The Demons' Desire to Destroy Us Never Dies

"Over the past several centuries, the Demon Suppression Bureau had continued to grow. Working alongside the border army and enduring countless bloody battles, it had finally driven most demons beyond the Great Wall, stabilized the Nine Provinces Barrier once more, and allowed the Great Tang's lineage to endure."

Master Han pointed to the enormous map hanging on the wall, where Great Tang's territory and the surrounding situation were clearly marked.

"However, the demons' desire to destroy us has never died."

"Today, Great Tang has established eight great passes in all directions, including Jade Gate, Yang Pass, Wild Goose Pass, and Shanhai Pass, jointly guarded by the Demon Suppression Bureau and the border army."

"Surrounding Great Tang are the Northern Desert Wolf Court, the Western Rong Ghost Kingdom, and the Southern Border Demon Kingdom, all thoroughly corrupted by demons. War erupts constantly; not a single day has known peace."

He paused, his tone heavy. "Beyond the passes is no longer land where ordinary people can live. Demons run rampant, evil entities blanket the land, and the environment is exceptionally harsh."

"Countless soldiers have buried their bones beneath the pass walls, and only then have the people within the passes known peace."

"One day, you too may set foot upon that land and guard the fortune of the human race."

The students listened with bated breath, their blood boiling.

Li Yuan's gaze could not help falling upon the winding border lines on the map, as though he could see the iron-blooded beacon fires of war.

"As for overseas," Master Han said, pointing toward the vast sea in the southeast of the map, "the East Sea Islands and the South Sea Archipelago have complicated circumstances."

"Some nations are friendly with Great Tang and exchange what each lacks with us. Others imitate demons and practice the arts of evil sacrifice. For now, a general pact of mutual nonaggression remains in place, but dark currents surge beneath the surface."

"And in the far west, it is said there are several human kingdoms still struggling bitterly against demons. As for the specifics, little is known."

Li Yuan's heart surged. Great Tang was now surrounded by demons, with powerful enemies eyeing it covetously; neither the overseas lands nor the west were peaceful havens.

A chill rose in his heart, and he understood the importance of strength more deeply than ever. Without strength, surviving in this chaotic age would likely be a problem, let alone anything else.

"That will be all for today." Master Han closed the book in his hands. "I hope you will remember history and understand that today's peace did not come easily."

"Tomorrow, I will teach you how to identify different kinds of demons. Do not be late."

The bell signaling the end of class rang, and the students rose one after another.

"Everyone, wait a moment!"

Yu Ling'er stood and clapped her hands, her voice crisp. "Instructor Liu has given instructions: this afternoon's lesson will be at the martial training ground on the academy's eastern side. Head straight there to gather after you eat."

"The martial training ground? Is this afternoon a practical combat class?" one student asked.

"Wow, are we finally getting serious?"

"Instructor Liu is personally teaching practical combat? Interesting." Chu Yunhe raised a brow.

Shen Lian silently wiped the long saber that never left his side, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

Li Yuan packed away his brush and ink, his expression calm.

The martial training ground on the eastern side of Divine Martial Academy was vast. Its ground was paved with hard black granite and engraved with formation patterns for reinforcement and restoration.

Dozens of weapon racks stood around the edges of the field, displaying sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, poleaxes, hooks, forks, and even some unusual weapons in dazzling variety.

Liu Hongyan had changed into a deep-purple fitted outfit that allowed easy movement. Her long hair was tied high into a ponytail, making her look capable and valiant.

She stood in the center of the field, her gaze sweeping across the formation. Her red lips parted slightly.

"On the path of cultivation, talent is only the starting point. What truly allows you to go far on this road is practical combat."

She paused, a sharp glint flashing in her phoenix eyes. "This afternoon, there are no fixed forms. There is only one activity: free sparring."

"You may use your fists and feet, or choose weapons. So long as you do not deliberately inflict serious injuries on your fellow students, there are no other restrictions."

The moment she said this, the students immediately began to stir.

"While you fight," Liu Hongyan continued, "I will offer guidance when appropriate. How much you can comprehend will depend on yourselves."

"Begin!"

After a brief hesitation, battle erupted almost at once.

Shen Lian was the first to move. He walked straight to a weapon rack and took down a standard-issue long saber.

The blade was narrow and long, with a slight curve, extremely similar in shape to his own saber.

