High-Level Martial Era

Li Yuan listened attentively.

The commander of the Changyun Dynasty is very cruel; every piece of land in the vast territory, as long as it is occupied by forces, must pay extremely high taxes and blood food.

Taxes are things like spiritual objects and spirit stones.

Blood food is ordinary populace...

"We are not like those great clans. If there is a Dao Court Immortal in the clan, only then can we truly escape the fate of enslavement." Lei Kun Half Immortal whispered, "I have lived for two thousand years. In the clan, two juniors have matured enough to protect themselves, so I came to the Marquis Mansion army to take a risk, not seeking to become an immortal, just hoping for more breathing room for my family."

"Lei Kun Daoist Friend works for the development of your clan; we admire that." Li Yuan replied softly.

He befriends Lei Kun Half Immortal.

Li Yuan greatly admired him and saw the shadow of Dongfang Ji from him.

For the family, he dared not venture out during his youth.

When the younger generation in the family grew, although old in age, he still risked his life for the future of the clan by joining the Marquis Mansion army.

"Only because of the clan's support, do I have today; naturally, I should give my all for the family." Lei Kun Half Immortal said, "I admire you more, Daoist Friend, for a mere loose cultivator has cultivated to such a level."

"With your talent, Daoist Friend, why not join a sect?" Lei Kun Half Immortal asked.

"Joining a sect, is it better than cultivating alone?" Li Yuan shook his head, "The way sects operate; I reckon you, Daoist Friend Lei Kun, should know better than me."

Lei Kun Half Immortal was speechless.

He certainly understood.

His family's territory belonged to Bei Yue Sect; among his juniors, there were two elite disciples who were forcibly invited to join an upper sect, 'Bei Yue Sect,' eventually dying in the 'cultivation grind.'

No one knows whether they died in the grind or were refined into elixirs or spirit puppets.

Lei Kun Half Immortal dared not investigate.

He actually knew very well it was likely Bei Yue Sect's act to weaken his family.

"Marquis Mansion army, at least it's the army of commanders from Great Realms; even if we truly become Earth Immortals, we pose no threat to the Marquis Mansion, the exploitation will be much less." Lei Kun Half Immortal whispered, "Besides, if we become Earth Immortals, we'll be more useful to the Marquis Mansion."

"Even as dogs, you must choose a prominent family." Lei Kun Half Immortal gritted his teeth.

"Hmm." Li Yuan sighed inwardly.

During their conversation.

Crumble.

The distant palace gates opened, and numerous black-armored soldiers flew out, their aura extraordinary as they overlooked the hundreds of Nascent Soul Half Immortals below.

"Everyone listen."

"The Marquis Mansion army is recruiting soldiers, Nascent Soul Perfection enters first." The leading black-armored commander said coldly, "If there are those with Immortal Foundation grade five or above, they may enter first... Others must undergo a test."

"Those who meet the above two conditions, come forward."

"You need only input mana into this Magical Treasure." The black-armored commander floated a crystal orb in his palm, which flickered with numerous strange lights.

Immediately, many cultivators flew to the black-armored commander, constantly receiving tests.

Li Yuan was no exception.

Those daring to come forward were naturally confident and passed one after another; soon, it was Li Yuan's turn.

"Buzz~" Li Yuan activated Nascent Soul power, inputting it, and the orb's light surged.

This scene immediately attracted the attention of many present.

"Nascent Soul Perfection? Grade Five Immortal Foundation? This time we have such elites?" The black-armored commander's eyes lit up, "Very good! You can be a Centurion."

A flicker of envy flashed in the eyes of many Nascent Soul Half Immortals.

The Centurion of the Marquis Mansion army commands a hundred 'Half Immortals,' a position of high status.

"What is your name?" The black-armored commander inquired.

"Seven Stars." Li Yuan replied, if he wished, he could fully reveal a grade seven Immortal Foundation, but that would be too conspicuous.

Showing some strength was Li Yuan's way to gain higher access, to better inquire more information.

