1257: A lively second line of defense

The sky dimmed, and night fell.

Outside the Second Defense Line.

“Phew!”

Looking at the endless queue stretching into the deep night, a middle-aged Cultivator guarding the Alpha-3 entrance of the Second Defense Line couldn't help but let out a long breath.

“This queue is getting longer and longer. I really don’t know if the unlucky fellows at the back will be able to get in by dawn.”

He sighed with emotion, then a smile appeared on his face:

“Fortunately, it's almost time for the shift change, otherwise I’d be busy all night.”

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Three, do you want to have a few drinks at Drunken Flower Pavilion tonight? I heard that a True Disciple from the Ten Thousand Wonders Sect will be performing there tonight. Entry only costs two top-grade spirit crystals. If we miss this opportunity, we won't encounter it again.”

Speaking of which, the middle-aged Cultivator turned to look at his companion beside him, winking and giving him a look that men understood.

The female Cultivators of the Ten Thousand Wonders Sect were all peerlessly beautiful. Even ordinary Disciples were like stars surrounded by the moon, pursued by countless Cultivators.

As for the True Disciples within the Sect, they were one in a million, the best of the best. Descriptions like 'stunningly beautiful' and 'capable of toppling kingdoms' were insufficient to describe them.

Purple Cloud Fairy, who is now well-known on the Demon Disaster Frontline Battlefield and has captured the hearts of countless Cultivators, was once a True Disciple of the Ten Thousand Wonders Sect.

“Sixth Junior Brother, can’t you focus your mind on cultivation?”

The one called Senior Apprentice-Brother Three was an old man with a full head of white hair and a vigorous spirit. He glared at the middle-aged Cultivator in annoyance, saying with a hint of disdain:

“If you were as diligent in cultivation, you would have already broken through the profound barrier and entered the 10th Stage by now. Would you still need to guard the gate here with this old man? By then, our Qingyun Sect could also buy a flying shuttle to earn more spirit crystals.”

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Three, I just mentioned it. Why is your lecturing addiction acting up again?”

“How can that profound barrier be so easily broken? Senior Brother, you’ve been stuck for sixty years, and you still haven't found the opportunity, have you?”

The middle-aged Cultivator rolled his eyes, saying somewhat helplessly:

“Senior Brother, just tell me if you’re going or not. It’s only two top-grade spirit crystals; your Junior Brother can afford to treat you.”

“This… Sixth Junior Brother, are you sure you want to treat?”

The old man hesitated upon hearing this, looking at the middle-aged Cultivator with some disbelief:

“The price of two top-grade spirit crystals was what it was before. Now, I heard that just a standing spot in the Drunken Flower Pavilion’s main hall has already risen to ten top-grade spirit crystals.”

“If you want to reserve a small table for a few drinks, it won’t be less than fifty top-grade spirit crystals.”

“This is almost your annual salary, Senior Brother, I really can’t bear it!”

Speaking of this, the old man stroked his beard.

“What?!”

“I only heard the rumor at noon, and now it’s increased by more than twenty times?!”

The middle-aged Cultivator widened his eyes in astonishment upon hearing this, dumbfounded.

Top-grade spirit crystals were hard currency on the Demon Disaster Frontline Battlefield and even in this Realm; their value was extremely high, equivalent to gold in the mortal world.

He guarded the Alpha-3 entrance at the Second Defense Line, and his monthly income was only five top-grade spirit crystals, barely sixty a year at most.

And even that was after a great deal of effort and pulling many strings.

“Drunken Flower Pavilion is only a mid-to-low-tier establishment in the Second Defense Line. How dare they charge fifty top-grade spirit crystals just to drink in the main hall? There’s not even any 'meat,' why don’t they just rob people?”

The middle-aged Cultivator said furiously, exasperated:

“I spent the night there a few days ago, and it only cost five top-grade spirit crystals!”

“You don’t know anything!”

