Given the temperament of those people above, deploying Soaring Realm experts—even multiple Soaring experts—must have required repeated preparations beforehand.

"Wuhen, you've been in Nanyuan for many years. Does Nanyuan have any Ten Thousand Stones experts capable of fighting above their level?"

"Probably not?"

The middle-aged man said, "At least, I've never heard of any. If there were such people, they should have gone to the Battlefields of the Heavens or Great Xia Prefecture. No one would remain in Nanyuan. There are Qianjun Realm experts, though. That Su Long from the Demon Suppression Army could once fight Ten Thousand Stones experts across realms, but he was only at Ten Thousand Stones himself."

"Su Long?"

"An old soldier from the Demon Suppression Army. He has already gone to the Battlefields of the Heavens."

"Oh, the Demon Suppression Army... soldiers Xia Longwu led back then. They've made quite a name for themselves on the Battlefields of the Heavens these past years, fighting their way from a second-line corps into the first-line corps. They have quite a few experts."

The old man knew the front lines fairly well. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Are there many retired personnel from frontline corps in the city?"

"Not too many, and they're all rather old. There aren't many in their prime—no more than three hundred, scattered throughout Nanyuan."

"We cannot let our guard down around these people either!" the old man said gravely. "Veterans who have been to the Battlefields of the Heavens and survived long enough to retire are all men who licked blood from the edge of a blade. Tell those below to be careful and pay attention."

"Understood!"

The old man looked at the sky and said nothing more.

After a while, a flare of fire rose outside the city. Within the city, a hundred-man unit of City Guards swiftly rushed toward the outskirts.

The middle-aged man rejoiced. "Another hundred-man unit has gone out. Fewer than five hundred City Guards remain!"

Yet the old man's brows were still furrowed. "Be careful!"

Knowing full well it was a tactic to lure the tiger away from the mountain, Nanyuan still dispatched a large number of City Guards beyond the city to wipe out members of the Ten Thousand Races Cult. Was that confidence, or... were they truly forced into it?

"Less than half the City Guards remain. More than three hundred are guarding the City Lord's Mansion, while nearly all the rest are gathered near Nanyuan Academy. Jifeng Hall personnel fill the streets..."

The old man surveyed the surroundings and made his assessment. On Nanyuan Academy's side, there were around two hundred City Guards, fewer than a hundred Jifeng Hall personnel, and two hundred sixty instructors and academy guards. The Dragon Martial Guard had not left. Altogether, there were fewer than six hundred Qianjun Realm experts and above.

As for the students, they were ignored.

There could not possibly be any Qianjun Realm experts among them.

Among them were two Soaring Realm experts. Counting the Dragon Martial Guard, there were fewer than fifteen Ten Thousand Stones experts. The rest were all Qianjun Realm experts.

In truth, there was only one Soaring Realm expert. City Lord Wu Wenhai was still at the City Lord's Mansion and would need time to arrive, but the old man counted him anyway. After all, it was not too far away.

"Has everyone arrived?"

"They have!"

The man hurriedly said, "The hall master has gone to receive them. They're all elites—thirty Ten Thousand Stones experts, and the rest are Qianjun high-level experts. Three hundred people! Those below the higher Qianjun levels are all outside the city, creating chaos."

Three hundred elites at Qianjun Seventh Level and above, including thirty Ten Thousand Stones experts!

The old man made a calculation. Six cities were launching operations today, and the other locations had even more personnel than this.

That meant more than two thousand cultivators at Qianjun Seventh Level had been deployed, along with over two hundred Ten Thousand Stones experts. There were likely more than twenty Soaring Realm experts!

Such a force was enough to form a ten-thousand-man corps.

"They've moved out in full force... the Tianyi Divine Cult has thrown in every bit of strength it has accumulated over the years!"

The old man felt unease in his heart, even a trace of dread.

There were many sects within the Ten Thousand Races Cult. The Tianyi Divine Cult was considered one of the stronger branches, after all, because it had pledged itself to one branch of the divine race.

But even so, throwing so much strength into a single operation, on top of the forces needed to block Great Xia Prefecture's reinforcements, was practically the entire strength of the Tianyi Divine Cult.

Throwing it all in at once—were they not afraid the Tianyi Divine Cult would be completely finished?

Those creating slaughter at the periphery were merely cannon-fodder sects. If they died, they died. But the people deployed this time were true elite believers. The two were not the same.

"The mission rewards a great many merit points. To massacre these students, it hardly seems worth making such a grand spectacle. What exactly are those above thinking?"

The old man frowned, feeling that the gains did not make up for the losses.

