Early the next morning, a piercing whistle tore through the pre-dawn silence.
Under urgent shouts from instructors, the students assembled into ragged formation and began the ten-day preliminary military experience, essentially an accelerated boot camp.
Morning runs, formation drills, equipment maintenance training…
After only half a day of this relentless pace, most children who'd grown up studying more than training were already completely exhausted, their academic stamina proving worthless.
Jingliu could barely keep up at first, her breathing growing harsh and uneven. Even as her vision darkened at the edges and her lungs burned, she gritted her teeth and persisted stubbornly.
But in the afternoon came a forced march with full packs, the real test. They had to carry loaded marching bags and traverse simulated rough terrain back and forth without rest.
She walked less than a kilometer before her knees buckled treacherously, the weight on her shoulders bending her spine at an unnatural angle.
Dust filled her vision. Figures swayed around her, growing blurrier and blurrier until they became meaningless shadows.
Just as she was about to collapse face-first into the dirt, she fell into a strong arm that caught her effortlessly.
"Don't force it beyond your limits."
Rrakavasha saw she'd reached her breaking point and turned his head to command the other students, his voice carrying. "Continue the march. No stopping for anyone. If you can't endure it, report to your squad leader immediately."
Jingliu wanted to protest but didn't even have the strength left to open her mouth, much less form words.
In the medical room, the accompanying field medic confirmed she was suffering only from exhaustion combined with a mild heatstroke, nothing serious.
Rrakavasha had just opened his mouth to give instructions when an urgent communication cut through.
A holographic projection materialized. The intelligence officer looked visibly tense, his usual composure cracking.
"Captain Rrakavasha, urgent combat report! Eight light-years west of the patrol route, signs of a large-scale Borisin monstrosity gathering have been detected by reconnaissance. The General orders all captains and senior strategists to convene immediately for a tactical briefing."
"Acknowledged." Rrakavasha switched communication channels smoothly. "All training units, follow Contingency Plan 2 to supervise the students. Maintain standard protocols."
He turned toward the door, already moving. Halfway out, he paused and instructed the medic over his shoulder:
"When she regains consciousness, send her back to camp for observation. If she's still unwell after assessment, she may rest for half a day before resuming activities."
"Understood, Captain."
The medical room returned to heavy silence, broken only by Jingliu's labored breathing.
She stared at the pale, sterile ceiling as fragmented phrases echoed through her foggy mind, trying to piece together their meaning.
Monstrosities… gathering… eight light-years away…
Those vague, terrifying creatures from Academy textbooks flashed through her thoughts, suddenly far more real than ink illustrations.
So this was the reality of Cloud Knights' duty. Enemy situations always came first, superseding everything else without exception.
All she could do now was lie here helplessly and silently pray for their safe return.
In the distance, the rhythmic shouts of training rookies still drifted faintly on the wind, a reminder that life continued.
In the council hall, Cloud Knight captains and senior strategists gathered in tight formation, the atmosphere oppressively solemn.
The intelligence summary displayed on hovering screens showed that if the Borisin forces completed their assembly unchallenged, the resulting threat scale would pose major danger to the Xianzhou Cangcheng itself.
Before General Teng Xiao could begin the briefing, another urgent message arrived, this one flagged with maximum priority.
This time, it involved not only the Skyfaring Commission's reconnaissance data, but also direct calculation results from the Divination Commission.
"According to the Divination Commission's celestial calculation array, traces suspected to belong to the Emanator of Abundance Shuhu have been discovered in the same sector!"
The hall fell deathly silent. Teng Xiao's expression changed sharply, his jaw tightening.
Every Xianzhou citizen understood the terrible weight carried by the name Shuhu. Nearly every devastating war in the Alliance's blood-soaked history bore its corrupting shadow somewhere.
"Persistent ghost." Teng Xiao's eyes flashed with barely contained bloodlust. "Refuses to stay dead no matter how many times we cut it down."
In just over twenty years, Shuhu had already died at his hands three separate times, yet it always returned somehow, seemingly harder to eliminate with each resurrection.
Rrakavasha's face darkened considerably as well, old memories stirring his mind.
The Second War of Abundance centuries ago had also been instigated by Shuhu's interference, costing countless lives.
"Shangang, Haiyi, Luqu." Teng Xiao's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Yes, General!" Three captains stepped forward in perfect unison.
"You three will split into independent tactical groups and deploy to Purta-II immediately. Primary objective: exterminate the Borisin monstrosities and prevent the Abundance allied forces from completing assembly. Secondary objective: gather intelligence on Shuhu's manifestation." He issued orders methodically, his strategic mind already planning contingencies.
"Understood, General!"
The monsters had to be fought regardless of risk, and Shuhu's traces had to be pursued no matter where they led.
Soon, only Teng Xiao and Rrakavasha remained in the hall; the other officers were dismissed to prepare.
"I shouldn't have accepted this position." Teng Xiao sighed heavily after dropping his commanding presence, suddenly looking tired. "I want to personally go cut down those abominations myself, feel my blade in their flesh."
"Even if you weren't General, you still couldn't charge into battle freely anymore." Rrakavasha's tone was matter-of-fact. "Your strategic value outweighs your combat prowess now."
"True enough." Teng Xiao paused, his gaze sharpening. "But you want to kill the monsters and Shuhu more than anyone else here, don't you? I can see it in your eyes."
"Which Xianzhou person doesn't harbor that desire?" The response was deflective but honest.
