9: Monster Attack

After years of tragic life, Ji Wushuang was cautious with everyone.

She was afraid of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing, which might affect Xun Xiuyuan.

Seeing the enthusiastic Bai Xiaoou, Ji Wushuang's first reaction was not to answer, but to turn and look at Xun Xiuyuan.

Xun Xiuyuan looked at his mother's gaze and nodded slightly.

Only then did Ji Wushuang start chatting with Bai Xiaoou, not daring to say much, mostly just listening.

Xun Xiuyuan looked at the enthusiastic Bai Xiaoou: "Third rank?"

As soon as Bai Xiaoou heard this, she immediately became excited: "Isn't it amazing? I successfully broke through with just one bottle of breakthrough gene fluid. My dad even says I'm a genius."

Xun Xiuyuan glanced at Bai Xiaoou and asked indifferently: "If you're a genius, then what am I?"

Bai Xiaoou was instantly choked, and gave Xun Xiuyuan a fierce glare: What are you? You're a pervert.

Afterward, Bai Xiaoou helped Ji Wushuang tidy up the villa and made the beds in each room.

The butler arranged by Chief Administrator Ling Xiaotian also arrived; it was an old man named Old Liu.

He was also an old veteran of the Legion before, but later got injured, couldn't continue cultivating, and didn't want to leave Yuncheng Pass, so he simply became the butler for the previous Legion Commander.

After the former Legion Commander died in battle, Old Liu became idle until today.

After Old Liu arrived, he immediately arranged for staff to tidy up the courtyard and set up new furniture.

At this moment, Xun Xiuyuan's communicator rang; it was a call from Left Guard Bai Lingxiao, saying he wanted to host a welcoming dinner for Xun Xiuyuan at a restaurant next to the Left Guard barracks.

Xun Xiuyuan couldn't refuse. When he asked his mother and grandfather, both of them didn't want to go.

Finally, Xun Xiuyuan went alone to the restaurant for his welcoming dinner. Strangely, Bai Xiaoou didn't leave either and continued to stay at the villa to help.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, he entered the reserved private room.

Four people were already seated in the room: Legion Commander Commander Xiahou Zhen, Political Director Chief Administrator Ling Xiaotian, Left Guard Commander Left Guard Bai Lingxiao, and Right Guard Commander Right Guard Hei Su.

When Left Guard Bai Lingxiao saw Xun Xiuyuan arrive, he immediately stood up to introduce him.

Among the four, Xun Xiuyuan only knew Left Guard Bai Lingxiao and Chief Administrator Ling Xiaotian.

After the introductions were complete, Commander Xiahou Zhen laughed: "Let's eat first. The Pass Lord has something to do and will be here shortly."

"The Pass Lord is coming too?" Xun Xiuyuan was a little surprised; this welcoming reception seemed a bit too high-level.

"Yes, he said he'd arrive soon."

Xun Xiuyuan and Left Guard Bai Lingxiao's temperaments were very compatible, and soon they were drinking and calling each other brothers.

At this moment, the door opened, and Bi Qing walked in.

The group exchanged another round of pleasantries, then all sat down and continued to eat and drink.

In this world overrun by exotic beasts, having such an opportunity, everyone was quite unrestrained.

If exotic beasts attacked the City Pass, sometimes for days and nights, there would be no chance to eat a hot meal.

At the end, Bi Qing dismissed the others and walked onto the City Wall with Xun Xiuyuan alone, looking out beyond the Pass.

"There's a Mystic Realm that restricts entry to those under twenty years of age. Exotic beasts are everywhere inside, but fortunately, no exotic beasts above level five have been encountered so far. I need you to participate; the danger for you isn't great."

Bi Qing got straight to the point. After the meal they just shared, they had become quite familiar with each other.

"All below level five?"

"These are just data, not guaranteed. You might encounter a level six, and participants might die. Who can say for sure?"

Bi Qing didn't hide anything, nor was there any need to hide.

"Why go in? Are there treasures?"

"ningshen crystals. ningshen crystals have only been found in that Mystic Realm. The exotic beasts inside produce small, glass-like beads in their brains; exotic beasts outside don't."

"The condition you discussed with the Pass Lord of Pingcheng Pass was these ningshen crystals?"

Bi Qing nodded, then continued to explain.

