Chapter 1 Newly Promoted Yinglong Guard

The distant end of the endless Crimson Dragon Mountain Range could not be seen even by the naked eye of a cultivator.

Atop one of the peaks, the enormous pagoda-shaped teleportation array blazed with light.

Whoosh!

Ji Ning and the other fifty-two all appeared within the array.

So fast, Ji Ning thought, glancing around. Though he had ridden it once before, the speed of the teleportation array still amazed him.

Wait here. Someone from the Yinglong Guard will come for you soon, called out a red-faced elder, the leader of the ten plainly dressed old men who maintained the array.

Ji Ning and the other fifty-two obediently stepped out of the base array and waited silently to one side.

Soon.

A broad ship flew down from the distant clouds, pressing through the air, and landed directly on the mountaintop.

From the ship descended an incomparably seductive woman in pink, followed by a group of alluring beauties. For a moment, it seemed like a gathering of celestial maidens descending to the mortal world. The women flew down from the ship, and then some spirit beasts followed, each darting toward certain cultivators.

Uncle Bai! Ji Ning spotted the Whitewater Hound among the spirit beasts.

Joy flickered in the Whitewater Hound's eyes. Over the past three months, his worry had grown, for if his master died, the spirit beast would regain its freedom. Spirit beasts could sense this themselves. Often, some spirit beasts would fly away directly, and as they left one by one, those remaining understood that many cultivators had died.

Ning'er, Uncle Bai said, arriving beside Ji Ning. Suddenly he noticed the little green snake raising its head on Ji Ning's wrist and asked in surprise, Ning'er, this snake?

This is a Kongqing Snake, Ji Ning communicated mentally. She was the same Kongqing Snake I fought when I ventured into Dongshan Marsh. This time, we met by chance in Yushan Dahuang Swamp and went through life-and-death trials together. Perhaps because I saved her life, she volunteered to become my spirit beast. So... that's how it is.

The Whitewater Hound nodded gently, looking at the Kongqing Snake with goodwill, and mentally transmitted to Ji Ning: Kongqing Snakes often discover treasured sites. Their potential is remarkable. She is indeed a fitting companion for you, Ning'er.

Are you that Uncle Bai? Qingqing transmitted in turn.

The Whitewater Hound's eyes held a smile as he looked at her.

You and Ji Ning's father were sworn brothers? I hear you're from Yanshan too, and so am I. We're practically fellow townsfolk. You, my master, and I—the three of us can be the Three Heroes of Yanshan! Qingqing transmitted with great enthusiasm.

...

As Ji Ning and the other cultivators grew close to their spirit beasts, the group of beautiful, seductive women watched them curiously. The woman in pink at the lead waited a moment before speaking: Everyone.

The fifty-two all looked over.

First, congratulations on returning alive. You may call me 'Daoist Yulan.' The skin beneath her pink gauze dress was faintly visible, and her voice carried a powerful allure. If Yun Lu's charm was innate, this woman's allure came from cultivation techniques and secret arts.

This allure was even stronger.

Especially since she was a Primal Daoist, her influence could even shake the Dao-hearts of some Wanxiang Adepts.

Please bring out the heads of the Wanxiang demons for me to examine one by one, said Yulan, her demeanor full of seduction, her eyes brimming with charm. Those who did not obtain a Wanxiang demon's head should step forward voluntarily, to save me some trouble.

Seven figures immediately stepped out and walked to a distance.

Ji Ning and the others, one by one, laid out the corpses and heads of Wanxiang demons on the open ground.

Demon corpses differed from human corpses. Humans were naturally weak in body; unless they practiced divine body cultivation, they remained frail.

But demons were different. Many had innate abilities and naturally powerful bodies, far inferior to divine bodies but still between 'human' and 'divine.' Many demons would refine their most formidable body part into a lifebound treasure, showing how extraordinary their bodies were.

Thus, it was easy to determine whether a head belonged to a Wanxiang stage demon.

Mm, Yulan released her divine sense, probing into each demon corpse's head. After a single breath, she nodded lightly: Good, all are at the Wanxiang demon level.

You seven, wait here. Someone will arrange your departure shortly, Yulan said, glancing at the other seven, who looked somewhat disheveled. Then she turned to Ji Ning's group: You forty-five, bring your spirit beasts and board the ship with me.

Soon.

The seductive Yulan led Ji Ning and the others onto the large ship.

...

This Daoist Yulan is truly...! Ji Ning's forehead was slightly damp with sweat, and he felt a heat in his lower abdomen. Women like Yun Lu or Jiu Lian did not stir him, but Yulan's allure came from cultivation techniques and secret arts.

The seduction technique of a Primal Daoist was not easily resisted.

Even his junior apprentice-brother Mu Zishuo's face was flushed, and some Wanxiang Adepts had desire in their eyes. Only their tempered Dao-hearts kept them from losing control.

Yulan's gaze swept over them, and she let out a soft laugh.

That glance, that smile.

Many Wanxiang Adepts closed their eyes.

