Qian Jin nodded. This was the second time he had heard the requirements for becoming a City Lord, having heard something similar from Fabredis once before, though the conditions mentioned by General Feng seemed significantly more demanding this time.

"Come on then!" General Feng whipped his brown cloak around and strode forward. "To reach the Demon Lands, one needs an identity, doesn't one? Perhaps this time is sheer luck. Normally, very few trade caravans pass by the Earth Fortress, but one just happens to be here."

"A caravan?" Qian Jin couldn't help but feel that luck was on their side. Caravans, whether heading towards the Zhence Dynasty in the east or the Demon Lands in the west, or even the Barbarians to the north of both, were generally well-treated.

The Demon Race’s tea, tobacco, spices, and many fruits were goods highly desired by the people of the Zhence Dynasty. Likewise, the Demon Race needed the Zhence Dynasty’s ceramics, glass, and various textiles.

Even though the blood of mutual hatred flowed in the bones of both the Demon Race and the Zhence Dynasty citizens, they did not reject the exchange economy facilitated by the caravans. However, both sides had explicit regulations regarding military supplies like weapons, grain, and Demon Crystal Stones, strictly forbidding their trade.

Of course, the profits from these embargoed items were naturally much higher, and people from both the Demon Race and the Zhence Dynasty risked execution to deal in these high-return goods.

In the open ground not far from the Earth Fortress, more than twenty large, double-horse-drawn carts were parked nearby. Over forty men and women, clad in leather and iron armor and armed with long spears and steel sabers, vigilantly scanned their surroundings.

"To maintain such vigilance even near a military camp guarded by a large army," Qian Jin couldn't help but raise his estimation of this mercenary team escorting the goods, while secretly wondering what exactly was in this shipment? It was enough to hire a master to pose as a cart driver?

Qian Jin deliberately avoided looking at the driver of the third cart. Two years of training in the Four Seasons Valley and the Western Mountains of the Endless World had honed an instinct almost bestial within him. This man, wearing a sawtooth-like straw hat and dressed in the soiled, rough cloth of a common carter, gave him an indescribable sense of danger.

His gaze swept past the driver of the third cart, and amid the dust and labor atmosphere of the convoy, a sudden burst of vibrant red appeared.

The fourth cart carried not only a driver but also a young female mage. Her red magic robe had been specially tailored and modified; it lacked the usual awkward bulk of common robes, instead possessing an artistic flair.

An egg-sized ruby was set atop a delicately carved darkwood staff, which was wrapped with silver filaments that immediately broadcast its immense value to any observer.

The female mage felt Qian Jin’s scrutinizing gaze. She gently nudged her wide magic hat with the staff, revealing a beautiful, oval face. Her long black hair cascaded smoothly over her slightly raised chest, and a faint hint of pride lingered in her expression.

Qian Jin understood the source of the young mage’s pride. The three golden stars emblazoned on her chest symbolized that she was a Third-Rank Mage. While she still had a long way to go before reaching the level of a Tenth-Rank Mage or the even higher Great Mage, this achievement was remarkable for someone her age.

A slightly stout man wearing a robe patterned with gold coins jumped down from a cart and hurried over to General Feng, a professional merchant's smile plastered on his face. He bowed and said obsequiously, "General, you can inspect our cargo quickly; if we delay, my humble establishment cannot afford the penalty."

A small purse filled with gold coins, hidden within a larger money pouch, was surreptitiously transferred into General Feng’s wide sleeve as the man bowed and curtsied. Qian Jin watched, marveling. This act of bribing, performed with such fluid ease, was as instinctive as the soldiers' training in drawing their blades.

The three Chiliarchs simultaneously diverted their gazes to different directions, pretending not to notice the merchant’s bribery. Guarding the frontier was arduous work, and taking some pocket money from the caravans had become an unspoken rule that the caravan leaders understood perfectly well.

General Feng dramatically flicked his sleeves back, straightened his posture slightly, and nodded with a pleased smile toward the Chiliarchs, giving them a look that signaled 'search them.' He then refocused on the caravan leader: "Boss Liang has always been a legitimate merchant of our Zhence Dynasty; I have never doubted that. This time, brother, I have a small favor to ask of Boss Liang, I wonder if..."

"Whatever the General commands, just say the word." Boss Liang quickly bent lower, his eyes narrowing into thin slits of a smile. "What can I do for you, General?"

"Nothing major," General Feng said, raising his hand to point at Qian Jin and his two companions. "The families of these three lads once showed me great kindness. Now that they've grown up and wish to venture into the world, I wanted to ask if Boss Liang might be interested in hiring them as bodyguards for this trip, to let them see something of the world."