Unfortunately, he could not reach that level.

"Forget it. We can only hope everything goes smoothly. Afterward, we must withdraw quickly and conceal our tracks."

More than three hundred cult members still needed time to gather. In a small city like Nanyuan, assembling over three hundred people required gradual convergence. This was not Great Xia Prefecture, where no one would care if several hundred people were brought in at once.

"Move in half an hour. Pass the order down: resolve the battle within three minutes. Within five minutes, everyone must withdraw. Once outside the city, scatter and flee. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

The man hurriedly answered, then quickly vanished to notify the various parties.

After the man left, the old man once again looked toward Nanyuan Middle Academy and muttered, "Great Xia Prefecture... can it truly not spare even a few Soaring Realm experts?"

"Ayu!"

Chen Hao was currently crouched with Su Yu at the entrance to the cafeteria. Looking around nervously, he whispered, "Why are we staying here? An instructor was just calling for everyone to gather by class. After school, there's an academy meeting. Aren't we going?"

"No."

Su Yu gripped his saber and said softly, "Fewer people means safer. More people... is somewhat dangerous."

"Huh?"

Chen Hao did not understand. Su Yu lowered his voice. "Stop talking nonsense. Something may happen today. People from the Ten Thousand Races Cult may come! We'll stay here. There are fewer people around..."

"No, Ayu, you mean... people from the Ten Thousand Races Cult are coming? Then we need to hurry and meet up with the instructors! We're only at Kaiyuan Three Stages, not the Qianjun Realm..."

Chen Hao immediately panicked.

He was not exactly terrified.

The academy had held drills for this sort of thing. They had practiced and been instructed on what to do when encountering members of the Ten Thousand Races Cult, as well as situations they might face on the Battlefields of the Heavens.

At a time like this, they should gather with the instructors.

The instructors would protect them.

"There are too few instructors. Most of them will have to fight, while only a small portion will protect the students. At most, three to five instructors will remain to protect each class. There are many students in each class too. If danger really comes, they won't be able to protect everyone..."

Su Yu said softly, "Protecting two fewer people means a little less pressure."

"But... if we run into them... Ayu... let's go back!"

Chen Hao was truly getting anxious.

Su Yu smiled. "Relax. Two students wandering around, both only at Kaiyuan—powerful experts cannot even be bothered to glance at us."

"But if we run into a Qianjun Realm expert, people will still die..."

"Exactly. So we hide as best we can. If we truly encounter an enemy..."

Su Yu raised his head to look at Chen Hao. "Do you trust me?"

"I do."

"If we really encounter one, start cursing. Curse him viciously and make him kill you first. We won't stand together—one to the left and one to the right. If he goes to kill you, he definitely won't be on guard against me, a mere student..."

Chen Hao was dumbfounded. You're vicious!

Even in death, he wanted Chen Hao to die first. Wasn't that too vicious?

"I'll kill him!"

"..."

Chen Hao's face fell. Was this a joke? Su Yu was only at Kaiyuan Three Stages. It would be difficult for him to even break through someone's defense, yet he wanted to kill someone? Had he gone mad?

"If you trust me, then do as I say! At a time like this, we can't go to Academy Head and the others. Going there would only add to the chaos. We can't go to class either. We'd only add to the chaos there too. We're too weak. At a time like this, we're targets..."

"Then our other classmates are targets too. Why not call them to hide with us..."

"Idiot, how could so many people hide? If they run around recklessly, they really will die. We still have a chance."

Su Yu was not overly afraid either. His father had often told him about killing the myriad races. The academy's ultimate purpose was also to teach them to kill the myriad races. There was nothing to fear.

He was merely somewhat uneasy. This was his first true encounter with enemies. He feared that his legs might turn weak from fright when the time came.

If Chen Hao truly cursed and the enemy went after him, but Su Yu's legs went weak, then what would happen?

And what if they encountered two enemies?

What about three?

"It'll be fine. Powerful experts will definitely deal with powerful experts. Only weak ones would search the academy for scattered students, because the students are too weak. Without a Qianjun Realm expert among them, there's no need to search in groups."

"If one person can do it, there's no reason for three or five people to do it."

"The academy is not small. If they really searched in groups, they'd need thousands of people. I refuse to believe they could infiltrate thousands of people. Then Nanyuan would be far too foolish."

"Besides, if there really were that many, staying with the teachers would still be a dead end. That situation probably won't happen."

Su Yu made his judgments inwardly as he dragged Chen Hao into the cafeteria. Finding a corner, he said quietly, "Hide here and tremble like a leaf. Crouch down. If one person comes, make some noise yourself. If two people come... then run! Run for your life!"

