T/N: Huge shout out and thank you for Jose for giving me your support, I really appreciate it, thank you.
Chapter 49
Early the next morning, a sharp whistle pierced the silence.
The students gathered in formation under constant urging and began their ten-day reserve army experience, the military training phase.
Morning runs, formation drills, equipment practice. In just half a day, most of the children who had studied literature far more than martial arts since childhood were already physically exhausted.
Jingliu could barely keep up at first. Even as her breathing grew ragged and her vision blurred, she gritted her teeth and pushed on.
But during the afternoon weighted march, they had to carry full packs back and forth across simulated rugged terrain.
Before she had covered even a single kilometer, her knees buckled. The weight on her shoulders pressed her down hard.
Dust swirled in her sight and the figures around her blurred more and more.
Just as she was about to collapse, she fell into a pair of strong arms.
"Do not push yourself too hard."
Tomomu Kanzaki saw that Jingliu had reached her limit. He turned his head and commanded the other students. "Continue. No stopping. If you cannot hold on, shout 'Report'."
Jingliu wanted to say something, but she lacked even the strength to open her mouth.
In the medical room, the army physician confirmed she was simply suffering from physical exhaustion and mild heatstroke.
Just as Tomomu Kanzaki was about to speak, an emergency communication cut in.
A projection appeared. The intelligence officer's expression was tense.
"Marshal Kanzaki, urgent report. Signs of a large-scale Borisin abomination gathering have been detected eight light-years west of the route. The General orders all Vanguards and Strategists to convene immediately."
"All units, look after the students according to Contingency Plan Number Two."
Tomomu Kanzaki switched frequencies to issue orders and turned toward the door, but paused halfway to instruct the army physician.
"Send her back to the camp once she recovers. If she still feels unwell, she may extend her rest for half a day."
"Understood."
Silence returned to the medical room.
Jingliu stared at the plain white ceiling as blurred phrases echoed in her mind.
Borisin abominations... gathering... The hideous shadows of abominations from her textbooks flashed through her thoughts.
Was this the duty of the Cloud Knights? Enemy intelligence always came first.
At this moment she could only pray silently, wishing safety for every Cloud Knight.
From the distant training grounds, the shouts of the youths still drifted faintly on the wind.
Inside the council chamber, the Cloud Knight Vanguards and Strategists had gathered. The atmosphere was solemn.
The intelligence summary showed that once the Borisin finished gathering, their numbers would pose a significant threat to the Xianzhou.
Before the General could speak, more urgent news arrived.
This time it came not only from the Sky-Faring Commission but also from the Divination Commission.
"According to the calculations of the Divination Commission's Star-Pivot Deterministic Barrier, traces suspected to belong to the Emanator of Abundance, Shuhu, have been discovered."
The hall fell silent. Teng Xiao's expression changed abruptly.
Every Xianzhou person understood the weight of the name Shuhu. Almost all the most tragic wars in the Alliance's history carried its shadow.
"Still haunting us." A murderous aura flashed in Teng Xiao's eyes.
In just over twenty years, Shuhu had died at his hands three times, yet it always managed to return, each time more difficult to deal with than the last.
A rare look of gloom crossed Tomomu Kanzaki's face.
Shuhu was also the culprit behind the second Abundance Plague War that had broken out on the Xianzhou Yuque years ago.
"Shan Gang, Hai Yi, Lu Qu."
"Present."
"The three of you will split into three routes and set out for Purta-II to exterminate the abominations and prevent the Abundance Alliance from gathering." Teng Xiao issued the military orders methodically.
"Orders received."
The abominations of abundance had to be fought, and Shuhu's traces had to be pursued.
Soon only Teng Xiao and Tomomu Kanzaki remained in the hall.
"If I had known, I would not have taken this burden. I really want to go and hack at the abominations myself." Teng Xiao dropped his usual majesty and sighed helplessly.
"Even if you were not the General, you could not simply charge in and kill as you pleased," Tomomu Kanzaki said.
"But you want to kill the abominations and Shuhu more than anyone, do you not?"
"Which Xianzhou person does not?"
"But that perverted thing has a personal grudge with you, whereas my grudge with Shuhu is a life-and-death matter."
Tomomu Kanzaki fell silent. He was indeed the person who wanted Shuhu dead the most.
Yet on the Xianzhou there were far too many people who felt the same.
