飘零影音

Chapter 204 - Arc 13: Wild Beast Plains | Chapter 204: Wild Beasts

Translator: Lynn

Chonghua could now cover vast distances in a single day, yet the Eastern Territory’s expanse meant that the journey took more than ten days to traverse. Whenever fatigue set in during this period, Yun Lie would envelop Xu Ziqing and Chonghua within his robes, allowing them to rest on the way.

After half a month, they finally reached the border of the Western Regions. Here, they encountered a city, a frontier town, whose name had been bestowed by Emperor Dayan himself. The city’s name symbolized the dynasty’s reverence for its border and the valor of past generals.

This city was encircled by towering walls hundreds of feet high and brimming with guards and inspection points. From a distance, it resembled a colossal beast entrenched in the wilderness, exuding a fierce and savage atmosphere.

Within the city, there were countless potent auras, with some radiating strength and nobility, while others exuded a darker, more malevolent presence. It was a place where chaos was often hard to describe.

Given its status as an imperial border fortress, strict regulations were enforced, and there was a yearly rotation of guards. One of these rules dictated that all monks, regardless of their cultivation level, must dismount and refrain from flying upon arrival.

Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing, being disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect, a prominent sect in the Eastern Region, were bound by this rule. Just as they did when entering Ruyi Xianzhuang, they landed a short distance from the city.

Chonghua extended a paw, transforming into a golden light that entered a token held by Xu Ziqing. Many monks possessed beast companions, often large and cumbersome creatures, so this token, known as the “Beast Royal Card,” was designed to accommodate these creatures, enabling monks to travel more freely.

Xu Ziqing had nearly lost Chonghua on his return to Ruyi Xianzhuang, which led him to acquire this item. The token had been ingeniously designed to ensure that the beast companions remained comfortable within.

However, Chonghua had recently advanced and was now a first-order monster, so he was only eligible for an inferior-class token.

Once the Beast Royal Card was safely stored, Xu Ziqing felt relieved. Yun Lie, who had been waiting nearby, signaled for them to continue.

After a brief walk, they reached the city gate. Soldiers in military attire, both regular individuals and monks, stood guard on either side.

Though Yun Lie concealed his aura, these guards were astute individuals, accustomed to seeing formidable individuals and masters while monitoring the city gate. Naturally, they couldn’t ignore the dangerous aura emanating from these two, and their expressions shifted slightly.

A tall soldier approached, with his cultivation level between the eighth and ninth layers of Qi Refinement, and his uniform marking him as a higher-ranking officer. He was likely a sergeant. Sporting a welcoming smile, he inquired, “Are the two senior cultivators here to enter the city?”

Recognizing that his senior brother wasn’t inclined toward verbal communication, Xu Ziqing took the lead in replying with a smile, “We are entering the city.”

The sergeant explained, “Brother Yan has established a regulation that anyone entering this border town must pay a low-grade spirit stone as an entry fee, including monks. So, the two of you…”

Xu Ziqing wasn’t taken aback; he reached into his sleeve and produced two low-grade spirit stones from his storage ring, handing them to the sergeant. “We are well aware that it’s customary here. Here, take them.”

Seeing that Xu Ziqing was cooperative, the sergeant’s concern was alleviated, and he respectfully cupped his hands, saying, “The entry fee has been paid. Seniors, please proceed into the city.”

With a smile, Xu Ziqing gently tugged at Yun Lie’s sleeve, and the two of them entered the city.

Once inside, no one impeded their progress, and they made their way directly to the inner city.

In the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a bustling city teeming with soldiers clad in armor and generals, alongside countless monks and ordinary residents. The throng of people was diverse, encompassing an array of beings.

As Xu Ziqing’s consciousness scanned the area, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of astonishment. When he initially sensed it from a distance outside the city, he assumed it was an error. However, upon closer inspection, he realized that it was indeed the case.

Within this city, a striking coexistence was observed. It wasn’t just home to immortal cultivators but also housed many demon cultivators. Though they all maintained an outward calm and lacked overt animosity, the peaceful coexistence was somewhat surprising.

The incident in Ruyi Xianzhuang exposed Xu Ziqing to the mindset of cultivators from the demonic path. He had anticipated friction but hadn’t expected such diversity in this border town, leaving him with a mixed array of impressions.

Yun Lie, on the other hand, took this in stride and explained, “Within the Dayan Empire, there are no strict distinctions between righteousness and evil. In the Western Regions, conflicts between immortals and demons are more restrained than in the other three regions. The imperial authority unites the two, and with the respect for imperial power, disputes over orthodoxy are comparatively weaker.”

This insight prompted Xu Ziqing to nod in understanding. While many ordinary folks had dealings with monks and revered them for their higher status, they were less domineering than what Xu Ziqing had previously encountered. Most of them exhibited a degree of hostility in their expressions and eyes, often carrying the aura of violence. Most commoners were warriors, exuding a formidable presence, with powerful muscles evident beneath their clothing.

Unless a person was a monk, nearly everyone was armed, emphasizing martial strength more than in many other places.

Observing the city, Xu Ziqing noted its wide, sprawling streets, boasting numerous shops, restaurants, and inns, as well as numerous casinos and brothels. It exuded a vibrant and bustling atmosphere, yet also harbored a somewhat worldly ambiance.

