Lin Xi was abruptly awakened in the dead of night, hearing the voice of Mu Qing outside the door. He realized that the anxious Emperor of Yunqin had already established the rules; it was time to set off.
Without a trace of panic, he dressed and rose. After meeting with Bian Linghan on the second floor, the two followed Instructor Mu Qing out of the Zhi Ge New Student Hall and stepped into the thick darkness.
Noticing that the usually amiable Mu Qing was unusually silent, Lin Xi could not help but inquire softly, "Instructor Mu, what are the rules for this competition?"
Upon hearing the question, Mu Qing looked at the youthful faces of Lin Xi and Bian Linghan, shaking his head as he replied, "It seems the emperor is quite apprehensive about our intentions, so we are not privy to the specific rules of the competition. I have only received orders to bring you to Shizhi Ridge."
Lin Xi and Bian Linghan exchanged surprised glances.
"It appears the emperor lacks transparency." Unconcerned in the presence of Mu Qing, who was clearly aligned with Vice Dean Xia, Lin Xi hesitated briefly before uttering a rather audacious remark.
"You may speak such words in my presence, but outside, remember that the emperor is, after all, the emperor. Our Qingluan Academy cannot interfere in the affairs of the court, and we hope that both nobles and commoners alike abide by the law, so such sentiments cannot be expressed outside." Mu Qing warned Lin Xi in the darkness. Knowing Lin Xi's character, she was unafraid of provoking arrogance in him, thus she spoke candidly: "Those from the back mountains of Ailao have analyzed that the late emperor, preoccupied with warfare and external threats, accustomed to the partings and sufferings of his people, naturally bore a heart of compassion, solely wishing to defend his homeland and lacking time to contemplate deeply, thus his character was inherently bright. However, since the current emperor came of age, he has inherited a vast empire in a time of peace, wielding the most powerful nation in the world. More often than not, his thoughts dwell on surpassing the glory of his predecessor, thus he is perpetually fixated on southern and western expansions, seeking to broaden his territory. The late emperor had the assistance of Director Zhang, already a legendary figure, and maintaining such a legacy is no small feat. Yet, the current emperor aspires to eclipse the achievements of his predecessor; such ambition leads him to engage in various schemes upon the dragon throne… Whether overt or covert, the more calculations one makes, the less transparent one's character becomes."
Having read extensively on the intricacies of imperial power dynamics since childhood, Lin Xi was not easily outmatched in understanding, even by those well-versed in the classics of this world. He keenly sensed the implications of Mu Qing's words, and his brow furrowed slightly as he gazed at Mu Qing in the darkness, softly asking, "Are you suggesting that had the late emperor been in power, the southern Damang and western Tangzang might have reached an accord?"
"The old emperor of Damang, Zhan Tai Mang, rose from the ranks of a common border soldier to ultimately unify the southern territories and establish the Damang. The empress of Tangzang personally led troops to quell unrest, waging war for seven years, earning the love of the people, and placing her young son on the throne. Both of these individuals are extraordinary talents with remarkable foresight; they would hardly wish to engage in a futile struggle against an empire far superior to their own," Mu Qing explained slowly. "However, if they are also astute enough to discern the character of the Yunqin emperor and recognize his ambitions, they would not dare remain passive. Yet, we cannot wholly blame the Yunqin emperor; his diligent governance is evident, and he aspires to be a wise and enlightened ruler in history, living a life of extreme austerity. Had he been a ruler consumed by decadence and complacency, the Yunqin we see today might not exist."
As Lin Xi followed Mu Qing in the darkness, he contemplated her words, a self-deprecating smile forming on his lips.
The complexities of international relations and the strategies of those in power were ultimately too intricate; he could only regard them as mere gossip. What truly mattered were the issues concerning himself and his friends.
"Although I am still unaware of the rules of the competition, Vice Dean Xia instructed me before departing to inform you that this trial will undoubtedly allow you to showcase your strengths; otherwise, he would not have consented to the rules of the competition. Furthermore, it is advisable for the two of you to act together, not only because your combined efforts will yield the greatest effectiveness, but also because among all present, your cultivation levels are likely the weakest."
...
"I have yet to ask you… what is your current level of cultivation?"
After sliding down a silver rope to a gentle slope at the northernmost peak of Qingluan Academy, Lin Xi encountered Gao Yanan, Wen Xuanyu, Yu Huatianji, and two other instructors from Qingluan Academy. As he was not well-acquainted with Wen Xuanyu and Yu Huatianji, who appeared somewhat unapproachable, he naturally walked alongside Gao Yanan and could not resist inquiring about her level of cultivation.
