Day 25-70 Who the heck is a Lieutenant?

Once standing tall in front was none other than Shen Sheng of the North Guardian Mansion. A spike of ice stuck out of his back and the entirety of his front was freezing by the second. Xinghe had already stepped back creating distance between them.

"He involved on your behalf, so it counts as my way win." Xinghe looked at the scared scion behind the growing popsicle. "Unless you want to go again that is?"

"No.. it is your win." Huyan Yong was no fool and felt that Yinghe put qi in once Shen Sheng jumped in. He was taking it easy on him by just relying on his body. "I will make sure to deliver once this matter concludes."

Giving respect, part of Huyan Yong hoped that Shen Sheng would take Ye Xinghe away. But that was defintely not happening by the looks of it. As the man was breaking free of the frost with great difficulty.

"Haa, Sheng don't die on me." Xia Yuning sighed shaking her head. Her father insisted in having a bigger presence in the academy after she refused to go back. Shen Sheng was just one of her tails. He didn't want to explain the history of her mother and that of the Lin Family. "This was a match between them after all."

"My apologies my lady," Sheng got himself free with great effort but was deprived of a lot of his Qi. "I did not want the young Lieutenant to cause a problems for himself from acting hastily."

The address of Lieutenant had everyone shocked, including Xinghe himself. The frown on his face was no joke or any bit of surprise.

"Clarify.. now." Yuning didn't like this at all.

"The Patriarch of the Ye Family agreed it would be in the best interest to take the offer. So on behalf of Xinghe, and his family it was agreed to take him into the military." Sheng could still feel his qi moving slowly. Enough that fear crept in when looking from Xia Yuning to Ye Xinghe even more so. "The benefits should help you well into becoming a 9th Heavenly Layer in a few decades."

A few thought this was a great honor. More than a few thought of ways to endear themselves to the Azure Feather Family someone as well as Old Xu.

Old Yuan wanted to get far away as possible.

"Heh," Xinghe scoffed then turned towards old Xu and Huyan Yong. "I want my wager, before I leave." As they left to make sure it was followed out, Sheng addressed him with respect despite having a higher rank then him and station. "Haa, so weak."

"I am sorry to offend you by being weak." The Royal Guard of the North was a lot better than his comrades in the same age group as him. But not by much and was still arrogant like most of them. 'If not for the North lord wanting to find out if this young man is capable of protecting Yuning, I wouldn't have to deal with any of this.'

The next half hour was done in silence. Ye Xignhe thinking on how to deal with the situation in the long run and presently. The rumor mill will catch with him becoming part of the North Lord's military so he needed to plant that it was not by choice really quickly.

The Demon Emperor still had to many forces, the Envoys would beat teh crap out of most of his group with ease. The Royal Family needed to be killed all the same since they carried such blood from the Ancestor of the Azure Feather Family via the side of his sister, they should give good benefits to his current body.

Upgrading it with refinement before he completed to many and was beyond any benefits it could give him. Then again, it might be already and not really worth a damn for himself but could promote a few people in the Azure Feather Family quickly.

"Haa, not obeying nothing that fool has to say." Xinghe sighed shaking his head. "Gonna have to go and beat up the Patriarch of "my" Azure Feather Family for making decisions on my life and future."

*Woosh!* A violent wave of Qi exuded with the circulation of the Heart Method. To dominant the old Patriarch after declaring it in front of so many others, he achieved a small increase in the technique.

"I decide my own life, not some useless relic!" Calming himself, Zhao Ning next to him bowed, succeeding to his words and preparing herself for the worst when they arrived in Blue Carp Town. "The training might cut down a little while traveling."

"That is fine, we have much to talk about anyway." Zhao Ning rather go over martial theory than fight Demon Beasts all day. Besides the amount, they would do to obtain food of course for his family and for the refinement process that will be needed. "With 90% of the World Forest Demon Beasts and other Unsavory things, we have more than enough time to get some in later."

