Many cultivators came and went within the palace, but there were no furnishings whatsoever; it was completely empty.
After Li Yan entered the main gate, he found himself in a circular corridor that ran along the black stone walls on both sides.
Spaced far apart along the corridor were huge green doors. Some were completely closed, some were half-open, and cultivators were constantly going in and out.
Li Yan stopped to look around. Cultivators brushed past him into the palace, walking directly to the center of the main hall before heading straight for the corridors in different directions.
Seeing this, Li Yan reached out and stopped a cultivator.
"Senior Brother, may I ask where the Ninth Squad of the 'Heavy Peak Battalion' is?"
That person was also a young cultivator, about twenty years old, wearing an ink-green robe with a golden compass embroidered on the sleeve—the emblem of Four Symbols Peak .
He was hurrying out, clearly anxious about something, only to be stopped by someone. He couldn't help but feel annoyed.
'What a clueless person,' he thought. 'Can't he see I'm busy?'
So he said irritably, "Go ask someone else... oh, you... you're asking for the Ninth Squad? Could it be that this junior brother is going to join the Ninth Squad?"
He was about to push away Li Yan's outstretched hand, but unexpectedly, he couldn't move it at all. He was shocked.
Taking a closer look, he finally saw the golden bamboo embroidered on the sleeve of the outstretched arm. Surprised, he then remembered that Li Yan was asking for the Ninth Squad, and he was even more shocked.
The Ninth Squad currently had the lowest casualty rate in the "Heavy Peak Battalion." Its captain's combat power was much higher than that of other squad leaders.
Many of their squads were willing to be on good terms with this squad.
They were afraid that one day, while on a mission outside, they would encounter a strong enemy. If they could get help from a powerful reinforcement like the Ninth Squad, their lives would have a certain guarantee.
Many people wanted to join the Ninth Squad now.
This cultivator had just thought Li Yan's face was unfamiliar; he wasn't any of the Malevolent Spirit Sect cultivators he had seen in the Ninth Squad.
To come here now and ask for the Ninth Squad, he must have been newly assigned by the sect to join.
It was only when he saw the emblem on Li Yan's sleeve that he had a sudden realization.
'No wonder he can enter the Ninth Squad. Turns out he's Martial Uncle Wei's personal disciple.
Martial Uncle Wei is in charge of everything here. Of course, he can make any arrangements he wants.
But? Didn't all the Little Bamboo Peak disciples leave on other missions?
Who is this person? Why haven't I seen him before?'
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but he didn't pay them much mind.
He knew that Little Bamboo Peak had eight disciples. He had only heard their names, and had only actually seen a few of them.
Although Little Bamboo Peak was famous, the Malevolent Spirit Sect had tens of thousands of cultivators, large and small. It was impossible for everyone to be familiar with everyone else.
What surprised this cultivator even more was that although he had only pushed casually just now, the other's arm felt as if it were cast from copper and iron.
Subconsciously, he had used a few tenths of his strength.
Logically, the other person should have at least swayed, but he didn't move at all, as steady as a rock.
Instead, he himself had stumbled sideways a couple of times. This was what shocked him the most.
While asking the question, he couldn't help but size up Li Yan carefully, but to his disappointment, he didn't recognize Li Yan's face at all.
Li Yan smiled and withdrew his arm.
"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother. I am indeed joining the Ninth Squad, but I don't know the way."
Hearing Li Yan's answer, which was just as he had expected, the cultivator, though still amazed at the strength of Li Yan's physical body, quickly replied.
"As far as I know, the Ninth Squad went out on a mission early this morning. Their side hall should be empty at this time, but Junior Brother can go over and wait. It's just that..."
At this point, the cultivator looked Li Yan up and down a few more times. Li Yan quietly waited for him to continue.
"The missions each squad undertakes are secret, so no one knows how long they will be out. It could be half a day, a day, but more often it's ten days or half a month before they return.
Therefore, Junior Brother, since you have orders to join the Ninth Squad, you should also have a related token.
It would be best to take this token to the 'Wanjian Hall' in the mountains behind and ask the deacon martial uncle. He might be able to give you a definite answer.
Then, Junior Brother can just wait for their return and report then. It won't be too late."
Li Yan was stunned to hear this. His master hadn't explained any of this; he had just told him to come over.
Now that he thought about it, no one had arranged a place for him to live either.
This master of his had always been very meticulous. How could he have made such a mistake?
After a moment's thought, Li Yan rejected the other's suggestion. Wei Zhongran definitely wouldn't do something so meaningless.
Otherwise, he just needed to find the location of the "Heavy Peak Battalion's" Ninth Squad and wait there.
Besides, for a cultivator, time was just a matter of a single meditation session.
"Oh, thank you, Senior Brother. I think I'll go over to the Ninth Squad's place first to check the situation, and then I'll go find the deacon martial uncle."
Seeing his suggestion directly rejected, the cultivator didn't mind. He had only said a few extra words because this person was Martial Uncle Wei's disciple and would be a member of the Ninth Squad in the future.