He did not choose an opponent. He merely stood in the middle of the field with saber in hand, his cold gaze sweeping over the others as though waiting for a challenger.

Chu Yunhe chuckled, casually taking a longsword from the rack. He flicked it in a flourish, and the sword light flowed like water.

"Shen Lian, weren't satisfied this morning? Shall we continue this afternoon?" With that, his body drifted forward, dots of sword light scattering toward Shen Lian.

Shen Lian gave a low shout. His long saber left its sheath, sweeping up a blaze of snow-bright saber light as he met the attack head-on. The clang of metal immediately rang out.

Yu Ling'er's eyes darted about before she ran off to pick out a short staff. Smiling sweetly, she approached Wu Yu, who was choosing a weapon.

"Wu Yu, let's have a match."

Wu Yu gave a bitter smile and could only grab a horizontal saber at random before clashing with Yu Ling'er.

Jin Duoduo had learned his lesson this time. Rather than provoke those tough opponents, he sidled up to the most refined-looking Zhou Mo. The two selected the most ordinary wooden staffs and began to spar.

The remaining students soon found opponents of their own as well. Before long, shouts and the clash of weapons rang endlessly across the enormous training ground, creating a rather spectacular scene.

Li Yuan did not hurry to join the fray.

He stood before the weapon rack, his fingers brushing over the cold metal.

Sabers, swords, spears, halberds... which should he choose?

In his previous life, he had mainly used spears and daggers in the military. He had never learned to use other cold weapons.

His gaze fell upon a pair of short-handled battle axes. Their edges were sharp, suited for both chopping and hacking, and shared something in common with the close-quarters combat he was accustomed to.

Before long, a burly student approached him. This man was named Shi Yong, and he wielded a seasoned bronze staff that whirled with the force of a tiger.

"Li Yuan, take this staff strike!"

Shi Yong shouted, sweeping the bronze staff at Li Yuan's waist with a howling gust of wind.

Li Yuan's eyes narrowed. Rather than retreat, he advanced. Just before the bronze staff reached him, he lowered his body and slid forward, slipping beneath the staff's shadow. His left axe struck sideways at Shi Yong's wrist gripping the staff, while his right axe swept upward toward the opening beneath Shi Yong's armpit.

Shi Yong was startled and hurriedly stepped back, pulling his staff in to block.

With her hands behind her back, Liu Hongyan strolled through the crowd, occasionally barking out reprimands.

"Shen Lian, your saber momentum is too fierce. You have left yourself no room to recover."

"Chu Yunhe, your sword is too floaty. You lack a few degrees of control between release and restraint."

"Wu Yu, is that saber of yours just for decoration? Stop hesitating."

"Yu Ling'er, sweeping a staff across an area does not mean flailing it around blindly. Pay attention to controlling your range."

Though she showed no mercy in her words, she always struck the nail on the head and pointed straight at the crucial weakness.

When she reached Li Yuan and Shi Yong, she stopped to watch for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"Shi Yong, do you have nothing but strength? Keep up with your footwork!"

"Li Yuan, you wield the twin axes well, but you are pursuing tricky and dangerous moves too much. Keep your lower stance steady."

Then she caught sight of Jin Duoduo and Zhou Mo and could not help frowning.

"Jin Duoduo, Zhou Mo! Are you dancing? Put some strength into it!"

Under her merciless prodding, no one dared slack off in the slightest, and the fighting grew ever more intense.

Students were constantly knocked down or disarmed, but they quickly climbed back up and continued fighting.

The entire afternoon flew by amid fierce exchanges.

When Liu Hongyan called a halt, nearly everyone was drenched in sweat and panting for breath, yet their eyes held a few more traces of sharpness.

"That is all for today."

Liu Hongyan looked at the bedraggled young men and women before her, a hint of satisfaction flashing through her eyes. "Go back and apply medicine yourselves. Sit in meditation and regulate your breathing. Do not slack off."

"Yu Ling'er."

"Here!" Yu Ling'er hurriedly answered.

"Distribute these books. Study them yourselves tonight. In three days, I will inspect your progress."

With a turn of her wrist, a stack of brand-new thread-bound books appeared in Liu Hongyan's hand. She passed them to Yu Ling'er.

"Yes."

Yu Ling'er took them and began handing them out.