Edited by: VindiFan#1
One of them was wearing the same armor set as Gu Qing Shan, while the other two wore Grey-white armor with blue patterns.
Those are Yu Wu Chaplain standard armor sets, a step lower than Xiao Qi Chaplain, but it’s still a decently high military rank.
Since there is still some time, the 4 of them sat around in a circle and introduced each other.
“Li Chu Chen, Spirit Beast sect”
“Zhang Fang, West Mountain Sword sect”
“Bai Hai Dong, Yao Guang sect”
“Gu Qing Shan, Bai Hua sect”
After the 4 of them greeted each other, Bai Hai Dong was the first to look at Gu Qing Shan and smiled: “Senior brother Leng has told me a lot about you”
“You’re Leng Tian Xing’s junior brother? How fortunate, we can look out for each other then” Gu Qing Shan smiled back.
The 3 of them were all very young, looks to be about 20 years old, Zhang Fang and Li Chu Chen were at Foundation Establishment perfect peak, while Bai Hai Dong is Foundation Establishment last stage.
Gu Qing Shan had the lowest cultivation, and was the youngest.
But no one dares to look down on him.
All three of them were people that made it to Foundation Establishment realm at a young age, as well as slowly accumulated Military Merit to reach their current rank, each and every one of them anywhere else would be considered a genius among geniuses.
The fact that Gu Qing Shan is able to become a Xiao Qi Chaplain means that he has actual ability and actual mettle to reach where he is.
Military Merit does not lie.
Not to mention, he’s a disciple of Bai Hua Saint.
As smart as they are, everyone only needed a second to understand the best treatment to give him.
Li Chu Chen looked at Gu Qing Shan and clasped his fist: “So you’re the famous Sword 15”
Everyone lightly laughed, obviously the matter that happened at the semester examination has become quite wide-spread.
Bai Hua Sect, a Saint’s direct disciple, the young sword cultivator, he’s quite the famous figure recently.
Zhang Fang asked: “Fellow Dao seeker Gu, I saw that you went to the Merit tent, seems like you had some harvest?”
Gu Qing Shan looked at him ——-he was the same Xiao Qi Chaplain as Gu Qing Shan, 1 rank higher than Bai Hai Dong and Li Chu Chen.
“That’s right, before I was part of the vanguard legion, so I compiled what I know of the demons and sent it in” Gu Qing Shan refreshingly admitted.
The 3 people’s expressions changed slightly.
Ah, so Sword 15 actually belonged to the vanguard legion.
That place is where the battle was the fiercest, to be able to return from there in one piece is already quite impressive.
There are simply too many demons, too many types.
Their characteristics and attacks are so varied that unexpected situations happen very often, enough to drive cultivators crazy.
The fact that Gu Qing Shan got Merit from compiling monster characteristics means that what he reported must be true, otherwise it wouldn’t fly past all the great cultivators at the Merit tent.
Zhang Fang then said: “Since you know about the monsters’ characteristics, we’ll have to trouble you on the way forward”
These words were very well said, because he’s clearly letting Gu Qing Shan be the leader, yet the tone was that he’s troubling him.
Of the 4 of them, only Gu Qing Shan and himself were Xiao Qi Chaplains.
Since Zhang Fang has given up the position, the leader can only be Gu Qing Shan ——-because there is no way two Yu Wu Chaplains are going to command two Xiao Qi Chaplains.
Leng Tian Xing’s junior brother Bai Hai Dong was the first to agree, then Li Chu Chen also followed
Just like that, a temporary party has been formed.
A guard cultivator went and gave the 4 of them this month’s salary in advance ———Xiao Qi Chaplains get around 300 low-tier spirit stones, while Yu Wu Chaplains get 200.
Zhang Fang put the spirit stones in his bag, saying: “We have no idea when we can lose our lives, so I gotta spend the money I have. When we make it to the camp, I’ll treat everyone here to a round of drinks”
Gu Qing Shan finished putting on his armor, smiled and said: “After your treat, it’ll be mine”
Everyone laughed heartily, creating for a harmonic atmosphere.
At this time, a guard cultivator came and called: “Gu Qing Shan, Zhang Fang, Li Chu Chen, Bai Hai Dong, get ready to move out”
“Roger!”
Their expressions became serious, the relaxedness from before disappeared without a trace.
The 4 of them quickly walked and stepped into the General’s tent.