"Oh, from here, Junior Brother, go towards the Gen position. When you reach the corridor, look for the side hall marked 'Qian Nine.' That's the place.
My name is Ren Mingyuan, from Four Symbols Peak, assigned to the Thirteenth Squad of the 'Heavy Peak Battalion.'
Junior Brother, if there's nothing else, I have other matters to attend to."
After speaking, Ren Mingyuan didn't forget to state his name. He naturally wouldn't pass up the opportunity to get acquainted with a member of the Ninth Squad.
"Oh, so it's Senior Brother Ren. My name is Li Yan, from Little Bamboo Peak. Please, go ahead, Senior Brother. Sorry for the disturbance just now!"
Li Yan also quickly returned the courtesy.
"Not at all, not at all. So it's Junior Brother Li. Please!" Ren Mingyuan also cupped his fist in salute as he spoke, then walked out of the hall. At the same time, his mind was finally at ease.
'So this person is the eighth disciple of Little Bamboo Peak. This is the first time I've seen him in person. He must have just been dispatched from the sect. I heard a while ago that only five people from Little Bamboo Peak had come...'
Li Yan watched Ren Mingyuan leave, then slowly walked to the center of the main hall. It turned out that in the center of the main hall was a giant Bagua directional map.
He didn't know if the people from Four Symbols Peak had modified this place for their own use after they arrived, using their expertise in immortal arts, or if it was originally built by the sword cultivators here.
Li Yan was more inclined to believe the former. The people from Four Symbols Peak had to set up various formations according to their own preferences wherever they went, as if that was the only way they could feel safe.
Li Yan had some research on formations, so he naturally had some understanding of directions.
He soon stepped onto the Gen position and headed northwest.
The large green doors on the corridor walls were spaced at least forty zhang apart. Li Yan quickly found the Qian Nine door.
Along the way, he still encountered many Malevolent Spirit Sect cultivators. They had various demeanors; some completely ignored Li Yan, while others smiled and nodded at him.
Although there were a thousand faces for a thousand people, ever since he arrived at Windy Cool Mountain, Li Yan had felt an inexplicable sense of home.
The green door was tightly shut. The huge door knockers were set very low, only reaching Li Yan's shoulder height.
So Li Yan went forward and tapped the door knockers a few times. As expected, there was no response from inside.
After some thought, Li Yan raised his hand and tried to push the door. He figured that even if there was a restriction here, it should only be an early-warning type.
If he couldn't open the door, he would find a quiet place nearby to meditate and wait. He didn't want to trouble his master again.
But after a slight push from Li Yan, the green door emitted a heavy rumbling sound and actually opened a crack.
This was more or less what Li Yan had expected. This place was like a mortal military camp: tight on the outside, loose on the inside.
Li Yan then exerted a little more force. When the crack in the door was a bit wider, he slipped into the side hall.
The side hall was almost devoid of any furnishings, so simple that it was only composed of some stone benches and tables made of large stones.
Some of the stone tables still had tea sets and other things on them. The surrounding walls were a dark green-black color.
After sweeping his Divine Sense around, Li Yan calmly found a spot and sat down cross-legged.
Li Yan did not close the door, so he could hear the occasional sounds from outside clearly, but he sat down cross-legged directly.
Soon, evening arrived.
At this time, on the ceiling of the Qian Nine side hall where Li Yan was, several soft rays of light slowly shone down, enveloping the entire side hall in a pale green light.
The formation in the main hall had sensed the change in the outside light and had automatically activated its auxiliary restriction function.
Not long after, the cross-legged Li Yan's ears suddenly twitched. With his keen hearing, he had naturally heard a group of people walking this way.
And it seemed there were quite a few of them, about twenty people.
"I knew Master wouldn't do something so disorganized. Sure enough, this Ninth Squad's mission is a round trip on the same day."
Li Yan immediately sent out his Divine Sense. A moment later, a look of astonishment appeared on his face, followed by a smile in his heart.
'I don't know if Master did this on purpose, or if it's a coincidence, but to think I'd run into her.'
Just as Li Yan was hesitating whether to go out and meet them, the group had already arrived in front of the Qian Nine side hall, and Li Yan saw a familiar face.
Suddenly, a burly man's voice came.
"Eh, who's this that's come to our Ninth Squad? Knowing there's no one inside, yet entering without permission. That's some nerve."
This voice was also very familiar to Li Yan.
So, Li Yan simply decided not to go out. He slowly stood up and just quietly looked towards the door.
As soon as the burly man's voice fell, many voices behind him echoed in agreement.
"Who's so bold? Do they think our captain is too easy to talk to? This is taking advantage. Are they trying to spy on secrets..."
"Let's see who it is..."
"Alright, maybe it's a new fellow Daoist. I heard the cultivators from the new conscription point are supposed to arrive recently."
The last, quiet voice sounded. At the same time, the door was pushed open with a "rumble."
Apologies, I promised my child a reward if he reached a certain level on his exam. We were traveling this weekend, so this is late!