The Crimson Dragon Orientation

The Crimson Dragon Mountains stretched into the distance, their farthest peaks invisible even to the eyes of Immortal cultivators.

Atop one of those peaks, the massive, tower-shaped teleportation formation blazed with light.

“Whoosh!”

Fifty-two figures, Ji Ning among them, materialized within the formation.

“So fast.” Ji Ning glanced around. Although he had already ridden the formation once before, its speed still astonished him.

“Wait here. Someone from the Yinglong Guard will come to receive you shortly.” A red-faced old man, the leader of the ten plainly dressed elders tasked with maintaining the teleportation formation, called out loudly.

The fifty-two of them obediently stepped out of the formation’s base and waited silently nearby.

Soon.

A massive, wide ship descended from the clouds and mists in the distance, parting the air with a great roar and landing directly on the mountain peak.

Fluttering down from the great ship was an incredibly alluring woman in pink robes. Behind her followed a retinue of other stunning beauties. For a moment, it seemed as though celestial maidens had descended to the mortal world as the women flew down from the ship. Following them, a group of spirit-beasts also flew down, immediately rushing towards various cultivators.

“Uncle White!” Ji Ning spotted the Whitewater Hound among the spirit-beasts.

A hint of joy was visible in the Whitewater Hound’s eyes. These past three months had indeed made him increasingly worried, for if a master died, his spirit-beast would be freed from its bond. The spirit-beasts could sense this themselves. Frequently, some spirit-beasts would simply fly away, and as they departed one by one, those that remained understood that many of the dead cultivators had not survived.

“Ning, my child.” Uncle White arrived by Ji Ning’s side, then suddenly noticed the small green serpent raising its head on Ji Ning’s wrist. He was startled. “Ning, this little serpent?”

“This is the Skygreen Serpent,” Ji Ning communicated mentally. “She was the same Skygreen Serpent I fought back when I roamed the Eastmarsh Swamp. This time, we met by chance in the Mount Yujue Wasteland and went through life and death together. Perhaps because I saved her life, she voluntarily offered to become my spirit-beast. And so, well... here she is.”

The Whitewater Hound nodded gently, his gaze towards the Skygreen Serpent filled with goodwill. He transmitted mentally to Ji Ning: “Skygreen Serpents are often able to discover rare treasures. Their potential is also astonishing. She is indeed very suitable to follow you, Ning.”

“Are you that Uncle White?” Qingqing transmitted her voice.

The Whitewater Hound’s eyes held a trace of mirth as he looked at her.

“You were a sworn brother of Ji Ning’s father? I heard you’re both from Yan Mountain. I’m from Yan Mountain too, so we’re practically fellow townsmen. The three of us—me, my master, and you, Uncle White—should be called the Three Heroes of Yan Mountain!” Qingqing transmitted her message with great enthusiasm.

While Ji Ning and the other cultivators were getting reacquainted with their spirit-beasts, the alluring women were curiously observing them. The leader of the women, the one in pink, waited a moment before speaking: “Everyone.”

The fifty-two all looked at her.

“First, congratulations on returning alive. You may address me as ‘Daoist Yulan’.” Her skin was visible through the pink, gauzy fabric, and her voice carried a powerful, enchanting charm. If Yun Lu’s allure was innate, this woman’s was the result of cultivation techniques and secret arts.

This kind of enchantment was far more intense!

Especially since she was a Primal Daoist. Her charm even affected the Dao-hearts of some Wanxiang Adepts.

“Please, bring out the heads of your Wanxiang great demons so I can examine them.” Daoist Yulan’s eyes were full of seductive charm, captivating to the extreme. “Those who did not obtain the head of a Wanxiang great demon should step forward of their own accord, so that I may have less trouble.”

Seven figures immediately walked out and stood far away.

The others, including Ji Ning, set down the bodies and heads of the Wanxiang great demons they had collected in the open space beside them.

The bodies of great demons differ from those of humans. Human bodies are naturally weak. Unless they cultivate the Fiendgod Body Refining method, they are quite fragile.

But great demons are different. Many of them possess innate abilities and are born with powerful physiques. Although they are far inferior to Fiendgods, their bodies are still superior to ordinary humans. Many demonic beasts will take their strongest body part and refine it into a lifeblood treasure. From this, one can see that their bodies are indeed extraordinary.

Thus, it is very easy to determine whether a head belonged to a Wanxiang-level demon.

“Mm.” Daoist Yulan directly released her divine sense, invading the heads of each and every great demon corpse. After just a single breath, she nodded slightly. “Good, they all meet the level of a Wanxiang great demon.”

“You seven, wait here. Someone will arrange for your departure soon.” Daoist Yulan glanced at the somewhat disheveled seven, then her gaze turned to the remaining forty-five. “You forty-five, bring your spirit-beasts and follow me onto the ship.”

Soon.

The enchanting Daoist Yulan led Ji Ning and the others onto the great ship.

“This Daoist Yulan is truly…” Ji Ning’s forehead was damp with a faint sweat, and he felt a subtle heat in his lower abdomen. Women like Yun Lu or Jiu Lian did not stir his heart. But Daoist Yulan’s allure was fundamentally different; it was the result of cultivation techniques and secret arts.

The charm technique of a Primal Daoist was not so easily resisted!

Even his junior disciple-brother, Mu Northson, had a face flushed red. Some Wanxiang Adepts had eyes filled with undisguised desire. It was only their tempered Dao-hearts that allowed them to maintain their final shred of composure.

Daoist Yulan swept her gaze across them and let out a soft laugh.

That single glance, that single smile.

It caused many Wanxiang Adepts to shut their eyes.