A femme fatale, a femme fatale, Ji Ning thought to himself. No wonder in my past life on Earth, history recorded many instances where such women brought down kingdoms. These Wanxiang Adepts have firm Dao-hearts, yet they are so enchanted. If she were to seduce a mortal emperor, he would surely abandon his empire for her beauty.

...

The large ship flew through the clouds.

Yulan waved her hand, and books floated before each of the forty-five.

Congratulations, you forty-five are now new Yinglong Guards! Yulan announced. From the moment you became Yinglong Guards, you gained certain privileges. But you also bear certain responsibilities.

Read carefully.

Yulan said.

Ji Ning and the others flipped through their respective books.

Truly worthy of the Yinglong Guard, Ji Ning marveled inwardly. The privileges described in the book were indeed overbearing. It was like a cultivator donning imperial robes, able to swagger anywhere.

For instance, the Anchan Northmont clan could only swagger within Anchan Commandery.

But the Yinglong Guard could swagger in any commandery of the entire Xia Dynasty.

Responsibilities? Ji Ning glanced at the section.

It was simple enough.

One-Claw Yinglong Guards must complete a task worth one merit every ten years (one merit being the most basic task).

Two-Claw Yinglong Guards must complete tasks worth one hundred merits every hundred years (normally, a Two-Claw Yinglong Guard completes one task).

Three-Claw Yinglong Guards must complete tasks worth ten thousand merits every thousand years (normally, a Three-Claw Yinglong Guard's task is worth ten thousand merits).

Four-Claw Yinglong Guards must complete tasks worth one million merits every ten thousand years (normally, a Four-Claw Yinglong Guard's task is worth one million merits).

Five-Claw Yinglong Guards hold the highest status, able to mobilize the Yinglong Guard army, with status equal to that of feudal lords.

...

The above are the most basic requirements. These are the responsibilities of the Yinglong Guard!

For Wanxiang Adepts like Ji Ning, completing one ordinary task every ten years sufficed—like the minor task of hunting down Beizi Shan. As long as they fulfilled the basic task, the Yinglong Guard branch would not trouble them.

For some loose immortals, they only needed to complete a task every thousand or even ten thousand years. Relatively speaking, it was also very easy.

How relaxed, Mu Zishuo transmitted to Ji Ning. Senior apprentice-brother, being a Yinglong Guard is indeed easy. According to this, we could just take a 'ten-merit' task. After completing it, we could idle for a hundred years.

Idle, yes, but you won't get any secret arts, divine abilities, treasures, or rare artifacts, Ji Ning transmitted back.

Uh... Mu Zishuo flipped further back and widened his eyes. What? Divine abilities and secret arts require merits to exchange? And there are rank requirements?

Many divine abilities required being a Two-Claw or even Three-Claw Yinglong Guard to access.

But there was one exception!

Becoming an Inner Guard of the Yinglong Guard!

...

Finished reading? Yulan's gaze swept over the new Yinglong Guards. The divine abilities and secret arts within our Yinglong Guard are the richest and most numerous. Even the Anchan Northmont clan cannot compare, for we are the most powerful force in the entire Xia Dynasty.

But these divine abilities, secret arts, and many rare treasures will not be casually taught to you.

After all...

With such ease—completing one task and relaxing for a hundred or a thousand years—it would be unfair to gain divine abilities and secret arts without proper effort, Yulan said. So either you cultivate slowly, waiting until you become Two-Claw or Three-Claw Yinglong Guards to gradually obtain divine abilities.

Ji Ning and the others shook their heads inwardly.

A Two-Claw Yinglong Guard was comparable to an ordinary Primal Daoist in combat power, like Senior Apprentice-Brother Bloodshadow.

A Three-Claw Yinglong Guard was likely comparable to an ordinary loose immortal.

By then, cultivating divine abilities would be too late.

Alternatively, become an Inner Guard of the Yinglong Guard, utterly loyal to our Xia Dynasty! Our Yinglong Guard will spare no effort to nurture you, Yulan said, sweeping her gaze across them. Think it over. Whether a year, ten years, or a hundred years, we welcome you to join the Inner Guard at any time.

Ji Ning and the others understood clearly.

Ordinary Yinglong Guards were akin to guest retainers—very free, with some privileges.

But the Inner Guard of the Yinglong Guard were like loyal soldiers of the Xia Dynasty.

In the early days, the Yinglong Guard required every member to be an Inner Guard. But cultivators at heart sought freedom and ease. The more talented the cultivator, the more this was true. If the requirements were too strict, many peerless experts and geniuses would leave the Yinglong Guard...

Thus, the Yinglong Guard had to recruit widely. Later, they established a separate 'Inner Guard.'

As a result, many carefree loose immortals and solitary wanderers actively joined the Yinglong Guard. The Guard's reputation and strength surged, becoming the undisputed foremost military force of the Xia Dynasty. The number of hidden great powers within the Yinglong Guard was likely known to few in the entire Xia Dynasty.

No one knew which old monsters were hidden in the Yinglong Guard.

And today...

Ji Ning had also become a member of the Yinglong Guard—of course, only the most ordinary One-Claw Yinglong Guard.