Raise an Army for a Thousand Years, Use It for One Day

The Moon Dragon Island outpost looked extremely rudimentary, consisting of only a few buildings constructed of blue stone slabs.

However, Li Weiyi sensed complex and profound Formation Script on the ground, in the air, and underground, making it absolutely impregnable. Without Liu Ye leading the way, he and Tang Zhan would most likely not have been able to get in.

Behind the outpost, shrouded in white mist, the fog rose and fell, as if concealing something.

Before Li Weiyi and Tang Zhan appeared two figures, one tall and one short.

The younger one is Old Qin, Ancient Hidden Person of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate.

Old Qin's body was withered and thin, his eyes were sunken, and his face, covered with wrinkles, bore a deep scar.

The other figure was a giant, Deformed Race Great Longevity from the Northern Territory. This person had a human head, a snake's body, and a dragon's tail. He had two arms and stood up to be six or seven meters tall. His entire body was covered in scales that shimmered with a metallic sheen.

The cultivation path for the Deformed Race is actually to transform into a dragon.

Each time they break through a major realm, they must consume the blood of different Ancient Immortal Giant Beast to undergo a physical transformation. This is done to compensate for deficiencies in their innate physique, thus giving them the opportunity to pursue higher realms and longer lifespans.

The higher the Deformed Race Martial Cultivator, the more types of Ancient Immortal Giant Beast blood they can consume, enough to elevate their combat power at the same level to a level comparable to that of Pure Immortal Body.

If one obtains the blood of Ancient Immortal Giant Beast of sufficiently high quality, or, like Hidden Eleven, acquires the mysterious power related to a dragon, one's combat strength at the same realm could even rival that of the inheritor.

"Senior Tuoba, you're actually a Sentinel Spirit?"

Tang Zhan bowed respectfully to the Deformed Race Great Longevity opposite him.

Tuoba Tao's human head, with its long, flowing hair, chuckled, "It's been seven or eight years since we last met in the Northern Netherworld, hasn't it? Shall we catch up?"

Most of the Longevity Realm Giants of the Xue Jian Tang Ting were unaware of Tang Zhan's identity, but Tuoba Tao did.

This shows how close the relationship is between the two.

In Qiuzhou city, after Old Qin severely injured Li Weiyi with a single sword strike and created the illusion that the ancestral land had been destroyed, they never saw each other again.

Old Qin, with his hands behind his back and a slight hunchback, strolled ahead. "It's that time of year again when the Sentinel Spirit Army recruits in the Lingxiao Shengjing, and you're the first person I recommend. Do you know why?"

Li Weiyi gently shook her head.

Old Qin, "Actually, Hidden Nine, Hidden Eleven, or Hidden Five and Hidden One are all qualified to participate in the selection. However, they don't necessarily have to join the Sentinel Spirit Army. The Jiu Li Hidden Gate can protect them and provide them with what they need for future cultivation."

"But you can't do that; you need the Sentinel Spirit Army as your backer."

"Now it's just the two of us, young and old, so let's not talk about those empty words and let's talk about something practical."

"With your talent and potential, you will definitely leave once you reach the Longevity Realm. The pool in the Lingxiao Shengjing is too small. If a true dragon is born there, it will be spotted at a glance and easily snatched away."

"The higher one's cultivation level, the greater the chance of something going wrong."

"Without the strong support of a powerful background, you will find it difficult to move an inch after leaving the Lingxiao Shengjing. Many people may use methods outside the rules to deal with you."

"The Sentinel Spirit Army cannot protect you like a delicate flower in a room, but it can provide you with a roof over your head. It can help you gain more fairness and protection from the rules in this unfair world."

"We are not royalty or the direct descendants of Mega-clan. Joining the army is already the best way for us to protect ourselves and advance. We also have the opportunity to obtain the precious resources used by royalty. We also possess the same level of Daoist techniques and scriptures as the ancient religions."

