Volume 1, Chapter 21: Open Conflict (Part 1)

Xingtian Chao was a loudmouthed soldier. Xiahou eventually summed him up with this evaluation.

Xingtian Chao floated in the air for a full hour, droning on so the new recruits could recognize his face. When he finally landed, his face was slightly pale. After all, as a sorcerer-warrior skilled in close combat, he wasn't adept at controlling the five elements or using various spells. Keeping a mid-tier sorcerer-warrior like him floating in the air for an hour was mentally exhausting.

After the address, the two lieutenants warmly led Xiahou to Camp One. This camp was noticeably more comfortable than the others, with barracks built from high-quality logs, their surfaces polished smooth and clean, exuding a faint, pleasant fragrance. Compared to the rough materials of the other camps, this was a significant upgrade.

At Barracks Three in Camp One, the lieutenants found Xiahou an empty spot near the door, laying a blue cloth mat on a stone slab bed measuring twelve zhang long and five zhang wide. They instructed Xiahou to get acquainted with his fellow soldiers and left hurriedly, as junior officers were the busiest people in the new military camp.

Sitting on his bed, Xiahou looked around and felt satisfied with the barracks. The ceiling was five zhang high, ensuring good ventilation and no unpleasant odors in the summer heat. The barracks, fifty zhang long and ten zhang wide, had a yellow sand floor and rows of neatly arranged stone slabs, each with a mat. Xiahou's mat was the only one made of coarse blue cloth; the others were fine brocade, silk, or at least fine linen.

"Damn, it's true that Camp One is full of noble families. They even bring their own bedding?" Xiahou noted the small cliques within the barracks, with new recruits gathered around several leaders, keeping a respectful distance from each other.

The new recruits in the barracks eyed the tall, burly Xiahou curiously. Among them, the leaders' eyes gleamed as if they wanted to dissect him. Being stared at by over four hundred men made Xiahou feel prickly all over.

After a while, a young man in black coarse cloth, wearing a red headband, swaggered over and stomped the ground near Xiahou's bed, leaving a deep footprint. He shouted, "Brother, which family are you from? How come you joined the Xiong Camp so late? Are you not from the noble families of Central State? If so, why come to Anyi to enlist? The other eight states have elite armies recruiting as well."

Sitting cross-legged, Xiahou was almost as tall as the young man's neck. He casually clasped his hands and smiled, "I'm Chihu Baolong from the Great Southern Wilderness. I came to Anyi at a friend's invitation. As for enlisting, I don't really know why." He had no intention of explaining how he had been sent to the army.

The young man's expression changed suddenly, and he kicked at Xiahou's chest, shouting, "You're that barbarian? The one who knocked out my cousin? Die!"

The young man's wind-based sorcery made his kick incredibly fast. Xiahou couldn't react in time, but his inner energy responded quickly, inflating his body like a balloon. The young man's foot struck Xiahou's chest and was immediately rebounded by a tremendous force, as if hitting a mountain. With a series of cracks from his knee, the young man screamed and flew backward.

A dark-skinned, stout youth from the most crowded group in the barracks suddenly charged out, aiming a vicious punch at the airborne young man. If it connected, it would likely break his spine.

Chaos erupted in the barracks. Some of the Shengong family members drew their short swords, aiming at the dark-skinned youth to protect their comrade. Someone shouted, "Xingtian family, are you bullying us? This barbarian was sent by your family. Don't think we didn't hear about it!"

The dark-skinned youth dodged back into his group, while his comrades, members of the Xingtian family, drew their weapons and clashed with the Shengong family members.

Xiahou watched in shock. In less than a tea's time, a full-blown fight had erupted. These recruits fought viciously, aiming to kill. Within moments, a dozen men were bleeding on the ground. Fortunately, they hadn't used their full strength, or the injured would be dead.

"What a bunch of misfits! This army!" Xiahou muttered, breaking out in a cold sweat. On the battlefield, with comrades like these, he would have to watch for backstabbers.

The Shengong family leader shouted, "Xiangliu Ri, what are you doing? Beat them up!"

The Xingtian family leader retorted, "Xiangliu Ri, try it! Fangfeng Kuilang, take them down for me. Kill them if you have to!"

Xingtian, Xiangliu, Fangfeng, Shengong—the four great sorcery families of Anyi. Apparently, members of all four were in Barracks Three.

Xiahou watched the melee with interest, reminiscing about his bloody special forces days. Suddenly, the Xingtian leader shouted, "Chihu Baolong, what are you waiting for? Help us take down these scum! Feel free to kill a few. None of these Shengong and Xiangliu guys are worth anything. They're just side branches!"

The Shengong and Xiangliu members cursed vehemently, directing their insults at Xingtian Bei. Xiahou was astonished by their vile language. Xingtian Bei, furious, ignited a red aura and severely injured an opponent with a single palm strike. He shouted, "Chihu Baolong, help us! If you don't support the Xingtian family, what kind of guest are you?"

"Guest, not a thug," Xiahou muttered, reluctantly touching the tortoise shell inscribed with advanced sorcery spells in his belt. With a loud roar, he leaped three zhang into the air, crashing down like a boulder towards several Shengong members.

"The Xingtian family holds high military ranks. It should be fine if I injure a few," Xiahou thought. Mid-air, he formed a hand seal, and with a shout, raised dozens of fist-sized earth pillars from the ground. The pillars struck several Shengong and Xiangliu members in the groin, causing them to collapse, clutching their injuries and writhing in pain.

The Xingtian members cheered and attacked the remaining enemies, quickly overwhelming them. The fallen Shengong and Xiangliu members could only curl up and protect their vitals as blows rained down on them.

