Chapter 147: Farewell, God of Wealth; Return to Nitchao

Moving away from the crowd of players, he stopped before a twisted ancient tree.

Duan Xing turned to look at Li Zheng and the others, whose faces were filled with playful smiles, still finding it hard to believe.

This group of fellows had left a deep impression on him.

Back then, they had traded low-quality canned food for resources with him, subsequently triggering the egregious incident where members of the Player Clan scavenged for junk to exchange for his resources.

According to news from the Gale Fortress of the Phase Two Training Camp, members of the Player Clan in the Snow Valley Phase One Training Camp had chosen to sacrifice themselves actively to cover the evacuation of their fellow trainees, ultimately dying in battle to the last man.

Upon learning this news at the time, Duan Xing's heart was filled with complex emotions.

In this chaotic new era, death had long become commonplace, with news of clansmen falling on the front lines arriving every day.

But what left him incredulous was that the Player Clan, whom he perceived as having flighty personalities, would actually sacrifice themselves for other trainees.

In the Phase One Training Camp, which he had not witnessed personally, the growth of the Player Clan members had shocked him.

After concluding the trial assessment and officially promoting to a warrior of the Nitchao Legion, he personally traveled to the Phase Two Training Camp to inquire about the situation from trainees like Gui Tong.

Upon learning the details of the Player Clan members' sacrifice, he felt a surge of solemn respect.

Before leaving the training camp, he sat in silence for an hour before the gravestones erected by Gui Tong and other trainees for the Player Clan members, offering the Nitchao War Salute.

While genuinely recognizing the Player Clan, a sense of pride also rose within his heart.

These were new recruits enlisted through the Tianfu Clan quotas; they had not brought shame upon him.

After returning to the Nitchao Legion, he met with Elder You, detailing the complete circumstances of the Player Clan members' total sacrifice.

Upon hearing all this, Elder You finally gave his response, stating he would grant the Player Clan ten new recruit quotas and bringing a batch of consolation resources to deliver to them.

However, before the consolation resources could even be distributed, he saw Li Zheng and the others, full of life and vigor, rushing over from afar with anxious expressions.

At that moment, he felt as though he were living in a dream.

Gui Tong had personally told him that Li Zheng, the leader of the Player Clan, had died in its arms, dissipating into black mist.

Yet now, he was seeing members of the Player Clan, who should have been dead, standing vividly before him.

Bang!

Setting the aircraft aside, Duan Xing looked at Li Zheng and the other members of the Liver Emperor Group, speaking in a deep voice:

"I need you to give me an explanation. Didn't you die? Could it be that Gui Tong concealed the truth and helped you escape the training camp... No, the process was recorded on video; that cannot be faked."

Facing the inquiry, Li Zheng offered an awkward smile:

"We did indeed die, but then we resurrected."

"Resurrected?!"

"That's right. It is a special ability unique to us of the Player Clan. You can understand it as us having a special place in the Outer Domain World that preserves our souls; after we die, our memories can reshape our flesh and blood, allowing us to resurrect... but we are not clear on exactly how many times we can resurrect."

Li Zheng, having already prepared his explanation, detailed the reasons for their resurrection.

After hearing his account, Duan Xing stood stunned like a wooden chicken.

In his view, this ability was truly outrageous.

Having lived for so many years behind the lines of the Nitchao Legion, news from the battlefield had spoken of various races from other worlds possessing outrageous abilities.

Among them were alien races that possessed resurrection capabilities.

For instance, the main lineage members of the Soul Return Clan also possessed resurrection abilities.

Moreover, their method of resurrection was similar to that of Li Zheng and the others, achieved through a form of consciousness reshaping to complete revival.

The difference lay in the fact that this type of resurrection was akin to flesh replication.

Lost memories would not return; the resurrected individual was more like a new life cloned afterward, retaining only the memories saved at the time of archiving, and this kind of resurrection could not be performed multiple times, as each cloning required severing a portion of the Soul Return Clan member's consciousness.

But since self-consciousness could not be severed multiple times, the conditions for resurrection were extremely restrictive.

However, the Player Clan's resurrection ability, as described by Li Zheng, appeared utterly outrageous.

First, they could resurrect multiple times, though the Player Clan members themselves did not know the exact limit.

Second, they could recover lost memories.

But the most outrageous part was Li Zheng's claim that their strength increased after each resurrection.

Facts bore this out; through his perception, he discovered that the intensity of the blood qi and spiritual power fluctuations on Li Zheng and the others had improved significantly compared to their initial state.

"God of Wealth, did you come this time to recruit players for the training camp?" Li Zheng asked the question that concerned him most at this moment.

