Armory Camp

The Red-Feathered Eagle was an Apprentice Level 9 beast. In the Wild Wilderness Forest, Planetary-Level beasts were common, after all. Forest covered most of the planet, while the Aoyu Empire occupied only a small area of its land.

But even so, within the Aoyu Empire, an Apprentice Level 9 beast was already at the very top. The flying beasts along their route all gave way.

"These beasts seem clever, but sometimes they're pretty stupid. When they see us flying overhead, they can't help attacking us. Yet an Apprentice Level 9 beast like this can actually scare them off." Carl and Guen sat facing each other, and Carl spoke animatedly.

"Look, that's the East Sea. The entire East Sea Province is the part of the Aoyu Empire that juts out into the sea. It's long and narrow, and the sea beasts can attack the people here with ease. That's why the people of the East Sea Province are so tough. Men and women, young and old, are all good fighters."

Guen looked down from above.

A blue expanse of water gradually spread out from the horizon.

"It's beautiful, too." Guen was seeing the sea for the first time, and he praised it from the heart.

Carl, however, wore a complicated expression. "Beautiful?"

As she spoke, she tossed down a piece of roasted meat. The water rippled, and a huge fish beast swallowed the meat in one gulp. The three eyes on its forehead glared at them maliciously from below. Only after a long while did it slowly sink back into the water.

"The sea doesn't take up much of the world, but it's incredibly deep. The vast space down there is no smaller than the land. Shallow-sea beasts aren't much of a threat, but the enormous herds that often emerge from the deep sea are. For some reason, Deep Sea Beasts have an extremely strong urge to attack. These days, there are hardly any beasts left that would traditionally be considered shallow-sea beasts. The one you just saw was a Deep Sea Beast."

"Deep Sea Beasts..." Guen's expression turned serious as well.

Though land beasts were numerous, they caused less trouble than Deep Sea Beasts.

Deep Sea Beasts were bloodthirsty, with an intense urge to destroy and tremendous fighting strength.

The high pressure of the deep sea made Deep Sea Beasts incredibly durable. Few land beasts of the same level could match their defenses.

Carl gazed silently at the sea, her eyes troubled.

Guen, meanwhile, spotted land appearing along the distant horizon. Most striking of all was the towering stone wall standing along the coast. To reach land directly from the sea, one had to either break through the thick wall or climb its outward-sloping face. A large number of human warriors patrolled along the top.

The grim aura surrounding each warrior left Guen amazed.

The people of the Aoyu Empire lived surrounded by beasts, so everyone, young and old, had a tough air about them. But the warriors of the East Sea Province were tougher still.

"Let's go down."

Carl urged the Red-Feathered Eagle toward the ground. The warriors below had spotted her and Guen long ago, and a squad immediately hurried over.

"If you've come here to kill beasts, you must report to the Armory Camp. If you have other business, please leave at once and go to Surging Wave City—"

The squad leader hadn't finished speaking when the Red-Feathered Eagle flew straight back into the sky. Carl and Guen hovered in midair, then slowly descended. Sweat immediately beaded on the squad leader's forehead. "This lowly one was blind and didn't realize two esteemed lords had arrived. Please—"

"No need. Take us to the Armory Camp." Carl shook her head, then turned to Guen. "These people are just following orders. Once we reach the Armory Camp, the temple will know we've arrived in the East Sea Province, and they'll start counting our contribution points."

"I see." Guen nodded.

For every month they stayed in the East Sea, they earned three more contribution points. Killing a beast was worth only three, unless it was a Planetary Level 4 beast or higher. Naturally, it was better to report in as soon as possible.

The squad leader wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurried ahead to lead the way.

The Armory Camp was a military outpost unique to the East Sea Province. Though it was primarily run by the army, it served warriors and experts from all over. Anyone who killed a certain number of beasts of a certain level could exchange them for treasures at the Armory Camp.

Even the Transcendence Method could be obtained there.

Guen wasn't interested in any of this, of course. But for most Apprentice-Level warriors, this was one of the few ways to obtain the Transcendence Method, making it incredibly appealing. Otherwise, the East Sea Province would suffer terrible losses trying to defend against the Deep Sea Beasts' overwhelming urge to attack.

Planetary-Level warriors could also exchange for the treasured items kept by various factions, such as Dragon Blood and Green Marrow. So the Armory Camp was a must-visit for any warrior who came to the East Sea Province to hunt beasts.

