Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

Her dark eyes looked at Ning Che, but did not reflect his image.

Ning Che nodded in agreement and went back to cultivate, only bringing her meals in the morning and evening.

She didn't eat much; even when she bought large pieces of cooked meat, she only ate a few bites. After that, Ning Che only bought two ounces.

Finally relieved that the matter was settled, he returned to the barracks and took out a copy of "The Cicada-Chasing Steps" from his pocket. The edges of the pages were slightly damp with sweat, but not wrinkled.

He began to flip through the pages.

People say that cicadas sense the autumn wind before it blows; this method is faster than the autumn wind.

Its internal magical power circulates exceptionally rapidly, thus placing high demands on the meridians in the legs. Without specialized tempering, it is easy to injure oneself.

These abilities are not outwardly apparent. Thanks to the special way of manipulating magical power, once one achieves a certain level, one can move quickly and silently, and even neutralize the sound of wind breaking.

This method is divided into three levels: thunder, wind, and silence.

At first, the movements were as swift as thunder; then, with profound cultivation, they became as light as a breeze; finally, at the highest level, when performed by a seventh-rank cultivator, the movements were faster than the sound, and silence could be achieved.

Ning Che practiced diligently for three full days, even missing a night of his cultivation, before finally being able to enter the path.

Over the past three days, news gradually spread through the camp that the calamity was about to end. This great disaster that had swept across the land was finally coming to a close.

Ning Che also learned more about the Nine Calamities:

Aside from being instinctively perceived by all cultivators when it is about to happen, the Nine Calamities have no other omens, no particular order, and what will happen next is entirely random.

In terms of frequency, it occurs almost every few decades or decades, occasionally with intervals as short as a few years. Moreover, there are precedents for the nine calamities occurring simultaneously, which will bring about some complex and terrifying changes, and the previous dynasty perished as a result.

Of course, he wasn't the only one growing or preparing these days.

When the news reached the women's camp, Zhong Hongyao had just finished her training.

A female companion was talking with great interest about the martial arts competition three days later. She was about to go have dinner, but suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Who is Hu Shan?

"Hey, let me tell you, this Hu Shan is a veteran in the camp. He's been an eighth-rank official for almost ten years, and he's also one of Zhao Ban Tou's men."

"Tsk tsk, that Xing really doesn't know his own limitations. He defeated an eighth-rank cultivator who used evil methods and thinks he has the strength of an eighth-rank cultivator." The female companion's words were full of disdain, and there was also a hint of sourness.

"Anything else?" Zhong Hongyao's voice was a little colder, and for some reason, she felt a little uncomfortable.

After all, Hu Shan was just an outsider, and naturally there was a difference in closeness compared to his colleagues, she thought.

The female companion, oblivious to the change in her tone, continued, "I heard he gambled two spirit stones. If you ask me, it's better that Xing lost. He's so arrogant, wanting to challenge the rules of so many years. It's time to teach him a lesson."

Zhong Hongyao didn't reply, but turned and left. Not towards dinner, but towards leaving the mountain.

Her female companion called out from behind her, "Aren't you going to eat?"

She did not answer.

On the other side, in the independent courtyard of Yingbei.

Zhao, the foreman, sat in the dark without a lamp. On the table in front of him were two things: a knife and a box. The knife was newly sharpened, its blade gleaming with a bluish light. The box was carved with delicate patterns, and no one knew what was inside.

There was a knock on the door, a deep voice: "Head of the squad."

Zhao, the foreman, didn't look up. "Come in."

Hu Shan pushed open the door and sat down opposite Zhao Bantou. Dusk seeped in through the window cracks, turning them into gray silhouettes.

Zhao, the squad leader, pushed the knife forward, and the scabbard scraped against the table with a very faint sound.

"This is the sword I used before, a mid-grade magic weapon."

Hu Shan took the knife, pulled it out half an inch, and saw that the blade gleamed with a bluish light, illuminating his eyes. He sheathed the knife and placed it on his lap.

Zhao Bantou pushed the box over again.

Hu Shan placed his hand on the box lid, and the restriction light shone under his palm, illuminating his entire hand.

The lid popped open, revealing a flat pill inside. Its surface was dull, displaying a deep, dark red color that absorbed light, like congealed blood. Fine, spiderweb-like patterns radiated from the center of the pill, and it had no odor.

Zhao Bantou did not explain what the elixir was.

But Hu Shan clearly recognized him.

He stared at the pill, seemingly frozen, and sat there for a long time.

Then he closed the lid, and the spell went out. He stood up, without taking the box, and walked to the door.

"Boss, I will win." He said without turning around, then pushed open the door and left.

The door closed behind him.

Zhao Bantou sat in the darkness, saying nothing more.

Outside the window, the lights in the camp lit up one by one.

That night, the camp lights stayed on later than usual.

Lin Ye practiced his boxing in the training ground until he dented the iron stakes.

"Xing, Hu Shan..."

He muttered to himself, his eyes seemingly burning with fire.

As usual, the clinic lights stayed on all night. Zhao He touched the scabs on his body and watched the moonlight leak through the cracks in the window, shining on the medicine packet beside his pillow. It was wrapped in linen and tied very tightly.

Chen Mu wasn't asleep either. He tried to raise his right arm, but stopped halfway up. Moonlight moved over and fell on his right shoulder.

At the other end of the barracks, the skinny man threw his tiger-shaped ring onto his bunk, gritting his teeth. The cast-iron ring gleamed coldly, but it was too small to reflect his face.

From the mountaintop, Mu Qingming looked down at the brightly lit city.

"interesting."

His signature smile returned, and he closed his folding fan, gently tapping it against his palm.

Three days later, when the morning light shone through the mountains.

The stands beside the training ground were already quite full of people. In fact, because the drought was about to end, many of the mountain guardians who were on missions outside had returned, so there were even more spectators than on the day of the newcomer competition.

On the central arena, the formation had been activated. This was also a paid service, costing a thousand coins, which Ning Che and Hu Shan each paid half of.

Ning Che arrived a quarter of an hour before the duel began, his long hair loose, his clothes simple, and a crescent moon pendant at his waist, its cold light gleaming.

Across from him, Hu Shan also emerged. He was shirtless, and also held a knife in his right hand. Some spectators recognized the knife and whispered among themselves, their words revealing their skepticism towards Ning Che.

Zhong Hongyao pushed through the crowd and, to Ning Che's slightly surprised look, stuffed a small celadon bottle into his hand.

"What is this?"

"I made some pills myself. If you take them, your chances of winning will be better later."

Ning Che looked her over again and saw that the girl was turning her head away from him, her hands clenched into fists and pressed against her sides, her arms straight.

"No."

Ning Che wanted to return the bottle of medicine to her, but she ran away.

"Brother Xing, you have to win!"

Zhao He and Chen Mu actually managed to come too, squeezing into the crowd and shouting at him.

Ning Che nodded to them, hesitated for a moment, and then put the porcelain bottle into his pocket.

Take the stage.