Chapter Seventy-Nine: Entering the Heavenly Battalion

According to what Yu Yang said at the time, Chu Feng should have had a companion by his side, and that companion was very likely Yu Xiang. However, over these past ten-odd years, there hadn’t been such a boy by Chu Feng’s side. He had always harbored some doubts about this, but at this moment, Chu Feng speculated that Senior Yu Yang might have changed his plan once again and taken the child away.

Previously, Chu Feng hadn’t told the two of them what Yu Yang had said to him, fearing that it would cause them needless worry. But now, in order to let them understand the truth more clearly, he had no choice but to recount it all, sharing his suspicions as well.

“It seems that child must be Xiang’er,” Yu Guang said.

Yu Guang and Yu Feng both felt a heavy weight in their hearts. They didn’t understand where Yu Yang had gone or what he was doing, but things now seemed far from optimistic.

“Since things are as they are, we can only move forward, one step at a time. I believe that one day I’ll see Senior Yu Yang again. Leave everything to me. You don’t need to worry,” Chu Feng comforted them.

“It’s hard on you to bear all this. We know we can’t offer much help, but do be careful,” Yu Guang exhorted.

Chu Feng and Yu Feng stayed at the Yu residence for the afternoon. After dinner, they took their leave, and Chu Feng had already decided to enter the Celestial Camp the next day.

Normally, one needed to awaken their spiritual body’s attribute, complete tasks within a set time, and earn enough points to be assigned to a camp. But since Chu Feng hadn’t undergone spiritual transformation at all, it was impossible for him to take that path. With his current strength, completing those tasks would be all too easy—it would be akin to cheating, and the authorities would never allow it.

Now, there were two ways for Chu Feng to become a Celestial Camp student.

The first was through swordsmanship, but that path would hardly attract attention, as swordsmanship was considered a minor and outdated art. Chu Feng had only realized, after meeting the Grand Elder, that these sword, fist, and other martial arts were all part of the broader martial path.

The second was through his formidable spiritual will. Entering the Celestial Camp as a unique spiritual practitioner’s avatar would certainly attract far more recognition.

However, for Chu Feng, none of this truly mattered now. He only regretted missing out on so many points from the regular tasks.

The next day, Chu Feng left the Twentieth Camp and went to the registration area for new students. Standing outside the great hall, he couldn’t help recalling the portly middle-aged man of influence within.

Chu Feng was not here to register as a newcomer but to collect a trial token, so that he could enter the Celestial Camp for evaluation. Once inside, everything appeared as he remembered: a middle-aged man in fine robes, with a plump face and large ears, sat lazily on a luxurious soft chair, still fiddling with a jade artifact.

The man noticed Chu Feng, started slightly, then immediately rose and walked over with great enthusiasm.

“Well, well, Brother Chu, you’re here! What a pleasure!” the portly man greeted him with a beaming smile, as if welcoming an old friend.

Chu Feng was taken aback. He didn’t believe the man would remember him from their one meeting half a year before; no doubt, his recent accomplishments had prompted this reception.

Chu Feng forced a laugh and said, “I have a small favor to ask.”

“No trouble at all! It’s an honor to serve a talent like you, Brother Chu. Please, have a seat,” the portly man said, leading Chu Feng to the plush chair.

Even Chu Feng found this rather odd. No matter how well he’d done recently, this treatment seemed excessive. Perhaps this Zhu was muddled, he thought.

Zhu stood by with a smile. “I know why you’re here, Brother Chu. Congratulations on your successful entry into the Celestial Camp! I’ve prepared a humble gift—please accept it.”

As he spoke, Zhu produced an exquisite sandalwood box and handed it to Chu Feng.

“Celestial Camp?” Chu Feng was still puzzled, but with the gift in hand, he could only accept it with a smile. Still, he asked, “What do you mean, I’ve joined the Celestial Camp?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?” Zhu replied, then took out a golden token and handed it to Chu Feng.

Chu Feng set the sandalwood box on the table and examined the gold token. On its face was a large character for “Celestial,” while the reverse bore the number “359.” The token was similar in design to the new students’ iron ID, and Chu Feng immediately realized it must be the Celestial Camp’s identity token.

“This can’t be mine, can it?” Chu Feng asked, somewhat stunned. He hadn’t even joined the Celestial Camp, yet Zhu was handing him a gold token.

“It is,” Zhu confirmed. “The Grand Elder himself issued the order. Everything for your entry into the Celestial Camp has been arranged, and your points from the iron ID have already been transferred to this token. What’s more, the Grand Elder has gifted you two thousand points. Two thousand, all at once! No one’s ever received such treatment before.”

Chu Feng was truly astonished. It seemed the Grand Elder endorsed his entry into the Celestial Camp and had made all the arrangements. He never imagined he’d receive a gift of two thousand points—the equivalent of a whole Sacred Trial, an incredibly precious reward that would make even the Celestial Camp’s elite envious.