Old Xu returned with a box and bag. Inside the box were Manuals of the Phoenix Feather Family. Old things they couldn't understand but Ye Xinghe could, after all, those he refined and knowledge he obtained.

"Thanks." Turning to leave, both himself and Zhao Ning shot off. With one more following them. "Shouldn't you be with the princess of yours?"

Shen Sheng followed at a respectable pace but it was very apparent he was following them.

"In the event that you and the Princess were to separate, I am to follow you." Sheng watched the bag get handed over to Zhao Ning who started to look through it. "I cannot disobey that order."

"You know I could just kill you and blame it on bandits or the rebels." Xinghe smiled looking over his shoulder. Refining him would give nice little tidbits of the plans the North Lord had made. Staring at the man like a meal unnerved the Royal Guard. "You are so weak.. I feel it is my duty to do so really."

"A good way for the North Mansion people to understand they are not the strongest around." Zhao Ning muttered. She found a pair of feather earrings. A Rune pattern on them looked damaged and worn out. She placed it back in the bag and pulled out some seeds. "This will go well for later."

"You can try, but I will not go down without a fight." Sheng bluffed. He was having trouble keeping up with the two currently. Relying solely on his body while his qi recovered. 'I must take the time to consume medicine to help this along. I must keep the pride of the North Lord from falling even further.'

"Heh," Xinghe smirked and left it be for now. If Shen Sheng reported something that brought some more people later, it was for the best to leave him alive for now. After getting far enough away and checking with the Heart Method if anyone else followed them, the bag was placed in his Internal Space along with the box. "nothing really promising from the books they had, how disappointing."

"My family has some old Manuals to check out, it won't be difficult to get them for you to look over later." Zhao Ning already had some servants looking into it in a few places. "The more we check over the better right?"

"Yes." He gave a simple nod and sped up a little more. Letting Techlis and the other Frost Birds out to go hunt ahead of them. Sheng gasped at the power of the beasts by mistake. Hoping they didn't hear him. "Once we catch up with them later, it will be time for a good break."

"Ok!" Zhao Ning steeled herself and attacked immediately using Star Blade. The condensed energy was thick and traveled all the way up to her elbow. "I won't disappoint you!"

As the two clashed while moving forward, Shen Sheng frowned as the young lady of the Zhao family was stronger than Xia Yuning during the Smelting Trial by a good margin!

Unable to determine what Ye Xinghe was currently at, he settled on him just being in the 5th Heavenly Layer. But very aware this was just him flexing some power and not an indicator on how far in the 5th Heavenly Realm he obtained.

.

Offer.. again-

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Liang Yu had just finished a book called "Myriad Valley," a location near Blue Carp Lake. Which is composed of several islands. The translation was off a bit the first time it was read but simple this time around.

The only thing of real note in the town was the fact Mount Beiming was not that far away. Which had several secrets within. This did not change from previously which served his purpose well for when he moves in the area to acquire what he needs.

'I need to get to the mountains to get some stuff for myself.' Liang Yu put the book away climbing down the ladder. 'Some nice things are in that area as well for the others to get. I also need to figure out if I can obtain more from revisiting areas instead of using the refined Vortex Energy to reinforce my memory.'

Wu Long was currently reading a few books on smithing. With Liang Yu having passed on some old Runesmithing and Dragon Martial Arts that Flame Martial Artists could use, the young man never found himself bored.

Having pushed back the trip with the Prime Soul having to deal with the military situation now, Liang Yu was thinking about his few plans regarding the Military but deciding against it afterward for now.

The other thought Liang Yu had, was to head to the military still like the other going with as well if need be. The number of bodies available would defintely allow him to have almost an endless supply of resources.

Then to fight against the Northern Barbarians, that could serve him to learn all sorts of things about the place. Much more than what was acquired previously.

