“Senior Brother Lingzhe.”

The one who came up to greet him was none other than Lingzhe, one of the “Three Spirits.” He was the disciple of Li Xun’s Fifth Martial Uncle, Li Minghe. Cheerful and easygoing by nature, Lingzhe was well liked by everyone on the mountain, young and old alike. Quite a contrast to his master’s somber and old-fashioned demeanor.

Lingzhe was famous for being able to get along with just about anyone. Though his friendship with Li Xun wasn’t as deep or sincere as the one Li Xun shared with Ling Ji, the two were still on very good terms, and they were genuinely happy to see each other.

“Are all the immortal masters and senior brothers here?” Li Xun asked.

“Everyone’s here, everyone’s here. Just busy enough to set their pants on fire, that’s all. Figured you’d be arriving around this time anyway. Perfect timing! The whole array of restrictions within several thousand li will be handled by none other than our ‘number-one formation expert among the juniors,’ Master Bamboo Spirit!”

Li Xun punched him lightly in the chest, then got down to business. “So, what’s the situation? Are the restrictions that hard to manage? We’re still inside the Aurora Barrier, aren’t we?”

At that, a trace of bitterness appeared in Lingzhe’s smile.

“What inside or outside? If you’re just looking from afar, you wouldn’t know. This Aurora Barrier’s already full of holes. It might hold off an army for a while, sure, but if just two or three people come through… heh, that so-called invincible fortress of Qianfan City is nothing but hot air after all!”

Hearing even the usually upbeat Lingzhe complain like that, Li Xun could tell just how bad things had gotten. Still, he hadn’t realized the situation at the Pole had deteriorated this far. “Has it always been this bad?” he asked. “Or is it that Ox Warrior…”

“Who else could it be?”

Lingzhe gave a wry smile and pointed toward the shore.

“That crazed ox came charging in right here. You can see for yourself; there’s a huge breach. A hundred people could march straight through without trouble! I heard there were at least a thousand of them that day, and even Gu Yin gave chase. The whole Nightless City was thrown into chaos.

“Ever since that day, things have just gotten worse and worse. We’re in a mess, and they’re in an even bigger one. I hear dozens of people get injured every single day. And Gu Yin and Demon Phoenix aren’t doing a thing about it. I honestly don’t know what they’re thinking!”

Li Xun could only give him a rueful smile in return.

Lingzhe was an optimist by nature, and that trace of bitterness on his face didn’t last long. He soon laughed again. “No point brooding over it. Come on, I’ll take you to see Third Martial Uncle. Let’s find out what kind of task he’s got lined up for our formation prodigy… huh? Guess that won’t be necessary!”

Both of them turned toward the sea. A streak of bright light shot up into the sky, and at the same time, a figure wrapped in a trail of bloodlight was retreating toward the ocean.

Lingzhe let out a sigh. “There goes another one.”

The one who had just lost was Ming Song, the “Cave Profound Sword.”

Within the Mingxin Sword Sect, his strength was second only to Luo Nanchuan’s, ranking sixth in the sect overall. Even across the Tongxuan Realm, he was considered a top-tier True Person expert.

Naturally, he had noticed Li Xun and Lingzhe talking nearby. His light paused briefly, then turned and flew toward them. Li Xun and Lingzhe quickly moved to meet him.

Ming Song was a dignified-looking man, with phoenix eyes, long brows, and a three-part beard. He had the very air of an immortal.

But with just one glance, Li Xun could tell that his Third Martial Uncle’s outer robe hadn’t been washed in quite some time. It was wrinkled and disheveled, an odd and rather unsightly sight.

Of course, Li Xun pretended not to notice.

He knew perfectly well that his Third Martial Uncle was the type to be sharp about big matters but careless about the small ones, and sometimes even went a bit mad when wrestling with cultivation techniques. Still, Ming Song was one of the Four Pillars of the second generation. Standing alongside Luo Nanchuan, Ming Ji, and Ming Je, he represented the very backbone of the Mingxin Sword Sect for the next thousand years.

Before someone like that, Li Xun dared not be disrespectful. He bowed in formal greeting.

Ming Song received him with warmth and affection. Partly because they were both disciples of Qingming, through Lin Ge’s lineage.

There was also another reason: Shan Zhi, Ming Song’s hopeless disciple.

Li Xun was one of the few people on the mountain who could keep Shan Zhi in line and actually get him to cultivate properly. For Ming Song, who felt guilty about his student’s lack of progress, that was something to be sincerely grateful for.

After accepting the salute, Ming Song helped Li Xun to his feet with a smile. “Good, you’re here. The situation is getting worse by the day. No single person can stand against the enemy’s overwhelming numbers. It’s only thanks to our allies from the Return-to-Dao Sect, and to forbidden-formation experts like you, Xun’er, that we can hope to hold out.”

Li Xun quickly replied with polite modesty, though both of them knew it was just a formality. Without wasting time, he went on to ask about the defenses along the coast.

Ming Song first signaled Lingzhe to go take care of his own tasks, then led Li Xun toward the coast. As they walked, he began to explain things to him.

Just as Li Xun had seen earlier, the vast Aurora Barrier now curved inward, and the arc was even greater than he had imagined.

The straight section at the front of the curve stretched for about two thousand li, which reduced the surface area under pressure and increased the depth of the formation.

Of the Ten Great Orthodox Sects, all but Nightless City, which was local, and the Water Mirror Sect, which hadn’t arrived yet, had each sent at least three masters of the True Person Realm to guard this place. Together, forces from nine sects divided the defensive depth into three zones: the battlefront, the buffer zone, and the rear defense zone, arranged from front to back.

