Chapter Seventy-Two: Duped?

Tang Tian and Bing had little difficulty finding the library that Sai Lei had mentioned.

After leaving the library, Bing remained silent.

Tang Tian had no interest whatsoever in the history of the Soul District. History never sounded impressive to him; such superficial matters were best left to someone like Uncle Bing to ponder. A boy of godlike talent should focus on challenging powerful martial arts, not dabbling in trivialities!

Upon returning to the new recruit training camp, Tang Tian threw himself into cultivation with wild intensity.

This journey to the Three Souls City had left Tang Tian with a pent-up determination. Especially during his confrontation with the four youths, he had been suppressed by their Soul General, unable to lift his head. This left Tang Tian deeply unsatisfied—extremely so! To be subdued by a Soul General was unbearably humiliating!

Tang Tian began cultivating the Four Celestial Dragons.

His True Force had already reached the peak of the third tier, and breaking through the barrier of perfection was effortless, as natural as water flowing downhill. Tang Tian immediately sensed the difference between the Four Celestial Dragons and the Crane Qi Technique. While the Crane Body Force was sharp, its True Force was long and enduring. In contrast, the True Force generated by the Four Celestial Dragons was violent, like molten lava coursing through his meridians—any collision would result in earth-shattering upheaval.

Upon entering the fourth tier, Tang Tian’s True Force surged fivefold.

The Celestial Dragon True Force quickly assumed dominance, but as Sai Lei had said, the Crane True Force, though only a sixth as powerful, did not dissipate. Instead, it quietly merged into Tang Tian’s Celestial Dragon True Force. Astonishingly, these two utterly different forces fused perfectly. When Tang Tian tried to wield the Celestial Dragon True Force using the Crane Body Force method, the sharpness of the Crane Body Force remained unchanged.

However, Tang Tian had yet to grasp the Celestial Dragon Force Sai Lei spoke of. He was not anxious; cultivating the Crane Body had taught him that understanding the true essence required patience and opportunity.

The Celestial Dragon True Force was vastly superior to his previous force. Only now did Tang Tian fully realize the immense gap between third and fourth tier True Force. Had he not mastered the Crane Body, he could never have hoped to use third tier True Force to contend with fourth tier power.

Tang Tian spent three full days stabilizing and consolidating his fourth tier Dantian pool.

After three days, the fourth tier Dantian pool was fully stabilized, and Tang Tian felt a great weight lifted. He was startled to discover that each of his four Dantian pools, from bottom to top, was different. The first tier Dantian was like a teacup, seemingly empty. The second tier Dantian was like a spring, accumulating the True Force bred from the Nourishing Qi Technique, delicate and threadlike. The third tier Dantian was like a small pond, transformed by the Crane Qi Technique, with a swirling sea of clouds and lingering energy. The fourth tier Dantian, however, resembled a volcanic crater, its crimson True Force flowing slowly within.

With each ascent in tier, True Force improved in every aspect—both quality and quantity saw tremendous enhancement.

Tang Tian opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. Unlike the Crane Qi Technique, which expelled breath like a sword, this breath seemed to carry sparks.

He rose swiftly, scanning his surroundings.

Uncle Bing was deep in thought nearby, just as he had been three days ago. The Ghost Claw Elder had reverted to his previous ethereal state.

Tang Tian decided to go outside. Sai Lei had given him the Chain Double Kick, a fourth-tier leg technique, but Tang Tian needed to complete his cultivation of the first three tiers. He agreed with Sai Lei—he noticed during his battle with the Black Iron Man that his hand techniques far outstripped his footwork. Whenever the Black Iron Man used leg techniques, Tang Tian struggled.

Now that he had reached the fourth tier and his close-combat expertise was established, it was time to seek out Qian Hui.

This was Tang Tian’s own plan; as for the Bright Martial Assembly, well, that was merely catching a ride.

What a pity—he still wanted to spar with Jing Hao.

He shook his head and stepped outside. Qian Hui was on White Rainbow Star; he needed to find out more.

Tang Tian decided to ask Baldy.

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After hearing Yu Xi’s account, the elder pondered, “You say the bronze mechanical ostrich was assembled by him?”

Yu Xi nodded, “It was assembled by the Soul General at his side! I questioned Yu Bao afterward, and she did not hide anything.”

“Being able to assemble a bronze mechanical ostrich is no simple matter,” the elder’s expression grew grave. “Rituals can be mimicked, but the assembly of a bronze mechanical ostrich cannot. The era of the Three Great Legions was the pinnacle of ancient machinery; the machines then were far stronger than those today. The bronze mechanical ostrich was a standard configuration of the Southern Cross Legion—its quality speaks for itself. You are right to be cautious. Where did they go afterward?”

“They went to Sai Lei’s card shop,” Yu Xi replied with a bitter smile.

