Chapter 1 Following the Crowd

As the train arrived in Xu Du City, Jiang Xiao followed the crowded flow of people out of the station, hailed a taxi, and instead of heading straight back to the team, he went to the Ancient Pagoda Peak in the suburbs of Xu Du City.

The members selected from the National Team Individual Competition hadn't left Xu Du City. Instead, they were participating in the National Team training camp right there.

Under the guidance of officially assigned coaches and analysts, the players were participating in training to ensure their competitive condition and to provide targeted training to improve their combat abilities.

Er Wei had already notified the relevant leaders, and Jiang Xiao only needed to return to the team, but... return to the team?

Was that Jiang Xiao's style?

If he returned to the team now, he was afraid he really wouldn't be able to get out.

At this moment, Jiang Xiao had an immature idea in his head.

As the taxi stopped at the entrance of the military camp at the Ancient Pagoda Peak, Jiang Xiao scanned the QR code to pay the fare and got out of the car with his backpack.

Jiang Xiao discovered that he enjoyed another perk, which was "face recognition."

Even before Jiang Xiao could take out his Star Warrior certificate, the expressions of the soldiers on guard clearly conveyed: Haven't I seen this kid on TV? Isn't this the star student from the Capital Star Warrior University?

With his Star Warrior certificate and Capital Star Warrior University student ID, Jiang Xiao walked into the Ancient Pagoda Peak training ground, which was open to the public.

He was quite familiar with this place. After all, before the start of the National Team selection competition, the Capital Star Warrior University had organized a team led by Teacher Fang, bringing three students, including Jiang Xiao, here to train and familiarize themselves with the creatures of the other dimension at the Ancient Pagoda Peak.

Jiang Xiao walked into the hall of the central building, where a familiar soldier greeted him.

The soldier obviously recognized Jiang Xiao as a "celebrity" and was friendly, but he looked at Jiang Xiao's back with a puzzled expression, as he didn't see anyone else coming in. He couldn't help but ask, "Where are your teachers and classmates?"

Jiang Xiao said, "I came alone."

Yes, Jiang Xiao's Plan A was to capture a Gold-level Jin Lu (Golden Monk) or Yi Lu (Clothed Monk) here and throw it into his Calamity Shadow Dimension to continue sparring with his Star River-level bait.

Training, of course, required seizing every opportunity and moment.

Plan B was to capture two or three Silver-level Yin Lu (Silver Monk) or Cao Lu (Grass Monk) to train with his bait.

With the biological characteristics and intelligence of the Grimace Monks, they wouldn't kill each other when humans were present. Instead, they would unite against a common enemy and attack Jiang Xiao together.

The Star River-level bait Jiang Xiao should be able to handle two or three Silver Monks.

Currently, Jiang Xiao wasn't sure which plan would be more effective. He planned to let the facts speak for themselves and find a suitable training plan for himself.

"You came alone?" The soldier nodded silently when he heard this. "We all know that you've been selected for the National Team, so we definitely can't let you have an accident. If you come alone, you need to be accompanied by at least two soldiers to train with you."

Jiang Xiao grinned. That was the rule here, and there was nothing to say.

The other party was being responsible and kind, but the reason Jiang Xiao came here alone was to cause trouble. How could he let others see it?

The soldier continued, "I strongly recommend that you hire three soldiers to accompany you into the Ancient Pagoda. Please rest assured that they are experienced and won't delay your training plan. At the same time, they will protect your life to the greatest extent."

Jiang Xiao: "Uh..."

The soldier turned and left, signaling Jiang Xiao to follow. "Pay here, and I'll get you a list of soldiers. You're a medical-type Star Warrior with independent combat abilities, right? Let me see how we should arrange your team."

Jiang Xiao and the receiving soldier came to the window, where a list had already been handed out.

Jiang Xiao said, "Friend, what's your name?"

Soldier: "Wu Ke."

"Oh, Mr. Wu." Jiang Xiao reached out and tugged at his sleeve, taking two steps back, looking at Wu Ke's puzzled expression, Jiang Xiao said, "I don't need an escort. I'm going to go in and train on my own."

Wu Ke's face was serious, and he shook his head firmly. "Absolutely not. It doesn't comply with the regulations. For your personal safety, we can't let you enter the Ancient Pagoda Peak alone."

Jiang Xiao: "Uh..."

Wu Ke: "If you don't comply with the regulations, please leave immediately."

Jiang Xiao's mind raced. Looking at the extremely serious soldier in front of him, Jiang Xiao unzipped his backpack and opened the zipper. "I'll show you something. Don't make a fuss."

Wu Ke looked at Jiang Xiao's actions coldly and said, "Star Warriors who come here to train are very rich, Mr. Jiang Xiaopi, please have some self-respect."

Jiang Xiao was stunned.

This guy thought I was going to bribe him with money? Why would he think that? Had this kind of thing happened here a lot?

Jiang Xiao looked at Wu Ke stupidly: "Are you dreaming? Why would I give you money? Wouldn't it be better for me to go get some barbecue skewers?"

Wu Ke: "..."

Jiang Xiao opened the interlayer of his ink-wash backpack and took out a pitch-black leather certificate, whispering: "Don't make a fuss, don't make a fuss!"

Wu Ke frowned, and then his face changed, looking in astonishment at the silver round shield on the leather certificate, which had the character "Night" on it.