"Hmph! More low-ranking soldiers trying to scrounge up travel funds!"

A voice as crisp as a bird’s chirp, laced with thick arrogance, drifted contemptuously from the thin red lips of the female mage on the fourth cart, causing several of the attached soldiers to nod in silent agreement.

"Aibijia!" Boss Liang glared back at the female mage before forcing his smile back onto his face. He slowly straightened up—a posture he usually reserved only for supplicants—and approached the trio. "May I ask about the capabilities of these three warriors? We are traveling to the Demon Lands this time, and as you know, sir, there are a great many bandits there..."

Aibijia puckered her thin lips so tightly they looked capable of hanging a soy sauce bottle. Her shining brown eyes held disdain and hauteur. As the youngest mage from the Eternal Flow Crystal Magic Tower, absorbed by the Eternal Flow Magic Guild before even entering the advanced magic academy, why should she care about the feelings of a few low-grade soldiers during her journey of experience?

The guarding soldiers all nodded in unison. Although the Demon Race’s Demon Codex forbade the looting of human caravans, there were still many Demon soldiers or adventurers who would occasionally act as bandits against Zhence Dynasty convoys. Such incidents of robbery in Demonic territory were not uncommon.

Guarding such a caravan already felt taxing and worrying for the mercenaries; adding three inexperienced fighters meant they would have to dedicate manpower to protecting them during any combat. At this, the mercenaries' expressions soured slightly, revealing a trace of resistance.

Fen Tu Kuangge’s eyebrow twitched sharply. As a descendant of the Fen Tu family, he would fight even against bloodline warriors; how could he tolerate such looks of contempt and disdain?

The battle aura of a Demon Quelling Warrior erupted instantaneously from Fen Tu Kuangge’s body! Seated on the cart, the driver whose face was half-hidden by the straw hat subtly flinched, and two points of cold, sharp light pierced out from the shadowy darkness beneath the hat.

The vigilant eyes of the attached soldiers instantly focused on Fen Tu Kuangge, stunned into silence.

A Demon Quelling Warrior! Such a young Demon Quelling Warrior? The fat on Boss Liang’s face twitched violently, and his small eyes shone with disbelief. He thought inwardly: I assumed the border guards were just trying to send three people in to leech off the expenses, but one of them is actually a Demon Quelling Warrior!

In just an instant, the mercenaries’ previous resistance vanished. In this line of life-risking work, strength was the ultimate calling card! Regardless of the strength of the other two, having a Demon Quelling Warrior join was a significant boost to combat power. "Good, good, good!" Boss Liang exclaimed, beaming as he gave a thumbs-up. "Anyone recommended by General Feng must be strong."

General Feng smiled dashingly but remained silent, thinking to himself: Are you satisfied just seeing Fen Tu Kuangge's strength? If you saw the abilities of Duan Feng Bu'er and this Qian Jin, you wouldn't agree to let them join the caravan. Three such powerful young men joining a small caravan—even a fool would know something was amiss.

Qian Jin felt General Feng's gaze and quickly nodded, indicating he understood the General's concerns.

Boss Liang’s look toward Fen Tu Kuangge was noticeably different from before, and the degree to which he bowed was now much deeper.

As a merchant, one must possess insight into potential investments. Boss Liang was highly confident in this regard: a Demon Quelling Warrior at such a young age would undoubtedly have a brilliant future; if he didn't build rapport now while their value was low, it would be impossible to connect once their reputation soared.

"May I ask the name of this warrior?"

As he spoke, Boss Liang pulled out a packet of cigarettes from his sleeve. Duan Feng Bu'er's eyes lit up immediately. He snatched the cigarettes, saying, "He is called Feng Yi, I am Feng Er, and that one is Feng San. Feng Yi doesn't smoke these; thankfully, I do, so none of your kindness will be wasted. Hmm! The texture of these cigarettes... not as good as the ones I’ve acquired recently~~ Oh well! It’s nice to have something to smoke!"

Boss Liang’s already pale face turned slightly green. While he could understand the use of obviously fake names—many great warriors adopted aliases before gaining fame to maintain privacy later—what truly pained him was the packet of cigarettes. He had intended to curry favor with a young Demon Quelling Warrior, only for a non-Demon Quelling Warrior to take the gift. And on top of that, the man had the gall to complain that the quality of the cigarettes was poor!

"You think gold-grade cigarettes are easy to come by?" Boss Liang smiled stiffly, cursing Duan Feng Bu'er inwardly. "It was pure luck that I managed to get these silver-grade ones!"