Carl and Guen were brought to the Armory Camp, where they were naturally received by people from the Goddess Temple. Each Armory Camp in the East Sea Province had a squad of Apprentice Level 9 warriors on standby to help Planetary-Level warriors like Guen with the tedious details.

Guen looked over the list of treasures at the Armory Camp for a while, then seemed disappointed. "Judging by the number of items, it doesn't seem to have more than the Goddess Temple."

Carl shook her head slightly. "Look carefully. Hujia Stone can exert pressure on flesh and blood. Inside a house made of Hujia Stone, you bear several times the normal weight, which greatly benefits cultivation. But it's a specialty of the Council of Elders. The Hujia Stone at the Goddess Temple was all traded from them. And this 'Ten-Poison Blood,' which can spread and kill specific kinds of beasts, is a poison only Demon Hunters can make. This Jade Mountain Stalactite is every bit as good as Green Marrow, but it's a specialty of the Imperial Council. If you leave the Armory Camp, getting these things through the Goddess Temple would cost you dearly. The goods here are mostly top quality. Otherwise, how would they attract warriors from all over to the East Sea Province?"

Guen studied the list of treasures again and again. Sure enough, though there weren't many items, every one of them was a choice piece. More than half were specialties of various factions or things they absolutely needed.

Weapons and mounts, for example.

Medicines and secret techniques.

"My lords, these two courtyards are your lodgings. If you need anything, just call for us." The Apprentice-Level warrior from the Goddess Temple at this outpost was extremely respectful.

There was a world of difference between Apprentice and Planetary Levels. Even when they belonged to the same faction, the former treated the latter with great respect.

"Guen, don't let the small courtyard fool you. This is a privilege reserved for Planetary-Level warriors. The East Sea Province is narrow, and land is even more limited inside the Armory Camp. Only Planetary-Level warriors get private courtyards. Apprentice-Level warriors all sleep in the main barracks, with dozens sharing a single tent. When it gets crowded, some lower-level Apprentice warriors have to sleep outdoors." Carl kindly explained, "Rest up first. Tomorrow morning, we'll set out to hunt Planetary-Level beasts."

They had flown all the way from the Goddess Temple to here. Even though the wind at high altitude was as sharp as a blade and the air as cold as ice, a Planetary-Level body could endure it, but they were still somewhat tired and not in peak condition. So Guen didn't refuse.

Early the next morning, Carl and Guen rose into the air and flew along the coastline, watched enviously by the many people below.

Only Planetary-Level warriors were allowed to act alone. Apprentice-Level warriors had to obey the army's orders and go to assigned locations. They had a little more freedom than soldiers, but anyone who dared to wander off was sure to die.

By the coast.

"Die!"

Guen dropped from the sky and cleaved a huge Black Octopus in two. Its aura was already close to the Planetary Level, and it could break through at any moment. It was the strongest beast in the group, and the rest were Black Octopuses as well.

But killing the leader didn't make the beasts scatter as Guen had expected. Instead, the Black Octopuses attacked him even more fiercely, despite knowing they were no match for him. They didn't even care about the warriors atop the stone wall.

"What ferocious Deep Sea Beasts." Only then did Guen understand just how powerful their urge to attack was.

"Die! Die!"

The difference in strength was simply too great. Guen easily slaughtered most of the Black Octopuses. They didn't retreat in frustration until only about a tenth of them remained.

The sea beneath the stone wall was piled high with Black Octopus corpses. Even the waves couldn't wash them away.

Hearing the cheers from atop the wall, Guen felt a weight lift from his heart.

From morning until afternoon, Guen and Carl kept searching for Planetary-Level beasts and slaughtering lower-level ones. Killing lower-level beasts earned at most ten contribution points, while a Planetary-Level beast was worth only three.

But for some reason, Planetary-Level beasts were nowhere to be seen.

So they could only help slaughter some lower-level beasts. It was nothing to Guen, but the warriors on the stone wall had to endure two or three Deep Sea Beast attacks a day, and each one claimed many lives. Soldiers suffered most of the casualties, since they guarded the important passes, while independent warriors mostly stayed in relatively safe places.

With a Planetary-Level warrior present, they could keep everyone alive. When the sea beasts retreated, of course they cheered in delight.

Carl flew over from another direction, her body also covered in black, foul-smelling blood. Seeing Guen, she couldn't help laughing. "It's only the first day. It's just as well that Planetary-Level sea beasts haven't appeared. When they do, they come in herds. You'll have plenty of cause to cry. Come on. The army will record the sea beasts we killed. Let's head back first."

Guen nodded, followed Carl, and flew back toward the Armory Camp.