Facing the inquiry, Duan Xing, still in a state of shock, took a long while before responding:

"That is correct. Elder You has given me ten quotas to recruit a batch of your Player Clan members to go to the Phase One Training Camp... Oh, and he also gave me a batch of consolation resources to bestow upon your clansmen."

Hearing about the consolation resources, Li Zheng and the other members of the Liver Emperor Group immediately beamed with joy:

"No need to give them to our clansmen; aren't we right here? Just distribute them directly to us."

As he spoke, Li Zheng glanced at the black spatial bracelet on the God of Wealth's wrist.

"Impossible. Consolation resources are issued only under the confirmed condition that you are dead. Since you have resurrected, whether or not to give them must be decided by Elder You."

"God of Wealth, this is where you are being rigid. Death is a fact that has already occurred; resurrection is an unexpected outcome. The consolation resources are issued because of the death; how can this be entangled with the resurrection?"

Standing to the side, Chi Tu analyzed the situation with a serious expression.

"No, I must report this to Elder You for a decision."

Facing Duan Xing's firm refusal, Li Zheng and the others did not persist; they cared more about whether they could return to the training camp.

"God of Wealth, since we have resurrected, can we return to the training camp to continue the unfinished training?"

"I am not sure. I do not have the authority to decide this question; it still requires asking Elder You."

"Then hurry up and ask! Put in a good word for us; whether we can continue our training camp session depends entirely on you," the Family Shared Godfather said with earnest anticipation.

"Very well, I will return once. After Elder You gives me a clear answer, I will come back."

"Good, we will wait for you."

Duan Xing nodded, waved his hand toward the aircraft, and instantly, mist sprayed forth as the cabin door opened from bottom to top.

The event of the Player Clan members dying and resurrecting seemed truly outrageous to him; it must be reported to Elder You as soon as possible, leaving the subsequent decisions to Elder You.

Before departing, Duan Xing placed his hand on Li Zheng's shoulder:

"You have done well. Although you possess resurrection abilities, you did not bring shame upon me in the training camp. Your final choice to sacrifice yourselves for the sake of other trainees has made me look at you with new eyes."

Hearing these words, Li Zheng and the others smiled broadly.

In fact, one of the reasons they had chosen to resist the bullying of Gui Tong and the others back then was simply because they did not want to bring shame upon the God of Wealth who had vouched for them.

"God of Wealth, do you have any parting gifts before we separate?"

"No!" Seeing the ugly, demanding expressions appear on Li Zheng and the others' faces once again, Duan Xing shook his head with a cold countenance, then decisively walked toward the aircraft.

Before long, the aircraft ascended, disappearing into a spatial rift amidst the waves of Li Zheng and the others.

"Brother Li, what do we do next?" Sha Xin turned his head to ask Li Zheng.

"Let's just wait here; he might return very soon. We'll temporarily give up hunting."

"I agree."

"I also agree."

Regarding Li Zheng's decision, the members of the Liver Emperor Group, as usual, offered their full support without any opposing views.

Having made their decision, the members of the Liver Emperor Group sat down on the ground.

They passed the time by browsing the forum, watching live streams, chatting, and eating spiritual food.

Deep in their hearts, they anticipated the God of Wealth's return and hoped he would bring good news.

Nitchao 128th War Legion.

Spiritual patterns crisscrossed the ground, spewing forth dense spiritual energy.

At the center of the spiritual pattern paths, a burly, human-like man sat cross-legged; his body was covered in a layer of dark-light scale armor, and he was currently absorbing the energy released by the formation below.

Before him, Duan Xing was explaining the discoveries made during this trip to the Imperial Tomb Mountain Range region.

Upon hearing that the deceased Player Clan trainees had resurrected, Elder You suddenly opened his eyes, unable to hide the shock within them.

"Resurrected?"

"Elder You, according to the Player Clan's description, it is indeed resurrection."

"If I am not mistaken, the Player Clan should possess a type of rule-based ability. This is fundamentally not a racial talent ability that a clan can possess; only a Rule can have such an effect that transcends cognition."

After listening to Duan Xing's account, Elder You considered a possibility.

Recalling that Duan Xing had once described the Player Clan as a race that separated from the Monster World in ancient times.

Therefore, it was highly likely that the Player Clan was a race that had been bestowed with rule-based abilities by Di Zhao back then; they had taken this Rule out of the Monster World and established a new clan territory in the Outer Domain World.

This would also explain why members of the Player Clan could resurrect after death.

No matter how outrageous the setting, it could be explained if placed upon Di Zhao.

Even the Nitchao God, whom they revered, had once served Di Zhao, and the Rules he mastered were also bestowed by Di Zhao's grace.

