Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

The next morning, before the sound of the 9 a.m. clock bell, Wang Chen arrived at Yi Ten Defense Area.

The dozens of defense areas established by the Cloud Sun Sect's Outer Sect Main Hall were named in a sequence of "A, B, C, D + Number."

Yi Ten Defense Area was about ten miles away from Wang Chen's home.

From the outside, this defense area was a small fortress, built with extremely hard bluestones, with walls surpassing five fathoms in height.

Inside, the architecture was purely defensive, equipped with sentry posts, watchtowers, arrow towers, among others.

Most striking was undoubtedly the Daylight Column erected on the top of the watchtower.

Made of White Glowing Stone, and as thick as a water barrel, it stood about three fathoms high, with a stone Skyward Hound crouching at its very top.

The stone hound had a fierce posture, its mouth open towards the sky as if emitting a silent roar.

This Daylight Column was also a large Magic Artifact.

It could absorb sunlight during the day and automatically illuminate the entire defense area as well as the surrounding region at night.

Becoming a prominent landmark in the night, it guided homebound travelers.

Additionally, the light from the column contained the power to deter and expel Evil Wraiths, though its range was small, and its power not very strong.

But this wasn't the main function of the Daylight Column.

If the defense area encountered a threat it couldn't withstand, the Cultivator stationed in the watchtower could use the Daylight Column to send a warning.

In Wang Chen's memory, he had seen beams of light piercing the sky several years ago.

It was said that on that night, the Grey Eye Thieves suddenly raided the Cloud Sun Sect's Outer Gate, and over a dozen defense areas sought help from the Main Hall at the same time.

He still vividly remembered it.

After showing his call-up order to the gate-guarding Cultivator, Wang Chen was able to enter Yi Ten Defense Area smoothly.

At this time, dozens of Cultivators had already gathered in the martial training ground within the defense area.

Some he could name, others only looked a bit familiar.

Most of them were young people.

Wang Chen stealthily used the Spiritual Perception Technique and discovered they were all mid-tier Qi Cultivation practitioners, including fourth, fifth, and sixth tiers.

"Brother Wang?"

While Wang Chen was looking around, a gruff voice suddenly came from beside him.

Wang Chen turned his head and saw, "Brother Tieniu!"

The man was Wan Tieniu, who had once hired him to clear out the Earth Rhinoceros Beetles.

Surprised to see Wang Chen, Wan Tieniu exclaimed, "You were summoned too?"

Wang Chen nodded, "I've been drafted into the Fourth Night Patrol Team."

Wan Tieniu scratched his head, "I'm in the Ninth Team."

He couldn't understand how Wang Chen, so young and not very high in cultivation, could be chosen as a Night Watchman.

Wan Tieniu expressed regret, "It's a pity you're not in the same team as me, otherwise I could've looked after you."

Being a righteous person with considerable cultivation strength, he indeed had the qualifications to look after Wang Chen.

Wang Chen smiled, "I will definitely trouble Brother Tieniu in the future."

"You just come to me when the time comes."

Wan Tieniu thumped his chest, "If it's within my power, you have my word!"

Wan Tieniu was quite grateful to Wang Chen.

If it were not for Wang Chen's help in clearing the Earth Rhinoceros Beetles, his family would have had to pay double the Spirit Stones for the Formation Banner.

Even though Wang Chen had received Spirit Stones as well.

Wan Tieniu found him quite agreeable and even regretted that his own sister was too young.

Otherwise, he would have been an excellent candidate for a marriage alliance!

Boom—

As they were talking, the sound of the Fixed Sun bell from Cloud Mountain City came from afar.

The time had come for 9 a.m.

A burly man with a bear-like torso and tiger-like back appeared on the martial platform, his eyes like a leopard's sweeping over the crowd as he bellowed, "Silence!"

His voice wasn't shrill, but when it reached everyone's ears, it was as if thunder had exploded.

It shook their souls and hearts!

The martial training ground instantly became as quiet as death, and everyone was as silent as a cicada in winter.

This burly man's presence was astonishing, and with Wang Chen's beginner-level Spiritual Perception Technique, he couldn't see through the man's true cultivation level.

However, he was absolutely certain the man was a high-tier Qi Cultivation practitioner.

"I am Li Wuji, the Guard Chief of Yi Ten,"

the burly man announced, his eyes cold as he continued, "Now, I'll call the roll. Step forward when your name is called!"

He waved his hand.

A Cultivator from the defense area came forward, holding a roster in his hands.

"Lv Wu!"

"Here!"

"Zhang Xing'an!"

"Here!"

"Lu Xiaohu!"

The monks called by name stepped forward one by one.

"Jiang Cong!"

"Jiang Cong?"

When a summoner named "Jiang Cong" was called, no one responded.

The Defense Area monks called out three times.

To no avail.

Li Wuji's face was as still as water as he gestured to move on.

Lastly, after the roll call, out of the eighty summoners, only seventy-seven were present.

Three were nowhere to be seen!

Li Wuji stood on the training stage with his hands behind his back, his gaze looking up at the clear sky.

He remained silent, not uttering a word.

But his silence exerted a tremendous pressure on the summoners present.

Everyone was uneasy and didn't dare to move, for fear of standing out.

After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, three young men rushed to the Defense Area in haste.

Seeing the scene at the training field.

They immediately had a sinking feeling.

One of the young men, gathering his courage, saluted Li Wuji, "Guard Chief, we..."

"Shut up!"

Li Wuji's expression changed violently, "Bring them to me, give each of them thirty cane strokes!"

Without another word, not giving them any chance to explain.

Three fierce monks from the Defense Area immediately pounced and ruthlessly restrained the trio's mana.

Then one by one, they were knocked down!

One monk brought over a Fire Water Stick.

While the other two flipped the three latecomers face down on the ground.

Pulling down their pants.

Revealing their bare, white buttocks!

"Ha!"

The monk holding the stick let out a sneer and swung the Fire Water Stick down onto one of the rounded white buttocks.

Smack!

"Ah!"

The person being punished screamed painfully, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets!

Wang Chen listened, his eyelids twitched, and he involuntarily tightened his own sphincter.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The stick was merciless.

In the blink of an eye, the punished person's buttocks were a blurred mess of blood and flesh.

His screams could be heard clearly even from three miles away!

By the time the thirty cane strokes were completed, at least half a life was gone.

Then the second and the third followed suit.

One after another.

Only after the punishment of all three was completely carried out did Li Wuji speak, "The first rule of being a Night Watchman is to be punctual and obey orders, violators will be punished without mercy!"

"Three days from now, gather at 9 a.m."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Everyone looked at each other—is that it?

Until someone on the side shouted, "Come here to queue up to choose your Cultivation Techniques and collect your items!"

The crowd immediately swarmed over.

As for the three guys lying on the ground groaning, no one paid them any attention.

They could only pull out their own antiseptic medicine and Healing Pills.

Under the disdainful gaze of the Defense Area monks, they struggled to crawl to the corner to treat themselves.

Their miserable state was indescribable.

But no one cast a sympathetic glance their way.

Including Wang Chen.

This beating was entirely self-inflicted.

However, Wang Chen also realized that being called up to the Night Patrol Team, he couldn't afford to make mistakes easily.

Otherwise, these fellows who got their buttocks beaten would be the perfect example!

He obediently queued up, chose two mid-stage Qi Cultivation Spells, and also received a set of Night Watchman's equipment.

Then he went home.

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