Translator: Lynn
This world is vast and divided into four domains. In the east, the Wuling Immortal Sectreigns over the Eastern Region, while in the west, the Dayan Dynasty exerts control over the Western Regions. The Southern Region is a complex web of forces, while the Northern Region is known for its chaos and brutality.
If you categorize it by Daoism, the eastern region is dominated by immortals, the northern region by demons, and the western and southern regions are a mix of immortals and demons, creating a unique blend of order and disorder.
Due to the wild beasts on the western border, the Western Regions are naturally tasked with suppressing them. These wild beasts have violent temperaments, and if left unchecked, they could multiply and pose a threat to the other three regions.
As a result, many disciples and casual cultivators from the other three domains view this area as an ideal place for practice. The core, flesh, and blood of these beasts are valuable resources, and dedicated practice here can yield significant benefits. To ensure cooperation and adherence to military rules, all visitors from other regions must agree with the Western Regions to “record order.”
Some cultivators made considerable achievements during their service, earning recognition and potentially securing positions in the Dayan Empire’s army. Even casual cultivators can be recruited by the royal family and nobles in the empire.
Yun Lie initially honed his sword intent here, earning recognition among many lower-level disciples. If not for the interruption when the Heavenly Spirit left his body and fell silent for over a decade, his reputation would have been even greater.
Listening attentively to his brother’s explanations, Xu Ziqing found himself at the army’s stationed location, a vast square near the inner city’s other side. The square is surrounded by mountain walls, leaving only a few passages for the soldiers to come and go.
The square is divided into two sides, one covered with tents of various sizes and the other serving as a training ground for soldiers to practice martial arts.
Xu Ziqing, now standing on a higher vantage point, observed the heavy security and disciplined atmosphere among the soldiers guarding the square.
Yun Lie led the way, using his token to gain entry at the guard’s checkpoint. Xu Ziqing followed suit.
Inside, they encountered a large, flat stone field several feet above the lower square. It appeared as though a section of the high mountain had been cut to create this platform.
From a distance, the stone houses on this platform, varying in size and quality, appeared to house cultivators.
Xu Ziqing, as he had learned from Yun Lie’s explanations, realized that the tents below were occupied by warriors from the mortal realm, while the stone houses above were for soldiers who practiced martial arts. This separation allowed for a smooth coexistence.
However, he wondered where the cultivators who were “recording order” would reside. After considering it, he realized that the stringent rules here prevented them from mingling with the soldiers. Yet, providing them with no accommodations within the army area might lead to trouble outside. There must be an alternative arrangement.
Indeed, Yun Lie led Xu Ziqing to the mountainside, where various houses of different shapes and sizes were scattered, each with varying levels of luxury and simplicity.
Xu Ziqing understood that the cultivators who came here to “record order” had to construct their residences among the mountains. It made sense, as cultivators possessed powers that made finding shelter a straightforward task.
Yun Lie didn’t need to employ any Qi; therefore, Xu Ziqing refrained from doing so as well.
However, as they progressed, Xu Ziqing’s thoughts faded, and he felt a familiar sword intent. After taking a step forward, it was as though he had entered another realm, with his entire body tingling as if pricked by countless needles. He felt a slight numbness in his scalp.
This sensation, akin to being immersed in a murderous intent that continuously pricked at him, made him feel as though he had stepped into a world of ice and snow. It was like a sharp blade cutting through the frosty wind, sending shivers down his spine.
Xu Ziqing took a deep breath, knowing that this was his brother’s ruthless and lethal sword intent. However, his senior brother hadn’t initiated it, so the source of the sword intent was elsewhere.
Realizing this, Xu Ziqing’s gaze focused straight ahead, where a stone house stood.
The area around the stone house remained devoid of other buildings, and not a single blade of grass could be found in its vicinity.
This sight reminded him of the summit of Xiaolu Peak, which was also enveloped in soaring sword intent, stark and barren like a desolate mountain.
Xu Ziqing knew that the stone house must be his senior brother’s residence. Following Yun Lie, he continued forward. With each step, the chill in the air seemed to intensify, and it felt like the very air itself was infiltrated with sword energy, piercing through to the bone.
Soon, Yun Lie reached the stone house’s entrance. Xu Ziqing wanted to enter as well, but as he took that step, it felt as though countless flying swords were slashing at his face, causing him to break into an instant cold sweat.
Yet, something didn’t feel right. This was an illusion.
