The Creation of the Heavens and All Realms

Chapter 4: Return to the Barracks

At midnight, the grasslands were heavy with dew, and the sounds of wild beasts devouring corpses all around added endless terror to the night. To the southeast of the battlefield, Zhou Tianci was still locked in a bloody battle with more than twenty short-tailed hyenas. Having lost his weapons, Zhou Tianci actually fought with even greater ferocity, dealing even more devastating blows. At the same time, his wounds were piling up—his legs, arms, chest, and back were all covered in blood. “A fight to the death—it’s truly dangerous. If it weren’t for this heavy armor, I’m afraid I’d have already fallen to the hyenas’ sharp claws.” Zhou Tianci’s mind raced as he did his utmost to avoid fatal blows while viciously striking down his opponents. In just three minutes, seven or eight hyenas had already fallen before him. “Although I don’t know if this absorption is good or bad for me, at least for now, I have no other choice!” Zhou Tianci felt the energy surging from the hyenas, and his spirit grew increasingly invigorated. With this new ability, not only did he not exhaust himself in the fight, but his combat power actually continued to grow. As he became more familiar with this body and integrated its residual memories and combat experience, Zhou Tianci’s moves grew increasingly lethal. The short-tailed hyenas continued to pounce on Zhou Tianci, but as he fought his way back, he had already retreated hundreds of meters from the battlefield. By now, the number of short-tailed hyenas surrounding him had increased by more than a dozen—these were the ones that had rushed in from other directions. Looking at these hyenas, Zhou Tianci no longer felt the worry he had earlier; he now regarded them as his own nourishment. Nourished by the energy he was devouring, Zhou Tianci’s wounds slowly healed; his strength continued to grow, and his cultivation level advanced at a visible pace. “I never imagined I harbored such a bloodthirsty streak within me,” Zhou Tianci muttered to himself as he snapped the head off a charging hyena. He could clearly sense that the *Blood Battle Art* and his devouring ability had amplified his killing intent, but in truth, the emotions hidden deep within his heart were the true source of this overwhelming bloodlust. With his bloodlust amplified, Zhou Tianci no longer entertained any thoughts of fleeing; every move he made was aimed at killing the short-tailed hyenas before him. By the time the clouds in the sky had dispersed and starlight once again bathed the grasslands, the thirty-odd hyenas surrounding Zhou Tianci had all fallen. These once-vibrant, ferocious beasts had now been reduced to desiccated corpses. Zhou Tianci glanced back at the battlefield more than a thousand meters away, where countless beasts were still feasting on the carcasses; he felt an urge to turn back. After a long moment, Zhou Tianci finally set off, heading southeast. Zhou Tianci ran at full speed for over three hours, covering roughly a hundred li, until he reached a sparse grove of trees. He found a sturdy tree, climbed up, closed his eyes, and began to rest. “What an unbelievable night.” At dawn, Zhou Tianci leaped down from the tree, which stood over 10 meters tall, with remarkable ease. Traces of yesterday’s bloody battle still clung to him. Having shed his black heavy armor, Zhou Tianci looked utterly bedraggled, his blue tunic in tatters. Zhou Tianci stretched and ran his fingers over the torn patches of his robe, his face betraying his astonishment. Those areas had once been his wounds, but after just one night, they had all vanished without a trace—not even a scar remained. “Is this the power of a cultivator, or the effect of devouring a special ability?” Zhou Tianci wondered to himself. The City of Tears and Blood was one of the most important strategic strongholds of the Great State of Yu, bearing the heavy responsibility of defending against the Grassland Empire. At the same time, it was also the most prosperous city in the Great State of Yu. To the Northwest of the City of Tears and Blood lay the boundless grasslands, while to the south stretched the Wild Forest. Thanks to the efforts of the Great State of Yu, the city had become a hub for trade between the grassland peoples, the forest tribes, and the Great State of Yu, resulting in a highly developed commercial sector. Naturally, the Great State of Yu placed great importance on such a strategic stronghold. It had deployed 200,000 troops here, including elite units like the Blood Battle Legion. It was precisely because of their presence that the commercial environment in the City of Tears and Blood remained so stable. “Only in a cultivation world could a city like this exist,” Zhou Tianci mused as dusk fell. Guided by his predecessor’s memories, he arrived at the City of Tears and Blood. Standing outside the city walls, he gazed up at the 50-meter-high ramparts and watched the stream of passersby, unable to help but marvel. By all logic, a border city like this should be unable to develop commerce, as it would pose a significant threat to the city’s security. Yet, surprisingly, the City of Tears and Blood was extremely prosperous—even surpassing the commercial sector of the Great State of Yu’s central cities. The City of Tears and Blood stood 58 meters high and stretched 30 kilometers in length. Aside from its 200,000-strong military garrison, nearly a million people lived there. “Move aside!” Just as Zhou Tianci was about to enter the city, a voice rang out, growing louder as it approached, and he instinctively stepped aside. He wasn’t the only one; everyone moved to the side. Half a minute later, more than twenty cavalrymen roared past. Once the cavalry had passed, everyone resumed their previous activities. “The Blood Tiger Cavalry—Liu Yuntao’s personal guard… They’re in such a hurry. Could something major have happened?” Zhou Tianci watched the cavalry, lost in thought. In this world of cultivation, cavalry is also a very important branch of the military. Their formidable combat