"Do you truly wish to know?"
"Of course! Otherwise, why would I ask you… Besides, cultivation will inevitably progress; this should be permissible, right?"
"Mid-level Soul Master."
"..."
Though Lin Xi was aware that Gao Yanan's cultivation was likely far superior to his own, hearing her candid response still made him touch his nose, unable to suppress a twinge of frustration.
In recent days, he had focused solely on assessing whether he could contend with practitioners of mid-level Soul Master cultivation, yet Gao Yanan had already reached that level.
The Shizhi Ridge, as mentioned by Mu Qing, was not close to Qingluan Academy. Lin Xi and the others set out in the dead of night and, by noon, had spent an entire day reaching the designated location.
A banner embroidered with a majestic golden dragon fluttered in the wind over a clearing amid the desolate ridges.
More than a dozen soldiers clad in silver armor and two instructors from the Thunder Academy, dressed in golden robes, exchanged nearly expressionless greetings with Mu Qing and the others.
Then, a silver-armored commander handed five wax-sealed parchment scrolls to Mu Qing, which were distributed among Lin Xi and the others.
The contents of these five wax-sealed scrolls were exceedingly simple; they contained only a map of Shizhi Ridge, marking a specific location.
The handwriting was elegant and uniform, clearly penned by the same hand, merely stating that they must arrive at that location before nightfall, where they would find the formal rules for the competition.
"The emperor certainly knows how to orchestrate matters."
In front of a line of elite soldiers from the Central Plains and instructors from the Thunder Academy, Lin Xi, who had just heard Mu Qing's admonition, refrained from uttering any foolish remarks. However, once the five members of the academy began to follow the map, moving far from the two instructors and the elite soldiers, Lin Xi could not help but murmur to Gao Yanan and Bian Linghan.
This was not a completely fair confrontation; even if both sides aimed to appear equitable in the process, logically speaking, the rules could have been fully disclosed at this moment, without the need to wait for the next location. This additional step might seem beneficial to others, but for Lin Xi, it only deepened his sense that the emperor's intentions were far from transparent.
"Setting aside certain differences of opinion, the current emperor can indeed be described as enlightened; his actions far surpass those of many rulers in history." Upon hearing Lin Xi's murmurs, Gao Yanan spoke calmly, "Ultimately, no one is perfect; you need not harbor any hostility towards him."
"This is merely a fleeting preference; as for hostility, I lack the qualifications for such feelings." Noticing a hint of defense for the Yunqin emperor in Gao Yanan's tone, Lin Xi remained unfazed, fully aware that perhaps only he and Director Zhang were devoid of any notions of feudal hierarchy. Just as he was about to shift the conversation to a lighter topic, his brow suddenly furrowed as he, along with Bian Linghan and the others, noticed an unusual light in the sky ahead.
...
As night fell once more upon the Teng Tian Mountain Range, descending upon the desolate expanse known as Shizhi Ridge, Lin Xi, Gao Yanan, Bian Linghan, Wen Xuanyu, and Yu Huatianji sat within a wooden cabin, gazing at a piece of hard cowhide pinned to a wooden stump in the center.
"What are your thoughts?"
Lin Xi's gaze shifted from the beautifully inscribed cowhide to the other four around him, and he was the first to speak.
From the moment they approached the marked Shizhi Ridge on the map and witnessed the ice crystals drifting through the sky like diamond dust, he had marveled at nature's artistry but had yet to grasp the emperor's purpose in selecting this location. However, upon entering Shizhi Ridge and encountering the specific rules, he understood that Vice Dean Xia and the emperor must have deliberated extensively to choose this site.
The terrain of this desolate ridge was comparable in height to the half-snowy plains they had traversed earlier. Based on the altitude of Lin Xi's previous world, the majority of the area likely stood around four thousand meters above sea level.
The Qingluan Academy, where they lived and trained, was situated at an altitude of approximately three thousand four to five hundred meters, so its students would naturally not experience altitude sickness. However, students from the Thunder Academy, arriving from the plains, might not fare as well, which was why they had ventured into the half-snowy plains early to acclimate.
From the rudimentary map they had received, Shizhi Ridge appeared as a hilly expanse within a vast plain, with ten peaks slightly elevated. However, the map was exceedingly simplistic, lacking any indications of distance or height. Upon truly entering the area, Lin Xi and the others discovered that this expanse was even more vast than the half-snowy plains. Although their wooden cabin was situated on one of the peaks closest to the "ten fingers," they had sprinted for half a day and only just reached the edge of Shizhi Ridge before nightfall.
