Although that wisp of intent was tiny—so tiny it could almost be ignored—Luo Zheng's soul had been tempered, and after comprehending the Realm of Selflessness, he had become exceptionally sensitive to such things. That was why he could sense this intent.
What puzzled Luo Zheng was that this dragon head was clearly nothing more than a sculpture carved from a massive stone by a craftsman. It was not a living thing, so how could it emit intent?
After thinking for a while without reaching an answer, Luo Zheng temporarily set the matter aside and followed the others into Dragon Fortress.
Inside Dragon Fortress, torches made everywhere with fire oil were burning fiercely, and the crackling sound of splitting flames rang out from time to time.
Under the radiance of the flames, the dim Dragon Fortress was illuminated until it blazed with light.
Lu Xiao led everyone to a building within Dragon Fortress, then said to them, "You can rest here today. Quite a few of you should have accepted missions before and know the rules of conduct within Dragon Fortress. If you want to follow our Imperial Army and hunt Blade Insects, wait here tomorrow. If you wish to act on your own, you can leave at any time!"
Upon hearing Lu Xiao's words, the expressions of the Azure Cloud Sect disciples varied.
Four of them stepped forward. One of them cupped his hands toward Lu Xiao and said, "Thank you, Brother Lu, for saving us from trouble today. We've decided to act independently."
Lu Xiao waved his hand and said boldly, "As you please!"
The four men cupped their hands toward the other Azure Cloud Sect disciples as well, then left on their own.
After those four left, even more Azure Cloud Sect disciples chose to depart. Before long, over a hundred Azure Cloud Sect disciples had all disappeared without a trace...
Aside from Luo Zheng, there were only three others left.
This was Luo Zheng's first time taking part in the Insect Tide mission, and he had no one else to cooperate with. Now that he thought about it, acting alongside the Imperial Army did not seem like a bad choice.
As for the others who had stayed, they naturally each had their own reasons.
Luo Zheng noticed that the young man with the ponytail who had saved him aboard the giant Flying Carriage had also stayed behind.
Seeing that four people were willing to remain, Lu Xiao's attitude became much more courteous. He said to Luo Zheng and the others, "Please, come in!" After saying this, he turned and shouted to the soldiers standing in neat formation behind him, "Today's mission is complete. Brothers, you're free to do as you please!"
After the soldiers dispersed, Lu Xiao accompanied the four men into the building.
It turned out that this gray building was a tavern.
As soon as Luo Zheng entered, a thick stench of alcohol mixed with sweat and smoke washed over him.
Upon smelling it, Luo Zheng and the Azure Cloud Sect disciples could not help frowning.
Their reaction was entirely within Lu Xiao's expectations. He laughed heartily and said, "Friends, we Imperial Army soldiers stationed at Dragon Fortress live with our heads on the line every day. Naturally, we can't compare with life in the Imperial Capital. Please bear with us."
These Imperial Army soldiers stationed here fought demonic beasts all day long. In such harsh surroundings, even the most refined person would be worn into a rough and rugged character.
"What is there to bear with? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If we craved a life of comfort and pleasure, why would we have come to Dragon Fortress?" the ponytailed young man said with a smile.
"That's good, that's good." Lu Xiao then found a table and bellowed in his broad voice, "Waiter, bring us a jar of your old relic!"
The "old relic" Lu Xiao mentioned was a large jar of aged wine. No one knew how many years the wine jar had been tossed into some corner, and its body was buried beneath a thick layer of dust. The waiter did not even wipe it off before opening the lid and pouring the wine onto the table.
The "old relic" did not look appealing, but once poured, it gave off a rich, fragrant aroma that filled the air.
After the waiter had filled their cups, the men casually raised their glasses in a toast. Lu Xiao eagerly drained his wine in one gulp, then licked his lips and said, "I haven't asked for your honored names yet, friends!"
Luo Zheng and the others introduced themselves.
"Luo Zheng."
"Zhao Xuyong!"
"Yang Tai!"
"Meng Changjun."
After everyone introduced themselves, Luo Zheng learned that the ponytailed young man was named Meng Changjun.
Lu Xiao committed the four names to memory, then raised his wine cup again. "You four are willing to stay and help our Azure Mist Squad. On behalf of the soldiers, I thank you in advance!"
"Brother Lu Xiao, you're being too polite. We stayed because it'll be more convenient for us to hunt Blade Insects as well." Luo Zheng finished his wine and set down his cup, then continued asking, "I originally thought that following the Imperial Army to hunt Blade Insects might yield greater rewards. Why, then, were the sect disciples unwilling to do so?"
Luo Zheng had been somewhat puzzled earlier. The Imperial Army clearly had a unique method for dealing with Blade Insects, yet the Azure Cloud Sect disciples seemed afraid to join forces with them. Could there be some taboo involved?
Lu Xiao was visibly stunned by the question, then said, "Brother Luo Zheng, this is your first time at Dragon Fortress, isn't it?"
Luo Zheng nodded. Meng Changjun then picked up the thread of the conversation. "Brother Luo Zheng, there's something you don't know. When our Azure Cloud Sect disciples hunt Blade Insects, we usually form teams of four or five and act together. This is extremely efficient, and all the rewards go straight into our own pockets. If we act with the Imperial Army, we sometimes have to move with the whole formation, which places many restrictions on us. At times, the Imperial Army even asks for a share of the crystal cores. When faced with that, would you rather act freely or follow the Imperial Army?"
