Chapter 2, Report

Beauty and smoke dissipate over time, yet memories and legends are passed down through generations

Unfortunately, our attributes are not the same. The chubby one expressed some regret; his constitution is of the Fire Element, while Ai Hui's attribute is of the Metal Element, which means the two of them will be assigned to different teams

After a moment of daze, he let out a long sigh, praying in his heart that the Five Elements Heaven would indeed provide food and accommodation as the fat man had said... If not, then he would... have to hit the fat man a little harder.

However, now ... there are fourteen people crowded within five meters around him

Indeed, the boss is so foolish that he has squandered the business, accumulating a mountain of debt, and has even lost his life. However, being able to see the ruins mentioned many times in the Sword Classic still brings a pleasant feeling to Ai Hui. Apart from this, thinking of the boss does evoke a slight sense of melancholy in him

He simply stepped forward as if entering the wilderness three years ago, without looking back, and said to the fat man: "Let's go"

The youth here, with their tender faces, exude a unique sunshine and vitality, and their excited eyes are filled with aspirations for the future. The boys eagerly gather around the girls, chatting and laughing, displaying their charm and humor, trying every means to attract the girls' attention. The girls' faces reveal a shy blush, like the morning sun-drenched dawn, with a faint smile playing on their lips, as radiant as flowers.

He quickly returned to normal. After three years of hardship in the wilderness and witnessing life and death, he became increasingly less sentimental about these fleeting past events. Those who are alive must strive to live, while the deceased will find peace.

The last renowned swordsman in history, who wielded the most brilliant sword by burning his life, struck down the enemy chief and etched this final line of defense. Inspired, humanity resisted tenaciously, holding on until the opening of the Five Elements Heaven

"My money." Ai Hui's tone remained calm, yet even the dullest person could hear the anger simmering beneath the calm surface, like turbulent lava.

The overweight individual appeared as if he had been injected with adrenaline, exhibiting an extraordinary level of excitement, and was babbling a plethora of terms that Ai Hui had never heard before. His eyes were sharp, not only recognizing these flying objects but also able to quote many of their prices

He anxiously adjusted his body, but it was of no use. He could only exert great effort to restrain the impulse to either flee or eliminate the fourteen targets. In the wilderness, when an unknown creature approached him, he was left with only these two choices

Almost all the sword classics that mention this line of defense extol this sword to the utmost. For instance, the sword that separates life and death for humanity, or the sword that divides two eras, and so on. In the hearts of those who reminisce about the sword cultivators, that sword proclaimed the complete end of the cultivation era and the beginning of the Era of the Five Elements.

It is referred to as the "final line of defense"

The grass in his mouth was chewed into pulp, and Ai Hui suddenly felt a bit nostalgic for the wilderness, where iron spine vines were everywhere. Not only were they sweet, but they were also very tough, retaining elasticity even after being chewed for a long time. He glanced at the fire floating cloud and then withdrew his gaze; it was eye-catching and slow-moving, undoubtedly the best prey in the wilderness

"Whose money is gone?" The strength in his legs increased rapidly, and the danger in Ai Hui's tone was also rising sharply

The noise of the chubby person by my ear has become much more pleasant at this moment

Ai Hui stood among the crowd with a worn-out backpack, his expression gloomy and his mood utterly terrible. Just moments ago, he reached into his money pouch, only to find that the money had vanished, leaving behind a pile of stones.

The fat man suddenly realized that he had almost let something slip and abruptly stopped himself

At that moment, a bright red cloud floated in from the distant sky and slowly descended to the ground, causing a stir. A handsome young man, dressed in luxurious attire, emerged from it, prompting many young girls to exclaim "So handsome" and similar remarks

Before entering the sensing field, Ai Hui had already sensed his incongruity with the surroundings. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm the turmoil within, knowing that this was a psychological barrier he must overcome

He vowed in his heart that when he returned to his homeland, he would definitely hang this guy up and beat him

What lies beyond that road, he does not know

This fire floating cloud serves as a signal, and soon after, various strange flying objects continuously arrive from all directions, landing in the square in front of the sensing field's entrance

Later, he gritted his teeth and squeezed his way toward the entrance of the sensing field

The sensing field transcends the positions of the five elements in the universe, which is presumably related to this

Living is more important than anything else; to be alive is the greatest fortune

For the time being, he set aside financial matters and focused on what was before him

Having spent three years in the quiet, desolate, and perilous wilderness, Ai Hui found himself very unaccustomed to the bustling scene before him. In the wilderness, whenever something happened within a five-meter radius around him, he would instinctively become alert; this had become his second nature.

The freshness of the wild grass spreads in the mouth, and Ai Hui feels a bit dazed, yet somewhat envious

He must never let Ai Hui know that he qualified for the quota due to his physical condition, otherwise, he would not be able to pocket the money. The fat man repeatedly reminded himself in his heart, maintaining a calm demeanor without revealing the slightest hint of a flaw

"Either rich or noble!" The fat man was immediately captivated, his tone filled with envy: "The quality of this fire floating cloud is truly remarkable! Bright red, without impurities. Look, doesn't the shape of the cloud resemble flames? Goodness, this is an exceptional fire floating cloud. This kid must have a significant background; I should find an opportunity to curry favor with him!"

The chubby face is neither flushed nor racing: "Indeed, I almost crossed the line; my talent is far superior to yours. Otherwise, even if I wanted to spend money, I would have no way to do so. The rules of the sensing field are so strict, and the pathways are not so easy to navigate."

