Wei Dao Si Training Camp

This discovery was like a miracle elixir, causing Xia Qi'an's fear of demons and strange entities to melt away like ice and snow.

He even felt a sense of impatience, like a hungry wolf spotting prey.

The remaining three hanged ghosts were no longer terrifying monsters in his eyes, but three pure masses of Blood Essence, radiating light.

"Haha! Where else can you hide? Hehehe... I want you to help me cultivate!"

Xia Qi'an, abandoning his initial cautious demeanor, let out excited cries that echoed through the courtyard.

Then, he chased the hiding hanged ghosts through the house like a gust of wind, as if playing a thrilling game of tag.

For a time, the entire house was in chaos, "chickens flying and dogs jumping," the scene filled with a sense of dark humor.

These hanged ghosts couldn't escape the house, and were eventually found by Xia Qi'an, who then punched each one into oblivion.

After absorbing the turbid energy, Xia Qi'an's Blood Essence value increased significantly.

This single mission yielded as much Blood Essence as completing three blood exchanges.

In the Blood Refining Realm, the more blood exchanges one completed, the more stable their martial foundation.

It was said that martial artists in the Blood Refining Realm could exchange blood a maximum of nine times, but few were known to achieve it.

However, Xia Qi'an felt he could challenge this record.

After all, who could blame him for being a cheat?

After completing the mission, Xia Qi'an left with a look of lingering dissatisfaction.

Not long after he departed, a Wei Dao Si Snake Guard emerged from the darkness in a corner like a ghost.

Similar to Liu Qing, who had assigned him the mission earlier, this Snake Guard wore the same type of mask, but this one was shaped like a crying face, making it even more sinister.

The crying-faced Snake Guard quickly took out paper and a brush, and wrote down his evaluation of Xia Qi'an's mission.

Possesses innate heterochromia (special eyes), suspected of having a special talent!

Brave and combative, with innate divine strength!

Mentally dull, suspected of being reckless.

Overall evaluation: B+, potential material.

Upon returning to Jinling City, Xia Qi'an immediately rushed to the Wei Dao Si to return his mission token.

Afterward, he went straight home to await news.

The people of the Wei Dao Si were known for their elusive and mysterious movements. Unless they revealed themselves, Xia Qi'an would find it difficult to track them.

However, he was confident that the Wei Dao Si would send someone soon.

This was because during the mission, he had keenly sensed a Snake Guard following him like a shadow, observing him from the darkness.

Therefore, he concluded that the Wei Dao Si would already be aware of the situation.

As expected, half an hour later.

A masked Snake Guard arrived at Xia Qi'an's home.

"Your assessment is passed! Pack your things immediately and come with me! Don't ask too many questions..."

The Snake Guard stated his purpose directly.

"I have a five-year-old sister at home... Can I settle her first?"

Xia Qi'an didn't know how long he would be gone and was worried about the young Xiao Cao.

"No need to worry... the Wei Dao Si will arrange for her care. Our department has always treated the families of its members well!"

Clearly, the Snake Guard already considered Xia Qi'an a colleague.

"Then I shall trouble you, sir!"

Hearing this, Xia Qi'an was completely at ease.

He then repeatedly instructed Xiao Cao to stay home and wait for him to return.

He told Xiao Cao that people from the Wei Dao Si would bring her food and daily necessities during this time.

Fortunately, Xiao Cao had always been well-behaved and obedient, and Xia Qi'an knew she wouldn't run off.

Moreover, with the Wei Dao Si looking after her, Xiao Cao's safety should not be a concern.

After bidding farewell to Xiao Cao, Xia Qi'an got into a waiting carriage with the Snake Guard who had come for him.

The carriage traveled for half a day before finally reaching its destination.

According to the accompanying Snake Guard, Xia Qi'an's trip was to attend the Wei Dao Si's training camp for new recruits.

As a highly organized and large martial arts organization, the Wei Dao Si had strict requirements for new members, who had to undergo systematic training before officially becoming a member.

The purpose of the training was not only to impart systematic martial arts cultivation knowledge but also to learn about the history of this world, the customs and traditions of various countries, and knowledge about different types of demons.

The training camp was located in an unnamed deep valley.

