Chapter 96: Chapter 95: Preparing for Battle

Using a Foundation Establishment Pill required one to enter seclusion in a quiet, undisturbed place. The potent medicinal power contained within the pill would inflict immense pain as it cleansed the body’s marrow. This was especially true for someone with the constitution of a Celestial Vein Master like Ling Xiao; the agony he would have to endure was beyond anything an ordinary person could ever imagine.

With a soft sigh, Ling Xiao stored the Pill Furnace back in his Space Ring. The successful refinement of the elixir had put him in a good mood. Opening the door, he saw Yisha’s anxious face and asked with a smile, "Did the Beastmen break in? How could they? Aren’t there plenty of Defense Army soldiers?"

Yisha shook her head, grabbed Ling Xiao’s broad hand without a second thought for her usual shyness, and urged, "Ling Xiao, we have to go! I don’t know how they got in, but they’re definitely inside the town now. They’re gathering everyone in the hall downstairs. We need to hurry!"

As Yisha spoke, her brow furrowed slightly. She had clearly caught the unusual fragrance wafting from Ling Xiao’s room. However, this was no time for questions, so she suppressed her curiosity and ran down the stairs with him.

The moment they reached the ground floor, they were met with a clamor from the main hall. Ling Xiao glanced around and saw that nearly every student from the training expedition was gathered there.

Just then, someone shouted, "Ling Xiao, over here!"

Ling Xiao and Yisha looked over and saw Luo Tian and Kaelin in a corner of the hall. Luo Tian was standing on a stool—otherwise, Ling Xiao would have had a harder time spotting him.

Still holding hands, Ling Xiao and Yisha squeezed through the crowd. Most of the faces around them showed little sign of panic. For these students, excitement and curiosity seemed to be the dominant emotions. The Beastmen... a race that hadn’t set foot in human territory for centuries, held little intimidating power for the Empire’s younger generation.

Especially since the Defense Army had effortlessly repelled several organized Beastman attacks during the day. Therefore, even with the Beastmen now inside the town, the students didn’t find the situation particularly frightening.

They were just a pack of brainless, witless beasts. In fact, in the minds of these students, Beastmen were less terrifying than even a Tier Two Magical Beast.

Xie Xiaoyan stood in the crowd with a few others, quietly watching as Ling Xiao and Yisha, hand in hand, squeezed their way toward Luo Tian. Her expression was complex. ’In truth, even she didn’t understand it. Why did seeing someone who was no longer part of her life always make her feel so uneasy?’

The main hall of the Splendid Inn was spacious, but with over a thousand students crammed inside, it had become quite congested. While not yet packed shoulder to shoulder, it was still difficult to move.

After finally squeezing their way over to Luo Tian, they saw him break into a sincere smile. "When your group didn’t return yesterday, I was worried sick! Haha!"

Ling Xiao nodded with a faint smile. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Luo. I’m fine."

"Haha, no need to be so formal! We’re all friends here!" Luo Tian’s expression was perfectly natural, earning Ling Xiao’s reluctant admiration. ’It seems members of the Royal Family are born with a talent for hiding their true feelings.’

Just then, Teacher Xiao Lin climbed onto a chair, cleared his throat, and shouted, "Everyone, quiet down!"

The buzzing in the hall subsided, and after a moment, silence fell. All eyes turned to Teacher Xiao Lin, many of them burning with fervor. Teacher Xiao Lin had achieved a breakthrough during the expedition. And though he had yet to be certified by the Sword Guild, it was a foregone conclusion. A Mad Sword Master. These noble students were arrogant and proud, but they also acknowledged and admired the strong.

When Ling Xiao was considered a nobody, even students who weren’t nobles dared to mock him. But the moment he revealed a certain degree of strength, he immediately befriended people like Luo Tian, who stood at the top of the Imperial Academy’s social pyramid.

This world was, therefore, a pragmatic one. So-called fairness had to be earned through one’s own hard work.

"The Beastmen have broken into the town. Though the Defense Army is fighting them, I ask you: as subjects of the Empire, when foreign enemies invade, are you willing to hide in here like cowards?"

"We’re not!" The students were full of passion, especially the young nobles. They had always believed that everything in the Empire belonged to them; therefore, protecting the nation was the same as protecting themselves! Besides, while the situation was dangerous, everyone understood that it was also the perfect opportunity to earn glory and establish their names. If they truly managed to repel the Beastmen, everyone who participated in the battle would be rewarded by His Majesty the King! Many of these young nobles had no inheritance rights within their families, meaning they too had to fight for their own futures. So, what could possibly be more enticing than a reward from the King himself?

Their willingness to make such a decision was also rooted in the Empire’s laws, which clearly stipulated that when foreign enemies invaded, all subjects were to take up arms and fight! Even if they died in battle, they would be honored as heroes who had sacrificed themselves for their country.

"You could be in danger. Those Beastmen aren’t fluffy little bunnies on the plains," Xiao Lin said with a touch of humor. ’In truth, he was reluctant to dampen the spirits of these fervent students. Those Beastmen were far from being bunnies; they were more terrifying than Magical Beasts. Just last night, a few dozen of them had almost killed his small, powerful group, leaving them on the plains for good.’

"We’re not afraid!" most of the students below shouted, both boys and girls, their faces flush with excitement. For many of them, the idea of marching into battle to kill the enemy was something far-removed from their reality. They didn’t even know what real bloodshed looked like!

Shangguan Yutong then spoke up. "You will remain in the same fifty-person groups as before. If you encounter a large platoon of Beastmen, remember: do not engage. Signal your nearby companions immediately. You can only fight back when you have superior numbers. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your squad to fight alone. If you do and find yourself in danger, the Academy will not be held responsible!"

"Understood!" the students below shouted in unison.

Luo Tian, however, did not share their excitement. His face was etched with worry. ’The night before last, I sent a carrier pigeon to Father about the strange situation in Cameron Town,’ he thought. ’I’m sure my wise father has already made his assessment.’

’I never expected a large force of Beastmen to attack last night. They came so silently... If I didn’t know Father so well, I’d almost suspect he let them in on purpose.’

’But that’s impossible. If Cameron Town falls and is plundered, Father would be the first to suffer. The wealth here could rival a kingdom, and this year’s taxes haven’t even been submitted yet... For those two reasons alone, I have a duty to stop these Beastmen at all costs and find out how they got here.’

"Brother Ling, you have to help me with this," Luo Tian whispered in Ling Xiao’s ear, seeing that no one was paying them any mind.

Ling Xiao paused, then replied, "Senior Luo, you must be joking. I’m only a Tier Four Sword Master. How could I possibly be of any help to you?"

"You definitely can!" Luo Tian said, his expression growing intense. "Don’t you have a follower who’s a Tier Three Demon Swordsman? I saw him just tonight! He’s right here, he never left... Brother Ling, I know you have your misgivings about me, but this time, for the sake of the countless innocent civilians in Cameron Town, please, help me!"

Ling Xiao nodded. "If I see Night Owl, I’ll have him help."

Luo Tian let out a long sigh of relief. ’In truth, it doesn’t matter whether Night Owl helps or not. A single Tier Three Demon Swordsman can’t change the outcome. All that matters is that Ling Xiao, the Young Master of the Great General, is seen fighting by my side. Then, even if Cameron Town truly falls and is plundered, as long as that news gets out, the Crown Prince won’t dare make a move against my father, the King!’ 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Ling Xiao gave a silent, dismissive laugh. ’Luo Tian’s little scheme wasn’t lost on him. However, he had agreed for a completely different reason: he hated those damn Beastmen, too.’