'But that may put me under the scrutiny of others if I "destroy" the bodies of friend and foe alike. They may want to take them home for ceremonies and all that nonsense still. But resources for me are more important. Covering the bodies in flame on the outside and storing them in my Internal Space after a moment worked for the best last time. But the bodies are destroyed a little in the process if I rush.'

Liang Yu was so deep in thought, he didn't notice Liang Jian in front of him. Until a hand triggered his self-defense.

*Pat!* The two clashed for a moment. Liang Jian was already aware that would happen. But not the other students in the library. Some fled, others looked around thinking an attack was imminent.

Some students were still dealing with the aftermath of friends turning sides. As well as teachers mind you.

"Can we talk..?" Liang Jian had a wry smile on his face. Despite his higher cultivation, he was reminded that Liang Yu trained more than him still. 'I guess I can not slack off on the harder cultivation methods he gave to me! Must always push forward!'

Liang Jian was forced to take a step back.

"Sure, what's up?" Liang Yu hoped it wasn't about Dark Moon matters. "Congrats on your breakthrough. I think you will be able to push those techniques I gave you a little better now. After you fix yourself of course."

"Always adding on has helped while translation is just so bad."

The advanced techniques were found in the library and modified with the information obtained by those refined further. A few demonic beats instinctual behavior helped but it would require several more of one type to make a vast improvement still.

The teachers encouraged them to actually dive deeper into the books after going over a few of the methods provided by Old Xu. Which was in turn provided by Liang Yu and Ye Xinghe. But Old Xu worked for a better go between and earned decent profits and benefits for it.

Lore on demonic beasts were still not plentiful for some reason. With Liang Yu providing more information and details on the demon beasts habits, Old Xu increased the number of resources allocated to him and the number of students taken in.

"Well.. it is about old Xu." Liang Yu started walking out as they talked. "He took me, Wu Long, and Linlin in as disciples. I guess he wants to try and make amends to you for requesting you stay and participate in the tournament."

"It does help us a little more. Need the experience all around. Never know what people might pull out when pushed into a corner." Liang Yu thought about the few family and people worth recruiting in the Academy still. "Can't leave our Lightning friend behind. Best to get a good firm hold on him."

"As well as have some people to fight on his behalf in the Tower of God Tournament coming up by the Academy as well as the one in the Capital afterward. The Lei Family is not that bad from what we know. Just need a little nudging."

Several students moved out of the way after greeting Liang Yu and Liang Jian. Both had a pretty good reputation thanks to what happened in the Smelting Trial. Gossip had done its job during the downtime as new teachers were vetted and brought in. As well as the praises of teacher Li.

"We will need him to help in revitalizing and changing things. Call it a hunch." Liang Yu greeted others in response while moving. Just a simple head nod really. Some habits are hard to remove. 'This Dimension is so different that we still need to be wary of people coming to cause problems just in case.'

The students looked fully energetic. The rewards for the tournament were supposed to be really good. A way for the Academy to try and bring the students back to their side. Help build faith in them again.

"Beating him should help. That is why I made sure to join the tournament. It is a single-elimination set of matches. Pretty easy I think." His ear was grabbed and received a pretty bad twist to it. "Ow ow!" Getting free only relieved the pain, not the shame. "What did you do that for?!"

"And thats how you will end up losing or dead. Most have more "experience" than you do remember?" Liang Yu shook his head in disappointment. The memories were there but Liang Jian's mindset sort of lapsed into his strength as an adult to many times. "I swear you are impatient to much. Have the others been building your ego up again?"

"What!? No!" Liang Jian denied quickly. It was in fact the truth. "Speaking of the family.."

"Ugh, what do they want now?" Liang Yu knew it wouldn't be anything good. They didn't even send some play money for him this month. In fact, they only sent a letter to not embarrass the Dark Moon Family and to come home soon. Liang Yu's response was for them to fuck off. In a very polite way. "Not heading back there, my "studies" are more important after all."

The two smiled as those in the Dark moon Family they cared about deeply were already safe and getting moved far away.