Immortality begins with exchanging talent attributes.

Chapter 90 Beast Tide Day

Since acquiring the "Iron Kidneys and Robust Hips" entry, Zhou Yan has felt energetic every day, as if he has inexhaustible strength.

In the past, he needed to rest for three or four hours every day.

Even if I only sleep for an hour now, I can still feel energetic the next day.

The sky was not yet fully light.

After washing up, Zhou Yan found Zhu Asan.

"Third Brother, I might not be back for the next few days. Please take good care of Aunt Zhu and Zhu Zhu at home. If anything happens, don't worry, we'll talk about it when I get back."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Asan looked puzzled and asked, "You're going on a mission? You'll be gone for several days?"

Zhou Yan nodded and said, "Yes, it's a mandatory mission for the Black-Clad Guards; we can't refuse."

Zhu Asan said with some concern, "Then you have to be careful. Don't rush into things recklessly, you—"

Listening to Zhu Asan ramble on for a long time, Zhou Yan showed no impatience whatsoever; instead, he kept nodding and smiling.

"Okay, Third Brother, I'm leaving now. Zhu Zhu hasn't gotten up yet, so I won't say goodbye. Please tell her I'll bring her something delicious when I get back."

Without further delay, Zhou Yan lifted the mountain with one hand and strode out of the house.

Push open the gate of the house.

Li Kun, Song Hu, and others were already dressed and waiting outside the door.

With weapons hanging from their waists and bundles and water bags on their backs, the six men were clearly ready to go into the mountains.

Raising an eyebrow, Zhou Yan looked at them, a grin spreading across his face, and said, "Let's go!"

"yes!"

Li Kun and the others clasped their hands in a salute and followed Zhou Yan toward the Xuanyiwei yamen.

The Black-Clad Guard's Office.

Martial arts training ground.

When Zhou Yan and his group arrived, a large number of people had already gathered in the spacious training ground.

And guards in black robes kept rushing in from outside the door.

On the other side of the training ground, more than ten prison vans were parked, holding a group of death row inmates and serious criminals in shackles.

Each prison cart was guarded by black-clad guards with swords.

Zhou Yan and his men stopped at an open space, glanced around, and then asked Li Kun, "How many people went into the mountains this time?"

Li Kun pondered for a moment.

"Besides those who stayed behind to guard the government offices and city gates, there were probably over a thousand Black-Clad Guards."

In addition, a group of prisoners would be sent in as laborers to help move the corpses of the spirit beasts and various materials.

"Even death row inmates are being sent to the mountains?"

Zhou Yan asked.

"Yes, sir. Every time there is a beast tide, some death row inmates are brought in to carry corpses or be used as bait."

Zhou Yan nodded slightly.

The number of over a thousand Xuanyi Guards may seem large, but the Qingmang Mountains stretch for thousands of miles.

Once these people disperse and enter the mountains, they become nothing.

"Those with official positions of more than one hundred households would go deeper into Qingmang Mountain than we do. We are probably at the boundary between the inner and outer parts of the mountain."

Song Hu, who was standing to the side, said something.

Zhou Yan nodded, and wanted to ask about the types of spirit beasts in the mountains.

Zhou Jing, accompanied by several guards in black uniforms, walked over from a distance.

Upon seeing Zhou Yan, she paused slightly and then turned to walk towards him.

"Captain Zhou, it's been a long time."

Zhou Yan looked at the other person with some surprise.

Long time no see? Are we that close?

However, one shouldn't hit a smiling face, so he clasped his hands in return and said, "Captain Zhou, it's been a long time."

Although the two were exchanging polite words, there was little sense of intimacy in their tone.

Zhou Jing's gaze lingered on the Mountain-Crushing Sword in Zhou Yan's hand for a moment before she said calmly, "Captain Zhou has been making quite a splash lately, but the mountains are dangerous, and the spirit beasts have no intelligence. You still need to be extra careful!"

Zhou Yan's lips curled up slightly.

"Thank you for the reminder, Captain Zhou. I will be careful."

Zhou Jing gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and then turned and led her men toward another team.

Watching her departing figure, Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

What does this woman mean? Is she cursing him?

Just then.

The area in front of the training ground suddenly fell silent.

A group of people dressed in the uniforms of high-ranking officers of the Black-Clad Guard walked out from the main hall behind the training ground.

The leader had a short beard on his chin, walked with a steady gait, and exuded an extraordinary aura.

It was Wu Yunshan, the commander of the Xuanyi Guard of Jiande Prefecture and a Xiantian expert.

Walking behind Wu Yunshan were several commanders of the Xuanyi Guard and a dozen or so centurions.

Lu Qingshuang was prominently featured in the group, and she was positioned near the front, walking alongside a group of deputy commanders.

Wu Yunshan led several commanders to the high platform.

Lu Qingshuang and the other centurions then went to their respective teams.

The originally somewhat scattered Black-Clad Guards quickly formed more than ten neat rows according to their respective affiliations.