Teng Xiao continued, "It has died at my hands several times, yet it keeps coming back. The power it possesses is certainly not that simple. There must be something more."
Tomomu Kanzaki frowned. "Perhaps it is similar in nature to the Ambrosial Arbor."
The Ambrosial Arbor, the abundance scourge that granted the Xianzhou people their longevity.
"Are you saying an abundance scourge exists within Shuhu, or that it is the blessed scourge itself?" Teng Xiao was surprised.
"It is only a guess. You said Shuhu manifested as a tree in this world. Perhaps only by removing the roots can its rebirth be suppressed."
"Even if it is true, it would be difficult to achieve."
Teng Xiao shook his head.
"The Ambrosial Arbor is located in a fixed delve and has no self-awareness. If Shuhu is a scourge with thoughts, it would be equivalent to a mobile Ambrosial Arbor. Who knows where its roots are buried?"
Tomomu Kanzaki remained silent.
If he were Shuhu and truly had roots, where would the safest place be to hide the detached roots?
Perhaps right under their noses?
"Let the Divination Commission worry about it first." He cut off his train of thought.
Teng Xiao nodded. "I will send a letter to the Divination Commission and have them perform a deduction."
Afterward the two discussed the current state of elite training.
Tomomu Kanzaki admitted that not everyone could persist, but the sisters Xue Yi and Hanya still had energy to spare.
Teng Xiao revealed a proud smile, as if to say his judgment had been sharp.
Tomomu Kanzaki was in no mood for idle talk. He left after finishing his report.
The students who had come to the camp for the tour must not be lost. Perhaps the person who would one day change the balance between the Hunt and Abundance would be born among these youths.
The ten-day tour was nearing its end.
The morning sun hung high in the sky and a gentle breeze blew across the square.
Tomomu Kanzaki stepped onto the high platform and looked around at the students filling the spectator seats. His voice rang out clearly.
"Today and tomorrow we will hold the final traditional challenge competition. Use the sword techniques you have learned these past few days or your own skills to challenge the Cloud Knight Vanguards."
"The Vanguards will not use their full strength. As long as you break through their offense or defense and strike their helmet within the three-minute time limit, you will be considered victorious."
"The challenge competition is not mandatory for everyone to participate in. After all..."
At this point Tomomu Kanzaki paused.
"Even if a Vanguard only uses a fraction of their strength, they can defeat most of you with one hand without even needing to dodge. Most of the hundreds of Cloud Knight Vanguards sitting here went through the same thing when they were children."
"There is no limit to the number of challenges per person, but the prerequisite is this: you must defeat your current opponent within three minutes."
"The challenge competition will begin in thirty minutes. Those who wish to participate, sign up now through the camp system."
The crowd stirred.
Most Cloud Knight Vanguards had challenged their seniors when they were children?
Indeed, those who could become the elite of the army had never lacked the courage to challenge high mountains since youth.
Challenging a Cloud Knight Vanguard.
In Xianzhou news reports, Vanguards were all powerhouses who could act as a one-man army, charging into the ranks of abominations and emerging unscathed.
Aside from the General and the Sword Champion, Vanguards essentially held the highest prestige.
The murderous aura cultivated by Vanguards through years of bloody battle, even if not intentionally released, was enough to make most people hesitate. For teenagers, most could not overcome that mental hurdle.
Half an hour later, fewer than a thousand students dared to sign up.
For the Cloud Knights this number was better than last year.
"The overall number of applicants is about the same as in previous years."
Tomomu Kanzaki browsed the registration information.
"Most challengers have a martial arts background or have relatives who are Cloud Knights."
A certain name caused a faint look of surprise to flash across his face. He looked toward the Zhenshan Academy section and locked onto the young girl with the high ponytail.
Jingliu.
Her performance these past few days had only reached the average level, and she had no foundation.
Their eyes happened to meet.
Jingliu had not expected Tomomu Kanzaki to look at her, and her gaze instinctively darted away.
Even more unexpected was that Marshal Kanzaki, who had been so stern and majestic these past few days, actually gave her a slight nod.
She was familiar with that expression. It was the same one an Academy teacher wore when approving of a student's performance.
Jingliu felt a bit embarrassed.
She had signed up only because she did not want to lose face for her family.
After all, Marshal Kanzaki was an acquaintance of her father.