A General wearing golden armor looked at them and spoke: “You’re all Foundation Establishment here, then there’s a perfect place for you”
He ordered: “The 4 of you shall sortie to Water Valley Camp, move out immediately, do not make any mistakes”
He then gave them an arrow with runes on it, saying: “This will be your only Decree Arrow, do not use it lightly”
“Roger!”
The 4 of them clasped their fists.
Gu Qing Shan received the arrow and put it in his bag.
Leaving the outpost, they all get their spirit beasts out and flew up.
About 10 minutes later.
“How much longer can we fly?” Zhang Fang asked.
Once you’ve entered the battlefield, any flying creature is a living target for the demons to hit, unless they’re a great cultivator, no one dares to fly without thought.
Checking the map, Gu Qing Shan answered: “We’ll enter the battlefield after 100 miles, after that we must land and continue on foot”
“Understood” they all nodded and replied.
Everyone kept silent, their expressions became cold.
They’re about to enter the battlefield.
After a while, Gu Qing Shan waved his hand: “Land here”
Everyone landed together.
In front of them was a green forest valley, luscious and vast, yet there isn’t a single sound of birds or insects.
It was like the valley itself had lost its life.
Bai Hai Dong grabbed the air and smelled it.
“There’s no essence of death for the last 3 days” he reported.
This seems to be his God’s Chosen Skill or thaumaturgy, but no one bothered to ask.
No essence of death means there hasn’t been any large-scale battles.
Everyone loosened a bit.
Gu Qing Shan then said: “Let’s get to know each other first, that way it’s easier to delegate roles”
“That’s reasonable, I’m an Elementalist, Water root 2nd stage” Bai Hai Dong answered.
“Although we’re a sword sect, my expertise is with the spear” Zhang Fang said.
“I’m a spirit beast tamer, I have a few spirit beasts for scouting, other than that I know a bit of martial arts” Li Chu Chen answered.
Gu Qing Shan nodded, saying: “I’m a sword cultivator”
He then quickly assigned them: “I’ll be the vanguard, Zhang Fang at the back. Brother Chu Chen should release a few spirit beasts to scout out our left and right, as well as one to scout right behind me. Bai Hai Dong will be in the middle, to help out all sides”
They all replied at the same time: “Understood”
That is the best way to assign them.
Li Chu Chen also sighed in relief.
His biggest fear is meeting a superior that doesn’t understand how things work and order his spirit beast to go scout in front.
Fighter-type beasts aren’t suitable for scouting, and scouting-type beasts can’t go out in front.
Because if they ever meet a powerful demon, it will be eaten immediately, unable to be of any use.
It’s very hard to tame and raise a spirit beast, so if any of them die uselessly, the tamer would feel hurt.
The best place for spirit beasts is in the middle, since it’ll be easy for them to adapt and to in front or back as the situation calls for it.
The best way to use them is to only let the fighter-type spirit beasts out after the fight begins.
Holding the Earth sword in hand, Gu Qing Shan led them through the forest.
Seeing his expression cold and acted without any hesitation, the other three could also relax a bit and followed.
2 hours later.
The 4 of them were taking a short rest.
“Keeping up our current speed, we’ll reach the Water Valley Camp by noon tomorrow” Gu Qing Shan said.
“You can keep going as today, I’ll follow your lead” Zhang Fang crossed his arms and spoke.
Li Chu Chen and Bai Hai Dong both nodded.
During the journey, regardless of marching or scouting, Gu Qing Shan showed himself to be an extremely experienced frontline soldier. The rest of them here also came from the frontline, so it was right now that they fully accepted him.
“Very well, I’ll keep up the arrangements after this” Gu Qing Shan doesn’t act humble at all, only calmly said.
He was originally a tactical commander in the past life, so his experience fighting with demons doesn’t fall short of anyone, the journey just now was simply him following old habits.
After eating their rations, the 4 of them continued on their way.
A long while later, they finally exited the forest and entered a vast grassland.
“Stop!” Gu Qing Shan suddenly stopped.
He squints his eyes and looked around.
He could feel a very faint scent of spirit energy dissipating in the air.
Could it be there was a battle on this grassland area?
The 3 people heard him and also stopped their feet.
“What happened?” Li Chu Chen placed his hand on the spirit beast bag and asked in a low voice.
“Fellow Dao seeker Bai, please check again” Gu Qing Shan spoke in a low voice.
Hearing so, Bai Hai Dong grabbed a handful of air and smelled it.
“Essence of death isn’t very heavy, but the smell of blood is, there’s also a strong stench of demons ——–in that direction”
He pointed far into the grasslands.