The Little Fox

"There were probably over a hundred children in Death Camp, with an average cultivation of two-ring Soul Grand Masters. Training times and intensity varied; they might even drag you out of bed in the middle of the night. The purchasing power of Soul Tickets was tied to the color of your soul rings. As long as you had enough Soul Tickets, you could do anything, including visit the city's only women's... What the hell is this nonsense?!"

Qian Yuxi recorded all the information and added detailed notes.

Though he was now a Soul Elder, he had only just entered Death Camp. He had to be cautious when dealing with unknown things.

This was Death Camp. There were no rules and no systems. As long as you had strength, you could do whatever you wanted. But a fierce tiger could not defeat a pack of wolves; that was an eternal truth!

Qian Yuxi did not know how long the training would last, so he had to raise his strength as quickly as possible.

By evening, before the bell had rung, Qian Yuxi ended his cultivation and went to fill his stomach. He also took another walk around the city to observe it. Aside from places marked with explicit prohibition notices, he had gone through nearly all of it.

There were quite a few people around his age. Aside from the three who had picked a fight with him at noon, no one knew what he looked like. His low-profile conduct had kept him from drawing much attention.

As he passed a milky-white building adorned with a golden cross, Qian Yuxi saw the three boys who had broken into his room that afternoon again.

The three emerged from inside and immediately spotted Qian Yuxi standing at the entrance. Their expressions changed at once, and they fled as though their feet had been greased.

Qian Yuxi did not pursue them. What surprised him was that their injuries had healed. It seemed this place was a medical station.

Quite a few of the boys and girls in the city had already begun forming cliques, discussing how they could weather the days ahead together and stand united.

Qian Yuxi also learned some information from the children's conversations. The day formal training began was approaching, and anticipation began to stir in his heart.

Ding ding ding...

"Isn't this a little too soon?" Qian Yuxi casually muttered, but he still rushed toward the great square. Countless young figures poured out from every street and headed for the plaza as well.

In less than five minutes, all the participants had gathered in the central square. Only then did Qian Yuxi realize that the number of people attending the special training exceeded his estimate from yesterday's observations.

Looks like there are smart people here too, Qian Yuxi thought.

The assembly was completed within half a minute. Qian Yuxi found a position at the far left that was inconspicuous yet allowed him to see the raised platform clearly, then looked up.

A composed middle-aged woman stood on the platform at the front of the square. She appeared to be around forty, with a graceful figure. A black Spirit Hall badge was pinned to her left breast. Behind her stood a row of seven people, all respectfully standing there with purple badges on their chests.

The woman quickly raised a hand and pressed it downward. A terrifying aura burst from her body and bore down upon the crowd below.

The immense pressure was as heavy as a mountain, instantly making the boys and girls feel suffocated. The entire square fell silent in an instant.

Electric arcs seemed to flicker within her gaze as she stared across the crowd. Everyone who met her eyes could not withstand the pressure and lowered their heads.

A Soul Emperor!

Qian Yuxi did not know her exact level, but he could still judge her cultivation rank.

"You have half a minute to form three rows."

The moment the woman finished speaking, the entire crowd moved. Qian Yuxi had originally wanted to step back, but someone pushed him from behind, forcing him into the second position of the middle row.

Qian Yuxi curiously observed the instructors. Their appearances were entirely ordinary, and like the uncle who had brought him here, their faces were stiff and cold.

Half a minute passed, and the lines had been formed. The middle-aged woman spoke again. "I am your Chief Instructor, Jiang Xiruan. Of course, you may only call me Instructor Jiang!"

Her voice was low, but it carried an overwhelming authority, as though every word made everyone's hearts tremble.

Soft exclamations immediately arose from the silent ranks, filled with fear and disbelief.

"Oh, my mother... She's actually Viper Jiang, said to be the bloodiest and cruelest of the three chief instructors. I never thought it would be her this year."

"I heard she was the Chief Instructor three years ago too. Out of more than a hundred people, only ten were left in the end..."

"That freak, Viper Jiang... I heard the other instructors are much better. Every time, at least close to half the people make it through."