The two of them looked at the things in the backpack like street vendors and underground trading criminals, talking in low voices and secretly looking at the things in the backpack.

This scene took place in the reception hall, which was full of surveillance cameras, and the eyes of the soldiers standing guard around them couldn't help but drift over.

Wu Ke reached into the backpack and stroked the silver "Night" character round shield. After a long time, he blurted out, "Student Jiang, forging certificates, especially the certificates of national special forces, will be subject to very severe punishment!

You're still young, you've already been selected for the National Team, and you have a bright future. I advise you... I advise you... No, I can't advise you, I should arrest you."

Jiang Xiao: "..."

Wu Ke took out his Night Watch officer's certificate, opened it directly for inspection, and muttered softly, "Northwest Night Watch Army? Light Chasing Group!? Young man, you're something else, huh? This certificate is pretty realistic? This transparent watermark... and anti-counterfeiting mark, too?"

Jiang Xiao: "..."

Wu Ke opened the back of the certificate, and the information he saw left Wu Ke dumbfounded.

The Night Watch Army was one thing, but you even dared to print a Light Chasing Group?

The Light Chasing Group was one thing, but the specific information on the back directly printed a numbered Light Chasing Squad?

Fei Yu Team? (Tail Feather Team)

Oh my god, young man, are you trying to reach the heavens?

But... this issuing date, this serial number, this official seal... why does it look less and less like a fake?

Wu Ke closed the certificate with a snap, looked down at Jiang Xiao, and said, "Don't move from here, I'm going to..."

Before Wu Ke could finish his words, he changed his mind and said to the two soldiers standing guard beside him, "You two come over and take him to the reception room over there and keep a close watch on him!"

The two soldiers hurried over, grabbed Jiang Xiao's shoulders, and took him away.

While being dragged away, Jiang Xiao shouted, "Don't make a fuss, friends, let's solve this internally!"

Wu Ke simply ignored Jiang Xiao, took the certificate, and hurried up the stairs, not knowing where he was going to report.

Half an hour later, a middle-aged soldier, neatly dressed, led the dazed Wu Ke into the reception room.

Meeting and saluting, sonorous and powerful: "Comrade Jiang Xiaopi! Hello! I am from the North China Night Watch Army, the Third Battalion of the Thirty-second Regiment..."

"No, no, no." Jiang Xiao waved his hands repeatedly, hurriedly stood up, and then remembered something, quickly returned the salute.

The Light Chasing Group was special among the special forces, so there was such a scene.

The officer handed the certificate to Jiang Xiao and asked, "Do you have any instructions?"

Jiang Xiao scratched his head, looked at Wu Ke's dazed face, and said, "I don't have any instructions... Eh? Wait, I do have instructions!"

Officer: "What instructions?"

Jiang Xiao thought for a while and said, "I want to go in and see the Night Watch brothers, check the on-duty status, check... uh, check, um... this Ancient Pagoda Peak, this, this..."

Wu Ke tentatively asked, "Supervise the maintenance of order around the Holy Ruins and the organizational situation of the management of key areas?"

"Snap!" Jiang Xiao snapped his fingers, "Yes, that's it!"

Officer: "..."

You're from the Northwest Night Watch Army, what are you doing coming to our North China to supervise and inspect?

Cross-inspections weren't unheard of, but it would have to be a Light Chasing Captain leading the team, and you're just a two-year rookie...

The officer looked at Jiang Xiao's appearance, and a smile appeared on his face, "I heard you want to inspect alone."

Jiang Xiao nodded repeatedly: "Yes, if you guys accompany me, it'll be easy for something to happen during the inspection."

The officer's mouth twitched, "Take a look at the Guardian Corps on the first floor, the upper floors will be very dangerous, and it's not suitable to go without anyone accompanying you."

Jiang Xiao: "Okay! It's settled then! By the way, I don't need to buy a ticket, right?"

Officer: "..."

Jiang Xiao looked apologetic: "Sorry, sorry, I don't have much experience. Next time I go to other training grounds, I'll go directly to the Night Watch soldiers on duty inside the reception desk."

The officer only had one sentence in his heart: This kid not only wants to freeload here, but he also wants to freeload in more places in the future?

If Jiang Xiao knew what the other party was thinking, he would definitely retort on the spot!

What do you mean freeload?

I'm here to urge and inspect the work!

Right!

I'm here to inspect the work!

Damn it, I'm so shameless...

"Sigh." Jiang Xiao sighed in his heart. He really didn't have much experience, but mainly because Er Wei had set a bad example for him.

Back then, when Er Wei took Jiang Xiao to the Volcano Other Dimension Space and the Armory Other Dimension Space, she didn't look for anyone. She just flashed her certificate, and the receiving soldiers let her go on the spot.

Jiang Xiao thought about it again and again, and felt that it was still a matter of age. He was indeed too young, and no one believed him.

Now it was good, with this layer-by-layer reporting, his Tail Feather Team would definitely receive the news, and Er Wei would definitely know that he hadn't returned to the team on time and had run to the Ancient Pagoda Peak to fool around...

Wu Ke on the side also looked uncomfortable!

What's going on?

How did an official Light Chaser come out of an inspection?

Isn't this kid a student from the Capital Star Warrior University? When did he infiltrate our army?

I was still thinking about interrogating this kid properly to see where he got his fake certificate...