Thinking of this, Elder You looked at Duan Xing standing before him and spoke in a deep voice:

"What do the resurrected Player Clan members say?"

"They have expressed a desire to return to the Nitchao training camp."

Elder You did not answer immediately; after remaining silent for a long while, he nodded and said:

"Their performance in the Phase One Training Camp was excellent, earning high praise from Kuang Sha. Since they have resurrected, I can permit them to return to the training camp."

"However, according to Nitchao Legion regulations, since they failed to complete the training project of advancing from Phase One to Phase Two, they must retake the entire training journey from Phase One to Phase Two."

"Understood; I will go inform them immediately." A hint of joy floated in Duan Xing's eyes.

"No need; I will go with you this time."

With that said, Elder You stood up, reached both hands forward, and slowly pulled them apart.

An invisible spatial barrier was torn open, and a spatial rift formed ahead.

……

Emperor Tomb Mountain Range, Ancient Battlefield.

While Li Zheng awaited the return of the God of Wealth, he was chatting with his brothers from the Liver Emperor Group.

In the top-left corner of his view was a minimized forum interface, below it a minimized live video frame, and to the right a minimized regional voice channel chat box.

His mouth was still chewing Silver-Tail Fish meat purchased from the Exchange and roasted by a Spirit Chef player.

"Brother Li, why hasn't the God of Wealth arrived yet? Is there a possibility we've been completely eliminated?" Eating Dirt asked with a conflicted expression of someone forced to eat dirt.

"Don't jinx us. We sacrificed ourselves for Tong Zi and the others; no matter how you look at it, that's a bonus point. They can surely give us another chance," Li Zheng said, staring wide-eyed at Eating Dirt.

"True, we were explosively cool back then..."

Just then, a spatial rift suddenly appeared in the sky.

Two figures flew out of the rift, traversing the void mid-air, dragging trails of afterimages as they appeared before them at an unimaginable speed and came to a halt.

Besides the God of Wealth they knew well, Elder You had also arrived this time.

Compared to the burly Elder You, who stood nearly three meters tall, Duan Xing standing beside him looked like a tiny doll.

"Elder You," Li Zheng and the others greeted in unison.

"I heard you want to enter the training camp again?" Elder You asked with an upturned corner of his mouth, smiling.

"Yes, please give us a chance, Elder You," Li Zheng begged with pleading eyes.

Elder You did not answer this question, but instead asked with a curious expression:

"Can you let me meet the high-ranking members of your Player Clan?"

"They are in the Outer Domain World; we lost contact with them after entering the Monster World."

Hearing Li Zheng's explanation, Elder You focused his gaze on Li Zheng's pupils, and after a long silence, nodded:

"It seems you carry many secrets. If you don't wish to speak, that is fine, but since you chose to join the Nitchao Legion, you must be clear about your positioning. I hope you will not disappoint me."

Watching Li Zheng and the others nod repeatedly, Elder You raised his hand, and an invisible energy lifted them, carrying them flying toward the sky.

Curious, Li Zheng focused his gaze on Elder You and activated his Analysis ability:

[You Qiong]:

Hunting Level: 388

Target Introduction: An Elder of the 'Tongyou Clan,' one of the ten royal clans of the Nitchao Legion, currently serving as the highest official in charge of logistics for the Nitchao Legion's 128th War Legion.

……

Seeing Elder You's Hunting Level, the members of the Liver Emperor Group were stunned.

Last time they were too busy learning about the training camp and forgot to check the analysis; only now did they realize how terrifying Elder You's strength truly was.

The invincible tough guy and champion fighter 'Tian Beng,' whom the players viewed as unbeatable, was only level 358.

Elder You's strength had actually reached level 388, a full 30 levels higher than the Champion Fighter.

"Guide, what are Elder You's odds of winning against Tian Beng in a fight?" Family Shared Godfather, curious at heart, asked in the voice channel.

The Guide avatar hovering beside him rested his chin on his hand, displaying a thoughtful expression:

[The higher the Hunting Level, the harder it becomes to improve; every single level grants a significant boost in strength. With a 30-level gap between the Champion Fighter and the bald guy, in terms of physical strength alone, he could fight three Champion Fighters. More importantly, he is bolstered by the Power of War Rules and possesses multiple War Divine Techniques granted by various rules. If they truly fought, he could probably kill a van full of Champion Fighters.]

Hearing the Guide's answer, Li Zheng was astonished:

"That strong?!"

[What else did you expect?]

"I recall the Champion Fighter also has Rule power backing him, that something called Soul of Battle power?"