Grade five Immortal Foundation, only approx equivalent to Five-Star Meridian, but already a genius in the Immortal Dao.

Soon.

All Nascent Soul Half Immortals were tested, and finally, over two hundred people were admitted to the Marquis Mansion army, forming two 'hundred-man teams.'

Li Yuan was one of the Centurions, who first assigned 'Lei Kun Half Immortal' to his team.

"Daoist Friend Seven Stars, thank you." Lei Kun Half Immortal said excitedly, not expecting Li Yuan's strength to be so formidable.

In the Marquis Mansion army, with a Centurion looking after, life would surely be much better.

"Let's go!"

"New recruits, follow me to receive 'Array Armor' and learn our Marquis Mansion army's basic methods." The black-armored commander roared, leading more than two hundred of them into the palace.

...

Anshun Marquis Mansion occupies one-third of Anshun City, its inner layout complex, with mountains, floating palaces, and cave dwellings, inhabited by the top cultivators of the Anshun Marquis Mansion lineage.

Within a grand palace.

"Ancestor! Good news!"

"Great news!" A white-robed youth rushed into the palace, a hint of excitement on his face.

"What is it?" An elderly voice came from deep within the palace.

"Ancestor, the Marquis Mansion army has just launched a batch of 'Independent Practitioner Blood Feast,' one of whom has Nascent Soul Perfection Cultivation, and is Earth System grade five Immortal Foundation." The white-robed youth was excited, "Ancestor, the Spiritual Nature contained in his Nascent Soul can completely be the main material missing for your Longevity and Fortune Immortal Pill."

"Plus, he's a loose cultivator, with no repercussions."

"Really?" A deep voice came from the depths of the palace, "Is there truly such an appropriate main material?"

"Yes." The white-robed youth replied.

"Good!"

"Tell the Marquis Mansion army personnel, I am buying this main material, have them prepare for the 'material extraction task.'" The elderly voice said.

...

Joining the Marquis Mansion army.

The spiritual energy in the palace is rich. As new soldiers, we temporarily only need to cultivate calmly, with various advanced methods and Magical Treasures bestowed.

These naturally delighted the Nascent Soul Half Immortals, wholly immersing themselves in cultivation.

And Li Yuan, besides commanding troops to practice 'military formation,' was using his higher access rights to search through vast data in the palace's Dao Treasury.

Many soldiers of the Marquis Mansion army did as Li Yuan did; importantly, Li Yuan's speed of data inquiry far surpasses others, arising no suspicion.

In no time, more than ten days passed.

"If not for my Centurion access, I truly couldn't have found it." Li Yuan thought silently, "Myriad Spring Void is actually outside Changyun World."

Myriad Spring Void is where the myriad demons of heaven and earth converge; a great enemy of Dao Court. Since Dao Court was established, Heavenly Soldiers and Divine Weapons have been sent regularly, summoning immortals from various realms, collectively entering Myriad Spring Void to battle devil cultivators; yet today, it still hasn't ceased...

This is how the tomes describe Myriad Spring Void.

"The convergence of myriad demons." Li Yuan mused, "But my task requires me to slaughter Dao Court masters, which means...do I assist the devil cultivators?"

Devil cultivators? Using this realm's heavenly words, anyone guilty of major wickedness can be called devil cultivators.

Li Yuan believed, for the trial task to be commanded this way, there was definitely a reason.

"This means."

"In the view of Chaos God Emperor, or some Dao Court high-ranking individual who issued the task, this realm's Dao Court is considered an enemy?" Li Yuan concluded.

He was quietly cultivating, contemplating how to reach the Myriad Spring Void.

The Dao Court summoned armies, usually Earth Immortal Realm and above are qualified, and he still didn't know the precise location of Myriad Spring Void.

A day later.

"Centurion Seven Stars." A voice suddenly sounded in Li Yuan's cave dwelling, urgent, "Your new recruit period is over, gather your soldiers, prepare to go to battle with the army."