Sen Gui Wuxin stared with wide, round eyes at Gan Jin, his beard-covered mouth opening and closing repeatedly, his two large hands planted on his hips. This piece of news was too explosive! It was more astonishing than an ordinary warrior taking a kitchen knife to the Lucifer Dynasty, lopping off the Great Demon Lord’s head, and bringing it back to the Zhence Dynasty.

What Gui Wuxin found most intolerable was Gan Jin’s utterly innocent expression! It looked as if he wasn't discussing news capable of shaking stars until they tumbled to the ground, but merely chatting about what to eat for dinner.

“Can you put on some mysterious expression? Some tense look? Are you trying to die?” Gui Wuxin gasped for air, glaring at Gan Jin. He still couldn’t quite believe the news was true, yet seeing Gan Jin’s look of absolute certainty, he had no choice but to accept it. This successor to the Torrential Fortress in whom he had placed such high hopes wasn't joking in the slightest.

“Then that’s settled, Uncle, help me out a bit more. *……” Gan Jin smiled, turned, and strode briskly out of the Torrential Fortress. As a warrior student of the Conquest Academy, now that he was back, he needed to report to school promptly. Since the Academy’s Hundred Battles Ranking was intimately tied to resources, there was nothing more to discuss.

Fight!

Gan Jin leaped onto the carriage where Biluo was already seated, flicked the reins to urge the horses forward, and moved out of the city. He leaned against a pillar inside the carriage, gazing at the sky. Since the Principal had established this Hundred Battles Ranking, all aspects—from martial skills and battle stones to future trial quotas—were directly linked. As a student, he naturally had to compete!

Keep a low profile? Look down on the Hundred Battles Ranking? Gan Jin curled his lip. He wasn't like the protagonists in the bards' tales, who constantly feigned humility, waiting for others to challenge them, scorning the Academy’s rankings.

The Hundred Battles Ranking was a list directly connected to resources! Gan Jin stretched his arms wide, relaxing the joints and bones. He wondered where he stood on the ranking now, having defeated Wei Buhuan, who was ranked fortieth, at the ball last night?

Taking Wei Buhuan's spot at fortieth? Or perhaps………… Gan Jin scratched his head, deciding not to dwell on this matter of Academy policy. “Once I see the Principal at the Academy, I’ll quickly understand how it works.”

“Huh*……” Gan Jin adjusted his posture, observing a large contingent of warriors in the distance along the long street. They were clad in bright armor, gripping various weapons, their faces set with grave killing intent and hostility as they scrutinized every person moving on the street, as if every civilian were a demon disguised among them.

Killing intent exposed! Gan Jin frowned slightly, watching a squad of city guards pass by. Why were these men suddenly so tense?

A warrior passing beside Gan Jin suddenly halted, looking Gan Jin up and down from head to toe. He flicked his saber, pointing it at Gan Jin, and barked, “You! Get down! Submit to inspection*……”

Gan Jin braced his hand against the carriage shaft and jumped down, standing quietly before the city guard to accept the inspection. As a member of the Zhence Dynasty, cooperating with the guards was part of the national law.

The city guard scrutinized Gan Jin with ill favor. Most people would flinch under such a gaze, but this man stared back thoughtfully.

“What’s your name? Where are you from…*……”

Listening to the city guard’s questions, Gan Jin felt a headache coming on. He should have chosen a carriage marked with the Torrential Fortress insignia when leaving. That probably would have spared him this trouble.

“Gan Jin, warrior of the Torrential Fortress, currently studying at the Conquest Academy…”

“Gan Jin? The one from the Torrential Fortress?” The squad leader, a robust warrior about six feet tall with dark, tanned skin, turned back with an unfriendly look of suspicion.

The entire squad straightened, continuing their search, cold hostility flashing deep within their pupils!

Gan Jin’s skin keenly sensed their hostility. He was puzzled; he hadn’t met these men before. Where did this animosity come from out of nowhere?

“You are Gan Jin?” The captain eyed Gan Jin up and down with hostile eyes. “The one who offended the City Lord’s Young Master? In Yongliu City, offending our Young Master is slapping the face of our City Lord! Slapping the City Lord’s face means looking down upon us warriors who guard him!”

“We suspect demon spies have infiltrated the city, and we are currently conducting a search,” the captain said, pointing his saber at the carriage where Gan Jin was seated. “We now suspect a demon spy is hidden inside. We must inspect it.”

Demon spies? Gan Jin looked at the captain with a touch of surprise. Though this man seemed filled with hostility, his words didn't suggest he was lying. Had that beautiful demon from Lucifer Creek snuck out last night to scout Yongliu City’s terrain? Or done something else that exposed him? If that were the case, he needed to get the beautiful demon away from here sooner.