“A femme fatale, a true femme fatale,” Ji Ning thought to himself. “No wonder Earth’s history had so many stories of nations being destroyed by such beauties. These Wanxiang Adepts each have firm Dao-hearts, and even they are bewitched like this. If she went to charm a mortal emperor, she would certainly make him give up his empire for her.”

The great ship flew through the clouds and mists.

At the same time, Daoist Yulan waved her hand. Books flew out, floating before each of the forty-five.

“Congratulations, the forty-five of you are now new members of the Yinglong Guard!” Daoist Yulan announced. “From the moment you became a member, you possess certain privileges exclusive to the Yinglong Guard. But at the same time, you must also bear certain responsibilities.”

“Read this carefully.”

Daoist Yulan instructed.

Ji Ning and the others all flipped through their respective books.

“As expected of the Yinglong Guard.” Ji Ning was secretly astonished. The privileges described in the book were overbearingly potent. It was as if a cultivator was donning the Emperor’s own mantle, allowing them to walk with impunity.

The Beishan clan of Anchan could only act with such impunity within Anchan Commandery.

But a member of the Yinglong Guard could do so in any commandery within the Grand Xia Dynasty!

“Responsibilities?” Ji Ning glanced at the list.

They were simple enough.

A One-Claw Yinglong Guard had to complete a task worth one point of Karmic Merit every ten years (one merit being the most basic mission).

A Two-Claw Yinglong Guard had to complete one hundred merit points every hundred years (a normal Two-Claw mission was worth that much).

A Three-Claw Yinglong Guard had to complete ten thousand merit points every thousand years (a normal Three-Claw mission was worth ten thousand).

A Four-Claw Yinglong Guard had to complete a million merit points every ten thousand years (a normal Four-Claw mission was worth a million).

A Five-Claw Yinglong Guard had the highest status, able to command the armies of the Yinglong Guard, their stature equal to that of a feudal lord.

These were the most basic requirements. These were the responsibilities of the Yinglong Guard.

For cultivators like Ji Ning and the others, who were at the Wanxiang level, completing one ordinary mission in ten years was easy. For instance, a simple mission like hunting down a criminal like Beizi Shan was already considered a standard task. As long as they fulfilled their basic quota, the branch headquarters wouldn’t bother them.

For some Loose Immortals, they might only need to complete a mission once every thousand or even ten thousand years. Comparatively, it was quite relaxed.

“So easy,” Mu Northson transmitted to Ji Ning. “Senior apprentice-brother, being a Yinglong Guard is indeed relaxed. According to this, we could easily take on missions worth ten merit points. After completing one, we’d have a hundred years of leisure and freedom.”

“You’d be free and easy, true, but you wouldn’t get any secret arts, divine abilities, magic treasures, or rare artifacts,” Ji Ning transmitted back.

“Uh…” Mu Northson quickly flipped to the later pages and his eyes widened. “What?! Divine abilities and secret arts require Karmic Merit to exchange for? And you need a certain rank as well?”

Many divine abilities were only accessible to Two-Claw or even Three-Claw Yinglong Guards.

However, there was one exception.

Becoming an Inner Guard of the Yinglong Guard.

“Finished reading?” Daoist Yulan’s gaze swept across the assembled new recruits. “The store of divine abilities and secret arts in our Yinglong Guard is the most abundant and diverse. Even the Beishan clan of Anchan cannot compare to us. Because our Yinglong Guard is the mightiest force in the entire Grand Xia Dynasty.”

“But these divine abilities, secret arts, and many rare treasures are not something you can learn or obtain for free.”

“After all…”

“With such ease, completing one mission earning you a century or a millennium of peace, seeking to obtain divine abilities and secret arts would be an imbalance in effort and reward.” Daoist Yulan explained. “Thus, you have two paths. Either you cultivate slowly, and when you advance to a Two-Claw or even a Three-Claw Yinglong Guard, you will gradually gain access to these arts.”

Ji Ning and the others shook their heads inwardly.

A Two-Claw Yinglong Guard was comparable in combat power to an ordinary Primal Daoist, like senior apprentice-brother Xue Hongyi.

A Three-Claw Yinglong Guard was likely comparable to an ordinary Loose Immortal.

By the time they reached that level, it would be far too late to cultivate divine abilities.

“Or, you can choose to become an Inner Guard of the Yinglong Guard, pledging absolute loyalty to our Grand Xia Dynasty. The Guard will then spare no effort in nurturing you!” Daoist Yulan looked at them. “You can think it over. Whether it’s a year, ten years, or a hundred years, we welcome you to become part of the Inner Guard at any time.”

Ji Ning and the others all understood.

An ordinary Yinglong Guard was akin to a guest elder. They had tremendous freedom and some privileges.

But an Inner Guard was equivalent to a loyal soldier of the Grand Xia Dynasty!

In truth, in the very early days of the Yinglong Guard, every single member was required to be an Inner Guard. However, cultivators at heart pursue freedom and unrestraint. The more talented the cultivator, the more true this was. If the terms were too strict, it would only drive many peerless experts and geniuses away…

Thus, the Yinglong Guard had to open its doors to talent far and wide.

Afterward, a separate ‘Inner Guard’ was established.

This way, many carefree Loose Immortals and independent cultivators proactively joined the Yinglong Guard. The Guard’s reputation and power exploded, making it the indisputably strongest martial force in the entire Grand Xia Dynasty. The number of hidden great powers within the Yinglong Guard was so large that perhaps even the Grand Xia Emperor himself could not count them all.

No one knew what ancient monsters were hidden within the Yinglong Guard.

And today…

Ji Ning had also become a member of the Yinglong Guard, though only the most ordinary One-Claw version.

Volume Nine, ‘Winged Serpent Lake Ji Ning,’ officially begins!