“Sai Lei?” The elder frowned, then shook his head. “Do not provoke her!”

“Yes!” Yu Xi hesitated, “But I’m worried Hua Ling and the others won’t let it go. I heard that Hua Ling’s Rabbit Silk Sword was given by that fellow to Sai Lei. Hua Ling has always treasured that sword…”

“Stop them!” the elder said without hesitation. “Do not bring trouble to Three Souls City.”

Yu Xi’s eyes widened in shock, “Could it be…”

“Remember! Do not provoke her!” The elder’s expression was serious. “Do not investigate this matter any further. Whatever that boy’s origins, they have nothing to do with us. Since he followed the Southern Cross Legion’s customs and you redeemed yourselves, all grievances are settled.”

Yu Xi felt a chill in her heart. “Yes!”

Still uneasy, the elder muttered to himself, “I’ll inform the other families to confine themselves, lest any trouble arises.”

Yu Xi was left dumbfounded. For the first time, she saw such gravity on her grandfather’s face. A storm raged in her heart—Sai Lei, just who are you…

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When Baldy heard Tang Tian say he wanted to leave, his expression turned extremely strange.

Tang Tian noticed and asked, “What’s with that look?”

“Boss, are you really one of us from the Bright Martial Assembly?” Baldy finally managed to squeeze out a reply.

Tang Tian glared, his tone a bit harsh, “Spit it out—don’t beat around the bush!”

Baldy appeared forlorn, his voice low, “Boss, don’t you know that the Outer Camp of the Great Tomb is notorious as a place of exile? Everyone sent here is either a newcomer with no prospects or someone who’s offended those above. Boss, did you offend someone?”

“I didn’t offend anyone,” Tang Tian racked his brains but couldn’t think of anyone he’d wronged.

“You must have offended someone,” Baldy insisted. “Even Lord Jing Hao was sent here for offending the higher-ups. The Outer Camp of the Great Tomb is famous—you can enter, but you can’t leave. This place is rife with danger, full of maze caves. Even the directional treasures are useless here. Not even Bronze Warriors can safely walk out. The higher-ups want us to serve as sentinels—if we spot an extremely dangerous Star Soul Beast, we can raise the alarm.”

“Here, supplies are delivered only once every three months. Staying near the Outer Camp isn’t dangerous, but if you venture more than fifty li out, things become perilous.”

“Then why were we allowed to come here?” Tang Tian was puzzled.

“The wagons are safer, but accidents still happen,” Baldy replied. “Why keep an Outer Camp here? Isn’t it just a prison?”

Baldy explained, “At first it was said to be because of the treasures; later it was due to Star Soul Beasts. Deep beneath the Hive Mountains live many extremely powerful and dangerous Star Soul Beasts. This place is very close to the center of Perseus. If those beasts burst out from below, Perseus will face direct threat. They need a sentinel.”

“If there’s a beast, you’re all doomed,” Tang Tian said dismissively.

“That’s certain,” Baldy agreed. “If Boss wants to leave, you must reach the fifth tier, advance to Black Iron Warrior, and leave by wagon.”

Tang Tian remained silent, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Only now did he realize he’d been set up and sent here!

“But up to now, no one has managed to leave,” Baldy shrugged. “Those sent here are always newcomers with poor talent, failures in competition. With poor talent and limited supplies, and with the Hive Mountains’ energy density extremely low, there are no Star Stones—no way to cultivate. With nothing to gain, everyone is too lazy to train.”

“That’s true,” Tang Tian noted. The energy density here was nearly zero, the lowest he’d ever seen. Suddenly, Tang Tian asked, “How does Jing Hao cultivate?”

“Lord Jing Hao is a Bronze Warrior. His strength lets him venture deep beneath the Hive Mountains, where there are some energy pools. He trains there,” Baldy explained. “But it’s far too dangerous—no one else can go.”

“Most newcomers come voluntarily. Though it’s tough, they get the benefits of a Black Iron Warrior, and their families are cared for. My talent was poor anyway, so I just want to earn some welfare for my family,” Baldy said, accepting his fate.

“I didn’t come voluntarily,” Tang Tian replied with an unhappy look.

“Then Boss must have offended someone,” Baldy concluded confidently.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the camp gate.

Tang Tian glanced over—it was Jing Hao.

Jing Hao looked weary, his clothes showing signs of damage, clearly fresh from a fierce battle. He cast a faint glance at the two, his eyes lingering on Tang Tian with a hint of surprise, but he didn’t stop and went straight to his room.

Even Jing Hao’s strength wasn’t enough to make things easy here!

But… if only he knew who had sent him to this hellish place…

Tang Tian resolved that once he got out, he would hunt down that damned person.

A godlike youth is not so easily offended!