power stems not only from the riders’ cultivation levels but also from their mounts. Warhorses are the most common mounts for cavalry, but truly powerful cavalrymen ride ferocious beasts—such as the Blood Tiger Cavalry before him, whose mounts are Blood Tigers possessing demon beast bloodlines. These Blood Tigers can reach the peak of the Posthuman Realm in combat power and are far faster than warhorses. Of course, the cost of raising a Blood Tiger is extremely high. Setting aside the difficulty of taming them, one simply cannot afford to maintain a Blood Tiger without substantial wealth. Therefore, although Blood Tiger Cavalry are powerful, their numbers are extremely scarce; even across the entire Great State of Yu, there are no more than ten thousand. Watching the Blood Tiger Cavalry ride off, Zhou Tianci didn’t dwell on it; those weren’t his concerns at the moment. At the heart of the City of Tears and Blood stood the General’s Mansion, covering an area of 500 mu. “Open the gates at once! I have urgent matters to report to the General!” As the Blood Tiger Cavalry approached the General’s Mansion, they reined in their mounts, and Zhang Kai, the captain leading the squadron, shouted loudly. The guards at the General’s Mansion clearly recognized Zhang Kai. Upon hearing his words, he waved his hand, and the eight soldiers on either side pushed open the main gates. Zhang Kai handed his Blood Tiger over to a nearby attendant and strode into the General’s Mansion. Zhang Kai, at the peak of the Post-Heaven realm, moved with remarkable speed and reached the General’s Mansion’s council hall in an instant. At that moment, Liu Yuntao, the General of the Western Campaign of the Great State of Yu, was sitting alone in the hall. “General, I have returned,” Zhang Kai said in a low voice as he knelt on one knee outside the hall. “Come in and speak,” Liu Yuntao said indifferently. Zhang Kai kept his head bowed as he cautiously stepped into the council hall. The hall was enormous, spanning five hundred square meters. More than forty chairs were arranged along the east and west sides, but there was only one seat at the head of the hall, where Liu Yuntao sat. The furnishings in the hall were very simple, completely devoid of any hint of luxury; yet, everyone who stepped inside couldn’t help but feel tense, for the seemingly ordinary hall exuded a heavy, imposing aura. Zhang Kai walked unhurriedly to Liu Yuntao’s side and knelt down: “General, I have confirmed that yesterday, the Blood Battle Legion encountered the elite forces of the Golden Wolf Empire east of Cangyun Ridge and was completely annihilated. Fortunately, General Mo burned the legion’s banner, so it did not fall into the hands of the Golden Wolf Empire.” Upon hearing this, a flash of anger crossed Liu Yuntao’s face. “Did you get a clear look? Are you certain there were no survivors at all?” Liu Yuntao asked. Zhang Kai hesitated for a moment: “General, by the time we arrived, the soldiers’ bodies had already been torn apart by the wild beasts of the grasslands. I could only identify them by their armor. Judging from the scene, including General Mo Yunjie, it seems there were likely no survivors from the Blood Battle Legion.” After a long silence, Liu Yuntao snorted coldly. “Immediately dispatch men to recover the bodies of the Blood Battle Legion’s soldiers. Regardless of whether the bodies are intact, bring them back—even if it’s just their weapons or armor… Furthermore, conduct a thorough investigation into how the Blood Battle Legion fell into an ambush. I refuse to believe that, given Mo Yunjie’s capabilities, he would have been so easily ambushed by the Golden Wolf Empire!” “Yes, sir!” After Zhang Kai left, Liu Yuntao slowly rose to his feet. He gazed out the window, his expression grave and deeply troubled. “Based on my memories, this should be the place.” After walking for over an hour, Zhou Tianci arrived at the military camp located east of the City of Tears and Blood. Returning to the barracks was not Zhou Tianci’s own choice. He had unexpectedly arrived in this world and taken possession of this body; he had intended to fully experience the wonders of a world of cultivation, not to return to the confines of the barracks. But Zhou Tianci had no choice. Whether he liked it or not, Zhou Tianci had inherited everything from the original body, including his status as a soldier of the Great State of Yu. If he simply walked away and was discovered, he would be treated as a deserter—and the Great State of Yu’s punishment for desertion was extremely severe. What worried Zhou Tianci even more was that the Great State of Yu was home to many powerful cultivators; in the City of Tears and Blood alone, there were no fewer than ten Xiantian-level experts. If he were placed on the Great State of Yu’s most-wanted list, with his current cultivation at the mid-Houtian level, he would undoubtedly face certain death. Furthermore, although military discipline was strict, it also offered many benefits—such as the cultivation techniques Zhou Tianci desperately needed, as well as a deeper understanding of this world. At the same time, Zhou Tianci still wanted to figure out why he had been able to devour the short-tailed hyena. “Stop! This is a restricted military area. Leave immediately, or you’ll be killed without mercy!” A guard’s voice halted Zhou Tianci in his tracks. Zhou Tianci stepped forward steadily and clasped his hands in a bow, saying, “Please announce that Squad Leader Zhou Shi of the Fifth Squad, First Platoon, Third Battalion of the Blood Battle Legion has returned.” Zhou Shi was the original owner of the body Zhou Tianci now inhabited. The guard sized him up and asked with a stern expression, “Where is your command token?” Zhou Tianci took a dark silver token from his person—proof of his identity—and tossed it over. The guard caught it, examined it, and only then granted him passage. After retrieving his token, Zhou Tianci slowly entered the barracks. Zhou Tianci had no idea that, because of his return, a storm was already brewing in the City of Tears and Blood!