Envy flickered in his eyes and then vanished, his gaze returning to its original state, indifferent and calm. Thinking of the boss, thinking of the laborers who had perished in the wild jungles over the past three years, turning into stark white bones, I realized that I was already fortunate enough

Pushing through the crowd like a tide, Ai Hui, with his hair standing on end and his clothes in disarray, gasped for breath. The short distance of fifty meters felt far more exhausting than walking fifty kilometers.

Fire Element! The chubby person squinted his pea-sized eyes and said: "I never knew my constitution was actually this good..."

Ai Hui's understanding of the final line of defense stems from the sword classics he organized at the Sword Cultivation Dojo

The regulations of the Five Elements Heaven's Induction Field are quite strict. Within the Five Elements Heaven, there is no distinction between genders or social status; once individuals reach a certain age, they must enter the Induction Field for study. As for the indigenous people of the old land, as long as they pass the physical fitness test, they can also enter the Induction Field

The fat man did not blink his eyes: "It's gone!"

Ai Hui let out a sound of acknowledgment, withdrew his gaze, his physique was quite ordinary, far from the benchmark.

Ai Hui arrived at the entrance of the sensing field and looked up at the towering gate

The damned fat man has still turned against himself

The towering gate slowly opened, and Ai Hui brushed off the dirt from his body and stood up, his defiant face radiating determination. He knew that behind the gate lay a brand new path, a road he had never imagined before.

The heavily scarred iron gate was constructed from scrap materials dragged back from the battlefield. The establishment of the sensing field in this location serves as a reminder from the original founders of the Five Elements Heaven to the future generations, urging them not to forget that period of time and the original intention behind the establishment of the Five Elements Heaven

The fat man beneath his feet was chattering incessantly, and Ai Hui's anger suddenly dissipated as he expressionlessly stomped down hard several times.

Ai Hui turned his head, a look of doubt on his face: "Good constitution?"

The fat man got up from the ground, his face covered in footprints, showing no sign of guilt or embarrassment whatsoever

The stone slab in front of the iron gate features a trench approximately half a meter wide, straight as if drawn. The erosion of time has softened its edges, and there is a shallow pool of water accumulated within the trench

These have nothing to do with Ai Hui. He has organized many sword manuals, but has never entertained foolish ideas such as reviving sword cultivation.

The corpulent figure flew out and fell heavily to the ground

Ai Hui was too lazy to pay him any mind, casually pulling out a piece of wild grass from a pile that had emerged from the cracks in the stone bricks and chewing on it: "Which Yuan are you from?"

Suddenly, a familiar figure caught the corner of his eye, and Ai Hui's expression darkened instantly

Before the fat man could get up, a foot was placed on his face. Ai Hui spoke in a low tone: "Hand over the money."

"Why aren't you excited at all?" The chubby man looked at Ai Hui in confusion: "It's the sensing field! Once we enter the sensing field, we won't be mere laborers anymore! In another ten years, we can bring our whole family to the Five Elements Heaven. That would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Do you know how many people in the old land want a spot?"

Although it is still early for registration, the area outside the entrance of the venue is already filled with students. They greet each other with excitement, engaging in lively discussions in small groups.

In the Five Elements Heaven, this small water ditch is known to all. Ai Hui knows of it because it is related to sword cultivators

"I bought this spot." The chubby man said with a face full of frustration: "There’s no other way; the application period has passed, and I can only buy it with money. I’ve gone through quite a few channels, and your money is just enough. You need to treat me a little better; haven’t you heard that those who owe debts are the masters? If I die, the money will just go down the drain..."

Two individuals found a secluded spot away from the crowd to sit down. The stout man pulled out a piece of malt candy from somewhere and began to crunch on it. He kept glancing around, curiously observing his surroundings

Alright, it's "In the Wilderness" again

Bang

The gate of the sensing field towers high, estimated to be over 60 meters tall, constructed from irregularly shaped iron plates pieced together. The craftsmanship of the splicing is quite rough, resembling a tattered cloth patched up in many places. The gate is covered in rust, with scars visible all over.

After paying homage to the ruins, he quickly withdrew from the crowd, retreating to the very outskirts where the pervasive tremors subsided, and he let out a long sigh of relief

In the darkest years of the invasion by the barbaric forces, this shallow trench, merely half a meter wide and two hundred meters long, served as the final line of defense in the battle for survival.

The people around looked away in disgust. The fat man was covered in dust and mud, while Ai Hui's clothes could only be considered clean, albeit faded. The luggage bag he was carrying was similarly white, appearing quite shabby.

Knowing what Ai Hui was thinking, the chubby man said confidently, "Don't worry, after all, I am an old bird who has survived the wilderness. How could I be bullied by those little brats?"

With a swift step forward, he raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick to the chest like lightning

Ai Hui silently gazed at the small ditch

Ai Hui felt a bit regretful in his heart; he and the fat man had a tacit understanding and trusted each other completely. If they could be on the same team, he could look out for the fat man a bit more.

They are all gone. The fat man spoke rapidly: My money has been sent back home

Listening to the clamor of the overweight individual, Ai Hui's gaze aimlessly swept across the crowd. In the wilderness, it is rare to see such youthful faces; everyone in the wilderness resembles a beast, fierce, shrewd, and dangerous