"What the hell is this place?” Rocky cried out. This room looked like an untidy storage area ratherthan a place meant for anyone to live.

Rocky resisted the urge to complain some more, because he knew nothing would change even if hetold Cliff Li about the conditions. After all, he was here to serve in the army, not for a vacation. Hehad no right or authority to demand better quality or even choose where he lived. Mind made up,he thought about how he could make the place more comfortable. Or if not comfortable, at leastlivable. He was no longer a prince so it was best to do with what he had rather than to appearchoosy. Being choosy would only lead to questions. Questions would lead to trouble.

Rocky and Uriah started clearing up the room. Although everything was second-hand and not invery good condition, they could still make use of them. All they needed were the bare necessitiesfor living there, so he got chairs, a desk, and a bed. He rummaged through the remainder of thestuff, kept one or two more items, and then threw out the other things for more space.

After he was done, the room was more spacious and clean. It was nothing compared to his gaudyrooms in the palace, but for now, it would do to live in. Uriah then found a spot in a corner andsettled down. Soon, the beast was asleep.

Someone pounded on the door. Frowning, Rocky turned around. Two men pushed open the doorand barged inside. They were young, in their twenties, a few years older than Rocky. One was tallerthan him while the other was shorter. They carried thin quilts and some necessities.

"I'm sorry. You are..." Rocky furrowed his brow as he regarded the men.

"Mr. Li or... ordered us to bring you some nece... necessities and tell you the rules of this military ca...camp. We live in... in the next room," stammered the shorter man.

"Got it." Rocky nodded at them. Then he pointed. "Just put the stuff there! Thanks guys!" Figuringhe might as well get to know the two men, he offered them a smile and added, "What are yournames?" Squinting, Rocky noticed the weak trace of spirit manipulators from them. They were ateither the second or third grade of the Mortal Stage. Usually, a royal spirit manipulator would reachsuch a level as soon as he or she fused with a Dragon Spirit Bead, unlike ordinary spirit manipulatorswho had to work hard to reach that Mortal Stage.

"I'm Thor Lei," answered the taller man. Not only was he taller, but also he had a nice build to him.Muscular. Coupled with his fair features and chiseled jaw, he reminded Rocky of the Norse god—Thor, the God of Thunder. He even had a voice to match, loud, deep, and rumbling. Rocky could nothelp but marvel that the man’s name suited him as well as it did.

The shorter man, however, hunched in on himself as he glanced at Rocky, as if he could somehowbecome smaller and less noticeable. Then he answered in a low voice, "My... My My name is JossLuo." Joss was obviously the type of man who was shy around strangers.

"I'm Rocky Bai.” Rocky dipped his head slightly to the two men. With the introductions out of theway, any unease fled, a sense of familiarity falling upon the room.

Thor and Joss proceeded to list the rules, reiterating the dos and don'ts until they were satisfied heunderstood. Rocky also got a rough idea of the military camp from them.

"We've been here for three years." Thor puffed up his chest. "So anything you need to know, we'rethe ones to ask."

Joss nodded. "We started our spirit manipulator paths as teenagers, and we have already come thisfar in cultivation.” Joss’ lips downturned. "But when we joined the army at that time, we didn'texpect to be assigned to the Gehenna Border. This place is as desolate and remote as hell." Thorsighed, "It might as well be hell, with all the things we've seen and been through these three longyears. So much death. And suffering.” He shuddered, his eyes taking on a faraway look.

"The only fortunate thing is that we've been able to remain safe and in one piece. Most of the otherlow level spirit manipulators are either dead or missing.” Thor swallowed, as if remembering someterrible ordeal. "None of the missing ones have been found.”

Rocky recognized their story. It was the cruelty of the battlefield. And the way to survive under suchan environment was equally brutal. Kill or be killed. Leave emotions and friendships behind or endup with your throat slit or your guts spilled.

"This is the northeast military camp,” Joss said. "We are one of several camps occupying keypositions of the Gehenna Border. Our duties are to defend our areas and monitor the enemies." "Butthis is the weakest among the camps.” Thor shook his head, shoulders slumping. "And the worst interms of the strength is its spirit manipulators. We can only deal with minor fights. Whenever astronger enemy attacks, we have no choice but to flee if we wish to live."