[The gap between different Rules is enormous. The War Divine Seal on the bald guy is far stronger than the Soul of Battle power... but ultimately, it depends on the combat conditions. If both sides fought under perfectly equal circumstances, the Champion Fighter would certainly win; bolstered by the Soul of Battle power during combat, it would grow stronger with every clash, improving with each battle collision.]

"So that's how it is," Li Zheng nodded in sudden understanding.

"Guide, how does Elder You's combat power rank within the Nitchao Legion?" Sha Xin interjected curiously at that moment.

[Without specific data, I cannot analyze precisely, but judging from the analysis introduction, Elder You is already a core member of the Nitchao Legion. Although he is responsible for logistics, within the Nitchao Legion, he should rank in the second tier of combat power.]

"And that's only the second tier?" Li Zheng was dumbfounded.

[The first tier must be the commanders leading the war on various fronts of the Nitchao Legion. Through war feedback accumulated over long ages, they likely possess combat power approaching demigod level, or perhaps already hold demigod-level strength. Elder You most likely does not qualify for the first tier of combat power.]

After hearing the Guide's analysis, Li Zheng could already imagine how powerful the Nitchao God behind the Nitchao Legion must be.

He feared it possessed True God-level combat power, no longer measurable by Hunting Level numbers.

"God of Wealth, did you pass your trial?" At this moment, Eating Dirt spoke up, interrupting Li Zheng's thoughts.

He followed by looking up at the God of Wealth.

Facing the inquiry, the God of Wealth nodded:

"I underwent a new round of assessment and have passed the trial. After my leave ends, I will head to the war front."

"The front lines are so dangerous; remember to protect yourself," Eating Dirt said with a worried expression.

Hearing this, Duan Xing smiled and shook his head:

"Every warrior is a betting chip for the Nitchao Legion to achieve victory in war. For the sake of victory, we can sacrifice everything. Protecting myself is not within my core considerations; as long as the sacrifice is meaningful, I will not hesitate."

Li Zheng opened his mouth, about to say that Duan Xing seemed brainwashed, but after glancing at Elder You, he swallowed his words.

Duan Xing seemed to perceive Li Zheng's thoughts and smiled:

"This is an infinitely cycling war. Countless warriors like me are growing; among them are many with extraordinary talents, possessing growth potential beyond ordinary imagination, yet most end up buried on the battlefield. I may be no exception."

Speaking thus, Duan Xing fell silent for a moment before continuing:

"Eight million Nitchao warriors die every day. This is just the routine casualty data; during a total war outbreak, the death toll would increase several-fold, even tens of times over. Now do you have a concept of the front lines? I have long been prepared to die on the battlefield."

The data spoken so casually by Duan Xing stunned the members of the Liver Emperor Group.

Eight million deaths daily in routine conflicts meant nearly three billion Nitchao warriors dying annually.

This number truly frightened them.

The human population on Earth was only two billion; judging by numbers alone, it wouldn't even suffice to fill the front lines for one year.

One could imagine how fierce the front-line warfare of the Nitchao Legion was.

This was merely under routine conflicts, not counting the death toll during total war periods; it was truly terrifying.

No wonder the training camp's progress was accelerated so rapidly; most warriors were destined to be cannon fodder.

Only by raising insects through war could true elite warriors be cultivated; only this portion constituted the core combat power of the Nitchao Legion.

Thus, when Duan Xing previously mentioned there were 500 Phase One training camps, he referred to the training camps of the Nitchao 128th War Legion; other war legions also had their own recruit training camps.

"God of Wealth, hold on until we graduate; then we will go to the front lines to protect you," Eating Dirt said solemnly with a serious expression.

Hearing this, Duan Xing smiled and nodded:

"Very well, I will wait for you on the front lines. Good luck graduating."

Amidst the chatter, Elder You led them through a twisting, shifting colorful spatial tunnel.

The scene presented before their eyes was familiar.

Snowflakes mixed with cold wind brushed against their cheeks; at the end of their vision lay the Snow Valley Training Camp from their memories, a place where hunger and sleepless nights coexisted.

Invisible energy carried them through successive jumps in the air before landing them on the training grounds of the Snow Valley Training Camp.

Elder You pointed his index finger forward; nearly invisible energy ripples spread out, and before long, Instructor Kuang Sha and other training instructors arrived.

After respectfully greeting Elder You, their gazes turned to Li Zheng and the others.

Upon clearly seeing their faces, their minds instantly went blank.

"Hehe, Instructor Kuang Sha, long time no see; I missed you to death," Eating Dirt puckered his lips, stepped forward twice, and spread his arms to hug Kuang Sha.