There was a small door here that they could escape through. Chen Hao hurriedly nodded. "What about you?"

Su Yu pointed at a small turn beside them. "I'll hide there. Don't look this way, or you'll get me killed, understand?"

"Got it!"

Chen Hao immediately nodded, but then his face crumpled again. "Ayu, how about... we go find my dad?"

"Nonsense. Going out alone now is courting death!"

Su Yu cursed under his breath. "I don't know the exact arrangements, but your dad and the others probably have tasks too. Don't dwell on useless thoughts. Pray that my legs don't go weak later. Otherwise, you're finished!"

"Ayu, are you going to kill someone?"

Chen Hao said miserably, "You can't do it. How about I hide and ambush them?"

"You?"

Too lazy to bother with him, Su Yu took a deep breath. "You'll find it difficult to even break their defense. Watch me! Besides, according to the rules, if we can truly kill someone from the Ten Thousand Races Cult, Haozi, you'll have hope of getting into the War Academy!"

The moment those words came out, Chen Hao's eyes instantly shone brightly!

He had been so frightened earlier that he had forgotten.

Right—the academy had rules. If they truly killed someone from the Ten Thousand Races Cult and could prove their identity, they could receive additional points.

Of course, those rules had not been used in many years. The students were all at Kaiyuan—how could they kill members of the Ten Thousand Races Cult?

Even poisoning them would be difficult.

Of course, geniuses had done it before, but would geniuses care about gaining a few extra points?

"Ayu... could it be... you're doing this for me..."

Chen Hao was deeply moved!

For the sake of getting him into the War Academy, Ayu was actually willing to risk his life. He was so moved that he was nearly in tears.

Su Yu rolled his eyes. What was he thinking?

He merely felt that the two of them hiding here was truly safer. At a time like this, they would be bigger targets amid the crowds. Of course, if they really killed the enemy, they could talk about that afterward.

Su Yu might not even dare claim that he had killed the man. How could someone at Kaiyuan kill anyone?

"But if the opportunity is right and I really kill one, staging the scene so Haozi can gain points and enter the War Academy wouldn't be impossible."

It was almost impossible for someone at Kaiyuan to kill someone at Qianjun. Almost—but that meant it was possible.

Qianjun Realm experts were not immortal. If one got careless and had his neck severed with a single slash, he would still die.

As for why a Qianjun Realm member of the Ten Thousand Races Cult would be so stupid... ask the dead man. How would Su Yu know?

"Then it's best not to use the tearing skill. I'll hack him to death with the saber!"

Su Yu tightened his grip on the saber in his hand. When the time came, with both hands filled with strength, he could kill the enemy with one slash. As long as the enemy did not flee, the odds were good.

Would a Qianjun Realm expert flee after being ambushed by someone at Kaiyuan?

Nine times out of ten, he would not!

Just as he was thinking, an explosive roar suddenly came from outside. "Students, assemble! Those who have not assembled, hide where you are!"

"Enemy attack! The beasts from the Ten Thousand Races Cult have come!"

"Don't panic! Follow the instructors' orders! Form locked circular formations to defend yourselves!"

"Close the doors! All instructors, engage the enemy!"

"Guards, assemble!"

"City Guards, Jifeng Hall, charge!"

"Kill!"

A series of furious shouts rang out. In an instant, the entire Nanyuan Academy sprang into motion.

At that moment, Su Yu was not afraid. He was nervous, and his blood was boiling, but fear was the one thing he did not feel. He believed the teachers could win. An urge he could barely suppress rose in him—the urge to go out and see how the teachers killed their enemies.

When his father was home, he often told him tales of glorious years: corps of ten thousand, even a hundred thousand, charging into battle and slaughtering enemies until corpses carpeted the ground, blood flowed into rivers, and the heavens themselves trembled!

On the Battlefields of the Heavens, wherever the human race's blades pointed, they were unstoppable!

I really want... to go see it!

Su Yu felt an impulse. Chen Hao felt even more strongly. He clenched his saber, wanting to rush out, but quickly suppressed the thought. He was afraid of getting Su Yu killed.

"Kill!"

As the two sides clashed at close quarters, the sound of weapons colliding instantly resounded throughout the academy.

Other than "Kill," there was almost no other sound. In war, nothing else was needed—only obedience to orders.

Outside the teaching building of Nanyuan Academy.

The hundreds on both sides began slaughter the instant they clashed, without a single verbal exchange.

The Dragon Martial Guard's ten-man squad, led by squad leader Xia Bing, instantly surrounded the old man at Soaring Realm Fourth Layer.