Rocky frowned. "But all the military camps here are under the Crimson Dragon Group of the HolyDragon Empire, right?" Thor nodded as adding, "There are four major army groups in the HolyDragon Empire, including the Crimson Dragon. There's the Azure Dragon Group, which consists ofthe Sky Army led by General Bryant. The Rime Dragon Group consists of General Marcia's RimeArmy. Last is the Prowess Dragon Group.

The main duty of the Crimson Dragon is safeguarding the Gehenna Border against the enemiesfrom other countries.” Thor continued, "In order to protect the Holy Dragon Empire from invaders,the group has to be ever vigilant and always on guard.” To adequately do the job, the headquartersof the Crimson Dragon was set up in Draco City near the Gehenna Border. But this had created aproblem for camps like this one.

"The spirit manipulators in this camp, who display outstanding abilities and quick progress incultivation, have the chance to get a promotion. It's also possible for those special spiritmanipulators to work at the headquarters,” Thor said as excitement lit up in his eyes

"Not only that, but also the royal spirit manipulators assigned to the Gehenna Border can directlytake the important posts in the headquarters. They don't need to enter the field at all and can worksafe and sound, which is what most of the soldiers in the Crimson Dragon Group have beenyearning for. But because of that, it leaves us depleted and at the mercy of stronger enemies,” Thorsighed.

Rocky guessed that he might be the only royal spirit manipulator assigned to a military camp. Hemight even be the weakest one. But nobody knew that he was a royal spirit manipulator and theprince of the Holy Dragon Empire.

A gong reverberated, breaking them from their conversation. It was then that Rocky realized it wasnight time.

"It's time for dinner now. Let's go together," Joss said.

"Okay! Wait, guys! Do you know where I can get food for a spirit-manipulated beast?" Rocky lookedtoward the corner where Uriah slept.

Thor and Josh stared at the spirit-manipulated beast, mouths agape. They looked from Rocky toUriah and back again, eyes alight with admiration and perhaps a touch of envy.

"Rocky, what's the star rating of your spirit-manipulated beast?" Thor asked out of curiosity.

"It's a one-star beast." Rocky fought back the twitch of his lips. Of course, he was lying, but he didn'tworry that this lie would be exposed here. After all, there were no beast evaluators in such a smallmilitary camp. So nobody could tell Uriah's star rating or how strong it was. All the two men nowthought Uriah was only a big beast.

"Oh yeah? I thought it was at least a two-star one,” Joss sighed.

"If you need to feed it, you can take your spirit-manipulated beast to the camp's beast stable. Thereare people in charge of feeding beasts,” Thor answered.

"Got it. You guys go first. I'm not hungry yet," Rocky said after a while.

Thor and Joss looked at each other. Rocky could see their minds working, as if they thoughtsomething was off about him. But neither of them said anything.

After a few moments, they said goodbye and left. Rocky closed the door behind them.

With his back to the door, he thought about his next move. Marcia had sealed the Holy DragonBead inside him. In order to beak the seal, he had to reach the Heavenly Stage by himself. Thatmeant he had to cultivate like the average spirit manipulators, like Thor and Joss. He did not lookforward to the prospect, but gaining the Heavenly Stage meant reacquiring the power within theHoly Dragon Bead.

At the same time, without the help of his Holy Dragon Bead to draw upon, he had to work harderand longer to reach the Heavenly Stage. He could even imagine the suffering such work brought.He'd seen it in the eyes and demeanor of Josh and Thor.

But he would never give up. After witnessing the evil power of the Holy Dragon Bead, he knew it tobe more formidable than anything he'd imagined. If he was able to regain that evil power, harness itand put it to use, he could come back to the Imperial City and take back all that was his, all that hehad lost and had been taken from him.

"The Heavenly Stage,” he said to himself. His body longed for it.

"I must grow stronger!” Need for vengeance filled him, so did a craving for power. It coursedthrough his body and ran through his veins like molten fire. He would have it.

Focusing his emotions, he settled down, stretching his will through his meridians. Then, with thehelp of Uriah's magical saliva, Rocky began cultivating the Vast Nebula Skill.

Today would be the day he began the first true step toward regaining everything he'd lost. Andanyone who stood in his path would eventually feel his wrath.

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