30: Entering the fortress

“I'll take you to register first, then we’ll eat. Once your assignment comes down, you’ll know where to be stationed.”

Xie Nan Qiao skillfully drove through the City Lord’s Mansion.

Xun Xiuyuan sat in the passenger seat, looking at Nan Qiao’s profile. She truly was very beautiful, and for a moment, he felt a slight flutter in his heart.

The staff member registered Xun Xiuyuan’s documents and, after a moment, said in confusion, “Xun Xiuyuan, Fortress 100, Commander of the Sixth Regiment, depart immediately.”

Xie Nan Qiao exclaimed, “That fast? Doesn’t it usually take a few days? And directly to the front line? Don’t people usually train in the city for a while?”

The staff member recognized Xie Nan Qiao. It could be said that Nan Qiao was a superstar in Qianlong City; very few people didn’t know her. She was a prominent figure whose birthday was televised every year.

“Miss Nan Qiao, it has indeed been confirmed.”

The staff member politely explained to Nan Qiao.

Xun Xiuyuan didn't care and asked, “Fortress? What does that mean?”

“A Fortress is the absolute front line, where you directly face beast invasions, and very frequently. It’s the place with the highest casualty rate,” Xie Nan Qiao explained.

“Really?”

Xun Xiuyuan’s face lit up with pleasant surprise.

“Then I should depart quickly.”

Seeing the excited Xun Xiuyuan, Xie Nan Qiao was a little speechless, yet this version of Xun Xiuyuan was so captivating.

The staff member took out a device resembling an electronic watch and handed it to Xun Xiuyuan.

“This is a combat wristband. It supports virtual projection, records military achievements, provides positioning, serves as identification, and has multiple other functions. I have already entered your appointment and identity information; you just need to activate it. Remember, this is your ID. If it’s lost, you must report it as soon as possible, because through this combat wristband, you can issue combat orders to your regiment members.”

The staff member said seriously.

Xun Xiuyuan took the wristband. After activating it, it displayed:

Xun Xiuyuan: Fortress 100, 6th Regiment, Commander.

Military Rank: Major.

Military Achievements: 0.

Xun Xiuyuan then left the service hall.

Xie Nan Qiao looked at Xun Xiuyuan and said reluctantly, “There are no trains north of Qianlong City because the terrain is bad, and with frequent beast invasions, the cost of building a railway is too high. You can only go by car.”

Xun Xiuyuan nodded, “Then I’ll figure something out myself.”

Xie Nan Qiao: “Can you drive?”

She pointed to the small car beside her.

Xun Xiuyuan shook his head, “This thing isn’t as fast as I am. I’m an Innate Realm cultivator; I can fly.”

Xie Nan Qiao smiled, “Yes, you are an Innate Realm cultivator. I’ll soon advance to Martial King. I’ll also get some ningshen crystals from this Ningshen Mystic Realm, and I’m not short on soul stones, so I expect to reach Innate Realm very soon. I’ll come find you then.”

Xun Xiuyuan smiled, “Then I’ll wait for you at Fortress 100.”

Xie Nan Qiao: “Then it’s a deal.”

She then drove Xun Xiuyuan to the closest city exit leading to Fortress 100.

After Xun Xiuyuan left Qianlong City, he looked back at the giant steel city, realizing he wasn't even a passerby.

He stopped thinking about it, opened his combat wristband, and a virtual map was projected above it.

He examined it carefully; his current location was nearly three hundred kilometers from Fortress 100.

It wasn’t far. If he flew at full speed, he estimated he could arrive in less than an hour. No rush, he’d travel slowly and study the wristband along the way.

Fortress 100.

Camp Six.

“Boss Lin, it’s updated! What the hell? How did a commander get parachuted in?”

Lin Tiankui was using his spiritual power to cleanse a soul stone, which would slowly increase his spiritual power.

Hearing the communicator next to him, he opened his eyes and glanced at his combat wristband.

“Xun Xiuyuan, I’ve never heard of such a person. Where did he come from?”

Lin Tiankui stood up. His body was like an iron tower, covered in scars, clearly indicating he was a fierce general from the battlefield, around forty years old, with a full beard.

“Boss Lin, what should we do?”

Lin Tiankui was a bit confused: “What do you mean, ‘what should we do’? He’s the commander sent by the higher-ups. As long as he doesn’t mess things up, we listen to him. In this godforsaken place, it’s enough for everyone to just survive. Don’t get involved in all that messy stuff.”

With that, Lin Tiankui sat back down to cultivate, saying nothing more.

Xun Xiuyuan finally arrived at Fortress 100, a steel fortress situated at a canyon entrance, with deep canyons both in front and behind it.

The sentry saw someone flying in and immediately sent an inquiry message.

Xun Xiuyuan felt a vibration from his combat wristband. After clicking to view it, he realized it was an inquiry from the Fortress.

He immediately replied, reporting his identification number.

Soon, the south gate of the Fortress opened.

Xun Xiuyuan landed and walked into the Fortress.

“Commander Xun, I’ll take you to the Fortress Commander. My name is Lu Wenxiu, and I’m the Fortress Commander’s communications officer,” Lu Wenxiu said very politely.

Hearing the name, Xun Xiuyuan thought it sounded very similar to the Lu Family Five Brothers.

Right, he hadn’t greeted the Lu Family Five Brothers when he entered Qianlong City. Thinking further, he didn’t even have their contact information.

“Alright, thank you for leading the way,” Xun Xiuyuan said politely.

Lu Wenxiu smiled and led Xun Xiuyuan away.

After Xun Xiuyuan met with Commander Lu Wenxiu, the reporting and handover process was completed smoothly.

Lu Wenxiu looked at Xun Xiuyuan. Such a young Innate Realm cultivator, sent to such a dangerous Fortress. What were the higher-ups thinking?

After exchanging contact information, Lu Wenxiu took Xun Xiuyuan to Camp Six.

“Deputy Commander Lin, this is the newly appointed Commander Xun Xiuyuan,” Lu Wenxiu said to Lin Tiankui.

Lin Tiankui saluted Xun Xiuyuan: “Commander, I am Deputy Commander Lin Tiankui.”

Xun Xiuyuan returned a very standard salute: “Hello! I am Xun Xiuyuan. I look forward to working with you!”

Lu Wenxiu left after his task was completed.

Lin Tiankui took Xun Xiuyuan to the Commander’s quarters. As he was about to leave, Xun Xiuyuan called out to him.

“Deputy Commander Lin, please sit. I’m new here and know nothing about the situation in the Abyss. Could you give me a general overview?”

Lin Tiankui was surprised: “You know nothing about the Abyss? Did you just come down from the surface?”

“Yes, after I advanced to Innate Realm on the surface, I only arrived in the Abyss today. When I went to register, I was directly assigned here.”

“Did you offend someone? People who advance to Innate Realm on the surface usually train in the city for a long time before joining the battlefield. Because advancing to Innate Realm on the surface is much harder than in the Abyss, they are usually given important positions after coming down.”

Xun Xiuyuan thought for a moment: “I offended a member of the Wang family when I was on the surface. Does that have anything to do with this?”

“The Wang family? Impossible. The Xie Family and the Wang family are not on the same wavelength. It shouldn’t be because of that.”

“Then there’s nothing else. It’s probably a coincidence. Perhaps they were short a commander here, so they just assigned me directly.”

Lin Tiankui was also puzzled; he was a fierce warrior who only knew how to fight and couldn't comprehend the intricacies of such matters.

He then began to explain the general situation of the Abyss, specifically the area around Fortress 100, as he didn't know about areas further away.