"After the Seventh Rank Martial King realm, further advancement requires mental power. ningshen crystals are the best things discovered so far for increasing mental power. This is also why innate talents are so rare."

"Oh, alright!" Xun Xiuyuan didn't ask any more questions but agreed.

Bi Qing was very happy to see Xun Xiuyuan agree so readily. He wasn't happy about Xun Xiuyuan's agreement, but rather that Xun Xiuyuan didn't ask for any conditions when he agreed.

The two were silent for a moment.

Bi Qing looked at the dark mountain range in the distance and asked softly: "How much do you know about the Alien Beast Continent?"

Xun Xiuyuan said: "I couldn't cultivate before, just a good-for-nothing. To be honest, I don't know anything at all."

Bi Qing smiled: "Who would dare to call you a good-for-nothing now?"

Then he began to talk about the general situation of the Alien Beast Continent.

Over ninety percent of the Alien Beast Continent's land is occupied by exotic beasts, and the remaining ten percent is frequently invaded by them.

Therefore, humanity established the Thirteen City Gates, built at thirteen crucial nodes.

The Thirteen City Gates formed a huge circle, and within that circle was where ninety-nine percent of humanity resided.

At the center of the circle was the Abyss, which was the gathering place for high-level exotic beasts, and human experts were stationed there.

After listening to Bi Qing's narration, Xun Xiuyuan gained at least a basic understanding of the continent's situation.

"I'm telling you this because I want you to understand the importance of ningshen crystals. Because our human situation is not optimistic, and ningshen crystals are a necessity for high-level martial artists to cultivate."

"Understood, I get it."

"Every year, the Thirteen City Gates and the Abyss jointly dispatch nearly a hundred people into the Ningshen Mystic Realm, but less than half of them return. Half of the ningshen crystals obtained must be handed over to the Abyss guardians, and the remaining half is what each City Pass can allocate."

"Hand over half to the Abyss guardians?"

"Child, it's necessary. If the Abyss falls, humanity will have no place to stand. The battle situation there is much more intense than at the various City Passes."

After chatting for a while, the two parted ways.

The grandfather, mother, and son spent several days busy in the yard, tilling the land and planting vegetables.

The yard was meticulously organized, giving a warm feeling. Bai Xiaoou would come to help whenever she had nothing to do.

Except for sleeping, she was almost always at Xun Xiuyuan's house.

That afternoon, an alarm sounded across the sky.

Everyone living in the City Pass was familiar with this alarm; exotic beasts were attacking the City Pass.

Xun Xiuyuan didn't hesitate and immediately rushed to the City Wall.

Standing next to him was Right Guard Hei Su, a stern man.

Outside the City Wall was a dense mass of exotic beasts, fearlessly charging towards the City Pass.

Below the City Wall, soldiers had already set up battle formations, waiting for the exotic beasts. This was also why combat units were established at the passes.

"Aren't we going down to meet them?" Xun Xiuyuan asked, looking at Right Guard Hei Su's unmoving demeanor, feeling puzzled.

Right Guard Hei Su smiled: "These are all low-level exotic beasts right now; the soldiers will go to meet them. We'll make our move when higher-level exotic beasts appear, to conserve our energy."

But Xun Xiuyuan looked at the swarms of exotic beasts below, his mouth almost watering. Low-level ones were good! They also gave exotic beast value, and chances for draws.

Draw chances were triggered randomly; the more monsters killed, the more opportunities.

"Then I can go down and help now, right?"

Right Guard Hei Su looked at Xun Xiuyuan in surprise: "Of course you can."

Upon hearing this, Xun Xiuyuan no longer hesitated, leaping directly from the dozens-of-meters-high City Wall and crashing into the exotic beast horde. His Dingguang Blade appeared in his hand as he landed.

Golden light flashed, and a section of exotic beasts was cleared. The Blood Battle Blade Technique was most suitable for this kind of scene.

Xun Xiuyuan was seen charging left and right through the exotic beast horde, quickly tearing a large gap.

A Fifth Rank Grandmaster stood beside Right Guard Hei Su: "Guard Commander, this guy is truly fierce. I've never seen this kind of fighting style."

Right Guard Hei Su thought to himself, I haven't either.

But he said indifferently: "Let's see how long he can last."