After regaining his composure, Xu Ziqing concentrated his consciousness on his eyes, utilizing the power of the Bitter Bamboo hairpin atop his head. This allowed him to pierce through the illusion, revealing that he was still outside the house, and no swords threatened him.
Feeling somewhat relieved, he opened the door and was about to step inside.
“Swish!”
However, this time, a genuinely sharp sword intent emerged.
But in the next instant, Yun Lie flicked his sleeve, causing the sword intent to vanish completely.
Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but smile wryly to himself. Observing these arrangements, he realized how isolated his senior brother must have been in the past. Even after leaving, he maintained this sword intent, ensuring that no one dared to intrude into his territory.
He understood that his senior brother’s intention was likely to test him, as he was about to be subjected to the sword intent, but Yun Lie intervened to save him.
As expected, Yun Lie said, “Adapt as you go, but on the plains, you must be even more vigilant.”
Appreciating his brother’s concern, Xu Ziqing nodded quickly, “I’ll be cautious, Shixiong. Please don’t worry.”
The two entered the stone room, and Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but feel that it truly resembled his brother’s room. Its simplicity stood in stark contrast to the accommodations of the soldiers.
Fortunately, Xu Ziqing wasn’t someone who sought extravagance. When he saw Yun Lie meditating on the ground, he too settled into a cross-legged position. Mimicking his senior brother, he took out two spirit stones from his sleeve and held them in his palms. Then he closed his eyes, allowing the spiritual energy from the spirit stones to flow into his body.
Early the next morning, Yun Lie woke Xu Ziqing just after the Mao Shi105:00 – 07:00.
The two proceeded to the camp to find someone to place an order.
Before the beast horde’s arrival, many soldiers would form groups of five and venture into the Wild Beast Plain to hunt. However, warriors had warrior orders, and cultivators had cultivator orders. While they were under the same general’s jurisdiction, cultivators held leadership roles among the full-time generals, and warriors were supervised by their deputies.
In this border town, there was a town general with four commanders beneath him, five commanders beneath each commander, ten commanders beneath one, and thousands of commanders beneath each hundred. These commanders included households, hundred households, banner owners, and small banner owners, all led by the order leaders.
cultivators accounted for only 20% of the million-strong army, and they usually acted independently from the warriors. Cultivators and warriors rarely operated within the same order, as they had different commanders.
The concept of “recording orders” primarily existed before a beast tide occurred.
When the beast horde threatened, all cultivators who had placed orders would either be forcibly expelled from the town or temporarily conscripted into the army, where they would become part of the temporary establishment and would not be permitted to act independently.
Although one order served as the basis for their actions, the level of orders varied depending on their cultivation levels. For example, those in the Yuan Dynasty, like Xu Ziqing, could place orders under Yiwei and be supervised by commanders. Individuals in the Golden Core period, like Yun Lie, had to place orders under the First Battalion and were supervised by the capital.
cultivators above the golden core stage were allowed to act alone when they placed an order. Cultivators below the golden core stage were required to adhere to regulations and accompany others.
As such, at this moment, Xu Ziqing had to part ways with Yun Lie.
While he admired his senior brother, he wasn’t naive. Given that he had to follow the rules set by others, he couldn’t insist on remaining by his senior brother’s side, as doing so would only hinder his brother’s progress. Furthermore, during their training, if they were together, Yun Lie would inevitably need to protect him, which wouldn’t allow Xu Ziqing to experience real battle situations.
Thus, as a man, he knew the importance of making the right decision when the time came.
Yun Lie simply greeted the Third Battalion’s chief, quickly resumed his old order, and set off on his own. Xu Ziqing, on the other hand, placed an order with the third guard in the Third Battalion. Afterward, he selected an order on his own and joined the members of that order on their way to the Wild Beast Plain.
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They appeared as though they were anticipating something, each exuding a fierce aura. Even the sole woman among them was tall, and slender, with dark skin and tightly defined muscles.
Without a doubt, they too were members of a small order, experienced and battle-hardened. Ordinary mortals would be awestruck by their presence.
Their collective strength surpassed the eighth layer of acquired strength, with the tallest man among them even reaching the innate state of breath!
In the mortal world, such a formidable group would command respect, and some families would compete to recruit them. However, within the town and the border city army, this powerful group was just one among countless orders.
As the sun continued its ascent, the sky brightened. One of the slim young men directed his attention to Tianshi and furrowed his brow, inquiring, “Why hasn’t the person who placed the order arrived yet?”
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