Kuang Sha lifted a leg and kicked Eating Dirt in the abdomen, sending him flying backward like a cannonball until he crashed into the camp fence.

"You... aren't you dead?" Kuang Sha asked with an expression of utter disbelief.

Upon learning that members of the Player Clan had died covering other trainees, he had felt immense regret and heartache.

During their initial contact, his impression of the Player Clan had been extremely poor.

Lazy in training, full of complaints, constantly crying about fatigue and pain, with physical fitness ranking at the bottom of the camp; he could not find a single merit.

He had even entertained the notion of ending the Player Clan's training early.

However, the Player Clan's subsequent performance changed his mindset, shifting from contempt to admiration.

By the time of the Phase One training camp graduation, his impression of the Player Clan trainees had completely transformed; they were now excellent trainees in his eyes.

Therefore, upon learning that the entire Player Clan had sacrificed themselves, he felt heartbroken.

Recalling the lively scenes of the training camp when the Player Clan was still present, he could not help but sigh.

This memory was destined to be unforgettable.

Yet he never expected to see Li Zheng and the other Player Clan members again.

Was the intelligence wrong? Had they not died?

At this moment, Elder You spoke:

"Depart from here and proceed to the Phase Two training camp again."

Having spoken, Elder You looked up at Kuang Sha:

"Kuang Sha, they will explain the specific situation to you; I will take my leave first."

"Yes," Kuang Sha nodded respectfully.

After Elder You departed with Duan Xing, Kuang Sha and Li Zheng's group stared at each other wide-eyed.

"Speak, what happened."

"It's a long story."

"Make the long story short, and don't give me any nonsense," Kuang Sha glared fiercely.

"Let's go to the canteen; we'll chat while eating, allowing me to recount this wonderful journey in detail."

Upon hearing this, Kuang Sha turned and walked toward the canteen, with Li Zheng and the others immediately following.

That night, Kuang Sha and the players of the Liver Emperor Group shared wine and reminisced, recounting their journeys after leaving the training camp.

During the meal, Chi Tu stood with one foot on a stool, holding a half-eaten leg of meat in his right hand:

"Instructor, you surely cannot imagine how dangerous the situation was; we were completely trapped in a desperate plight. If no one had stayed behind to cover the retreat, my brothers would have certainly died."

"At the critical moment of life and death, we players of the Player Clan resolutely stepped in front of our brothers. I charged to the very front, roared 'Brothers, run, I'll cover the retreat!'... In the end, we regrettably died in battle, but our brothers successfully escaped."

Kuang Sha listened to Chi Tu's boasting with an expressionless Iron Face, while Li Zheng, standing nearby, could not help but cover his Iron Face with his hand:

"Chi Tu, you're a magic-type; how did you end up charging to the very front? Were you seeking death?"

"Exactly, it was clearly me who charged to the very front," Family Shared Godfather added with an equally speechless expression.

"Hehe, it amounts to the same thing; we both charged to the very front," Chi Tu said without a shred of embarrassment, taking a bite of the meat.

"So, after you died, you resurrected within the clan grounds?" Kuang Sha asked at that moment.

"That's correct."

"When you first arrived, I asked about the situation of your Player Clan. You never mentioned anything about resurrection; you only said you would be summoned by the clan grounds and disappear for indefinite periods. However, during the training period, I never witnessed any of you returning to the clan grounds."

"Resurrection is something we cannot control; even we ourselves are unclear whether we can actually resurrect or not, so we simply did not report it."

Hearing this, Kuang Sha shook his head but did not press the matter further. After taking a sip of spiritual wine, he spoke in a deep voice:

"Since you have decided to return to the training camp and wish to skip the first phase, continuing your previous training modules to enter the second phase directly, you must retake the trials you failed to complete. Therefore, do you plan to stay here for a few days to rest, or depart immediately?"

Faced with this question, all the players of the Liver Emperor Group turned their gaze toward their leader, Li Zheng.

After a brief moment of thought, Li Zheng looked at Kuang Sha:

"Instructor Kuang Sha, we plan to stay here tonight and depart at dawn. We'll trouble you with the supply preparations; please remember to pack plenty of spiritual food in our travel bags."

"The regulations only allow us to provide energy paste; yet you want spiritual food too? Should I find a chef to accompany you on the journey so they can prepare spiritual food for you along the way?" Kuang Sha scolded with a laugh.

"That works; I agree. Thank you, Instructor Kuang Sha."

"A chef is great; we'll have something to eat on the road. I didn't expect we'd receive such treatment; delightful."

"A promise made is a promise kept; thank you, Instructor Kuang Sha, for arranging the chef."