The old man curled his lips upon hearing this, saying somewhat speechlessly:

“You know the recent situation, don’t you? Once the black market bounty orders were issued, the number of powerful Cultivators arriving at the Second Defense Line has increased severalfold. Just in the past few days, this old man has personally seen several Immortal Seniors swaggering in, and there are countless 11th Stage Realm Master Seniors.”

“With so many powerful Cultivators arriving, how can prices not rise?”

“Otherwise, why do you think the True Disciples of the Ten Thousand Wonders Sect would come to the Second Defense Line and perform at an unknown place like Drunken Flower Pavilion? It’s simply because they can’t get a spot in those bigger venues.”

“This old man heard that the Vice Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Wonders Sect, Qionghua Fairy, who is at the Middle Stage of the 12th Stage, has even come.”

“Hiss! Even such an Immortal powerful Cultivator has come to the Second Defense Line to earn spirit stones?!”

The middle-aged Cultivator was greatly shocked upon hearing this, his mouth agape.

Qionghua Fairy, the Vice Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Wonders Sect, was a legendary figure in this Realm. Her romantic anecdotes, even tens of millions of words, would be difficult to encompass. Which of the top powerful Cultivators active on the Demon Disaster Frontline Battlefield hasn't been written about in small booklets?

Even the Golden Light Temple Ancestor, in a certain rural chronicle, praised Qionghua Fairy as a living Bodhisattva who saved the suffering and performed Physical Body almsgiving.

Bang!

Seeing the middle-aged Cultivator’s expression gradually turn lecherous, the old man couldn't help but slap him.

“What are you thinking, you old sixth?”

“How could a powerful Cultivator like Qionghua Fairy do such vulgar things?”

“It’s the black market bounty order! Qionghua Fairy came for the reward of the black market bounty order!”

Looking at the middle-aged Cultivator holding his head, the old man said with a tone of disappointment:

“It’s not just Qionghua Fairy; many Immortal Seniors who have come to the Second Defense Line, and those 11th Stage Realm Masters, are all here for the bounty order’s reward.”

“That Realm Master-level military merit ranking first, Wang Xiaotu, is now a walking Treasure Trove. Whoever can kill him will immediately soar to greatness.”

Speaking of this, the old man’s expression couldn't help but tremble.

One billion top-grade spirit crystals—this was a number he couldn't even imagine, not to mention the sky-rank breakthrough pill and the supreme divine material capable of forging a Dao Artifact.

If he could obtain them, he would only need to cultivate in seclusion for a hundred years to develop his Sect into a major power, and he would no longer have to guard the gate here.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Three, don’t let your imagination run wild. This kind of thing is not something we can get involved in.”

Seeing the old man lost in thought after speaking, the middle-aged Cultivator quickly interjected, fearing that his Senior Brother might have some inappropriate thoughts.

Wang Xiaotu ranked first on the Realm Master-level military merit list, and his accumulated military merit had already reached a massive 380 million. The combined total of ranks second to thirtieth on the entire military merit list was still less than his alone, truly unprecedented and unparalleled.

The middle-aged Cultivator couldn't even imagine how many demons and demon gods one would have to kill to accumulate such an exaggerated amount of military merit.

He even suspected that placing Wang Xiaotu on the Realm Master-level military merit list meant that there was something wrong with the array spirit of the Search Heaven Lock Earth Great Array, this Thirteen-Order great array.

Otherwise, how could such a monster possibly be an 11th Stage Realm Master in terms of strength?

“You’re right. Such a peerless figure, like a true Dragon in the sky, is not someone we can covet.”

The old man regained his senses, laughed self-deprecatingly, and then composed himself, saying:

“Speaking of this Wang Senior, this old man recalled something. Last night, I made a bet with Fellow Daoist Liu, betting on whether Wang Senior’s military merit would exceed 400 million today. Now is a good time to check.”

As he spoke, he quietly probed his identity jade token with his Divine Sense.

But the next second, his face changed.

“No… why is it gone?!”