Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

Suddenly.

Yang Yingzhen's gaze met Shen Ye's.

She threw him a slight smile and continued,

"There's no need to worry, the tourists around us can't hear what I'm saying—"

"Alright, where did I leave off?"

"Due to the curse, we're now going to take you all to a training camp, which will last about five days."

"Actually, this also serves as a form of protection for everyone."

"Because our Breath Soil High School specializes in restraining curses, probably in three days, no, just two days, you will all be fully recovered."

"Once everyone has completed the training, I believe you won't be entangled by any curses for a long time to come."

Upon hearing these words, the examinees all cheered quietly.

Even Nangong Sirui and Xiao Mengyu's expressions relaxed slightly, apparently pleased with the school's decision.

"This is the headmaster's decision."

"In past years, the headmaster would personally welcome all the new students, but this time he is absent because of a battle."

"Yes, as you know, the conflict at Yunshan Port is very intense, and the headmaster is also there."

Everyone followed her, quickly entering the museum's office area.

Tourists were not allowed to enter here.

Yang Yingzhen led everyone into a spacious room, opening a long equipment cabinet.

Inside were ancient battle armors.

Yang Yingzhen became serious and earnest.

"The Three Great High Schools each have direct access to the Dharma Realm, something other high schools cannot compare with."

"Our requirements will be stricter than any other school!"

"Every year, students unable to advance leave the school to attend university and prepare for work."

"Only the truly strong can stay at Xi Rang, ascending level by level, thus becoming more excellent and more powerful."

"—After all, the age with the most potential and infinite possibilities for humans is one's youth."

"So, please study hard and fight valiantly."

"Give it your all, students!"

There was a stir among the crowd.

Shen Ye looked around to see every young face filled with trepidation and anticipation.

Even Xiao Mengyu gripped the hilt of her sword, her expression stirred.

—No one wanted to be eliminated.

Everyone wanted to stay here, keep getting stronger, without having to go to university or work in society.

But it would surely be difficult.

Only the strong could stay!

After Yang Yingzhen finished speaking, she suddenly smiled warmly again.

She took out a notebook, flipped it open, and read aloud,

"Considering everyone is already tired, only basic training is arranged for the first day."

"On the second day, the curse will be lifted, and you'll undergo your initial job trial."

"Of course, this is only the first trial; certainly many students will not succeed in getting a position, but that's okay, don't worry, we will discuss it after school starts."

"Now for the important part—"

"On the third day, you will have some time to rest, and in the evening, there will be a grand welcome party for the three schools combined. Remember to dress sharp and look your best."

"I won't tell you the rest for now."

"Now—"

"Pick out a suitable battle armor to wear, and then we will set off!"

Following Yang Yingzhen's clap, everyone immediately began searching for fitting battle armors.

These armors, made of leather, were coarse and ragged, with some areas already sliced and pierced.

Shen Ye also donned a piece of leather armor.

Zhang Xiaoyi joked from the side,

"Wow, look at this leather full of holes; once we start fighting, I must take good care of it, or else I'll have to pay for it."

"Rest assured, student," said Yang Yingzhen with a smile, "your leather armor has been through dozens of 'anomalies' and 'catastrophes.' The people who wore it died, but it survived."

Zhang Xiaoyi subconsciously touched the leather armor on his body.

—Those who wore it died?

So now that he was wearing it—

His face turned pale.

Xiao Mengyu also put on a small piece of leather armor.

Everyone finished getting dressed.

Yang Yingzhen looked around and said with a smiling gaze,

"With the headmaster absent, I will have to reluctantly give you the first lesson."

"First of all, everyone should understand the concept of an 'anomaly.'

"Simply put, when another dimension suddenly invades our world, it can be called an 'anomaly.'

"So here's the question—"

"If scenes from the ancient past of our human race suddenly appeared before you, would that count as an anomaly?"

While the others were still pondering, Nangong Sirui quickly spoke up,

"Of course it does! But this belongs to a naturally occurring 'anomaly' that is close to our own human race and is usually under our control."

"Correct answer!" exclaimed Yang Yingzhen, bringing her hands together and forming a spell seal.

"My fellow students, go stay well for a while."

"—The freshman training begins!"

As her words fell,

the surroundings flashed by.

The world disappeared.

Shen Ye found himself standing in a broad plaza.

His classmates were all around him.