Facing Li Zheng and the others, who were readily agreeing and riding the momentum, a vein throbbed on Kuang Sha's forehead.

When it came to shamelessness, this group remained exactly the Player Clan he remembered; not even dying once had changed them in the slightest.

"Shut up, eat, and then go to sleep immediately after finishing."

This meal lasted several hours, during which Li Zheng and the others also discussed the circumstances of this current training camp phase.

It was late into the night before they returned to their barracks to sleep; throughout the entire time, they had not seen a single trainee from this phase.

Early the next morning.

Li Zheng and the other players of the Liver Emperor Group shouldered the travel bags Kuang Sha had prepared, walked out of the camp, and headed toward the location of the second-phase training camp against the wind and snow.

Stepping onto the snow mountain and looking back, they saw Kuang Sha standing at the camp entrance as always, watching them depart.

Li Zheng and the others waved goodbye to the camp, then plunged into the wind and snow.

The first leg of the journey took less than three days; the players of the Liver Emperor Group pressed forward against the bone-chilling wind without any rest, finally emerging from the continuous snow mountains.

The second leg of the journey was the most dangerous region: the White Plains.

It was during this stretch of the journey last time that they encountered an attack by soul beasts, ultimately resulting in all of their souls returning to Di Zhao.

But this time, Li Zheng and the others were confident.

After returning to the novice village, their strength had increased several-fold, with the average level of their strongest single soul reaching level 43.

Even if they encountered the same soul beasts as last time, they would have the power to fight.

However, if they could avoid encountering them, that would naturally be best.

Before entering the White Plains, Li Zheng and the others chose to rest by a stream, built a bonfire, and ate to recover their stamina.

Seemingly thinking of something, Family Shared Godfather turned his head to look at Li Zheng:

"Brother Li, what should we do if we suffer casualties during the journey through the White Plains later?"

Before Li Zheng could speak, Sha Xin interjected:

"Idiot, obviously we all die together; how could we possibly abandon our brothers and proceed to the training camp alone? Therefore, what we must do is ensure absolutely no one dies. We must be extremely cautious throughout this next stretch of the journey; if we encounter danger, we should avoid it whenever possible."

Poor Enough to Eat Dirt: Protect me primarily; I'm a squishy mage.

Li Zheng: Chi Tu, didn't you tell Instructor Kuang Sha that you would charge to the very front when encountering danger? When we meet danger, I'll give you a helping hand by throwing you to the very front. Let me see your courage; remember to shout loudly the line about brothers going first.

Hearing this, everyone could not help but burst into loud laughter.

After resting in two shifts, the members of the Liver Emperor Group set out once more.

But the more one fears something, the more likely it is to happen.

Although they chose to bypass the location where they had previously encountered soul beasts, they were still attacked by soul beasts.

Fortunately, this time they were not besieged by a swarm of soul beasts.

With explosive damage output boosted by their Speed Soul, they easily killed the soul beasts blocking their path.

Taking four days and encountering three consecutive battles, Li Zheng and his brothers finally emerged from the plains region.

Although the third leg of the journey was not as dangerous as the White Plains, the road was rugged, featuring towering mountains and dense forests filled with ancient plants.

Before entering the third scenario, Li Zheng climbed a towering ancient tree, sat on its trunk, and gazed toward the horizon's end.

Sweeping his gaze across, he saw distant mountains layered upon layer, with a thousand ridges rolling continuously like a sleeping giant dragon lying across the earth, with no sight of where the journey's end might be.

He could also see thin miasma surging between the mountain ranges.

This was where the importance of flying mounts became apparent, but only three members of the team possessed flying mounts, and their endurance lasted only half an hour.

Ultimately, they decided to traverse the towering mountains on foot.

Before this stretch of the journey was even completed, Li Zheng and the others had exhausted their reserve rations.

Fortunately, with the aid of their Analysis ability and the Guidance system, they could clearly identify which plants were edible and which were poisonous and unfit for consumption.

If there truly was no food to be found, they could still purchase spiritual food listed by other players from the Trading Hall to replenish their stamina.

This leg of the journey made Li Zheng and the others feel like savages; they had to remain vigilant against various potential minor dangers while moving forward.

For instance, there was a type of spotted mosquito; when gathered in swarms, they resembled a moving cloud of colorful miasma, buzzing and circling with an annoying sound that never ceased, and they were extremely aggressive.

They witnessed with their own eyes a monster the size of a calf being besieged by a swarm of these spotted mosquitoes; in the blink of an eye, nothing remained but a skin sack, its flesh and blood completely devoured, leaving not even bones behind.

