Chapter 1

"Finally, the Du family is recruiting guards."

"The Du family is now hiring twenty guards, requiring applicants to be at least sixteen years old and physically strong."

"The Du family’s guards receive ten玄coins per month, while the guard captain receives fifty玄coins. The benefits are much better than those of other families."

"The Du family is recruiting guards, which is a great opportunity. If you can enter the Du family as a guard, you might even learn their martial techniques. That would truly be a way to stand out. The Du family rarely recruits guards, so this is a good opportunity."

On the bustling streets of Stone City, several imposing men in tight-fitting clothes posted a large, bright red notice on the city wall. Immediately, a large crowd gathered in front of the wall, whispering and discussing the matter.

Among the imposing men, the leader was a burly man riding a dark red, horned, and robust horse. His presence was intimidating. Looking at the gathered crowd, he said, "Tomorrow morning, the Du family will recruit guards. Those who can last three moves against any of the main branch’s young members can become a guard. Those who can defeat or draw with any of the main branch’s young members can become a guard captain. There are twenty spots available, and it’s first come, first served."

The burly man on the horse had a sharp gaze filled with pride and arrogance. The Du family’s status in Stone City was extraordinary, and as a member of the Du family, he naturally felt a sense of pride.

After he finished speaking, the men behind him leaped onto their horses in unison and rode away.

"That man riding the blood-sweat dragon horse is Du Qi, the deputy commander of the Du family. It’s rumored that he has already reached the Xiantian realm."

"If I could reach the Xiantian realm, I could walk around Stone City without any problems. I’d see who would dare to look down on me then."

"You should pray to the gods and buddhas first, hoping you can pass the Du family’s recruitment tomorrow. The young members of the Du family are all very strong, and few people can last three moves. The Xiantian realm is just a dream for now. That level isn’t something anyone can reach easily."

"Hehe, I must join the Du family and become a guard tomorrow."

In the crowd, a bearded, slightly dark-skinned, and robust man smiled mysteriously at his companions and whispered, "I’ll tell you guys a secret. If you can become a guard captain, you can practice some of the Du family’s techniques. Then, becoming a full member of the Du family isn’t impossible."

"Blackie, are you kidding us? Can guard captains really practice the Du family’s techniques?"

The man called Blackie patted his chest and guaranteed, "I have a distant relative in the Du family. I wouldn’t lie to you guys."

"You actually have a relative in the Du family? Then you’re definitely in tomorrow." The others looked at Blackie with envy.

The news of the Du family recruiting guards immediately caught the attention of many people. As a rising major clan in Stone City, the Du family had grown powerful over the years and was now one of the five major families, with a strong momentum. Every move they made was closely watched by the entire city.

At dusk, thick clouds gathered in the sky over Stone City. The sun, near the horizon, resembled a dying fireball, casting crimson rays through the gaps in the clouds before setting behind the mountains.

Stone City was close to the Savage Beast Mountains, located on the empire’s frontier, where monsters often appeared. The city was a mix of various people, making its residents martial and fierce. The five major families were all martial families.

"Clomp, clomp!"

Several horses galloped, kicking up dust. The leader, riding a blood-sweat dragon horse, was Du Qi, the deputy commander of the Du family’s guard corps.

Behind Du Qi, a man raised his head to look at the sky and smiled at the others on horseback, "Day thirteen. Want to bet if that fool is still there? Five玄coins, one-to-one odds?"

"That fool seems to be getting even more foolish. I bet he’s still there."

"It’s been thirteen days. That fool should be gone by now. The longest record was only ten days. I bet he’s not there."

Five玄coins was half a month’s salary for a regular guard. The men were very interested, and it seemed this wasn’t the first time they had made such a bet. They each took out five玄coins and handed them to the first man.

"Be careful, though. Although he’s not favored in the family and behaves strangely, don’t forget that he’s still a Du family master, your superior. If you get into trouble because of this, I can’t protect you."

Du Qi on the blood-sweat dragon horse glared at the men, his expression stern.

The man who had started the commotion looked fearful under Du Qi’s stern gaze, his eyes flickering. He then smiled awkwardly and said, "Deputy Commander, everyone in the Du family and even the entire Stone City calls him a fool. Besides, he’s really useless and foolish. A private joke shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

"Even though that’s true, a master is still a master. No matter how useless and foolish he is, he still has Du family blood. You need to know your place, or you’ll suffer in the future." Du Qi glared fiercely at the men.

