Life in the Army Camp

Time slipped by, and before they knew it, more than a month had passed since Shiheng and his companions entered the Principality of Klan's army camp.

During that month, life in camp was monotonous yet brutally harsh. Every day before dawn, a shrill whistle shattered the silence, and the five hundred or so recruits had to plunge into intense, hellish training. Weighted distance runs, hand-to-hand combat, weapons drills, formation exercises... From morning until dusk, grueling training filled their schedules without a moment to catch their breath. Sweat soaked their coarse military uniforms and dried into patches of salt on the ground. Countless times, they reached their physical limits and could only grit their teeth and endure.

Alongside the harsh training came the camp's plentiful supplies-an endless stream of fresh magical beast meat was cooked in the kitchens and delivered to every recruit. This meat from the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts contained pure energy far exceeding that of ordinary birds and beasts. For common soldiers who had spent years in poverty, struggling even to fill their stomachs and long deprived of meat, it was undoubtedly an extraordinary opportunity. Previously, malnutrition had left their bodies weak and their cultivation stagnant. Now, nourished by abundant energy and tempered through intense training, many soldiers rapidly strengthened their bodies, broke through their limits one after another, and successfully became second-level warriors, their entire bearing renewed.

And among all the recruits, Shiheng was undoubtedly the most outstanding.

Having already broken through to become a second-level warrior through a grueling run to his limits, he took advantage of the camp's cultivation environment to temper his body and consolidate his strength every day. With the added assistance of the cultivation methods from his previous life, he progressed far faster than anyone else. In just a month, he broke through another bottleneck, firmly entering the late stage of the second level. He left the other recruits far behind, and his strength, far beyond that of his peers, along with his steady disposition, earned him direct selection into the camp's Elite Camp, removing him entirely from the ranks of ordinary recruits.

It was also the moment he entered the Elite Camp that he left behind the humble name "Xiaoshitou" for good and gained a formal name of his own-Kelin Shiheng.

In his spare time, Shiheng also continued sorting through what he knew about this world, thoroughly clarifying his circumstances.

The army camp's location was no coincidence: it stood beside the perilous, unpredictable Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Besides repelling incursions from the Shadow Alliance across the border, the camp was responsible for regularly venturing deep into the mountains to eliminate magical beasts that roamed unchecked and threatened the frontier. This both protected the surrounding population and yielded vast quantities of magical beast meat to supply the soldiers' cultivation.

The land he stood on was the Principality of Klan, under the jurisdiction of the Radiant Church. The principality was powerful, and its strongest resident was Grand Duke Kelin, whose cultivation had reached the peak of the ninth rank. He was one of the few foremost experts in the Radiant Church's northern territory.

The current year was 9962 of the Yulan Calendar.

Lying on a straw mat inside his army tent, Shiheng gazed at the tent roof, his eyes deep as he silently calculated the timeline: If this really is another world similar to Coiling Dragon...

In another twenty years, the protagonist, who will ultimately transcend, will be born; and thirty-eight years from now will come the Day of Destruction that sweeps across the entire Yulan Continent. Then, heaven and earth will undergo drastic changes, magical beasts will run rampant, and nearly half the territory controlled by the Radiant Church will become a paradise for magical beasts. Countless lives will be lost, and war will rage without end.

He had little time left.

Only by giving everything he had to grow stronger before the Day of Destruction could he protect those he wished to protect in the coming catastrophe and secure a foothold in that chaotic world. This thought took root in his heart, becoming an inexhaustible driving force behind his relentless cultivation.

After nightfall, inside the spacious, brightly lit Elite Camp tent, ten recently assembled teammates sat in a circle. The fatigue from the day's training had yet to fade, but an unmistakably somber atmosphere filled the air.

Tekakang, seated on the left, broke the silence first, his brows tightly furrowed. His low, hoarse voice was heavy with unease. "Brothers, we've finally made it through our month of recruit training, and we've all successfully become second-level warriors. But I just got word that tomorrow, we're setting out for the outskirts of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts on a beast-clearing mission."

He raised his head, sweeping his gaze across every young face present. His voice grew heavier, even taking on a slight tremble. "You all know how dangerous the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts is. Just last month, a ten-man squad went into the mountains on a mission, and by the time they returned, three of them were dead! They couldn't even bring back their bodies intact! There are only ten of us going into the outskirts together. I'm really afraid... really afraid we won't make it back alive. I haven't married or had children yet. I haven't carried on my family line. I don't want to die..."

As his words faded, the atmosphere inside the tent grew even more oppressive.

Beside him, Telanxisi immediately agreed. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his face was full of fear and worry. "Tekakang is right. I'm terrified too. Everyone knows that countless vicious magical beasts hide deep in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Even on the outskirts, first- and second-rank beasts are everywhere, and third-rank beasts even appear from time to time. With our strength, one careless move could leave us dead in a beast's jaws. If something happens to me, how will my elderly parents and my little brother and sister survive...?"

Linlai, who was slightly older than the others in the squad, saw how dejected and frightened everyone looked and hurried to reassure them, his voice firm. "Don't lose heart, everyone! The mission is dangerous, yes, but this time we're only clearing the outskirts. As long as we stay alert, look out for one another, and act carefully, we'll definitely be all right!"

He stood up, looking at them with a burning gaze. "Over this past month, we've undergone the harshest military training. We've trained combat, teamwork, and wilderness survival to the utmost. We've long since gained the ability to protect ourselves, and after spending every day together all this time, we work together extremely well. Every one of us is a pillar of our family. Some families are waiting for our pay to put food on the table, while others hope we'll make something of ourselves. That responsibility won't allow us to shrink back, much less give up lightly! As long as we work together, we'll definitely get through this!"

Linlai's words left everyone silent, before they began discussing among themselves.

The ten young men in the tent came from villages throughout the surrounding area. All were children of poor, common families. In the past, they had relied on hunting in the mountains to bring home a little extra food. Now that they had joined the army, their monthly pay was their families' sole hope. If they were wounded or killed on a mission, it would undoubtedly spell disaster for the families behind them.

Over the past month, they had struggled together on the training grounds, endured exhaustion and injuries together, and shared precious food. They had long since ceased to be strangers and forged deep bonds, entrusting one another with their lives. Now, facing this trial whose outcome could be life or death, beyond their fear, they encouraged and supported one another even more. A determined light gradually kindled in their eyes as they hoped only to work together, complete the mission, and return safely.

Shiheng sat in a corner, quietly listening to everyone, a trace of fierceness flashing in his eyes.

The mission in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts was a danger, but even more than that, it was an opportunity.

For others, it was a test of life and death. For him, however, it was an excellent opportunity to hone his strength and obtain cultivation resources. On this trip into the mountains, he would not only keep himself safe but also seize the opportunity to increase his strength further, building greater confidence for the journey ahead.