Xingtian Bei, a tall, fair-skinned youth, approached Xiahou with a smile. "Chihu Baolong, you're truly skilled. No wonder Uncle Dafeng spoke highly of you." He didn't say what Xingtian Dafeng had mentioned, just added, "Break their legs and throw them out. These useless guys are a waste of resources. Why keep them in the King's army?"

The Shengong and Xiangliu members fumed, but Xingtian Bei's men attacked ruthlessly, showing no mercy.

A cold, needle-like sneer suddenly pierced the air, stabbing into the ears of Xiahou and Xingtian Bei. Xingtian Bei staggered back a few steps, his face changing drastically. Xiahou, however, had trained in the Dao from a young age, his mind steady and unperturbed by the psychic attack. He turned and glared at the young man entering the barracks.

The newcomer had eyebrows like flames, slanting towards his temples, a lion's nose, a catfish mouth, and a yellowish complexion. Tall and imposing, he was nearly Xiahou's size, exuding an aura of power with swirling clouds of energy around him, clearly indicating his mastery of sorcery. Xiahou instinctively felt this man was not to be trifled with, a gut feeling reinforced by a vague memory that he might have encountered this distinctive face somewhere long ago.

The man sneered repeatedly, not even glancing at Xiahou and Xingtian Bei, and walked steadily towards the chaotic brawl, shouting coldly, "Stop it, or do you really want me to get involved?"

The disciples of the Xingtian and Fangfeng families slowly retreated, forming a defensive circle on one side of the barracks, watching the menacing young man warily.

Xingtian Bei coughed, "Shengong Bao, don't think you can flaunt your power here just because you're the great-grandson of the Shengong family head."

Shengong Bao? The name sounded familiar, but Xiahou quickly dismissed the thought as Shengong Bao suddenly exhaled forcefully, throwing a punch at Xingtian Bei. Despite his tall, thin frame, his fist generated a bowl-sized ball of lightning that crackled towards Xingtian Bei. Xingtian Bei sneered and crossed his palms, sending them crashing into the lightning.

A shout echoed from the barracks' entrance, "Move aside!"

Xingtian Bei hesitated briefly but, seeing the disdainful smile on Shengong Bao's face, charged forward, channeling his energy. Flames rose a foot high from his palms as he struck the lightning.

With a loud crack, Xingtian Bei was engulfed in electric arcs, his clothes disintegrating to ash as his body turned black and charred, resembling a burnt tree stump. He was flung through the air, crashing heavily at the barracks' entrance. Shengong Bao sneered, "Overestimating yourself!" Xingtian Bei's agonized cries echoed as he lost consciousness mid-air.

Xiahou quickly reached Xingtian Bei, grabbing his shoulders and channeling his earth elemental energy into him. Earth energy, the foundation of all life, nourished and rejuvenated the body. Yellow light flickered over Xingtian Bei's charred skin, causing the blackened flesh to crack and peel away, revealing fresh, healthy skin underneath. His nearly scorched meridians began to heal.

Shengong Bao's eyebrows shot up like flames as he exclaimed, "Impressive! You're a sorcerer-warrior who can project sorcery and use earth spells. You must have trained in both sorcery and the Dao. Well done!"

Cold laughter echoed as Xingtian Chao stormed in, clad in full armor and armed with a sword, followed by several officers. He glanced at Xiahou, who was healing Xingtian Bei, and a grateful light flashed in his eyes. He nodded sharply at Xiahou before advancing on Shengong Bao, roaring, "Shengong Bao, how dare you strike so viciously? You're a mid-tier sorcerer attacking a seventh-tier sorcerer-warrior. Aren't you ashamed?"

Shengong Bao sneered, "Why? Can only he hit my clan members?"

Xingtian Chao looked at the slowly rising Shengong and Xiangliu disciples and shouted, "They suffered minor injuries. Do you know how severe your attack was?"

Shengong Bao glanced at his clan members, then pointed at Xingtian Bei, "Is he seriously hurt now?"

Xingtian Chao hesitated, looking at Xingtian Bei's rejuvenated skin, speechless.

Xiahou suddenly let go of Xingtian Bei, letting him drop to the ground, then deliberately struck him hard in the chest. He shrugged, glanced at Shengong Bao, and said, "Brother Xingtian is gravely injured. He won't recover for months."

Xingtian Bei cooperatively spat blood, moaned, rolled his eyes, and fainted.

Xingtian Chao laughed triumphantly, pointing at Shengong Bao, "You're in trouble, Shengong Bao. Don't think being the fifth-generation grandson of the Shengong head gives you free rein in the Xiong Camp. You've been here over a month, right? You should know the military rules by now. Attacking a fellow soldier, especially injuring a high-level sorcerer-warrior, is a serious offense in wartime. I'm marking this as a major fault. Do you accept it?"

Shengong Bao glared at the unconscious Xingtian Bei, his face pale with anger. Pointing at Xiahou, he roared, "Fine, Chihu Baolong, right? I, Shengong Bao, won't forget you! Just wait. I'll get you one day!" He stomped the ground, shattering all the stone slabs in the barracks. "Xingtian Chao, I demand separate quarters for Shengong and Xiangliu disciples."

Xingtian Chao lazily patted his sword hilt, "Sure, whatever. But there are no spare barracks in Camp One. If your disciples want separate quarters, they'll have to chop wood and build their own. Oh, and compensate for all the shattered stone slabs. These green stones were quarried from Qinyan Mountain, five hundred li away. The commoners and slaves worked hard to mine them, didn't they?"

Shengong Bao's face twitched, and he nodded heavily, "Fine. Brothers, pack up. We're leaving!"