Legend of the Great Sage

dependent system of formations, but also with disciples patrolling and standing on guard.
The camp was filled with cultivators that gave off a sense of bleakness, vastly different from the overall style of Myriad city.
Crude, primitive halls of black stone stood in an arrangement that possessed no aesthetic appeal at all.

The officer led the way.
Wherever he went, others would stop and bow to him.
From time to time, he would encounter another officer or two of the same rank, who simply nodded at him.

Li Qingshan followed behind the officer silently.
Suddenly, he became slightly excited, not because he had been influenced by the atmosphere here, nor because he was worried about whether he would be dispatched as a part of the fresh troops.
Instead, it was a different feeling, both familiar and warm.

However, just like how the atmosphere of the Department of Military Provisions did not match Myriad city, his current bearing did not match this place either.
Apart from servants and attendants, most of the people here were cultivators who had returned from the battlefield to rest.
Every single one of them was well-experienced and possessed a natural sense of pride.

Due to the Qilin’s Conventions of Longevity, Li Qingshan’s appearance was as delicate and handsome as a young man’s, and also because of the Heavenly Tome of Liberty, all of his demonic thoughts had been depleted.

Right now, he basically gave off an air of friendliness and seemed harmless.
He also abided by the path of nature constantly, so he did not demonstrate his cultivation.
His bearing was basically incompatible with this place, like a little lamb in the middle of a pack of wolves.

As a result, none of these people looked at him particularly kindly.
Most of them bore some contempt and disdain, even a little aggression.

Li Qingshan only smiled and ignored it.
These people did reek a little bit of blood, and their faces were very vicious, but they were clearly just some Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators.
There were not even a lot of Soul Nascence cultivators here.
If they could kill with gazes, what was the point of cultivation? He could even smash the arrogant prick in front of him to a pulp within three moves.
From this distance, just a single punch would be enough.

He specially searched for the reason for his excitement, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
He looked around.
“Don’t tell me?”

A chill ran down the officer’s spine, which made him glance backwards doubtfully.
Li Qingshan was currently looking around for something.
Was it perhaps a false impression? He called out unhappily, “Stop looking around! Get going!”

“Yes!” Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow and became slightly irritated, no longer looking around.
His eyes stayed fixed on the officer’s back.
However, he clearly had a feeling that they were nearby.

The officer stiffened.
No, it was not a false impression! The coldness reached the depths of his bones at that instant.
Even in the bustling military camp, he felt no safety at all.
He felt like a vicious tiger was tailing him, readying to tear him to pieces at any time.
He did not dare to stop or look back, walking along stiffly like a machine.

A tall tower of black stone stood in the centre of the military camp.
A short, burly man with a square face and large ears stood with his arms crossed at the top.
He was the person in charge of this camp, the master of military provisions, Ge Xing.

He looked down from above at Li Qingshan in the distance and asked softly, “How is he?”

Beside him stood a graceful woman with a tall, straight posture.
She said in disdain, “Nothing impressive? He’s just lucky.
Look at him, isn’t he very obedient now?”

It was true.
In the eyes of others, Li Qingshan stayed right behind the officer, keeping his eyes to himself and following him blindly.
He was as obedient as he could get.
However, unbeknownst to them, the officer was soaked in sweat.
Every single step he took was extremely difficult, like he would be killed immediately if he even paused for a moment, walking away like he was possessed.

Ge Xing laughed aloud.
His voice boomed out, “A lucky kid who defeated a Yin Soul cultivator as a Soul Nascence cultivator? A lucky kid that Le Tian views as a dark horse? A lucky kid who’s bold enough to openly provoke the first senior sister!”

The woman was left speechless before grumbling unhappily, “If he didn’t cheat, how could he become an inner disciple so quickly?”

“You’re just jealous,” Ge Xing said impassively, “When you joined the sect that year, you also placed first.
After so much time and effort, you finally became a direct disciple, standing right behind me.
Yet, he obtained everything so easily, even with several direct disciples showing him such special care, even treating him as an equal.
You don’t find that fair, do you?”

“Yes.” The woman lowered her head.

Ge Xing growled, “Even I don’t fucking find it fair.
If I saw him for myself, I would have never taken part in this gamble.
Sigh, it’s not your fault that you couldn’t tell.
You just can’t apply normal logic to some people.
We’ve all fallen for that bastard Le Tian’s trick this time.
He messed up, so he wants to pull us down instead to make up for his loss.”

“This Li Qingshan has already undergone the fourth heavenly tribulation, and he practises the Heavenly Tome of Liberty that no one has practised before.
Coupled with that huge sum of contribution, it’s only a matter of time before he became an inner disciple.
Junior sister Ruan is not the kind of person to help others cheat.
Pi Yangqiu is worried that I’d move against him, so he’s made this risky move like a scoundrel.”

“However, it is a good move.
I’m not some gentleman either.
I’m not going to just go down like this.
However, I’m already beginning to wonder whether sending him onto the battlefield is the correct decision or not.”

“Senior brother!” The woman was surprised.
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re afraid he’ll…”

“Shut your mouth.
He’s not even a direct disciple right now, and even if he does become one in the future, I’m not going to be afraid of him.
Look at your junior brother Liu.”

“Hmm? His expression seems a little unnatural.
He’s not greeting anyone either.
What’s happened?”

“Hehe, nothing much.
He’s just been frightened out of his wits.”

“Frightened out of his wits!?”