Two burly warriors—like wolves and tigers—pounced on the carriage, brutally kicking the door inward. The sound of their sabers scraping against the sheaths was a sharp, piercing friction in the sunlight, illuminating Biluo inside the carriage with a chilling, cold glint.

Gan Jin frowned slightly at the city guards’ performance. It was just a search, not a house raid. Why the violence? Did the carriage have a personal grudge against them? Kicking it that hard? If they broke it, would they pay for it?

“Captain John, we have someone here—we don't know if they are human or demon!”

The city guard, saber in hand, glared fiercely at Biluo, who was completely concealed by a magic hat.

“Oh? Is that so?” John waved his hand, and the soldiers behind him immediately formed a circle, surrounding the carriage. Two guards carrying crossbows behind them unslung their weapons, drawing the strings taut. Two cold, murderously sharp arrows were aimed squarely at the carriage, clearly ready to shoot Biluo dead if she showed any sign of resistance.

Gan Jin surveyed the surrounding warriors and nodded subtly. Whether they were adversarial or simply fellow warriors, this small team operated with exceptional synergy. As the shield-bearers spread out, they simultaneously shielded the two crossbowmen, forming a small cycle of attack and defense—a formation only achievable by those who had experienced real combat.

Biluo stepped out of the carriage timidly, instinctively hiding behind Gan Jin. The combination of chilling arrowheads, sharp blades, and the wolf-and-tiger-like door-kicking was certainly intimidating.

John smiled with satisfaction at Biluo's reaction. While their combat skills might not be top-tier, the city guard force was backed by the Zhence Dynasty! Even people from the Torrential Fortress or the Conquest Academy had to abide by the Zhence Dynasty’s laws.

In a remote, small city, a powerful warrior might enjoy relative privilege regarding many laws, but in a large city like Yongliu! John let out a cold laugh. Even a leader like Gui Wuxin of the Torrential Fortress had to follow the rules obediently.

“You! I now suspect you are a demon spy. Lift your hat and let this officer see your face,” John said, tilting his chin slightly, looking down on Biluo with a condescending air. “Immediately!”

Biluo instinctively shrank further behind Gan Jin, replying timidly, “I… I am Biluo, a first-year student in the Magic Department of the Conquest Academy. H-here is my student ID…”

When John saw the fair, smooth hand peeking out from under the magic robe, his eyes immediately lit up, and the corner of his lip involuntarily curled high to the upper right. Could this be the woman the City Lord’s Young Master was rumored to fancy? Fine! Today was the perfect opportunity to teach this young warrior named Gan Jin a lesson, letting him know who the true authority in Yongliu City was!

“Student ID*…” John suddenly raised his hand, reaching to snatch the ID from Biluo, shouting, “How do I know this isn’t fake? Take off your hat…”

Smack!

In the quiet center of the street, a crisp sound, almost like a slap, rang out. Passing pedestrians watched in astonishment as Captain John’s wrist, extended to strike, was firmly gripped by the young male warrior standing in front of the female mage. The crisp sound was the sharp noise made when their hands and wrists connected.

“You…” John’s thick, coarse eyebrows, full of rugged military bearing, shot up. An expression of unbelievable shock bloomed in his fierce, proud eyes. Did this young warrior know what he was doing? Was he insane? Daring to obstruct a city guard carrying out official duties? Once he did this…

A cruel smile gradually replaced the shock in John’s eyes. This young warrior was too young! He didn't know the consequences of his actions! At best, he was obstructing a guard; at worst, if John had enough backing, he could easily pin a charge of rebellion on this boy!

“Boy, do you know what you are doing? You…”

“…The Warrior’s Code states that the primary responsibility of a warrior is to protect those beside them, to protect every member of the Zhence Dynasty.” Gan Jin held John’s arm steadily as it strained and shook. “You, as a warrior, even while on duty, should not treat a member of the Zhence Dynasty with such disrespect, especially when she is a mage. Do not forget, on the battlefield, the warrior’s most trusted allies are their comrades, and the ones they rely on behind them are the mages! Mages are friends to warriors. Is this how you treat friends?”

“You…” John felt as if he couldn’t draw a breath, nearly suffocated. This young warrior didn’t look particularly cunning, yet his words managed to seize the moral high ground and suppress the other party with sheer momentum.

The passing city residents stared blankly at Gan Jin. Was this kid brave? Or completely mad? He dared to lay hands on a captain-level officer among the city guards! It’s over! Once the captain got angry and broke free, he would simply use the excuse that the young man resisted inspection and break his limbs.