The Quest for Immortality

Great Wilderness.

Night falls, and the desert wind is bleak.

The camp is located at the passage, hot by day and bitterly cold by night.

Yang Jishan, born of the Yang Family from the Taoist soldiers Court, is discussing military affairs with his fellow clansman Yang Jiyong by candlelight in the tent.

For nearly a century, the Southern Wilderness has been quite unstable.

Some clans have been involved in constant rebellions, with endless battles.

Within the Great Province Boundary of the Great Wilderness, various Dragon Lords and marquises occupy their territories and engage in open and covert struggles constantly.

The Taoist Court can only suppress and stabilize the region over the years.

The Great Wilderness has been the place where the Taoist Court deploys the most soldiers in the past ten thousand years.

Especially for the Yang Family, almost every generation of disciples would experience training in the Great Wilderness and engage in bloody battles with the rebellious Barbarian Tribes.

This night, Yang Jishan and Yang Jiyong are discussing military information, talking about the movements of the Barbarian Tribes today.

As they chat, Yang Jishan suddenly furrows his brow, seeming to have something on his mind.

Yang Jiyong asks, ”Big brother, what’s wrong?”

Yang Jishan ponders for a moment and asks, ”Did you notice anything unusual in the sky during the day?”

”Unusual?”

Yang Jishan nods, ”It seemed like firelight streaking across, the horizon turned red...”

Yang Jiyong shakes his head, ”I didn’t see anything unusual...”

Yang Jishan nods slightly, ”Perhaps I’m overthinking it.”

Perhaps recently, the tension from Heaven Flame has frayed nerves, frequent Barbarian Tribe disturbances have been exhausting, causing hallucinations.

Yang Jishan silently thought to himself.

Yang Jiyong added, ”Big brother, this border is harsh and bitter, it’s truly taxing. We’ll have to endure another ten to twenty years to gain some merit. You should rest more, don’t wear yourself out.”

Yang Jishan nods, ”You too. Work hard and achieve Core Formation early.”

Yang Jiyong smiled.

The brothers discussed until midnight, feeling tired, so they took a sip of strong liquor to warm themselves up, then put aside the military books and map, wrapped themselves in blankets, and slept in their clothes.

Yang Jiyong sleeps deeply and likes to snore.

Yang Jishan felt uneasy, his mind unsettled, and combined with the incessant snoring beside him, he became even more restless.

Half-awake, a chill suddenly surged up his heart.

Years of life-and-death military experience made him instantly alert, dispelling all drowsiness.

The night wind was still very cool.

Yang Jishan donned his armor and walked slowly out of the tent, raising his head to see the deep darkness swallowing the moonlight.

The Great Wilderness’s mountains resembled dark beasts, stretching endlessly, vast and desolate between heaven and earth.

The night was very quiet.

Yang Jishan breathed a sigh of relief.

But moments later, his brow suddenly furrowed.

”Too quiet...”

Usually at this time, these Three Thousand Wilderness mountains have insects and birds whispering, and monster beasts roaring. The night wouldn’t be this deep.

Where there is abnormality, there must be monsters.

But around was empty, pitch black, clearly nothing there...

Yang Jishan hurriedly turned back to the tent, kicking Yang Jiyong on the thigh, saying, ”Something’s wrong, follow me.”

Yang Jiyong was sleeping soundly, awakened by a kick, his eyes widened, seeing it’s Yang Jishan, held back his anger, then patted his face, regained clarity, and followed Yang Jishan out of the tent, while asking in confusion:

”Big brother, what happened?”

Yang Jishan said solemnly, ”Something’s wrong, but it’s hard to describe...”

Yang Jiyong’s expression turned serious.

The two walked to the city tower of the pass, looking out to see a pitch-black scene outside the pass.

In the darkness, nothing was visible.

But neither of them was careless, nor did they relax their vigilance.

Just then, a strong night wind blew, lifting the grass and sand, also stirring a shadow-like trace in the night.

This scene happened to fall into the eyes of Yang Jishan and Yang Jiyong.

”Monster Beast?” Yang Jiyong was startled, ”Merged with the night, it looks like... Ghost Night Wolf?”

Yang Jishan’s gaze darkened, ”Not Ghost Night Wolf, it’s...”

Yang Jiyong’s pupils trembled, ”Ghost Night Wolf Soldiers!”

Ghost Night Wolf is a kind of Barbaric Wilderness monster beast, active at night, its fur and aura blend into the darkness, hidden and stealthy, hunting prey like specters.

The Great Wilderness Barbarian Clan cultivators hunt Ghost Night Wolves, peel off their fur, make battle armor for night raids.

Such are the Ghost Night Wolf Soldiers, spectral-like soldiers.

It used to be one of the most insidious and cunning ”Barbarian Soldier” types of the Desolate Royal Family.

But with the fall of the Great Wilderness Imperial Court, its forces suppressed, such ”wolf soldiers” were included in the Taoist Soldiers prohibition, no longer allowed for any force in the Great Wilderness to cultivate.

And now, guarding the Wilderness pass, there are wolf soldiers attacking at night...

Yang Jishan’s face darkened, commanding Yang Jiyong to have the Taoist Soldiers raise camp and form defensive lines.

Meanwhile, he took out a beast sinew horn bow, drawing the bow like a full moon, his gaze sharp as a hawk, searching for the spectral figures unseen in the darkness.

When a gust passed, shadows swayed.

Yang Jishan’s eyes gleamed, an arrow shot out, the arrow carrying immense force, whistled, pinning a Barbarian Soldier dead on the ground in the night.

In the darkness, blood flowed, the scent of blood wafted, inciting unseen commotion.

Yang Jishan shot a wolf soldier dead with one arrow, yet his face showed no joy.

He knew the enemy attack wasn’t simple.

”Ignite the Bright Fire Formation.”

Yang Jishan pondered momentarily, then ordered.

The nights in the Great Wilderness do not allow bright fires.

The Great Wilderness lies in the far southern land of the Nine State, the night deeper, thicker like ink, also a playground for monster beasts.

Monster beasts love night but fear fire, easily attracted to firelight.

Especially the passes guarding the wilderness.

Once bright fires are lit at night, the surrounding monster beasts will go insane, attacking the passes.

But tonight, it was different; swift decision-making was necessary.

On the pass, light swirled, and a massive Bright Fire Formation formed a beam, soaring skyward.