Chapter 212: Snow Eagle Special Forces Battalion

Never give up, never abandon.

Guarding the barracks alone for three months, Zhang Xingyu feels like Xu Sanduo from "Soldier Assault".

But he doesn't have Xu Sanduo's perseverance.

He does have his own three "more's"—more to eat, more to drink, more to sleep.

His physique is trending toward Zhu Xiaopang's, and his cultivation has firmly settled into the early Golden Core stage.

The three flying swords—Fire Dragon, Azure Dragon, and Yellow Dragon—have already been stored in his orifices for nurturing.

Now that his cultivation has entered the Golden Core stage, his magical power has surged, and his internal orifices have become larger and tougher, capable of housing flying swords and treasures.

That day, Zhang Xingyu was fiddling with two turtle‑shell‑shaped objects in the barracks.

Both shells are engraved with He Luo diagrams.

One of them comes from the Blue Crystal Sea Gold‑Silver Island, one of the three curios collected for him by his outstanding employee Wutu.

The other hails from the Immortal City of Dongsheng in Dongsheng Shenzhou, an extra compensation from the blue‑clothed old man who sold him the "Zhu Xian Sword Manual".

Strangely, why do these two shells look so alike?

Could they be two components of a single treasure?

While Zhang Xingyu was pondering, a messenger appeared outside the barracks.

Zhang Xingyu recognized the messenger. He is a messenger from the Second Sect Headquarters, often trailing behind Xu Yun Lao Dao.

The messenger saluted Zhang Xingyu: "Zhang Xingyu, the General orders you to go to the Sect Headquarters immediately!"

Zhang Xingyu returned the salute: "Brother, is there something the General wants me to handle?"

The messenger shook his head: "I'm not sure about that. Hurry up and go, don't keep the General waiting."

This Dean Xu Yun sends someone to summon me without clarifying the matter.

Could it be that his conscience has awakened, and he intends to compensate for the spiritual stones he consumed in the last great battle?

This stingy, cunning old fellow—does he really have such a kind heart?

He recalled the last time he asked him for the one thousand fifth‑grade spiritual pills he had promised, and the old fellow played tai chi, shirked, and ultimately pushed him away cleanly.

Remembering that day's request for the pills made Zhang Xingyu so angry his teeth ached.

That day, in the senior instructor's office.

"Dean Xu Yun, a student has something to discuss with you."

"This is a military stronghold; only superiors and subordinates are allowed, not a dean and a student. You must be careful in the future!"

"Yes, General. General, I want to ask: last time at Dantai Immortal City, I won the Immortal Sprout Tournament for Nan Hua Immortal Academy, and you promised me a reward of one thousand fifth‑grade spiritual pills. The student asks: can you now fulfill those pills?"

"Winning the championship, the pills? That sounds about right. But do you know who I was when I made that promise?"

"You are Daoist Xu Yun, Dean of Nan Hua Immortal Academy."

"Since you know the reward was promised by the Dean of Nan Hua Immortal Academy, you should go to the Dean of Nan Hua Immortal Academy to claim it."

"You!"

"What do you mean, you? No rules. You may leave now. Remember, without an order, you may not come to the Sect Headquarters on your own."

Just as Zhang Xingyu was grinding his teeth, at the Second Sect Headquarters, Xu Yun Lao Dao was conversing with a middle‑aged man.

The middle‑aged man was burly, dark‑skinned, sharply angular, with keen eyes.

He stood there, looking as if he were a sword drawn from its sheath.

In front of them, a row of soldiers stood in perfect order.

"Old Li, these are the finest soldiers of our Second Sect," Xu Yun Lao Dao introduced to the middle‑aged man.

The man nodded: "In a moment I'll take them away. If any pass the trial, they may stay at the Vulture; otherwise I'll send them back to you."

"There's another person on the way; I'll trouble you to wait a bit longer. How about you come to my office for a cup of tea?" Xu Yun Lao Dao added.

"Who is this person? Is his camp far from here?" Old Li asked.

"Not really far. It was just omitted when the messenger gave notice. However, this person is outstanding and fully meets your selection criteria," Xu Yun Lao Dao replied.

"Then we'll wait a bit longer," Old Li agreed with a nod.

A quarter hour later, Zhang Xingyu ran, panting, to the Sect Headquarters.

Outside the headquarters, a line of soldiers stood in perfect formation.

Damn! What the hell?

The headquarters is heavily guarded; is it still necessary to dispatch a separate squad here?

"Dong—dong—dong!" Zhang Xingyu knocked on the senior instructor's office door.

"Report!"

"Come in!"

Zhang Xingyu pushed the door open.

Inside, Xu Yun Lao Dao was sitting opposite a middle‑aged old man, drinking tea.

"Report, Fourth Division, Second Battalion, Fourth Company, Zhang Xingyu reporting as ordered!"

After reporting, Zhang Xingyu asked with a grin, "Dean, you're drinking Lingyin Shan cloud mist; give me a cup as well!"

Xu Yun Lao Dao stood up and kicked him squarely in the butt.

"Stand still!" Xu Yun Lao Dao snarled at Zhang Xingyu.

That old man is crazy.

Fine, there's a guest; give him some face.

"Yes!"

Zhang Xingyu shouted and assumed a standard attention stance.

Seeing him stand properly, Xu Yun Lao Dao smiled and said to the middle‑aged man surnamed Li, "Old Li, this kid is Zhang Xingyu, a rather useless student of mine."

"Zhang Xingyu? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere," Lao Li said thoughtfully.

After a moment, he slapped his forehead, laughing as he said: "I remember now where I heard it. This Zhang Xingyu, wasn't he the kid who used a grand formation to block the enemy's retreat in the One Line Heaven ambush battle?"

"That's him. This kid is my most proud disciple. Lao Li, I'm entrusting him to you!" Xu Yun Lao Dao said solemnly to Lao Li.

Lao Li nodded: "Don't worry. Looking at this kid's cleverness, passing the test shouldn't be a big problem."

Zhang Xingyu was completely bewildered.

From what they meant, Xu Yun Lao Dao wanted to entrust himself to this old man and also undergo some test.

Lao Li stood up, walked to Zhang Xingyu's front, and said loudly: "I am Li Longyun, commander of the Special Operations Battalion 'Snow Eagle' of the Volunteer Immortal Army. The selection test for the Snow Eagle will be held in a few days; are you interested in participating?"

Snow Eagle Battalion? Special immortal soldiers?

The flying vessel slowly rose into the sky, and the camp grew farther away.

Watching the familiar camp turn into a cotton field once again, Zhang Xingyu's eyes grew moist.

This departure was too sudden.

He hadn't had time to salute the camp's flag, nor had he had time to say goodbye to Senior Sister Ouyang and the others.

I don't know when I'll be able to return.

According to Snow Eagle Battalion commander Li Longyun, if you pass the test, you will be directly assigned to the Snow Eagle.

Passing the test, to me, is something definite, inevitable, and certain.

In Zhang Xingyu's dictionary, there are no words like "cannot," "failure," or "fail to pass."

Goodbye to my first battalion, goodbye to my senior sisters, goodbye to Dean Xu Yun.

Until the day of victory, we will meet again.