"As a member of the Sentinel Spirit Army, traveling to various human kingdoms, at least no one will dare to openly and unfairly target you. Even if they resort to underhanded tactics, someone will definitely investigate thoroughly and seek justice."

"Without this identity... well, I'm pessimistic anyway. I don't want anything to happen to you. I hope our Hidden Person can grow up, become transcendent, and become a powerful figure who can dominate the world. Even if the Jiu Li Tribe only gets a little bit of that, it's like they've been given a golden shield."

Li Weiyi could sense Old Qin's care and concern, and asked, "What's the difference between the Sentinel Spirit Army and the Du'e Temple?"

"Back then, I wholeheartedly supported not letting you go to the Du'e Temple."

Old Qin, "The Du'e Temple's philosophy of accepting disciples without discrimination is certainly commendable, but it has also given some people an opportunity to take advantage of it. Over the years, the internal forces have become complex, with various factions vying for power and interests. For example, the Demon Kingdom faction has already gained considerable influence within the Du'e Temple."

"The space for pure Daoist martial arts practitioners to survive is getting narrower and narrower."

"Given your talent, there were many uncertainties surrounding your entry into the Du'e Temple at that time."

"Isn't Yao Yin in great danger?" Li Weiyi asked.

Old Qin, "Yao Yin entered the temple with the cultivation of the Spring Realm, which is different. By the time she revealed her extraordinary talent, she had already been accepted as a disciple by the temple master. With this layer of protection, who would dare to easily harm her?"

"Don't think too highly of people, nor too badly of them. In reality, the vast majority are normal people. They simply make different decisions for reasons such as profit, fame, spiritual practice, survival, dignity, and spiritual pursuits."

"Interests are not just narrow self-interests, but also Lineage interests and national interests."

"The pursuit of fame is not all hypocrisy and negativity. Who wouldn't want it? If you want it, you have to be positive and have to restrain yourself to a certain extent."

Old Qin continued, "You ask me what the difference is between the Sentinel Spirit Army and the Du'e Temple. In my opinion, the Sentinel Spirit Army is much purer. Because those who dare to join the Sentinel Spirit Army and dare to silently dedicate themselves in the Netherworld have already filtered out the vast majority of villains and those with wicked intentions."

"The first principle for recruiting soldiers for the Sentinel Spirit Army is this spirit of righteousness and responsibility. Only secondarily, such as cultivation talent, should one consider other factors."

"The secluded realm is not the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain, nor the Carefree Capital; it lacks the glitz and glamour and the desire for fame and fortune it once possessed."

Li Weiyi said, "I heard that the Sentinel Spirit Army was established by the high-ranking members of the human race?"

Old Qin nodded. "It's the result of discussions among the most prominent figures of the human race. Therefore, the rulers of each major nation and each habitat regularly allocate funds to secretly support the Sentinel Spirit Army."

"For the past thousand years, the Lingxiao Shengjing has been funded by the Lingxiao Palace."

"When Lord Lan began mobilizing troops during the chaos in Lingxiao Shengjing, the Sentinel Spirit Army also alerted the Imperial Court and various sects. Of course, Lord Lan's territory is right next to Lingxiao Shengjing, and the martial arts practitioners patrolling the borders of the Imperial Court were able to detect some unusual movements on their own."

"The Sentinel Spirit Army is simply there to detect problems early and provide advance warnings."

"Solving problems is not our task."

"Strictly speaking, we only have one mission. That is, to send out the news a year, a month, or even a day in advance when the great calamity brewing in the depths of the Netherworld is about to wipe out the entire human race."

"An army raised for a thousand years may only need to be used in a single day."

"I hope that day never comes."

Afterwards, Old Qin and Li Weiyi talked about Dongxu Camp, the curse, and recruiting soldiers.

"The Sentinel Spirit Army is recruited based on a certain ratio according to the population of the habitat. It's estimated that only a dozen or twenty people will be recruited from the entire Lingxiao Shengjing this time. The exact number will need to be discussed further."

"We're on lookout duty, not fighting. We don't need that many people."