In the distance was a strict military force, arranged in tidy battle formations, shouting cadences as they moved toward the city gates.

Suddenly, Yang Yingzhen appeared, also dressed in military attire.

"Reporting!"

She shouted loudly and saluted the distant army.

A bugle call sounded from the army.

A man clad in military attire galloped towards them on his horse, his eyes sharply scanning everyone present.

"Officer Wu, these are the new recruits reporting today," Yang Yingzhen said.

"Hmm, you may step back."

"Yes, sir!"

Yang Yingzhen responded loudly.

She moved the spell seal in her hand.

The whole world seemed to freeze, as if time itself had come to a standstill.

"This is an 'Anomaly' under our control—a persistent 'Anomaly' used for teaching, left to us by our predecessors."

"From now on, you will receive basic training here and live here for some time."

"Of course, in this 'Anomaly,' everything remains peaceful as in peacetime, so none of you will be in any danger."

"Curses are suppressed here—especially those wide-reaching group curses, which are so diluted by the time they reach you that they hardly have any strength left."

"However, there is one thing I need to make clear."

"If you commit wrongdoing and are dealt with by the people of this era, the school will not intervene on your behalf."

"If you commit heinous crimes, then the school will cooperate with this era to bring you to justice."

"There's nothing else that you need to worry about."

"Just one tip, the Officer Wu who trains new recruits is very strict—he's about to assert his authority, so be careful."

"Best of luck, fellow students!"

Yang Yingzhen waved to everyone and then stepped into the void.

She disappeared.

The next second.

The mounted officer barked:

"All new recruits, listen up."

"I don't care what sect you came from or what role you held within it; once you're under my command, if you're a dragon, you coil up; if you're a tiger, you lie down!"

"Disobey military orders, and face severe punishment!"

"Now, get ready—"

"All of you, run ten laps around the drill ground before we speak further!"

He jumped off his horse and pulled out the whip at his waist.

Everyone was startled.

Yang Yingzhen had just said that this officer was very strict.

—He was asserting his authority!

The school wouldn't help them if they got into trouble!

Immediately, everyone began running around the field.

"He's really going to whip us? I find that hard to believe," Guo Yunye said softly.

"Quit your yapping. According to the rumors I've heard, the Breath Soil freshmen training is the toughest. Many end up battered and bruised, which is why I initially didn't plan to come to Breath Soil," Xiao Mengyu said.

Shen Ye fell silent, raising his head to look ahead.

Nangong Sirui was running at the very front of the group.

His running form was textbook perfect.

"Officer! How do you like my running?"

Nangong Sirui shouted aloud.

Whoosh—crack!

The whip swung through the air.

"If I didn't call you, you don't speak! Understood!"

Officer Wu said coldly.

Nangong Sirui shivered, immediately lowered his head, and ran faster.

Everyone fell silent.

...It seemed Xiao Mengyu's information was correct.

They had to be careful.

Just when Officer Wu had watched for a while, he suddenly pointed at Shen Ye:

"You, step out!"

Shen Ye ran up to him and shouted, "Officer, sir!"

"Hmm, I see a vigor of righteous qi lingering around you that doesn't dissipate. Do you have any sort of sect token?" Officer Wu asked.

Shen Ye's mind raced, and he thought of the jade token, which he then presented.

"Officer, this is my Identity Jade Token!" Shen Ye said.

The jade token had an ornately carved door on its front, beyond which lay the stars and moon; the back was inscribed with the words "Chaotic Heaven, Shen Ye."

"A True Disciple of the Chaotic Heaven Gate? Hahaha, excellent, with such talented youth among us, what great task can our Human Race not accomplish?"

Officer Wu put his whip away and warmly slapped Shen Ye on the shoulder.

"Thank you for your encouragement, sir! I will continue to work hard," Shen Ye said loudly.

"Hmm... Based on your travel-worn appearance, it seems you've had a hard time on the road."

"Here, take this token to the barracks and rest. Come back to the drill ground for roll call during dinner. If you're too tired, go straight to eat and then get a good night's rest."

Officer Wu handed Shen Ye a token.

Shen Ye silently received the token, then glanced over at the others still running laps on the drill ground.

While they ran, they stared at him in stunned silence.

"Yes, sir!" Shen Ye declared.

He ran off towards the barracks, but a strong suspicion blossomed in his mind.

No way.

It can't be a fake.

Is the real test waiting in the barracks?

He couldn't afford to be careless!