On the open ground of the valley, several simple tents had been set up.

It was clear that Xia Qi'an wasn't the only one attending the training camp.

As he walked, he roughly estimated that there were over ninety new recruits for the training camp. These tents were their temporary accommodations.

Led by a Snake Guard, Xia Qi'an first went to the administrative officer to collect his black wooden token, engraved with "Ninety-three," his number in the training camp.

Afterward, he was assigned a tent at the very edge of the valley.

According to regulations, six people shared one tent, and there were a total of ninety-three participants in this training camp.

Therefore, Xia Qi'an's assigned tent, including himself, only had three occupants.

Seeing a new person arrive, a slender man with unusual attire and a high ponytail cupped his hands and said, "I am Wang Xie of the Jinling Wang Clan. May I ask where you come from, brother?"

Xia Qi'an had never heard of the Jinling Wang Clan, but after a moment's thought, he realized it must be a prominent aristocratic family.

So, he returned the gesture, "Jinling, Lishan County, Xia Qi'an! Greetings, Brother Wang!"

"Lishan County? You mean the Lishan County that suffered a flood? I thought you were some young master from a noble family... So you're just a refugee!"

Upon hearing Xia Qi'an introduce himself, another young man in the tent, slightly overweight, interjected. His tone was filled with disdain for Xia Qi'an's origins.

Xia Qi'an ignored him, offering only a faint smile.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Wang Xie quickly tried to smooth things over, "This is Yang Wei of the Longyuan Yang Clan."

He then turned to Yang Wei and said, "Brother Yang... we will all be colleagues from now on, and we might even need to help each other. Don't ruin the harmony!"

But Yang Wei's tone remained sharp, "If I, Yang, were to fall to the point of needing help from a refugee, I'd rather die!"

"Brother Yang, be careful with your words!..." Wang Xie intended to dissuade him but didn't know how.

"Hey... Fatty... Are you deliberately looking for trouble?"

Xia Qi'an wasn't one to be pushed around, and his tone also turned cold.

"I am!... "

"What did you call me?... Kid! Are you looking for death?"

Yang Wei detested being called "fatty" more than anything in his life.

This remark was like igniting a powder keg, and he instantly exploded in rage.

If it had been another young master from an aristocratic family calling him that, it would have been one thing.

But for Xia Qi'an, a mere refugee, to dare call him fatty, how could he not be furious?

"Kid... I advise you to kowtow and apologize immediately. Otherwise, I'll cripple you today!"

Yang Wei, who had been lounging comfortably on the bed, suddenly shot up.

His face was flushed with anger, and he glared fiercely at Xia Qi'an.

"Dream on! You provoked me first, and now you want me to kowtow and admit fault? Have you lost your mind?"

Xia Qi'an remained unfazed, saying with a look of disdain.

"You... You..."

"You good-for-nothing commoner... I'll cripple you today..."

With that, Yang Wei lunged at Xia Qi'an like a fierce tiger.

It was evident that Yang Wei was truly enraged.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have charged at Xia Qi'an so directly, like a street brawl, forgetting all about proper martial arts stances.

Seeing this, Xia Qi'an's anger flared, and he roared, "You damn fatty! Want to fight, huh? Fine... I've never been afraid of a fight!"

He then yanked the bundle off his shoulder and slammed it heavily onto the ground.

Following that, he charged headfirst towards the lunging Yang Wei.

Xia Qi'an had learned blacksmithing from an old blacksmith since he was young, giving him considerable strength.

Furthermore, he had been discriminated against in his village since childhood, making fights and brawls a common occurrence.

In just two or three exchanges, Yang Wei's face had taken several heavy blows, his left cheek swelling up like a pig's head.

Then, Xia Qi'an flipped his plump body to the ground and pinned him down firmly.

Xia Qi'an's movements were swift and his strength was immense. In a fight, Yang Wei, a pampered young master from an aristocratic family, was no match for Xia Qi'an.

"It hurts... It hurts..."

"I yield... I yield..."

"I take back... I take back what I said earlier..."

Yang Wei's plump face was pressed firmly against the ground, contorting and deforming, and he choked on a mouthful of dirt as he pleaded for mercy.