Xia Bing, at Soaring Realm Second Layer, wore a golden helmet and gripped a long saber. Without the slightest fear, he let out a muffled roar. "Form up, kill!"

The ten swiftly circled the old man, ten long sabers slicing through the air as the battle began!

Wu Wenhai, the City Lord who had originally been stationed at the City Lord's Mansion, soared up from the rooftop the next moment. He too held a long saber, charging at the woman in the blink of an eye.

"Wu Wenhai, you've come to deliver yourself to death!"

The woman gave a shrill shout. Wu Wenhai really was here—fortunately, they had anticipated this beforehand.

The middle-aged man called Wuhen saw that the two Soaring Realm experts had been entangled and even the Dragon Martial Guard had been tied down. He was instantly overjoyed. Ignoring everyone else, he charged straight toward Liu Wenyan in the distance.

"Your opponent is me!"

"And me!"

In an instant, two men charged out.

One wielded a saber, the other a sword.

"Zhang Yun, Zeng Hua!"

The middle-aged man called out their names. He snorted coldly; he knew them. One was a thousand-man commander of the City Guards, the other the hall master of Jifeng Hall. Both were Wanshi Ninth Layer.

But how could they possibly stand against a Soaring Realm expert!

"Kill!"

The two did not waste words. There was nothing to discuss with the beasts of the Ten Thousand Races Cult—kill them first!

"Bang!"

A crisp clash of weapons rang out. The next moment, Wuhen rose into the air, leaping over the two men and charging toward Liu Wenyan behind them. There were also quite a few Qianjun Realm instructors there.

Today's target was not the City Lord, not the Soaring Realm experts, nor these two Nanyuan higher-ups.

It was the academy's geniuses, Civilization Fires like Liu Wenyan.

They were the ones worth money!

In front of Liu Wenyan, several Qianjun Realm instructors raised their sabers and prepared to charge out. The two Wanshi Ninth Layer experts behind them reacted with equal speed, pursuing through the air in the blink of an eye. Kicking off the ground, Zhang Yun shot forward and slashed at the airborne Wuhen.

"Step over our corpses first!"

With a furious roar, the two men surrounded Wuhen once more.

"Seeking death!"

The two Wanshi Ninth Layer experts were fighting for their lives, while Wuhen was only at Soaring Realm Second Layer. Unable to fly high enough, he had no choice but to drop down at once and fight them at close quarters.

Otherwise, in the air, he would easily become a target.

"Instructor Liu, you should leave first..."

The several Qianjun Realm experts guarding Liu Wenyan hurriedly tried to pull the old man away. Yet Liu Wenyan did not move. Looking around at the slaughter everywhere, he could not help cursing, "They think highly enough of Nanyuan. Those bastards in Great Xia Prefecture must know there are plenty of Soaring Realm experts. They must have sent aid to other cities, but not to us!"

The others were somewhat puzzled, but they had no time to ask.

Liu Wenyan continued cursing. "You believe that much in my success? What if I fail? Are you treating human lives like a joke? Don't let me find out who gave that order, or I'll kill him!"

Some people in Great Xia Prefecture believed he would manifest his will today. The problem was... what if he failed to manifest it?

Liu Wenyan rambled, muttered, and cursed, no longer possessing a scholar's elegance.

"I'm the biggest good-for-nothing. How could I definitely succeed? You people trust me too much. I'm just trash—you all know that, don't you? Otherwise, why would I have been expelled..."

Liu Wenyan muttered to himself, somewhat dejected.

If I weren't so useless, how could I be this old and still fail to manifest it? I want to as well, but... it's truly too hard.

"You're too ruthless, using the academy's lives to force me..."

"I knew it. None of you have any humanity. Once I really manifest it, I'll come after you for revenge first..."

Liu Wenyan continued muttering. At this moment, however, golden light shone above his head. His body trembled, and his feet gradually began to leave the ground.

The expressions of those around him changed slightly. In the distance, the Academy Head, who was fighting someone, revealed a smile. "Old bastard, it really was impossible for you to succeed without forcing you a little. From today onward... there'll be one more Soaring Realm expert!"

"Stop pursuing the Wanshi Realm fighters! Come quickly!"

Wuhen shouted furiously. He saw it, shock appearing on his face as he roared, "Come quickly! Kill those two bastards!"

As his words fell, several Wanshi Realm experts tore through the air toward them.

Wuhen also instantly broke free of the two men and charged toward Liu Wenyan. He could not allow this old bastard to manifest his will and enter the Soaring Realm. Otherwise, even if they killed some students today, the mission's completion would be greatly discounted.