According to the analysis information, when these mosquitoes bite, they inject venom into the target's body that dissolves flesh and blood, accompanied by an anesthetic effect, causing targets bitten by the swarm to be unable to move, forced to watch helplessly as they were consumed.

When sleeping in the dense forest, what Li Zheng and the others feared most was encountering these spotted mosquitoes; they simply could not sleep peacefully.

There were many other hidden dangers lurking in the shadows, such as a type of colorful poisonous spider adept at weaving invisible webs between branches. One slight carelessness could cause someone to crash straight into the trap, after which they would see a poisonous spider the size of a water buffalo, covered in fur, open its mouth filled with green-glowing sharp teeth and attack directly from the tree above.

Killing them was not difficult, but the process was truly terrifying.

The hot and humid environment was rampant with various poisonous insects and fierce beasts; dealing with them did not carry the same pressure as facing soul beasts, but it truly drained one's energy.

On the fourth day, Li Zheng and the other members of the Liver Emperor Group finally emerged from the towering mountains.

Gazing into the distance, an ancient-looking magnificent castle stretched across the horizon, with numerous flying monsters used for surveillance and observation circling and dancing in the sky above.

"We've finally arrived!"

"Hahaha, we've successfully cleared the stage; I'm going to enter the training camp and gorge myself on spiritual food."

"Finally, no more living in fear; keeping my nerves taut the entire time was too unbearable."

Seeing the castle in the distance, the members of the Liver Emperor Group cheered with joy.

The final stretch of the journey held no more danger; they left the mountains and forests and headed straight for Kuangfeng Castle.

Several hours later, they arrived before the gates of Kuangfeng Castle.

Before they could enter the city, they saw a figure descend from the sky, landing to block their path.

The figure blocking their way was not humanoid; its body appeared to be constructed from spliced crystal stones, emitting a faint blue energetic glow, and it held a slender crystal spear in its hand:

"Origin."

Faced with the guard's inquiry, Li Zheng immediately spoke:

"We are graduated trainees from the first phase of the Snow Valley Training Camp; our arrival was delayed due to special circumstances."

Upon hearing this, a series of flowing lights flashed across the guard's crystal-constructed Iron Face, after which it nodded and said:

"Your situation has been recorded. Before entering the second-phase training camp, we must first conduct a detailed examination of your physical condition; follow me."

Speaking thus, the guard turned and walked into the city, with Li Zheng and the others immediately following.

They could fully understand the need for a physical examination.

During this journey, they would encounter soul beasts released by the Soul Return Clan, and the characteristic of soul beasts is that they can perfectly inherit all abilities of the consumed, including memories.

If used as spies, they could easily infiltrate the Ni Chao Legion.

Therefore, the examination was also to confirm whether they were trainees or soul beasts that had possessed their bodies.

Following the guard into the city, a thick atmosphere of history washed over them; the buildings here were all constructed from stone, with many even showing signs of weathering, appearing ancient.

The ground was paved with thick bluestone slabs; following the guard, they entered a towering building of peculiar shape.

The hall floor was covered in spiritual runes.

The guards along the way had already explained the procedure for the physical examination; next, they only needed to follow the guard's instructions.

Once the testing concluded, Li Zheng and the others were led by the guard to an empty house where they were arranged to stay; next, the guard would contact the instructors of the second-phase training camp to coordinate with them.

One hour later, while waiting inside the room, Li Zheng and the others met the Chief Combat Instructor of the second-phase training camp.

As soon as he entered the door, the Chief Instructor slapped the doorframe with his palm, startling Li Zheng and the others.

Turning to look, they saw a man standing at the doorway nearly two meters tall, bare-chested, with a physique as solid as an iron tower; his shoulders were broad, and his bulging pectoral muscles resembled two hard boulders, rising and falling gently with every deep breath.

Surging vital energy flowed within his body, emitting a sound like rushing tides, "hua-hua."

Li Zheng and the other players of the Liver Emperor Group could even clearly perceive the fluctuations of vital energy radiating from within his body.

"Let me introduce myself; I am Yan Sha, the Chief Combat Instructor of Kuangfeng Castle for the second-phase training camp," Yan Sha said, introducing himself in a cold tone as his gaze swept over Li Zheng and the others.

Hearing these words, Li Zheng and the others rose to their feet in unison, standing straight and saluting with the Anti-Black Tide military salute.

Their gazes focused, their analysis abilities activated, and information regarding Yan Sha floated into the minds of Li Zheng and the others.

[Yan Sha]:

Hunting Rank: 105

Target Analysis: An outstanding warrior of the Golden Steel Clan, a "Thorn"-rank warrior of the Anti-Black Tide Legion, currently serving at the Kuangfenggong Society Training Camp of the Anti-Black Tide Legion as the Grand General of Combat, responsible for cultivating new-generation reserve cadets of all races.