Qian Yuxi's ears twitched slightly as he listened to everyone's assessment of the female instructor.

However, Jiang Xiruan paid no attention to the trainees' discussion of her. Two minutes later, she continued, "Those who wish to leave may do so now. This is your last chance to leave. If you do not leave this time, only two outcomes await you: passing, or death!"

Many faces immediately turned pale, and some truly stepped out and silently left the ranks.

After those people departed, Jiang Xiruan nodded. "Very good. Only a little over thirty people left. Your courage has exceeded my expectations. Now, roll call begins."

As soon as she finished speaking, a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his fifties stepped forward from behind her.

"I am one of your Deputy Instructors. You may call me Instructor Long. When your name is called, answer."

His voice was deep and muffled, and to Qian Yuxi, it sounded like thunder.

"Gou Tangsan!"

"Present!"

"Si Xiaowu!"

"Present!"

He called the names quickly, and before long, he reached Qian Yuxi.

"Qian Yuxi!"

"Present!"

His voice was calm, and Qian Yuxi's expression remained equally placid, without the slightest abnormality. But then he could no longer remain calm.

"Hu Liena!"

The name made Qian Yuxi's eyelid twitch. He turned slightly and saw a girl about his age at the front of the third row on the left answer.

"Present."

(Comic depiction used here)

The girl had short purple hair and wore a black dress. Her delicate oval face and large phoenix eyes gave her an exquisite appearance. She looked timidly at Instructor Long, as if she were afraid of doing something wrong.

"Xie Yue!"

"Present!"

Another, somewhat steadier voice rang out. Behind Hu Liena stood a black-haired boy in fitted black clothing. His features were deep-set, his nose high and straight, and he looked like a young lion.

"Yan!"

"Present!"

This time, it was the red-haired boy behind Qian Yuxi who spoke. His expressionless face showed neither joy nor anger, and even his tone was utterly calm, but Qian Yuxi could tell that the boy was nervous too.

"There are 135 trainees in total. Thirty-five left, leaving exactly one hundred. The youngest is nine, the oldest fourteen. Everyone is present." Instructor Long closed the roster and returned to the line of Deputy Instructors behind them.

Jiang Xiruan stepped forward again and addressed them. "This training is expected to last up to two years. Including myself, you have seven instructors in total. Let me remind you: no matter how much hatred arises during your training, you are not allowed to fight once you return to the city. Of course, that does not include anything I fail to see."

"The first training exercise begins in half an hour. I can tell you clearly that if you try to pass this test through your own strength alone, ninety-nine percent of you will fail, or even die. Therefore, I allow you to form teams, but no team may exceed five people. You are now free to move about. We depart in half an hour!"

As Jiang Xiruan spoke the final word, her aura abruptly changed. She seemed to transform into a killing machine, her intense murderous presence sweeping over everyone in the square and making their expressions change again and again.

"Understood!!"

The crowd immediately erupted into commotion. Such brutal training on the very first day—although they had long heard of Viper Jiang's vicious reputation, they had not expected her to be this ruthless from the start.

Many quickly came to their senses and began grouping up, seeking powerful teammates.

For a time, nearly every sound in the square was someone introducing themselves. The children displayed their strengths one after another as they searched for powerful allies.

Qian Yuxi remained where he was, but he continued listening closely to the conversations of the boys and girls around him.

Before long, he guessed what the upcoming training might involve. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he stood there flipping through the Spirit Beast Forest Survival Guide.

"Hey, silver-haired classmate, are you interested in joining me?"

Qian Yuxi was studying it intently when he suddenly heard someone call out beside him. He looked up.

The boy who spoke was about one meter forty tall and thin, but there was a wildness in his eyes.

"No, thank you," Qian Yuxi declined.

The boy said nothing further. He merely grinned and stepped back.

Soon, all the trainees in the square had formed teams.

Instructor Long watched Qian Yuxi's solitary, aloof figure from the platform and found it somewhat amusing. He shook his head disdainfully.

So arrogant? Going alone? Looks like blood will be spilled soon.