True Person Jianyun led Flowing Cloud Sect people through the square where the True Lord Snow Wind statue is located and walked deep into the inner city.
When they first entered the inner city, many disciples had expressions of surprise on their faces. The imagined interior of a war fortress should be filled with tight barriers, mountains of military orders, and a solemn and oppressive atmosphere. However, what they saw before them was completely different from their imagination.
The streets are wide and paved with flat bluestone slabs. On both sides are stone houses, wooden buildings, and even some temporary shacks. Although the architectural style is rough and the materials are solid to withstand the cold, the arrangement is not particularly regular. People come and go on the street, wearing clothes. There are various costumes, including monks wearing the standard robes of various sects, as well as Rogue Cultivator with different costumes and mixed auras. You can even see some mortal vendors wearing thick leather jackets and pushing carts selling charcoal for heating and hot food.
The air is filled with a mixed smell: the smell of charcoal fire, the aroma of food, the smell of metal and leather, the faint spiritual fluctuations of the monks, and... a faint trace of blood. Sha Qi. The sounds of hawking, bargaining, conversations between monks, and the faint sound of forging percussion in the distance are intertwined to form a strange, vibrant noise.
This place is not like a pure military fortress, but more like a mixture of towns and settlements built on the front line of the war and formed spontaneously due to special needs.
Qin Tiexin As the team moved forward, his eyes calmly swept around. He saw the words "Buy Devil Core, magic materials" and "Sell Northern Frontier specialties Cold Iron" hanging on the door of a store. " Mine" and "Specialized in Repairing Broken Law Artifact"; I saw monks gathered in twos and threes on the street corner, exchanging information or items in low voices; I also saw some monks with obvious injuries and fierce breaths walking past silently, with bulging bags on their waists and alert eyes.
A middle-aged Lian Alchemist walking next to Qin Tiexin sighed to his companions in a low voice, "I didn't expect such a scene inside the pass... I thought I would have to go directly to the city wall to fight my way in."
His companion, a senior fellow who was good at making talismans, said, "This is reasonable. Fengxue Pass stretches for three hundred miles and is stationed all year round. It only relies on the few manpower sent by various sects to support food, drink, repair magic weapons, and supply elixirs. How can we not rely on rear support? If there is demand, there will naturally be people to do business. Some of the casual cultivators are here to resell the price difference inside and outside the pass, some are here to hunt demons to earn resources, and some... I am afraid they just want to sharpen themselves in this kind of place."
Qin Tiexin listened silently. Indeed, walking all the way from True Lord Snow Wind Statue Square, he roughly estimated that the number of people gathered in this inner city area may not be less than ten thousand. According to previous understanding, the total number of combatants stationed by each sect may be less than two thousand. Most of the remaining people are floating "outsiders".
I have heard from seniors who have been stationed here before that the entire Wind and Snow Pass's operating model is "tight on the outside and loose on the inside". The most critical defensive formations, core passes, and city wall towers are firmly controlled by the Ice and Snow Pavilion and its approved It is in the hands of the rotating sect to ensure that the defense line is not broken; while the inner city area is relatively open. As long as you pass the identity check at the entrance and are confirmed to be a human race and not a Devil Race disguise or spy, you can enter, forming a unique and prosperous border ecology.
The team stopped in front of a relatively neat stone palace with the Ice and Snow Pavilion disciples guarding the door. This is the "Reception and Dispatch Office" that Ice and Snow Pavilion set up inside the pass.
A female cultivator wearing an ice blue outfit and a white cloak was waiting in front of the hall. She looked to be about 27 or 27 years old, with a beautiful face, but there was a weathered coldness and ability in her eyes, and her cultivation level was Foundation Establishment Late Stage. She glanced at the Flowing Cloud Sect crowd, paused briefly on True Person Jianyun, and raised her hands in greeting.
"I've seen True Person Jianyun", after finishing speaking, she raised her head and faced Flowing Cloud Sect everyone.
"Flowing Cloud Sect Seniors and Daoist friends, you have worked hard all the way." Her voice was like her own, clear and concise, without too many emotional fluctuations. "My surname is Shen, and I am responsible for the introduction and preliminary placement. Please come with me."
Senior Sister Shen led everyone into a spacious hall in the palace. A huge map of the Wind and Snow Pass area hung on the wall. The map was based on Profound Frost Crystal and outlined with aura, clearly showing the outline of the entire pass.
She pointed to the map and began to introduce, speaking slowly but clearly:
"Wind and Snow Pass, starting from the Eternal Night Sea in the north and connecting Frost Ridge Mountains Heavenly Ice Peak in the south, with a total length of 307 miles. The main body is divided into three parts."
"On the east side, facing the Devil Race ice field, is the outer city wall, which is also the main line of defense. The wall is the highest and thickest, and is covered with defensive formations, attack restrictions, observation towers and sortie fortresses. Daily patrols, vigilance, resistance to Devil Race harassment, and active hunting are mainly in this area."
"On the west side, facing the inland of our Azure Xuan Region, is the inner city wall, which is relatively low and mainly plays the role of auxiliary defense, material transfer, and preventing the spread of chaos within the pass."
"What we are currently in is the inner city area located between the two city walls and relatively to the west. This is the core of the trading area, residential area, logistics supply and rest. The rotating disciples of each sect, the public weapon refining room, the alchemy room, the merit exchange office, and the market that you see are all located here."
She paused and continued, "Newly arrived garrison personnel need to register here and be assigned areas of responsibility based on their expertise."
"The combat disciples of the Foundation Establishment Realm will be mixed into teams of five. The attributes of Spirit Root, the characteristics of Cultivation Method, and the complementary fighting styles will be taken into account when forming. Each team must regularly perform city wall patrols, clearing specific areas, or hunting missions."