In Li Weiyi's view, this was no small sum.

After all, they are recruiting outstanding young people.

Cultivation talent is ranked second in the recruitment assessment, which shows how important it is.

Old Qin, "The service time and free time of the Sentinel Spirit Army are split 50/50. For example, if you serve a year in the Netherworld, you can return to the Living Realm to cultivate and live for a year. Of course, in the event of an emergency conscription, no matter where you are, you must return to camp immediately."

"At the same time, your status as Sentinel Spirit Army will not affect your status in the Living Realm."

"In the camp, we are comrades-in-arms. But back in the wilderness, we could very well turn against each other because of Lineage feuds or sect conflicts."

Li Weiyi said, "Actually, I'm very curious about the attitude of the human race's higher-ups towards the struggles between habitats."

"With your current cultivation level, there's absolutely no need for you to think about this issue. If you think about the struggles between different realms, then shouldn't you also think about the struggles between Lineage? The struggles within Lineage? Wherever there are people, there will be struggles. The struggle that is happening in the Lingxiao Shengjing has existed in the past, exists now, and will exist in the future. Every realm is the same, and every Netherworld is the same."

Old Qin, "That's all the information I can give you about the Sentinel Spirit Army. You and Tang Zhan don't need to participate in the next assessment; just nod, and you can enter the camp directly."

"You don't need to decide now. There's still some time before the others are assessed. If you've thought it through, you can contact me, or you can report to the outpost."

"Of course, don't tell anyone else about the Sentinel Spirit Army. Including the Hidden Lord and I, neither of them are Sentinels. Revealing their identities could lead to them being assassinated by the undead."

In the ensuing conversation, Old Qin told Li Weiyi that the sentry of the Dongxu Camp had gone to the depths of the East Sea. He warned that the excavation of the Ancient Immortal Dragon Skeleton might involve the spirits of the dead, and caution was advised.

Liu Ye escorted Li Weiyi and Tang Zhan out of the outpost and appeared on the north cliff of Moon Dragon Island.

The northern cliff is towering, with sheer cliffs hundreds of feet high.

On one side, there is the tranquility of the moon rising over the sea, with waves crashing against the rocks. On the other side, there is the still bustling and noisy harbor, with thousands of lights.

Liu Ye cautioned, "It's best not to use the identity of Liu Fengshu anymore. Dao Palace's strength below the Longevity Realm is beyond your imagination."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Liu."

After separating, Li Weiyi and Tang Zhan put on Invisibility Nightwalker's Robe and strode towards the sea city.

Moon Dragon Island is neither too big nor too small; powerful figures from all sides gather there, and the sound of wind breaking through the air can be heard at any moment.

Where is the young lord?

Li Weiyi really wanted to meet Tang Wanzhou and ask her to urge the jade boat to go to the foot of the Fusang Divine Tree to collect the Extreme Day Light Dew in order to break through to the Eight-Star Mind Master.

With his current cultivation level, even if he were to urge the jade boat forward, he wouldn't be able to return to the Blood Mud Space before the Golden Crow sets sail.

Tang Zhan said, "Young Master is preparing for the Commander's Feast."

"What Commander's Feast?" Li Weiyi asked.

Tang Zhan said, "Don't you know? In this resource competition, Shaojun is the leader of the younger generation in Lingxiao Shengjing. She makes all decisions on matters under the Great Longevity."

"The Commander's Feast is a gathering of heroes from the Lingxiao Shengjing to coordinate and arrange the specific matters to come."

"For example, how to deal with the retaliation from the Western Demon Race."

"How can we absorb more of the Six-clawed Immortal Dragon Qi in the gap between the Dao Palace and the Du'e Temple?"

Even a reclusive Hidden Person like Tang Zhan, with his exceptional talent, revealed a look of admiration. "No matter how fierce the internal struggles within the Living Realm, at crucial moments, the transcendent beings of the Living Realm still have to rely on the young lord. In terms of talent and martial arts, only she is capable of shouldering this great responsibility."