This, however, also made him realize how much more challenging the path of body refinement must be. Otherwise, the Grand Elder wouldn’t have granted him so many points.

“Thank you,” Chu Feng said to Zhu. He stored the gold token and the sandalwood box in his storage ring, returning the newcomer’s identity token. Now he understood Zhu’s unusual politeness—it was all because of the Grand Elder.

“You’re too kind, Brother Chu. From now on, I hope you’ll look out for me,” Zhu said.

“Gladly,” Chu Feng replied. He didn’t particularly dislike this influential Zhu; after all, he wasn’t a bad person.

Chu Feng returned to the Twentieth Camp and told Xiao Yue what had happened. Xiao Yue was equally astonished—he hadn’t expected Chu Feng not only to join the Celestial Camp so easily but also to receive two thousand points for free.

The two friends talked for a long while, with Xiao Yue, of course, offering plenty of advice and reminders. At last, Chu Feng returned to his dormitory, packed his things, and bid farewell to his roommates. He knew that this moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, and that he was now one step closer to Long Yue.

Moreover, he had only spent half a year in the Newcomers’ Camp; the remaining two and a half years would be added to his time in the Celestial Camp, meaning he would spend nine and a half years there.

When Chu Feng arrived at the Celestial Camp, it was nearly dusk. After reporting in, he learned that, at last, the top six newcomers of this year would be united here.

Rumors were thus confirmed: Wang Chengfei had indeed entered the Celestial Camp, and the other top students were here as well. Of the thirteen others who had earned the Sacred Trial, two had also joined the Celestial Camp, while the other eleven, Chu Feng surmised, had become students of the Earth Camp.

Another piece of news: all the newcomers entering the Celestial Camp this year would be assigned to the same instructor.

Students of the Celestial Camp were entitled to the best resources of the Spirit Battle Pavilion, and even their lodgings were superior.

Chu Feng arrived at Villa 359 and opened the door with his gold ID. He was no stranger to the Celestial Camp’s villas. Once inside, he toured the spacious residence—far larger than the twelve-person quarters of the Twentieth Camp.

The villa included a living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, as well as a broad meditation chamber and a training room that was by no means small.

The training room was fully equipped with all kinds of apparatus, leaving Chu Feng very much satisfied. In the living room, he removed the Domain Sword, settled onto a soft couch, and was filled with a sense of emotion.

He took out the gift box from Zhu and opened it, finding inside a foot-long jade horse. Although he wasn’t an expert, Chu Feng could tell that this exquisitely crafted artwork was of great value.

In fact, the jade horse was personally selected by Zhu, carved from extremely rare blood jade, and had cost a full three hundred thousand taels of silver.

After admiring it for a while, Chu Feng set it on a display shelf in the living room.

A while later, he heard someone knocking at the door. Opening it, he was surprised to see Sun Xuan.

Sun Xuan was dressed in a fiery red gown. Seeing Chu Feng, she smiled and said, “I knew you’d come.”

“How did you know I’d arrived?” Chu Feng asked in surprise.

“I live at Villa 354, just next door,” Sun Xuan replied. “In fact, all of us newcomers this year are neighbors.”

“I see,” Chu Feng said, suddenly understanding.

Sun Xuan fell silent for a moment, then, blushing, looked at Chu Feng and said, “Thank you for last time.”

Chu Feng was a bit taken aback, somewhat surprised by her change in demeanor. He smiled and shook his head. “No need to thank me. Those people were targeting me to begin with. As long as you don’t blame me, I’m grateful enough.”

Sun Xuan shot him a glare. “Regardless, I’ll remember what you did.”

Chu Feng smiled faintly, not knowing what to say. Sun Xuan continued, “The six of us are all here now. Since none of us have eaten, why not gather for a meal?”

“Good idea,” Chu Feng agreed. He was curious to meet the others as well. Looking at Sun Xuan, he teased, “But can you youngsters handle a drink or two?”

“Who are you calling youngsters? We’re all prodigies—drinking is nothing to us!” Sun Xuan protested, cheeks flushed.

“Very well, it’s settled. I heard two more have entered the Celestial Camp; let’s invite them too,” Chu Feng suggested.

“Of course! I was going to anyway. I’ll contact everyone. Tonight’s my treat—when everything’s ready, I’ll come get you,” Sun Xuan said.

After Sun Xuan left, Chu Feng didn’t stay in the villa but went out for a stroll. He made his way to Long Yue’s residence, though she wasn’t there.

Later, Chu Feng wandered to the lakeside. He thought back to that evening when he and Long Yue had poured their hearts out to each other at the pavilion in the middle of the lake, and a sweet smile touched his lips at the memory.

“Well, well, isn’t this Chu Feng from the Newcomers’ Camp?” Suddenly, a discordant voice rang out. Turning, Chu Feng saw a handsome young man approaching—Mo Chen.

Running into Mo Chen here didn’t surprise Chu Feng, but the nine-year-old boy accompanying him made Chu Feng frown slightly.