From the analytical introduction, it could be seen that Yan Sha, like Kuang Sha, was a Thorn-rank warrior of the Anti-Black Tide Legion.

After a brief exchange and completion of identity registration.

Yan Sha swept his gaze over Li Zheng and the others, then spoke in a deep voice:

"Starting tomorrow, you will officially join the Phase Two Training Camp, but let me be clear: you must make up for every training session you missed, so prepare yourselves for arduous training."

"Instructor, are we free to tour the training camp now?" Li Zheng asked at that moment.

"You have freedom of movement during all hours outside of training time; you may go to any area outside the canteen."

With that, Yan Sha turned and departed without waiting for Li Zheng's reply.

Night fell.

Having finished a day of high-intensity training, Gui Tong was eating heartily in the canteen.

Seated around the same table with him were all brothers from the Snow Valley Training Camp.

In the middle of the meal, Gui Tong subconsciously glanced at a burly, towering figure in the distance; the other party seemed to notice, lifting his head and baring his teeth in a ferocious grin.

The other party was a cadet from the Dragon Valley Phase One Training Camp, also recognized as the strongest cadet in their current Phase Two Training Camp, "Kuangfenggong Society," having dominated Gui Tong throughout the Phase Two training with strength that stood in a league of its own for this cohort.

"If only those beasts were here," a Bronze Clan cadet sighed softly at that moment, "we could continue the starvation endurance training with them; even if we couldn't beat them, we could at least vent some of our spite."

Hearing these words, the eyes of all the cadets from the Snow Valley Training Camp dimmed.

If the Player Clan cadets had not stepped forward back then, choosing to sacrifice themselves to hold the rear, they would never have made it here.

"After eating, let's go to the cemetery," Gui Tong said before devouring another large mouthful.

Upon hearing this, the other cadets also accelerated their pace of eating.

When dinner time ended, the cadets from the Snow Valley Training Camp followed Gui Tong toward the cemetery district in the east of the training camp.

Upon entering the district, countless tombstones stood within.

Every tombstone was a cenotaph; no bodies were buried beneath them. Most were cadets who had died in battle on the way to the Phase Two Training Camp, but not every cadet who died in battle qualified to enter here.

Every cadet commemorated in the cemetery had sacrificed themselves for the sake of other cadets.

To honor these brave and fearless young reserve warriors, the Phase Two Training Camp had established a cemetery here.

Through long years of development, the scale of the cemetery had continuously expanded.

Borrowing the light scattered by the myriad stars, they walked along a moss-covered path to a row of tombstones at the very end.

A name was carved upon every tombstone.

Ban Ban Zhuan, Eat Earth, Family Share, Kill Heart....

Gui Tong stepped forward, squatted before Li Zheng's tombstone, and placed an energy paste he had brought with him upon it:

"Ban Ban Zhuan, you know the rules of the training camp; spiritual food cannot be taken out of the canteen. Divide this energy paste among yourselves as you see fit..."

As he spoke, Gui Tong's memories returned to that day.

The scene of the Player Clan cadets sacrificing themselves to hold the rear, fighting desperately to help them escape the encirclement of soul beasts.

At the end of that vision, Li Zheng lay in his arms, vomiting blood incessantly, his spirit withered.

As the Li Zheng in his memories dissipated into black mist, Gui Tong's heart gave a sudden spasm, and he could not help but take a deep breath:

"Rest assured, once we have completed our training, we will definitely go to the White Plains to avenge you. I swear by the Anti-Black Tide God, and I swear by the honor of my Four-Pupil Clan."

With that, Gui Tong reached out and wiped the tombstone, then stood up.

Once Gui Tong stepped aside, the other cadets approached one by one, reaching out to wipe every tombstone of the Player Clan cadets.

In this way, they expressed their remembrance for the departed.

Finally, they stood in a row before the tombstones and observed a moment of silence.

Recalling scene after scene from the Snow Valley Training Camp, their eyes inevitably turned red.

Just then, a cheeky voice came from behind:

"The emotion is just right; shouldn't you kowtow once before leaving?"

"Exactly, they paid the price of their lives for you; kowtowing once isn't excessive, is it?"

The familiar voices came from behind.

Gui Tong and the other cadets from the Snow Valley Training Camp all turned to look.

What they saw were familiar faces standing not far away, looking at them with mocking expressions at this moment.

At this moment, Gui Tong and the other cadets even felt as though they were dreaming and had not yet awakened.

(End of Chapter)