156: The base under the Luojiang River

"Follow me."

The 251 Trainees followed Ning Xing, boarded an aircraft, and flew rapidly downstream along the Luo River.

After only half an hour, the aircraft hovered in mid-air.

"A military base?"

Indeed.

Ning Xing had brought everyone to a military base that spanned both banks.

Xiao Weiqing even saw modernized weaponry—Spiritual Qi cannons. Thousands of barrels were neatly arranged along both banks, all aimed directly at the Luo River.

Along the shore here, there were guards every five steps and sentries every ten; they were all from the Demon Suppressing Army.

One kilometer upstream, there was a dam, imposing and majestic.

"Requesting permission to land!"

...

"Permission granted."

...

The aircraft landed. The hatch opened. Two familiar faces were waiting outside: Jiang Peng and Wang Fu.

"Hello, Principal Ning."

"Hmm. Is the submarine ready?"

"It will be ready momentarily."

"Alright. Brief them on the situation; I'm heading down first." After saying this, Ning Xing quickly took flight and dove straight into the Luo River.

Once Ning Xing left, Fei Xiaobao immediately asked, "Senior, what is the Principal doing? Also, aren't we supposed to be slaying Yao Beasts? Why are we here?"

Many others had the same question.

Jiang Peng said, "Ever since three years ago, the Luo Jiang Academy's 'slaying Yao' trial has no longer been about slaying Yao Beasts—we are slaying the real Yao Race!"

"What do you mean?"

Wang Fu spoke slowly,

"Five years ago."

"Two Demon Sovereigns, several Seventh Realm Great Demon Kings, and dozens of Sixth Realm Demon Kings led a massive Yao Race army through the Demon Realm Entrance into the Luo River, arriving on Blue Star."

"Luo Jiang Prefecture was caught off guard. The Demon Suppressing Army suffered heavy losses, and over one-third of the teachers and Trainees from Luo Jiang Academy were killed or injured. It took two days and three nights of fighting before they were completely wiped out."

"Wait, Senior, you just said Yao Race? Are they Yao Beasts?" someone asked.

Wang Fu shook his head, "Unfortunately, no."

"The Yao Race is a powerful, civilized species. Because they resemble the monsters in mythology—with beast-like faces and human bodies—we call them the Yao Race. The Yao Race is bloodthirsty and powerful. At the same cultivation level, only those of us who Cultivate and possess a Level 3 Extraordinary Talent can barely fight them."

"The discovery of the Yao Race happened twenty years after the resurgence of Spiritual Qi."

"The first Demon Realm Entrance was located within our Great Xia's Jingdu Prefecture. This Demon Realm Entrance in the Luo River is the seventh one discovered within Great Xia."

Xiao Weiqing asked, "Is our trip here to enter the Demon Realm?"

Jiang Peng nodded, "That's correct."

"We will take a submarine to the Demon Realm Entrance shortly."

"The Demon Realm Entrance is under the Luo River?"

"Yes."

Xiao Weiqing was a bit puzzled and asked again, "Senior, haven't the Yao Race invaded again in all these years? Why have we never heard of it?"

Jiang Peng explained, "The Yao Race entrance wasn't stable when it first connected to Blue Star. Five years ago, this Demon Realm Entrance descended beneath the Luo River. Although it is anchored here, on the other side, the entrance from the Demon Realm into Blue Star is not fixed; it changes locations several times a day."

"Even now, the other side of the Luo River Demon Realm Entrance changes location every seven days."

"Back then, when those Yao Race Powerhouses entered the Luo River, it was because the passage was unstable and they couldn't go back, so they fought to the death."

"Furthermore, every entrance on Blue Star is now heavily guarded. Coupled with the fact that various countries intentionally suppress the news, the average person knows very little. You will need to sign a confidentiality agreement when you enter the underground base shortly."

Wang Fu sighed, "Speaking of which, it was just bad luck for our Luo Jiang Prefecture. When the entrance first suddenly descended, there just happened to be a powerful Yao Race tribe near the entrance. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been so passive and suffered such heavy losses."

"Regarding that Yao Race invasion five years ago, we only announced it to the public as a Yao Beast riot; that was also to suppress the news."

Wang Fu continued,

"For a hundred years, even though the first Demon Realm Entrance that descended has long been formed, it is mostly humans who take the initiative to attack. Rarely do the Yao Race enter Blue Star through the entrance, so everyone doesn't need to worry too much."

"You should know that the Demon Realm is full of treasures. If you enter once and return alive, you will definitely gain something. Moreover, slaying the Yao Race can earn you contribution points, which can be exchanged for unexpected treasures."

"I see." Xiao Weiqing asked again, "Since our Demon Realm Entrance changes location every seven days, doesn't that mean if we don't return within seven days after entering the Demon Realm, we won't be able to come back?"

"That is correct. Therefore, you must be cautious when entering the Demon Realm and try not to stray too far."

*Whoosh.* A giant submarine surfaced from the river.

"Let's go. Let's enter the base first."

Everyone entered the submarine in turn. In less than five minutes, the submarine submerged beneath the river, passed through a thick gate at the riverbed, and arrived underground at a huge, circular base.

Everyone walked out of the hatch.

A unit of the Demon Suppressing Army was guarding the entrance. The leader held an instrument and scanned everyone's Wristband one by one.

He then said, "This is your first time entering Base No. 7. Now look at your Wristbands; the original functions and information have been sealed and replaced with the System for the Demon Realm."

"You need to pay attention: there are ten circular signals in the upper left corner. After entering the Demon Realm, if only five signals remain, you must start returning. If only three remain, passing through the Demon Realm Entrance channel will be dangerous."

"What if it's less than three?" someone asked weakly.

"That means the passage here has closed and the entrance is about to switch locations. If you enter the passage, you will get lost within it or be torn to shreds by spatial turbulence. In that situation, you had better stay in the Demon Realm. If you are lucky, you might hold on until the next entrance descends near you."

The Trainee who asked the question had his pupils shrink; he was a bit frightened. The thought of being left alone in the Monster Realm was terrifying.

Jiang Peng said, "Senior Song, when will the Demon Realm Entrance open next?"

The leader frowned and shouted coldly, "Jiang Peng, use my rank while on duty."

"This isn't your first time here; do I still need to teach you this?"

"Apologies."

"Captain Song, may I ask when the next..."

"Four hours from now."

"You newbies, since it's your first time entering the Demon Realm, don't run around. Just honestly complete the Academy's trial mission, and ask Jiang Peng for guidance."

After instructing the two hundred-plus newbies, Captain Song strode away.

Fei Xiaobao said, "Senior Jiang, is Captain Song also from Luo Jiang Academy?"

"Yes, he is three grades ahead of me. In the Demon Suppressing Army, a team consists of ten people, and the captains are all at the Peak of the Fourth Realm, about to enter the Fifth Realm. They are powerful."

"Then isn't he stronger than you, Senior Jiang?"

"..."

Jiang Peng said coldly, "I am also in the Fourth Realm."

"But Senior Song is a bit fierce; he isn't as kind as Senior Jiang and Senior Wang," a Trainee remarked.

Wang Fu smiled and explained, "The Demon Suppressing Army often walks on the edge of life and death, so don't mind it. In private, Senior Song Yu is quite easy to talk to."

"Let's go. I'll take you to the Mission Hall to have a look."

Jiang Peng and Wang Fu, familiar with the route, led everyone into a huge square building.

Upon entering, they found an incredibly huge plaza.

In the center of the plaza stood four giant holographic screens, with text scrolling densely across them.

There were also many shops on both sides, and some people were even setting up stalls with various signs posted.