Chapter 46: Millitary base
As the military jeep approached the northern side of the city, the crowded streets gradually gave way to reinforced roads and restricted land.
The buildings became fewer with every passing minute, replaced by inspection towers, military checkpoints, and warning signs prohibiting civilians from leaving the main road.
Several armored vehicles passed them through separate lanes, while squads of soldiers patrolled the surrounding area with weapons already in hand.
Xingluo leaned slightly toward the window when the military base finally came into view.
A massive steel wall stretched across the northern region, separating the city from the wilderness beyond it.
Defensive runes moved faintly over the dark surface, while mana cannons rested between the watchtowers above.
Armed soldiers patrolled along the walls, and several flying beasts circled overhead with military scouts mounted on their backs.
Wuxia floated beside Xingluo and studied the defences. "This place looks more like a fortress than a military base."
"It is the last defensive line protecting the city from the northern wilderness," Xingluo replied quietly. "If the outer lines collapse, this is where the military stops the beast tide."
The jeep slowed as they approached the main entrance, joining a line of vehicles carrying students, instructors, military candidates, and heirs from the major families.
University transports stood beside military trucks, while several expensive mana cars waited farther ahead with family insignias displayed openly across their doors.
Soldiers moved between the vehicles, checking invitations and identities before allowing anyone closer to the gate.
When their turn arrived, Professor Liang lowered the window and handed their documents to one of the guards.
Another soldier walked around the jeep while a detection array beneath the road activated, sending a layer of blue light through the vehicle.
The light passed across Professor Liang before briefly gathering around Xingluo’s body.
Her fingers tightened when it touched the hidden armor and the soul mark on her forehead, but the array continued without producing any warning.
Wuxia looked down as the light passed directly through his soul form. "It seems they cannot properly detect our connection."
The guard checked their documents once more before returning them. " Follow the blue route toward Competition Sector Three."
Professor Liang nodded, and the barriers ahead separated, a heavy mechanical sound travelled through the ground as the massive gate began opening, its reinforced sections slowly withdrawing into the walls.
Behind it, a pale defensive barrier divided down the centre and revealed the base beyond.
The jeep moved forward, and Xingluo continued watching through the window as they entered.
Wide military roads connected rows of barracks, equipment warehouses, medical buildings, and training grounds.
Soldiers moved between them in organised groups, while armored vehicles transported weapons and sealed supply containers through separate lanes.
Unlike the university, nobody stood around without purpose.
Even the younger soldiers moved quickly and remained aware of everything around them, while commands and the distant sound of weapons echoed across the base.
The jeep passed a large training field where two squads were fighting beneath a transparent barrier. Their talents did not appear especially powerful, yet their movements were direct and coordinated.
Whenever one soldier attacked, another immediately covered the opening, while the rest changed formation without waiting for an order.
One fighter deliberately caught a heavy strike on his shield, allowing two others to move around their opponent before the attack had even ended.
Xingluo’s gaze remained on them as the jeep continued moving.
There was nothing flashy about the battle, but every action carried purpose, and none of the soldiers wasted even a single movement.
"Do not underestimate them," Wuxia said while studying the group. "Some may only possess low-grade talents, but their discipline and willingness to risk their lives are things most students cannot imitate."
Xingluo watched one soldier take a strike to create an opening for the rest of his team.
"And those with high-grade talents?"
Wuxia’s expression became slightly serious. "A gifted student may look impressive inside a university, but a gifted soldier sharpened through real battles becomes a true weapon."
Professor Liang glanced toward Xingluo from the front seat. "The competition will suppress everyone’s level, but it cannot suppress experience, remember that."
Xingluo nodded as the jeep continued deeper into the base, they soon reached a large circular arena where the audience and participants were entering through separate gates.
Professor Liang stepped out first and handed Xingluo her identification card. "I will be in the university section, participants must enter through the lower hall."
"Understood."
Xingluo followed the other competitors through the reinforced entrance, while Wuxia floated behind her and examined the people gathering inside.
The hall was already filling, with students from different universities standing in small groups as the audience slowly took their seats above.
The heirs of the major families remained near their followers, while the military candidates stood apart from everyone else, calm and organised despite the growing noise around them.
"Look at their eyes," Wuxia said. "The students are examining equipment and mana, but the soldiers are watching how everyone stands and moves."
Xingluo glanced toward them. "They have already started judging their opponents."
"For them, the competition began when they entered the hall."
More participants continued arriving, and Xingluo moved toward the section assigned to her university.
Wuxia was still studying the crowd when his gaze suddenly stopped near the entrance. Qin Haoran had arrived with several followers walking behind him.
The moment he saw Xingluo, a grin appeared on his face, and he approached her as though nothing had happened during the past few days.
Wuxia’s expression immediately darkened. "He truly has no shame."
Xingluo turned away, but Qin Haoran still stopped beside her. "Miss Xingluo, it has been some time."
She looked at him without answering.
Qin Haoran maintained his polite smile. "I should apologise for what happened that day, I may have spoken too strongly, but I was only concerned about you."
Wuxia nearly laughed from anger, while Xingluo’s expression remained cold. "I was also surprised when you failed to join the raid," Qin Haoran continued. "You disappeared without informing anyone, and I began wondering whether something had happened to you."
"My actions have nothing to do with you," Xingluo replied.
"Perhaps, but when someone refuses to communicate, the people worried about them may begin looking into matters they would normally ignore."
His voice remained pleasant, yet the threat behind it was clear, Qin Haoran was reminding her that he could continue interfering with her family and friends whenever she refused him.
Xingluo met his gaze. "Then stop worrying about me."
Qin Haoran stepped slightly closer and lowered his voice. "You should not reject every hand offered to you. Even inside the military headquarters, accidents can still happen."
Xingluo ignored him and looked directly at Qin Haoran. "You should worry about your own safety first."
The smile on Qin Haoran’s face stiffened, but before he could answer, mana spread across the hall.
A military officer had stepped onto the central platform, and the surrounding conversations gradually stopped. "All participants, pay attention."
Several doors opened along the lower walls as the officer looked across the hall. "Before the competition begins, every participant must complete the restriction process."
A projection appeared above the platform.
[Competition Standard Level: 70.]
[Levels and physical attributes above the standard will be suppressed.]
[Talent output and equipment strength will be restricted.]
[External enhancements will be sealed.]
Several university students and family heirs immediately began speaking among themselves, while the military candidates remained silent.
The officer continued, "The suppressors will limit your power, but they will not remove your combat skills, experience, mana control, or judgment."
"Every participant will fight under the same level and equipment restrictions. Anyone attempting to interfere with the process will be disqualified."
The competitors checked the group numbers on their identification cards and began moving toward the numbered passages.
Qin Haoran stepped away from Xingluo with the same faint smile. "It seems we will have to continue our conversation later."
His eyes shone slightly as he looked at her. "I am interested to see what you learned while you were missing."
His followers smiled before leaving with him, while Wuxia watched them disappear into another passage. "I dislike him more every time he speaks."
"This is military headquarters," Xingluo replied as she checked her own card. "We cannot do anything here."
"I know and that is the only reason he is still walking."
Xingluo joined the participants moving toward her assigned passage, while the audience continued filling the seats above them.
Wuxia followed beside her and glanced at the restriction rules again. "Your level and armor will lose most of their advantages."
Xingluo continued walking without hesitation. "The dungeon gave me more than levels and equipment."
Wuxia looked at her before a faint smile appeared on his face, the suppressors could reduce her strength, but they could not erase the battles she had survived.
Together with the other participants, Xingluo entered the passage as the doors slowly closed behind them.