Each zone was further split into eastern, central, and western divisions, making nine in total, with the sects taking turns on duty.

Today, it was the Mingxin Sword Sect’s turn to hold the battlefront, stationed on the western side, next to Nightless City in the center and the Heavenly Vigorous Sect to the rear.

Heavenly Vigorous Sect? Well, that’s quite a coincidence.

Li Xun thought again of Zhuang Chu, the woman who had given him that strange feeling. He decided he’d have to find a chance to ask Lingzhe or the others about her and see what he could learn.

Outwardly, though, he kept his expression calm. “I understand,” he said. “Third Uncle-Master. So, what duty have I been assigned?”

Ming Song gave a small cough. “Of all the tasks, yours is the most troublesome. You won’t be staying with us. You’ve been assigned to the roaming patrols, responsible for repairing any damaged restrictions. This assignment comes from the masters of all the sects. It shows how much they value you, so I hope you understand.”

Li Xun had already expected something like this. He only frowned slightly before nodding in agreement, then got straight to the point and asked Ming Song about the details of this “roaming patrol.”

Ming Song thought for a moment before replying, “Most of it isn’t too bad, just tiring. You’ll be moving around constantly, fixing and maintaining things. Sometimes disciples from other sects might call for help; you’ll need to respond quickly when they do.”

He paused, then added, “But there’s one thing you have to pay special attention to. Besides maintaining the restrictions, the roaming patrols are also responsible for raising the alarm if enemies appear. The situation now is a mess, and keeping everyone entirely offshore is no longer possible.

“Right now, our main strategy is to focus on the big threats and let the smaller ones go. In principle, anyone below the True Person Realm can be allowed through. But if it’s a True Person Realm cultivator or stronger, you must signal immediately. The others in charge of each zone will handle it. Don’t try to play the hero.”

That was almost exactly what Qingming had told him before, so Li Xun naturally agreed. But soon he frowned. “Third Martial Uncle, as they say, it’s easier to deal with the king of hell than his little ghosts. On my way here, I’ve seen countless battles breaking out everywhere. At this rate, I fear the chaos in the polar regions will never end…”

Ming Song shook his head and sighed. “We all know that. But lately, the Nightless City is about to undergo some changes. The other sects are just adjusting to the situation.”

Changes?

Li Xun wanted to ask more, but seeing that Ming Song had no intention of explaining, he could only swallow his questions for now and turn to other topics.

They hadn’t talked for long before a group of rogue cultivators launched another assault near the coast. Ming Song had no choice but to leave Li Xun behind and go stop them.

Once he left, he didn’t have another moment to spare.

Li Xun watched from a distance for a moment, then finally drew his sword and chased after a rogue cultivator who had just slipped through the barrier of Ming Song’s sword qi.

“In principle… well, I guess it all depends on my mood,” he muttered with a grin.

After helping Ming Song cut down two rogue cultivators and a demon, Li Xun was promptly sent back to the City of Eternal Night to report to the supervising immortal and collect a few essential tools for his roaming patrol duties.

Only then did Li Xun finally understand the meaning behind that smile the supervising immortal master had given him when they had first met.

Clearly, the man had already known what Li Xun’s assignment would be but had held off on telling him, letting Li Xun first meet with his sectmates. A small courtesy. And Li Xun, of course, made sure to thank him.

The supervising immortal master accepted his thanks with a pleasant smile before explaining the details of Li Xun’s patrol duties. After just a few sentences, Li Xun understood why he’d been chosen for this role.

The roaming patrols not only required someone with solid knowledge of forbidden techniques, but also someone quick-witted and good at knowing when to advance and when to pull back.

If not, when you were supposed to warn everyone, you’d draw your sword and charge to your death. Or when you were supposed to act decisively and cut someone down, you’d stir up a whole crowd of experts over a few rats. People like that can never be roaming patrols.

It seems my reputation among the sects has already been set, Li Xun thought. He had drifted along for a few hazy years, and only now were some things finally coming into focus.

Having a fixed reputation was not the problem. The key was to be consistent about it.

In the demonic sects, being moody and unpredictable is read as being unfathomably deep. In the orthodox sects, it becomes shorthand for being conniving and deceitful.

He tightened his guard inwardly, and then heard the supervising immortal master say, "Forget about the other magic implements for now. The two most important items are the 'Longwind Whistle' and the 'Constellation Plate.' One is for calling for help and giving warning, the other shows mission bearings. Learn how to use them carefully. I have already listed you among the roaming patrols. The assignment might come at any moment."

Li Xun nodded. He first tucked the jade willow-leaf whistle into his robe, then picked up the Constellation Plate, which looked much like a compass. He handled it with a steady touch, making a few careful adjustments. Seeing this, the supervising immortal master stroked his beard with a smile. Clearly quite pleased.

Just then, a faint light flashed across the plate, proving the immortal master’s words true.

Surprised, the immortal master leaned in for a look, then sighed. “Chaos… real chaos. You’ve only just been assigned, and already it’s your turn. Go quickly. Head for the buffer zone, that’s where our sect’s territory lies. If there’s anything you don’t understand, one of the elders will be there to guide you. Truth be told, they’ve spoken quite well of you.”

Li Xun’s brow twitched. He didn’t say anything more, just gave a short reply and flew straight north.

The spot indicated by the Constellation Plate was where the protective restrictions needed repair. When he arrived, there was no one in sight. Only traces on the ground showing that a fight had taken place not long ago.

It was the aftershocks of that battle that had damaged seven or eight of the restrictions across several li.

Li Xun scanned the area to make sure it was still relatively safe. Then he crouched down to examine the broken restrictions.