Judging by their observations during the journey, it would likely take nearly a full day at top speed to reach the nearest two peaks from their current location.
Now, the rules clearly written on the cowhide outlined a common competition format among elite border troops: "Capture the Flag and Defend the Flag." It stated plainly that the "flags" in this instance would be five prisoners, who had already been scattered across the other nine peaks, excluding the central peak. Their task was to locate these five prisoners and escort them to the central peak, delivering them to several camps established at the foot of the mountain by the emperor. The students from the Thunder Academy would aim to search for and eliminate these prisoners, determining whether the Qingluan Academy students could rescue more than the Thunder Academy students could kill.
The notion of live captives as prey was, naturally, somewhat brutal for Lin Xi.
Additionally, the rules stipulated that no items from the academy could be brought, and even their clothing must be changed to ordinary border soldier attire from another room; they could only select two standard weapons from the border troops. Notably, there were no time constraints outlined.
It was evident that this competition would not be resolved in just a day or two.
...
Based on Lin Xi's assessment, the snow line of the Teng Tian Mountain Range was approximately four thousand eight hundred meters, yet Shizhi Ridge was covered in a thin layer of ice and snow.
Like the plains below, this desolate area was a marvel of nature; perhaps the snow peaks of the Teng Tian Mountain Range to the north were slightly lower than those of the main range, or the glaciers were more loosely packed for some reason. Thus, the unusual light they had seen earlier was due to tiny ice particles drifting through the sky.
It was not the season for snowfall in the Teng Tian Mountain Range, yet this unique topography made the area appear as though it were snowing. The ice particles were sparse, resembling a sun shower, causing no obstruction to visibility.
The Shizhi Ridge was populated by sparse clouds of pine trees, with few other plants covering the ground.
Consequently, not only was it challenging to find food in this area, but relying on the single-tube long-range telescope taught by Director Zhang for the Yunqin military, known as the "Eagle Eye," one might be able to observe some movements in certain areas from the highest peak of the ten fingers.
Thus, the Yunqin emperor, placing great importance on this battle, was likely stationed at that highest peak.
Here, the winds from the mountains blew fiercely from north to south, and the falling ice particles, propelled by the strong mountain winds, aided the descent of arrows as effectively as the wind itself.
Therefore, in this location, an arrow shot utilizing the falling moon technique from a height of three to four hundred meters would undoubtedly possess greater power than elsewhere.
Moreover, the most crucial factor was that there was no shortage of materials needed to modify standard bows and arrows.
Although Lin Xi had yet to meet Vice Dean Xia since enrolling, he sensed that the vice dean was making every effort to bridge the gap between his cultivation and that of others, enabling him to unleash his potential.
In other words, it seemed Vice Dean Xia had placed considerable trust in him.
However, Lin Xi was acutely aware that the ice particles drifting in the sky and the dense humidity would also significantly affect the flight of the arrows, making it even more challenging to shoot accurately.
"Vice Dean Xia, what gives you such confidence in me?"
As he contemplated the challenges that lay ahead and inquired how Gao Yanan and the others planned to proceed, this thought naturally arose in Lin Xi's mind.
"Those prisoners have already been scattered throughout these forests; the key to success lies in who can find them first."
Yu Huatianji, who had been silent throughout their journey, finally spoke, casting a glance at Lin Xi and the others. "This competition format of capturing and defending flags necessitates that both sides be dispersed; only through scattered searches can we find the prisoners as quickly and as many as possible. We must set off immediately."
Lin Xi furrowed his brow, contemplating, "While that reasoning is sound, to maintain fairness in the competition, these prisoners cannot simply be left to starve or freeze to death; they must possess some means of mobility. The likelihood of locating them in the dark is exceedingly low. Perhaps conserving some energy and waiting until dawn to set out would be more prudent."
"Only the timid fear the dark; a priest with a heart full of light will never lose faith or direction in the shadows."
Yu Huatianji recited a line from a priest's scripture with pride and indifference, pushing open the door and walking toward another wooden cabin. His voice carried through the cold wind mixed with ice particles, "Your point is valid, but reaching the farthest peak will require more than one night's journey. I shall head to the southern peak number three."
Hearing the pale-faced boy with golden hair recite scripture, Lin Xi could not help but shake his head, deeming him a peculiar fanatic. However, upon hearing the latter half of his statement, Lin Xi raised an eyebrow, forming a slightly different impression of the youth.
On the rudimentary map in their hands, they were currently at peak number seven, the northernmost point on the map, while peak number three, as marked, was the farthest from them, requiring at least three days' journey to reach directly.
The greater the distance, the more arduous the journey.