"Elder Golden Core will take turns to guard important pass nodes and formation cores on the east city wall, or lead a team to perform high-level suppression missions."
"Logistics support personnel," she glanced at the logistics team where Qin Tiexin was, "Includes Alchemist, weapon refiners, formation masters, doctors, etc. They mainly stay in the corresponding areas of the inner city to complete fixed tasks and provide support for the front line. During wartime, they must obey the unified dispatch and provide emergency support."
After introducing the basic layout, Senior Sister Shen spoke in a slightly solemn tone and added the most critical part:
"In Wind and Snow Pass, an independent merit and transaction system prevails. Its core hard currency is Devil Core."
"Devil Core is the condensed power essence of Devil Race, usually located inside its head. After killing Devil Race, it needs to be taken out in time. Devil Core is not It is just a certificate to prove your military exploits. It can also be exchanged directly for Spirit Stone, elixirs, talismans, Law Artifact materials, and even Cultivation Method secret techniques at any store or exchange office in the customs."
She detailed the approximate value of Devil Core: "A low-level Devil Soldier Devil Core is worth about ten Lower-Grade Spirit Stone; a mid-level Devil Soldier Devil Core is worth about thirty Spirit Stone; a high-level Devil Soldier Devil Core, worth about fifty Spirit Stone."
"As for Demon General level Devil Core," she emphasized, "It starts with a hundred yuan worth of Lower-Grade Spirit Stone. Depending on its specific level and attribute rarity, the price may double or even several times. This is one of the most sought-after resources in the customs."
"The combat team has basic patrol and hunting mission indicators every month, and there will be additional merit rewards for exceeding the target. There is a 'Demon Hunting Ranking' in the level. According to the number of Devil Core obtained by each team and individual, Ranking based on quality. Those who rank at the top will not only receive a large number of meritorious deeds, but can also redeem scarce resources such as heavenly materials and earthly treasures stored in the level, the right to use special training rooms, and high-level Cultivation Method reading qualifications."
These words lit up the eyes of many fighting disciples with eagerness to try. Risks and opportunities coexist, as has always been the case.
"Although logistics personnel do not directly participate in the demon hunting rankings, they can accumulate 'Service Merits' by completing fixed tasks, which can also be used to exchange for some resources. And if they are highly skilled and provide important support to the front line, they can also receive additional rewards."
After the introduction, Senior Sister Shen signaled the other Ice and Snow Pavilion deacon disciples in the hall to start registering and allocating Flowing Cloud Sect people. The process was very efficient. The combat disciples were called by name, checked their cultivation, registered their skills, and then received their identity jade plaques and preliminary team numbers; the elder Golden Core was led elsewhere to contact the senior officials of the Ice and Snow Pavilion.
When it was the turn of the logistics staff, Qin Tiexin reported his name, affiliation, and status as "Item Refiner." A deacon disciple checked the list Flowing Cloud Sect had submitted in advance. After confirmation, he handed him a light cyan identity jade plate with his name, the word "Item" and a serial number engraved on it.
"Junior Brother Qin, your refining room is at C Zone Number Seven. Here are the keys and the area map." The deacon disciple handed over a cold metal key and a simple map, "The basic tools in the room are complete, and the ground fire has been turned on. The small warehouse next to it contains this month's quota of basic spiritual materials. After use, it needs to be replenished with service merit or Devil Core. The specific monthly task quota will be notified later."
Qin Tiexin took it, thanked him and walked aside.
Nangong Yao, as a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage monk, was also assigned to the battle team and received a jade plaque with the word "war" engraved on it. She walked over, looked at the key and map in Qin Tiexin's hand, and whispered, "I will report to the team first, and then I will find you after settling down. Be careful."
Qin Tiexin nodded. "Sister, too."
All registrations and distributions were completed, and it was almost dusk. True Person Jianyun summoned Flowing Cloud Sect, the five Golden Core elders, and the main disciple representatives to one place.
The leader of the sect once again glanced at everyone, and also paused briefly on Qin Tiexin. He spoke slowly, his voice was not high, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:
"Master Nephew Shen has clearly explained what needs to be explained. I hope you will keep it in mind what should be remembered."
"Three years later, at this time today, I will come here again to take you back to the clan."
He paused, and his eyes became extremely sharp, as if Penetration the wall of the city, looking at the endless ice field and darkness.
"Before that, guard Wind and Snow Pass, guard Azure Xuan Region behind you. Listen to the Ice and Snow Pavilion's instructions and look after each other."
"Also, pay attention to safety."
After speaking, he said no more, nodded slightly to the five Golden Core elders, turned around, and strode out of the stone hall.
In the square outside the palace, the Azure Gold-colored Cloud Shuttle Boat has risen again. True Person Jianyun's figure flashed and stood at the bow of the boat. The flying boat let out a low cry, and the five pairs of flying wings circulated with light, slowly changed direction, and sailed towards the southern sky.
The speed became faster and faster, and finally turned into a tiny Azure Gold color light spot, completely disappearing into the vast dusk and the wind and snow.
The Flowing Cloud Sect crowd who saw them off stood in the square, speechless for a long time. The departure of the sect leader meant that from now on, the three hundred of them would truly face everything on the Northern Frontier frontline alone.
Qin Tiexin stood on the edge of the crowd, holding the cold C Zone Number Seven key in his hand, and his other hand unconsciously grasped the handle of Edgeless.
Surrounded by strange buildings, strange people, strange cold air, and the statue of True Lord Snow Wind overhead that seemed to be glowing in the dusk.
Three years.
He raised his head and looked in the direction of the east city wall. There, the twilight was darker, as if endless coldness and murderous intent were hidden.