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Green Breeze University.
Qing Xuanling sat with her teammates, waiting for the Young Master to arrive and personally brief them on the critical matters concerning the impending war.
In truth, the clan was currently informing all its members. Clan Chief Qing Yunkang was at that very moment delivering a speech in one of the clan's largest plazas, explaining why the war had begun and what he expected from ordinary clan members.
The reason the Young Master had taken the trouble to inform them separately was simply because most of them possessed abilities far beyond those of average members.
Even the other two teams, made up of brothers and siblings with a greater number than them, had superior skills to the common members of the clan.
Thus, their role in this war—despite being young—could prove quite pivotal.
The Young Master arrived soon enough, as if sensing everyone's eagerness for crucial information. He entered the auditorium with a faint smile, looking as calm as ever.
But Qing Xuanling noticed a trace of coldness in his eyes.
"Good that you're all here already," the Young Master said, standing at the podium and briefly scanning the room before continuing. "As most of you know, yesterday an elder and several experienced members went to the Mo clan to claim the spiritual mine owed to us. However, the Gu Clan—the reinforcements sent by the Lan Clan—made things rather difficult for us."
A hint of disdain crossed the Young Master's face. "After much back-and-forth and some insults, we've officially entered into war with the Mo clan—or rather, with the Gu Clan. The Mo clan lost control of their own clan long ago."
The Young Master's words were somewhat informal, clearly omitting several key details. But most present had their own sources of information and already knew the full story. They were here solely to receive the Young Master's orders as director of the university.
Still, many tensed upon hearing that war had finally begun. Think about battlefields strewn with corpses made their bodies tremble imperceptibly.
Noticing this, the Young Master calmly explained: "The clan hasn't been in a war for a long time, so most of you youngsters don't know—but the Celestial Orchid Sect and the Lan Clan have imposed certain rules for warfare."
"And unlike others, these are harder to circumvent. So we needn't worry about the Gu Clan pulling any underhanded tricks. The rules are…"
The rules outlined by the Young Master weren't numerous but were clear and restrictive in key areas.
For example, cultivators couldn't indiscriminately attack mortals, nor could Foundation Establishment cultivators target Qi Refinement cultivators. Most rules prevented Foundation Establishment cultivators from abusing their power.
Everyone followed these rules—no one wanted to suffer the nightmare of having a Foundation Establishment cultivator hunting their geniuses or or subordinates.
But something surprised the younger members greatly.
"We really get a full week of no aggression and three months where we can't fight within the city?!" Qing Wentian raised his voice slightly.
The Young Master smiled. "It's to avoid unnecessary damage to the city. Of course, even if we can't fight inside the city, battles outside have always been far more intense. Don't forget—most income sources like mines and spirit fields lie outside the city. And the 'week' is just preparation time… on paper."
Qing Tanwei frowned. "You mean the no-aggression week is rarely honored?"
"They honor it superficially," the Young Master sighed, "but things like sending rogue cultivators to raid our businesses or those of our vassal forces are common. So stay vigilant."
He then explained some of the dirty tricks typically employed in such conflicts.
A brief question and answer session about the war followed before the Young Master moved to the main point.
"The reason I gathered you here is to assign your platoons." He produced three types of tokens, each engraved with different characters. "Each of you present can be called geniuses—or at least skilled individuals—so I'm assigning the three university teams to three elite platoons."
The Young Master held up twelve tokens marked "Steel Mountain." "Team Three will join the Steel Mountain platoon—a unit where teamwork is paramount. Use this week to meet your squad and practice coordination."
Team Three nodded, took their tokens, and left the auditorium, eager to find their new comrades. Team Two was assigned to the Cloud Leopard platoon—a rapid-strike, covert-operations unit.
Finally, the Young Master produced ten tokens bearing the characters "Crimson Sky."
"I shouldn't need to say how special this platoon is, right?" The Young Master looked at them provocatively. "It primary role is to be the clan's sheathed sword—stationed at strategic positions. Though you'll mostly be idle, this platoon will be the one that does the most damage to the enemy when it is unsheathed."
Qing Xuanling's heart pounded fiercely. She hadn't expected to be assigned to such a special platoon, but she deeply appreciated it. Though undoubtedly perilous, she felt no fear.
Danger brought opportunity—a truth Qing Xuanling knew well. Her current cultivation at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement came from seizing opportunity in danger. Otherwise, she might still be stuck at the second layer.
