Heading to Severed Cloud Pass
Not long after, Qin Bailian's voice rang out in the square:
"Everyone has selected their team members. Now, please return to your lodgings to rest. We will meet here early tomorrow morning to head to the front lines!"
Lu Feng turned to the team he had just selected and gave them a brief explanation:
"Go back and prepare yourselves. Meet at the square tomorrow morning."
"Yes!"
The ten women responded in unison.
After returning to his cave, Lu Feng took out his points token.
He forced out a drop of blood, which landed on the surface of the token.
The blood was instantly absorbed, establishing a subtle connection between him and the blood.
After nightfall, Su Ying came to find him, carrying a sheepskin map.
"This is a map of Severed Cloud Pass that I got from Uncle Xiao. Keep it safe." She patted the map into Lu Feng's hand.
"My senior sister is still the best to me."
Lu Feng accepted the map without any formalities.
"Good to know."
Su Ying snorted, then her smile faded, and her tone became more serious.
"By the way, I heard that the Yongzhou defense line was breached so quickly this time, it's very likely related to someone inside colluding with demonic beasts."
"When you reach Severed Cloud Pass, be careful and don't trust others too easily."
Lu Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.
The two chatted for a long time until it was late at night before Su Ying got up and left.
Lu Feng stopped cultivating, spread the map out under the lamp and carefully examined it, memorizing all the marked points, then lay down fully clothed.
The next morning, everyone gathered in the square.
As Lu Feng arrived, a tall, slender woman led nine people to greet him quickly.
"Your subordinate, Ji Qingqing, greets Your Excellency!"
The woman's voice was clear and bright. She clasped her hands in a respectful greeting and was the leader of the team he had chosen yesterday.
Lu Feng nodded, gesturing for them to stand behind him.
Ji Qingqing straightened her back, waved to the team members behind her, and the ten of them lined up neatly behind Lu Feng.
On the square, the other disciples' groups were also gradually gathering.
Before long, Qin Bailian arrived.
Behind him were two middle-aged men, one on his left and one on his right, both exuding profound auras and possessing the Great Grandmaster Realm.
"These two are the Deputy Si Zheng of my West City Demon-Slaying Bureau Division, Guan Shanhai and Han Baizhan."
Qin Bailian gave a brief introduction.
"Today, these two will each lead you to Severed Cloud Pass and Fallen Star Plain."
The two Deputy Si Zheng didn't waste any words.
Han Baizhan walked towards the Grandmaster- level disciples, while Guan Shanhai approached Lu Feng and the other former Hua Jin Realm disciples, scanning them all with his gaze before uttering only three words:
"Come with me."
Before he finished speaking, he had already taken to the air and sped off towards the outskirts of the city.
Lu Feng turned and gave a low shout to Ji Qingqing and the others to follow, then led his team into the air and chased after Guan Shanhai.
Since the speed of the team members with Ming Jin cultivation level was limited, Lu Feng had to deliberately slow down and wait for them to catch up.
Most other teams did the same; some even had two team members carry one on each arm, taking turns to push them forward.
It took a whole day to travel from the West City Demon-Slaying Bureau to Severed Cloud Pass.
By the time the group arrived at the pass, it was already dusk.
The pass of Severed Cloud Pass is backed by a high peak, which is as straight as a sword and pierces the sky. From a distance, it really looks like it has cleaved the clouds in the sky.
A three-zhang-high city wall stood before the pass, covered with dense array patterns, and many martial artists were moving stones at the base of the wall.
"We've arrived. First, arrange accommodations, then assign defense zones to each team."
Guan Shanhai didn't exchange pleasantries and led everyone directly into the city through the main gate.
Two Grandmaster stood guard at the city gate; their calm demeanor suggested they were seasoned veterans.
The two men clearly recognized Guan Shanhai, and let him pass with a slight nod.
The scene inside the city was even more desolate than Lu Feng had expected.
A few shops are scattered along the main streets, mostly selling elixirs, medicines, and weapons.
There weren't many pedestrians, mostly martial artists of the Ming Jin and Nei Jin levels. Many of them had bandages wrapped around their bodies, and the blood seeping from under the bandages hadn't dried completely.
But these people had very bright eyes, and their gazes swept over us with a cold, ruthless quality that only someone who had crawled out of a pile of corpses possessed.
Guan Shanhai led the group through the long street to an open space in the west of the city.
Dozens of simple tents were pitched in the middle of the open space, looking dusty and with their corners weighed down by stones.
The largest was no more than two zhang square.
"We've arrived. This is your temporary base."
Guan Shanhai stopped in his tracks, his tone calm.
"Resources are scarce; each team will receive one tent, which they will allocate themselves."
Lu Feng glanced at the tent.
It's a bit small, but ten people can squeeze in and lie down.
Under these conditions, no one will complain.
"Severed Cloud Pass has three lines of defense. The first line is currently the most dangerous, as it is attacked by demonic beasts every day."
Guan Shanhai turned around and said in a deep voice,
"The order from above is that you all go to the first line of defense to assist the garrison and ensure that the line is not breached."
The group exchanged glances, none of them showing any surprise.
Everyone was mentally prepared before they came.
To kill monsters and earn points, it's always better to be ranked higher.
If you're hiding in the back, where do you get the points?
"The first line of defense has eight entrances. You'll be paired up and each guard one entrance."
Guan Shanhai took out a defense map from his pocket, unfolded it, and began calling roll.
"Jiang Han, Lin Jingfeng, first entrance."
"Lu Feng, Lu Shuang, third entrance."
"..."
Lu Feng and Lu Shuang exchanged a glance. Lu Shuang still maintained her aloof demeanor, giving Lu Feng only a brief look before turning her gaze away.
"Rest today, we'll head to our respective defense zones early tomorrow morning. I'll be staying there, so come find me if you need anything."
Guan Shanhai pointed to a stone house in the distance, then turned and left, leaving the crowd in silence.
When Lu Feng withdrew his gaze and wanted to say a few words to Lu Shuang, the latter had already turned and walked back to her own group.
"Miss Lu, we'll be guarding the third entrance together tomorrow. I hope you'll take good care of me," Lu Feng added.
"Don't forget, we're competitors."
Lu Shuang didn't stop walking.
Lu Feng opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.
He had planned for the two teams to work together the next day, so he wanted to exchange a few words beforehand and get to know each other's teamwork. However, he didn't expect the other side to shut him down with just one sentence.
"Sir, we..."
Ji Qingqing stood to the side, looking at him somewhat at a loss.
"Let's find a place to stay first," Lu Feng said.
The group chose a tent that was relatively far inside.
The tent was empty, with a thin layer of dry grass and old cloth covering the ground.
Several female disciples quickly rummaged through their storage bags, took out bedding, spread it out, and then checked the tent inside and out.
Lu Feng found a corner, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.
Not long after, Ji Qingqing tiptoed over, took a soft cushion from her storage bag, and handed it to Lu Feng.
The cushion was of moderate thickness, with a few Xiaolian embroidered along the edges in fine thread, and a faint scent of soapberry could be smelled.
"Sir, please use this cushion; it will be more comfortable to sit on."
Lu Feng opened his eyes. Seeing Ji Qingqing's cautious expression, he shook his head.
"No need. I'm used to sitting on the ground."