However, the duo had not come to explore this border town; hence, they didn’t dawdle on the streets. Yun Lie seemed well-acquainted with the area and led Xu Ziqing down a specific route.

The border town of this town housed millions of troops, stationed within the border region, both inside and outside the outer city walls.

Upon reaching the inner city gate, security was more stringent than at the outer gate. It was flanked by two imposing gates. Ordinary individuals entered through the left gate, while monks accessed the city via the right. The regulations were strictly enforced.

Yun Lie guided Xu Ziqing to the right, leading them to the city gate.

Before the right city gate, an altar was set up, manned by a foundation-building cultivator from the immortal path. This young monk appeared amiable, exuding a gentle aura, sitting behind a table with a slender brush in hand, meticulously recording entries. A jade slip was placed beside him, and it served as a registration tool.

The line in front of the city gate was quite long, but Yun Lie patiently waited rather than cutting in. Xu Ziqing had never experienced this military procedure before and found it quite novel. Observing his senior brother’s behavior made it even more intriguing.

The young monk worked swiftly, wasting no time as he efficiently documented and wrote.

After some time, the line ahead gradually diminished, and it was their turn.

The young monk raised his eyes to the duo and inquired, “Are you two seniors here to enlist in the army or to record orders?”

Xu Ziqing knew what “enlisting in the army” meant, but he was uncertain about the term “recording orders.” He glanced at his senior brother for clarification.

Yun Lie responded, “Recording orders.”

The young monk nodded and followed up, “Seniors, do you have old orders?”

Yun Lie confirmed, “I do.” Indicating that Xu Ziqing doesn’t have it.

The young monk had interacted with numerous monks and didn’t find Yun Lie’s response bothersome. He opened his ledger and took up his pen, saying, “Senior, please share the name of the gentleman in green robes. I’ll create a new order for you.”

Xu Ziqing comprehended the procedure now and cheerfully stated, “My name is Xu Ziqing, a monk from the Wuling Immortal Sect. This is my Shixiong, Yun Lie.”

The young monk swiftly recorded their information and presented a magical item to them. His expression remained composed, showing little surprise. However, upon inspecting the old slips on the jade slip, his expression shifted: “So, Senior Yun has achieved Golden Core and become a true cultivator. Your talent is commendable, worthy of a disciple from a prominent sect!” After offering his praise, he fetched two tokens and handed them to the pair, saying, “Since Master Yun is an acquaintance of Brother Yan, this junior won’t delay you. Seniors may proceed as they wish.”

Xu Ziqing accepted the token and entered the inner city with his senior, not obstructing those who followed behind. Once they were inside, he took a closer look at the token.

The token featured the words “recording orders” with Xu Ziqing’s name and cultivation level underneath, presenting a straightforward appearance. However, the reverse side of the token bore an emblem of a peculiar beast with a ferocious visage, looking quite distinctive.

As they continued their journey, Yun Lie offered an explanation, “This emblem resembles that of a wild beast.”

He understood Xu Ziqing’s lingering questions and provided further information. The term “wild beasts” referred not to monster beasts or spirit beasts but rather to a peculiar race that subsisted on all living beings in the world. They were ferocious and irrational creatures, strictly carnivorous.

In the early years, when these wild beasts first emerged, monks worldwide initially categorized them as monsters. However, it became evident that the growth and hierarchy of wild beasts significantly differed from that of monsters, prompting their reclassification.

These beasts are classified into five categories based on the number of horns on their heads: one-horned beasts, two-horned beasts, triangular beasts, four-cornered beasts, and five-horned beasts. The greater the number of horns, the stronger their power and capabilities.

One-horned wild beasts, while fierce, can be dealt with by warriors in the mortal realm. Two-horned wild beasts are on par with Qi refining monks, while three-horned ones are comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators. Though their power might align with a Nascent Soul beast, their rapid reproduction and the recurring beast tides every three years necessitate the empire’s vigilant protection.

Furthermore, wild beasts grow remarkably quickly. A female beast can give birth to seven to twelve cubs in one litter, and their growth is accelerated through consumption. Each cub is born with one horn, reaches maturity in three years, gains two horns after a decade, and can develop three horns between 20 and 50 years, eventually attaining four horns in a century.

While five-horned beasts are rare, their occurrence rate is still higher than that of Nascent Soul Patriarchs among an equivalent number of monks. The presence of such a formidable group demands constant vigilance.

It’s not hard to imagine that if the border were to fall and the wild beasts from the plain invaded the empire, it would resemble locusts ravaging a rice field, potentially wiping out the population of tens of millions in the entire empire.

As a result, in this vast realm of cultivation, common people practice martial arts and, despite confronting an unconquerable empire, continue to defend their homeland on the frontier, safeguarding their families while offering reverence to “immortals.”

On the other hand, monks coexist with ordinary people within the family structure, pledging loyalty to one another. They enter the imperial court as officials, receiving feudal rewards and sharing the empire’s fortune. Every clan’s disciples are obligated to undergo military training during their respective periods. This not only benefits their individual cultivation but also elevates their status within the military, enabling them to secure resources for their clans.

However, these family-based recruits are not the only ones serving in the army.

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