The others seemed to share Qing Xuanling's excitement, judging by their slightly flushed faces—except, of course, Qing Hanlin and Qing Xunwei, who appeared utterly disinterested in the Young Master's words…
The Young Master paid this no mind and quickly told them where to meet their platoonmates, instructing them to visit the Treasury Hall to claim clan-issued uniforms and provisions. He had gave similar instructions to the other two teams.
A few more minor points were mentioned, but nothing crucial, so the Young Master soon dismissed them. Though the clan seemed calm, it was like a kettle about to whistle—there was simply too much to do.
Qing Xuanling had little else to do that day, so she returned to her room to cultivate her body. She'd recently reached the third layer and was now focused on consolidating her foundation.
This pace—three layers in under five months—was unheard of and borderline insane. Body cultivation, while less demanding in terms of spiritual roots, was equally complex in other aspects—and certain areas required exceptional physical talent to advance.
Qing Xuanling's rapid progress only proved how extraordinary the Devouring White Dragon Cauldron was—a money-burning machine for advancement.
She had long ago started taking dozens of demon blood pills for just one body cultivation session. This expense even caused the clan to stop supplying her with the ingredients for the pills for free...
Though given a discount from clan, she'd already spent over 2,000 spirit stones on pills last month alone.
That figure still frightened her. Just months ago, Qing Xuanling earned only a few dozen spirit stones monthly. Such expenditure would've been absurd for her past self.
But she didn't regret it. Nothing mattered more than her cultivation. Besides, she was now one of the clan's wealthiest members—still holding over 25,000 low-grade spirit stones, not to mention 1,000 mid-grade ones…
She'd spent hours in the specialized cauldron she'd bought for body cultivation when Xuan Dan finally returned from classes with Qing Wangu.
Xuan Dan looked exasperated upon seeing her cultivating. "Hasn't Master been insisting you stop using that cultivation technique so often? She genuinely thinks you'll go mad!"
Qing Xuanling stepped out of the cauldron wearing only undergarments. Her toned body glistened with sweat, her snow-white skin lightly flushed. Though her curves weren't exaggerated, Qing Xuanling's frame was slender and perfectly proportioned—essentially a model's physique.
She laughed as she exited the cauldron. "Master Wangu exaggerates. What could truly drive me mad is losing someone close because my cultivation wasn't deep enough." She dried herself with a towel. "Quickly enter my divine sea so I can resume cultivating."
Xuan Dan looked helpless. That the main body was so dedicated to cultivation should've been a good thing—but now Xuan Dan felt the pressure.
Though Qing Xuanling had complete spiritual roots and Xuan Dan mixed ones, her cultivation remained stuck at the fourth layer while Qing Xuanling had somehow reached the fifth. Though she understood it was mostly due to opportunities, a bitter taste lingered.
Still, she complied, entering Qing Xuanling's divine sea to share her knowledge.
Qing Xuanling furrowed her brow deeply, absorbing everything Xuan Dan had learned in the past three days. She exhaled heavily after processing it all.
"Master Wangu is incredible! Though you're talented, learning 100 low-grade, 20 mid-grade, and 3 high-grade pill recipes is mostly thanks to her teachings!" Qing Xuanling sighed admiringly.
Xuan Dan protested. "Hey—even alchemists with more than thirty years of experience couldn't make so many pills! My talent is the real reason!"
Qing Xuanling laughed. Xuan Dan wasn't wrong. Though most pills she'd learned were uncommon, easy-to-make varieties, Xuan Dan's alchemical talent was the true driving force.
She was just teasing a little. Of course, master Wangu's teaching was the icing on the cake.
"Alright, alright—don't get upset." Qing Xuanling waved a hand. "Help me make Qi-recovery pills, healing pills, blood-replenishing pills, nourishing pills…"
She listed a dozen pill types, making Xuan Dan smile bitterly.
"Planning to supply pills to your whole platoon?"
"I would if needed. Remember—the clan's distributing thousands of pills to all cultivators joining the war, so few remain for purchase. Better we make our own than spend what little's left. Maybe it'll ease the clan's burden a bit."
Qing Xuanling casually pulled thousands of ingredient sets from her spatial ring—recently bought in the city for nearly 8,000 spirit stones.
The price was far above normal, but war-related supplies in the city were scarce, justifying the cost.
Thus, for the next week, Xuan Dan, with occasional help from Qing Xuanling, churned out thousands of pills with barely any rest—they were both so busy that Qing Xuanling never found time to meet her platoon.