"Understood, Deputy Commander."

The men trembled awkwardly and nodded. They understood the deputy commander’s point.

Seeing this, Du Qi’s expression softened. He then glanced at the man who had started the commotion and said, "Five玄coins, right? I’ll add five玄coins. I bet he’s still there."

"Ha, the deputy commander is betting too."

The men’s tension eased, and they spurred their horses, eager to see if the Du family’s ‘fool’ was still there.

The Du family’s residence in Stone City was grand and imposing. To the side of the main gate was a desolate hill that stood out prominently.

The hill was strange, with no grass growing, no birds landing, and no snakes or insects approaching, making it seem like a dead land. The Du family considered it inauspicious and avoided it.

It was said that the main gate of the Du family originally faced the hill, but because of its inauspicious nature, the gate was moved forward about ten years ago.

Since then, the Du family, once a third-rate clan, began to rise in Stone City, further confirming the hill’s inauspicious nature. Few dared to approach it.

The desolate hill, devoid of life, was covered in sand and rocks.

On the hill stood half a stone stele, the other half buried in the ground.

The exposed half of the stele was massive, about three zhang tall, with a weathered surface. No one in the current Du family knew how long it had been there, but it was said to have existed since the time of their ancestors.

The stele, due to its age, had many intricate cracks.

No one in the Du family was interested in the stele, especially since it was on the inauspicious hill, so it was ignored.

It was said that the Du family had once had a strong expert examine the stele, but it turned out to be an ordinary, unremarkable stone.

The only notable event involving the stele was a storm ten years ago, when the famous Du Shaopu, a young master of the Du family, stood in front of it and was struck by lightning, falling into a three-day coma.

"Damn, that fool... that person is still there. It’s been thirteen days."

"Lost another half month’s salary. The rest of the month will be tough. Lend me some living expenses when the time comes."

As the sun set, several men in front of the Du family’s gate looked at the desolate hill and the slender figure standing before the stele, their expressions a mix of surprise and disappointment.

The winners were happy, while those who lost five玄coins were not.

Who would have thought that the person the entire Du family called a fool would break the record by standing in front of the stele for thirteen days without sleep.

"Let’s go. It’s getting dark. Many young masters and misses will be trying out for the guard recruitment tomorrow. We can’t afford any mistakes."

Du Qi’s gaze returned from the desolate hill, and he sighed inwardly. The guard recruitment was also a way to train the young members of the Du family, achieving two goals at once. However, the person on the desolate hill, though a young master of the Du family, had nothing to do with the training, and likely never would. Even though they were all young masters and misses, there was a significant difference.

"That fool is still standing there, thirteen days. He’s getting more foolish."

"Many famous doctors have examined him, but to no avail. He’s truly beyond help."

Outside the Du family’s residence, many servants and maids occasionally glanced at the desolate hill, their eyes filled with pity and regret. A young master who should have been living a life of luxury had become so foolish.

As the sky grew darker and the sunset faded, the last rays of light disappeared, and the world became dim.

In front of the stele, a young man in a purple robe sat cross-legged, about fifteen or sixteen years old. His slightly youthful face showed more determination and sharpness than his peers, with thick, sword-like eyebrows above his closed eyes.

The young man was named Du Shaopu. His appearance was good, and if not for his reputation in Stone City, it would be hard to imagine why he was called a fool.

In the dark blue night sky, stars gradually appeared, and a crescent moon hung in the distance, like a curved blade emitting a white glow.

In the quiet of the night, the entire Du family was asleep, and no one paid attention to the young man on the desolate hill.

The ancient stele stood under the moonlight, looking particularly eerie.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, the ancient stele, with its intricate cracks, began to emit a faint light. The cracks widened, and the entire hill trembled slightly. No one saw this, or they would have been shocked.

"Crack, crack."

Finally, the ancient stele’s cracks grew larger, and the light inside became more intense, forming a light curtain that enveloped Du Shaopu. The stele then shattered into a pile of rubble.

"Whoosh!"

As the light curtain disappeared, Du Shaopu’s tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and two beams of light shot out, like lightning in the night. An ancient aura swept out from his slender body, causing the surrounding space to tremble.

"Phew!"

Du Shaopu exhaled a deep breath, a faint smile appearing on his face. He sighed softly, "Ten years, finally mastered the first move!"

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[Note: The last part of the original text is a promotional message for the author, which has been omitted in the translation.]