"Fair point. But that thing has a personal grudge specifically with you, blood for blood. While my grudge with Shuhu is pure life-and-death hostility born from duty."
Rrakavasha fell silent, unable to deny the accusation. He truly did want Shuhu permanently dead more than almost anything, wanted to watch it burn and never rise again.
But on the Xianzhou, thousands of people felt exactly the same way.
Teng Xiao continued, his voice thoughtful. "It's died to my blade multiple times now, yet keeps reviving like clockwork. The power it carries must not be a simple manifestation; there must be something deeper behind its resurrections."
Rrakavasha frowned, his mind working through possibilities. "Perhaps… similar in fundamental nature to the Ambrosial Arbor itself."
The Ambrosial Arbor, the original Abundance calamity that had granted unwanted immortality to the Xianzhou and cursed them with Mara.
"You're suggesting Shuhu contains an Abundance calamity seed, maybe even hosts a blessed calamity within its form?" Teng Xiao looked genuinely surprised by the implication.
"Just speculation based on observation patterns. You mentioned its manifested body resembles tree-like structures when killed. Perhaps only removing the roots entirely can stop its endless rebirth cycle."
"Even if that's true, accomplishing it would be nearly impossible."
Teng Xiao shook his head grimly, the weight of the problem settling on his shoulders.
"The Arbor is geographically fixed in one realm and has no independent will or mobility. If Shuhu is somehow a sentient, mobile calamity… then it's basically a walking Ambrosial Arbor with strategic intelligence. Who knows where its true roots are buried or hidden?"
Rrakavasha said nothing for a long moment, considering.
If he were Shuhu and truly possessed roots that needed protection… where would separated root systems be safest from discovery?
Perhaps… hidden in plain sight among Abundance-touched regions?
"Let the Divination Commission worry about tracking it down." He ended the thought before it could spiral into obsession.
Teng Xiao nodded in agreement. "I'll send them a formal request to continue the calculations and expand their search parameters."
They then discussed elite training progress and upcoming deployments for several minutes.
Rrakavasha admitted not everyone could endure the conditioning program's intensity, but the sisters Mianxue and Qinghan still showed considerable strength to spare, exceeding expectations.
Teng Xiao grinned proudly, as if his words said, 'See, I was right~.'
Rrakavasha had no patience for small talk or self-congratulation today. After delivering his report, he left to return to his duties.
The visiting students could not be placed at unnecessary risk during this crisis. Perhaps among them would arise someone who could one day fundamentally change the ancient struggle between the Hunt and the Abundance.
The ten-day tour rapidly approached its conclusion.
Morning sunlight shone warmly over the assembly square as a fresh breeze passed through the gathered ranks.
Rrakavasha stepped onto the elevated platform and surveyed the students filling the observation stands, his voice loud and commanding.
"Today and tomorrow, we will hold the final traditional challenge match, a rite of passage. Use whatever you've learned, whether swordsmanship or personal combat skills, to challenge the assembled Cloud Knight captains."
"The captains will not exert their full strength against you. If within three minutes you manage to break through their offense or defense and strike their helmet cleanly, you claim victory."
"The challenge is not mandatory for everyone because…"
He paused deliberately, letting tension build.
"Even if a captain uses only a small fraction of their actual strength, most of you could be defeated one-handed without them even bothering to dodge your attacks. The hundreds of captains standing here today all went through this exact humiliation in their own youth."
"Unlimited challenge attempts are permitted, but only if you defeat your current opponent within the three-minute time limit."
"The match begins in thirty minutes. Those wishing to participate, register now via your Jade communication device."
The assembled crowd stirred restlessly, whispers rippling through the stands.
Most Cloud Knight captains had challenged their own seniors when they were young students?
So those who rose to positions of military excellence and command truly had possessed courage and determination since childhood.
To challenge a Cloud Knight captain directly...
In news reports and public broadcasts, captains were portrayed as elite warriors who could fight entire enemy armies alone and charge through dense monstrosity ranks completely unharmed.
Aside from generals and sword masters at the very top, captains carried the highest public prestige and respect.
The killing aura forged through years of continuous warfare alone could psychologically deter most ordinary people. For sheltered teenagers, many simply couldn't cross that fundamental mental barrier.
Half an hour later, fewer than a thousand students had registered for participation.
For the Cloud Knights overseeing the event, this number was actually better than last year's dismal turnout.
"The overall participant count is similar to previous annual tours."
Rrakavasha browsed through the registration list displayed on his tactical screen.
"Most challengers predictably have martial arts backgrounds or close relatives already serving in the Cloud Knights."
One particular name made his expression flicker slightly with surprise. He looked up toward the Zhenshan Academy section and locked onto the young girl with the high ponytail, standing straighter than before despite obvious exhaustion.
Jingliu.
Over the past grueling days, her performance had been only average at best, showing no prior foundation or training whatsoever.
Their gazes met unexpectedly across the distance.
Jingliu hadn't anticipated him looking directly at her and instinctively averted her eyes, suddenly self-conscious.
Even more surprising, the typically stern Captain Rrakavasha gave her a slight acknowledging nod, barely perceptible.
That expression she recognized immediately, the same subtle gesture teachers used when acknowledging a student's unexpected effort or determination.
Jingliu suddenly felt embarrassed, heat rising in her cheeks.
She'd registered only because she didn't want to disgrace her family's name or reputation.
After all… Captain Rrakavasha knew her father personally, and failure would reflect poorly on both of them.