Hearing Meng Changjun's explanation, Luo Zheng finally understood.
Most of the Azure Cloud Sect disciples probably felt that cooperating with the Imperial Army was too slow and inefficient, which was why they were unwilling to act alongside them.
However, Meng Changjun had left one thing unclear to Luo Zheng.
Most Azure Cloud Sect disciples looked down on the Imperial Army. Compared with the Azure Cloud Sect disciples, who often reached the Half-Step to the Innate Realm or even the Innate Secret Realm, the Imperial Army's strength was much weaker.
For example, Centurion Lu Xiao was only at the Half-Step to the Innate Realm, while his subordinates were a mixed lot, including soldiers at the Bone Refining Realm, Viscera Refining Realm, and Marrow Refining Realm.
This contempt went both ways. The Imperial Army did not think highly of the Azure Cloud Sect disciples either, believing them to be conceited, undisciplined, and utterly lacking in discipline...
However, the Azure Cloud Sect disciples' strength was right there for all to see, so they were still quite welcome among the Imperial Army. If they could temporarily join the Imperial Army, they would be a great help. That was also why Lu Xiao had invited these men to drink.
"Why are you willing to act alongside the Azure Mist Squad, Meng Changjun?" Luo Zheng found this very puzzling. Luo Zheng had stayed because he did not understand the situation at Dragon Fortress.
Unexpectedly, Meng Changjun merely shrugged and smiled. "I came to Dragon Fortress simply to travel. I don't really care about crystal cores or points..."
Hearing Meng Changjun's explanation, Luo Zheng was left speechless. He was just about to ask why Meng Changjun did not care about points when a voice rang out from the neighboring table.
"Heh heh, I've always heard that the Azure Cloud Sect has such a mighty reputation, and that every one of its disciples is a figure capable of seizing the good fortune of Heaven and Earth. Who would've thought I'd see a fledgling today?" a gruff voice rang out.
Luo Zheng and the others turned their heads and saw that the speaker was a bearded man. He was facing their table and shaking his head with a smug, tipsy air.
Everyone quickly understood who the "fledgling" in the bearded man's mouth referred to.
Of the four Azure Cloud Sect disciples present, Meng Changjun was an expert in the Innate Secret Realm, while Zhao Xuyong and Yang Tai were both at the Half-Step to the Innate Realm. Only Luo Zheng was merely at the Marrow Refining Realm. Thus, Luo Zheng was the "fledgling."
"Old Wu, you've had two cups of horse piss and started spouting nonsense again. Sit back down and drink your wine. Don't go looking for trouble!" Lu Xiao said with a frown to the bearded man, then turned to Luo Zheng and added, "This fellow loses all sense of who he is after a little drink. He just likes to run his mouth!"
Luo Zheng nodded indifferently to show that he did not mind. He had never cared when others underestimated his strength.
Old Wu, however, ignored Lu Xiao completely. He actually left his seat and walked toward Luo Zheng's table, saying, "Lu Xiao, am I wrong? The Azure Cloud Sect claims to be the greatest sect under Heaven, yet its talent has withered to this point? They actually sent a junior at the Marrow Refining Realm here. Tell me, isn't that hilarious?"
Everyone in the tavern set down their wine cups, and all eyes swept toward them.
The Imperial Army soldiers had little entertainment in their daily lives. Naturally, they were brimming with interest at the sight of something exciting.
Besides, most of them already disliked the Azure Cloud Sect disciples. Old Wu picking a fight with them was precisely the sort of spectacle they loved to see.
To defuse the situation, Lu Xiao rebuked Old Wu and told him to settle down. At the same time, he said to Luo Zheng, "Brother Luo Zheng, don't take it to heart. Old Wu had a few conflicts with Azure Cloud Sect disciples some time ago and suffered some losses, which is why he's talking like this..."
"What losses did I suffer? Those Azure Cloud Sect disciples aren't worthy of making me angry! Lu Xiao, stop trying to smooth things over!" Old Wu did not buy Lu Xiao's act in the slightest. He turned to Luo Zheng and said, "Kid, if you've got the guts, come over and spar with me a few rounds. Let me see the might of you Azure Cloud Sect disciples!"
Faced with this blatant provocation, Luo Zheng remained unmoved.
Luo Zheng had accepted the mission to hunt Blade Insects partly to accumulate points, but also to temper himself and grow stronger more quickly.
He had no interest in such a pointless dispute.
Meng Changjun, sitting beside him, wore an equally indifferent expression and had no desire to get involved in this sort of thing.
Zhao Xuyong and Yang Tai, on the other hand, were the first to lose patience.
"If you want to see the might of the Azure Cloud Sect, I, Zhao Xuyong, will oblige!" Zhao Xuyong shot to his feet with a clatter.
"Your Imperial Army is truly something. You're at the Half-Step to the Innate Realm, while Brother Luo Zheng is only at the Marrow Refining Realm. Are you picking on the softest persimmon?" Yang Tai said with a mocking sneer.
In truth, by saying this, Yang Tai was also admitting that Luo Zheng's strength was indeed too low. Although he meant to defend Luo Zheng, he had failed to consider Luo Zheng's feelings.
Luo Zheng had never cared about how others regarded or judged him. He had always let them think whatever they wanted.
The problem was that the people at this table might well become his comrades for the foreseeable future. He could not appear too weak, so he stood as well and stepped between Yang Tai and Zhao Xuyong. "Brothers, since he's here because of me, let me handle this matter."
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