"The city here is ruined."
Taking in the surroundings, Jiang Qiling explained to Lu Li, "But there is a naturally formed layer of enchantment. Invaders cannot reach us as long as we are within those ruins. Also, the four races have their own base camps as well. In the base camps, abilities of other races will be reduced. When the alien races get in our base camp, they will be like lambs waiting to be slaughtered. When we go to theirs, we will be rendered less capable as well. Base camps are the safety places for all of us respectively, including the alien races…"
"Of course!"
Pointing to the ruins, she continued, "If some freaky genius is born among our enemies, so gifted that he can best us when he is less able, then we will have to call ourselves unlucky. This city was damaged because the Feather Race witnessed the birth of a talent 10,000 years ago who chased humans back here and damaged the place."
"Oh, I see!"
Lu Li was wondering why this small world had a city and why it was damaged. So, it was the Feather Race's doing.
"Have some rest!"
Jiang Qiling said in a low voice, "Troops of the other races are gathering. We all need to adjust to the environment here. Three days later, our team will set off to slay the demons."
"Our team?"
Lu Li took a look and saw 10,000 human warriors coming in and begin to form small teams and groups. He asked, "Is it not convenient for large groups to mobilize here?"
"No!"
Jiang Qiling said, "My grandpa says that the terrain here is strange. Usually, we go out in teams of dozens. The more there are in the team, the more obvious a target we will be. It is the same for the other races as well. Small teams are more resilient. We will fight if we can and flee if we cannot."
Tents were built one after another, tents like small Mongolian yurts. There were so many tents here that people could not see the end of them.
"How do you calculate the points?"
Lu Li asked a critical question. How did patriarchs on the outside know how many he had killed? Did he have to behead his enemies and bring the heads back?
But that would be inducing some internal conflicts. One could even kill fellow humans and rob other humans' Interspatial Ring to get points.
"We don't have to calculate it. Just bring this jade talisman with you."
Handing one over, Jiang Qiling said, "There is a formation inside that can keep track of everything happening around us. When the fight is over, you hand in the jade talisman and the Demon-slaying Hall will sum it up for us."
"This is nice!"
Lu Li took the jade talisman over and tied it to his belt. Seeing someone walking over from the distance, he waved his hands and said, "Jiang Qiling, someone is here for you. I will go and cultivate."
Jiang Qiling threw a disgusted look to the people coming. When she saw that it was Yang Xuan with his men, she became even more displeased.
As she had expected, Yang Xuan was here to graciously invite Jiang Qiling to join in his team, claiming that the two team together would form the strongest team and have their way at the small battlefield.
Needless to say, she turned him down. Jiang Qiling had no interest in teaming up with those young masters and young ladies from wealthy households. Wishing to waste no more time on him, she sent Yang Xuan away with just a few words.
Then Lu Ni came after Yang Xuan left. This time, Jiang Qiling showed no courtesy at all and just said that she was too tired to meet any visitors.
More disciples from major families came but were all denied a chance to meet Jiang Qiling.
They all went back, discouraged. But Ji Mengtian from the Samsara Palace, Die Feiyu from the Pavilion of Blossoms and Ye Luo from Tumulus of Universe didn't come over.
Lu Li sat in his tent and cultivated, conserving strength and storing up his energy. He was ready to fight at Jiang Qiling's command.
He actually had more questions for her but it was not a good time. Entering her tent abruptly would cause many people to take extra notice of him.
During the three days, many disciples sent their servants to invite Jiang Qiling for parties. Parties here could not be as good as what they enjoyed on the outside. This was just a gathering of people to have fun.
However, Jiang Qiilng was not in the mood. She sent everyone away, saying that she must stay in closed-door cultivation to explore the ways of using divine energy that she had just absorbed.
On the third night, a man came. Nobody knew who he worked for. He asked Jiang Hu about Jiang Qiling and left with disappointment upon learning that she was cultivating.
Unintentionally or intentionally, he threw a lump of grey mud to the side and it rolled into Lu Li's tent. Without giving Lu Li's tent a look, the man left in strides.
Lu Li was startled. He opened his eyes and made sure that he was in no danger. Then, he noticed the lump of mud. With his psychic power, he discovered a piece of paper in the mud.
Carefully spreading the mud out with a dagger, Lu Li picked up the piece of paper after he made sure it had no toxins on it. Upon reading it, he began to feel gloomy. There were only three words on it—Careful of Suan.
Of course Suan meant Lu Suan. Someone was telling Lu Li to keep an eye on Lu Suan?
This must be sent by Lu Lin or Lu Hongyu. It was highly likely that those two had heard something or sensed something. They could not come to Lu Li in person so they sent a man over to deliver the message.
Lu Li had suspected that Lu Fenghuo or Lu Suan was the reason that Song Qi could chase to the Northern Desert. Otherwise, the Palace of Blue Lions wouldn't have let Song Qi run away and Song Qi would not know that Lu Li was at the Northern Desert.
Back when Lu Li made a mess at the City of Mystic Armor and was sentenced to 100 years at the Omen Island, Lu Li had become suspicious that it was a trap set by Lu Suan or Lu Fenghuo!
At this moment, Lu Li took the message seriously. He was not afraid of overt attacks, but the silent convert kind. He was worried that he could walk into a set-up and find no way out…
It just so happened that he had promised Great Patriarch that if the Lu Family people didn't mess with him, he wouldn't harm them.
But Lu Li had no evidence of Lu Suan doing those things. Great Patriarch might make the trouble of travelling over a long distance to slay Lu Li if he acted against Lu Suan rashly…
"Such a pain in the ass!"
Lu Li frowned. He believed he had to try his best to avoid Lu Suan and get away from him and others if they were nearby.
It was impossible that Lu Suan would kill Lu Li in open daylight. After all, Lu Renhuang was alive and there was a chance that Lu Zhengyang would wake up.
The next day, many people woke up before dawn. They set up their own pots and cooked in the field. After eating to their heart's' content, many teams set off on their quest.
Most of those who could come here were arrogant young masters and young ladies from distinguished families. They thought that they were talented and more than capable. They fantasized that they could beat their enemies, accomplish their goals and gain world fame. Naturally, they couldn't wait to get into the battlefield.
"We will go this way!"
Pointing to the east, Jiang Qiling said in a low voice, "My grandpa told me that there are few places suitable for ambush and observing. Also, we are close to the base camp of the Barbarian Race. They are well-developed in their bodies but not their brains. They are easier kills."
"Well-developed in their bodies but not their brains?"
Lu Li thought of Meng Zhi and God of Meng. While running with the team, he asked with curiosity, "I heard that there once was a Mammoth Race at the Central Plains. Are Mammoth Race and the Barbarian Race related?"
"Ha, ha!"
Jiang Qiling smiled and replied, "The Mammoth Race is nothing. The Barbarian Race are the giants, the savages. I haven't seen them before. Let's go and we will meet them."