Zhou Yan naturally led Li Kun and the others, standing in the group led by Lu Qingshuang.

at the same time.

Several guards from the Bureau of Experience began moving through the crowd, distributing area maps and signal arrows to the various captains.

Zhou Yan took the map that belonged to him.

The area marked above is Duan Gu Gorge, which is located on the outskirts of Qingmang Mountain.

On the high platform.

Wu Yunshan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze slowly sweeping over the more than a thousand black-clad guards below.

Even though he didn't deliberately activate his internal energy, a heavy pressure had already enveloped the entire training ground.

"Are the personnel, supplies, and convicts/laborers in each department ready?"

Wang Baichuan stepped forward and announced loudly, "Reporting to the Commander, everything is ready."

Wu Yunshan nodded slightly and continued, "All Black-Clad Guards, listen to my command!"

"Greetings, Commander!"

The crowd below clasped their fists in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

"After entering Qingmang Mountain, each captain shall be stationed according to the map and shall not leave the area of responsibility without authorization."

"If you encounter an invincible beast, immediately fire a crimson signal arrow to call for help. Once the three horn calls are sounded, no matter how much you have hunted, everyone must immediately evacuate Qingmang Mountain."

Having said that, Wu Yunshan didn't waste any more words and waved his hand dismissively.

"Set off!"

The words fell.

Wu Yunshan leaped off the high platform and led several commanders out of the yamen.

"Set off!"

Lu Qingshuang and the other centurions also issued orders almost simultaneously.

The group then began to move.

More than a thousand guards in black uniforms, more than ten prison carts, and a large number of vehicles loaded with dry food, medicine and tools passed through Jiande Prefecture in a grand procession.

Heading towards the direction of Qingmang Mountain.

Qingmang Mountain and Duangu Gorge in Jiande Prefecture.

The mountains and forests are layered upon each other, and the roads are rugged and difficult to travel.

The dense foliage completely blocked out the sunlight, making the surroundings exceptionally dark.

Zhou Yan walked at the very front of the group.

He swung his Mountain Crush sword from time to time, cutting down all the bushes, vines, and low branches that blocked his path.

Li Kun and the others followed behind.

In addition to weapons, each person also carried tools such as shovels on their backs.

The seven people trekked through the mountains and forests for a long time, following the route on the map.

Song Hu suddenly looked up and surveyed the surrounding terrain.

"My lord, this should be the place."

Zhou Yan stopped and looked up ahead.

On either side, a steep mountain peak rises abruptly from the ground.

In the middle is a narrow gorge, as if the entire mountain range had been cleaved in two by a giant blade.

Li Kun took two steps forward, looked around, and then climbed up a thick, sturdy tree.

A moment later, he slid down from the tree and said, "My lord, command arrows have already been launched from deep within; it must have already begun."

Zhou Yan surveyed the terrain of Broken Bone Gorge.

The gorge is narrow.

The mountain walls on both sides are steep.

It is extremely suitable for setting traps.

"Let's begin then."

"yes!"

Song Hu, Yu Hua, and others immediately unloaded their tools and looked for a suitable position in front of the gorge.

All of them were second-level martial arts practitioners.

Their strength and speed are far beyond those of ordinary people.

Every time the shovel falls, it kicks up a large amount of dirt.

In less than half an hour, a huge pit nearly three meters deep and about five meters wide had already taken shape.

Besides the animal traps.

The group also set up tripwires and makeshift barricades on both sides to restrict the direction in which the spirit beasts ran.

Finally, they cleared a space not far away and planted the command flag representing Zhou Yan's team.

The carcasses of the beasts hunted afterward would be temporarily piled up there.

Every so often, the Black-Clad Guards from the Bureau of Experience would lead death row inmates to clean up the corpses and record their merits.

Everything is ready.

Song Hu wiped the sweat from his forehead and came to Zhou Yan's side.

"grown ups."

"The trap has been set."

Zhou Yan nodded.

Just as they were about to ask how many merit points a spirit beast could be exchanged for, a violent shaking suddenly came from the bushes nearby.

Whoosh!

The branch broke.

A massive wild boar beast suddenly burst out of the forest!

It was nearly ten feet tall at the shoulder, with two curved fangs protruding from the corners of its mouth, and its scarlet eyes were full of savagery.

Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed, and the next moment, a white figure emerged from above the wild boar.

Wild boar hide (white) can be combined with boar tusk (white) to create wild boar body (green).

The target is not human and is in a stable state; exchanging it requires a lifespan of ten years.

He raised his eyebrows.

Wild boar hide? Wild boar body?

If I take this thing, will it turn him into a wild boar?

The combined strength of Niu Jiu and Erhu had already made him inhuman; now, with a pig's head growing out of him—

Just imagining that scene made Zhou Yan shudder.

Clang!

With a single stroke, Zhou Yan drew the sword from the mountain, gripping it with both hands.

He stomped heavily under his feet.

boom!