Chapter 7: The Alliance of Fighters

"I've heard there's a faction called the Battle Alliance, with many branch divisions. As long as you participate in battle matches and win, you can earn quite substantial rewards?"

"Well... that is true." The village elder wore a look of distress. "But that's far too dangerous. Even if you are confident, just the journey there and back, plus the time spent in the matches, and collecting enough water... the village can't afford to wait that long."

"Tell me the details," said Dugu Bieli, his expression unchanged, though inwardly he calculated—clearly, winning water through battle matches was the fastest and most legitimate way. It was worth considering.

With no choice, the elder's Adam's apple bobbed as he steeled himself to speak frankly to this hard-won guardian. "The Battle Alliance is said to be the most powerful force apart from the Five Desolate Emperors, with branches everywhere. Beneath them, there are divisions for each of the kings. Each division sets up Battle Alliance offices within their territories. Any city or above will have one..."

"Before the matches, you simply report your strength and realm, receive a token, and can enter the arena. As long as you win, you'll get a corresponding reward. Naturally, the rewards vary, and the specifics depend on the battle format..."

"There are four types of battle. The first is a one-on-one match with an opponent of the same level—still difficult, but the rewards are smallest. The second is the ten-match streak: win ten consecutive matches without a loss to receive a rich reward. The third... is the hundred-match streak. You must win a hundred matches in a row for a reward; it's said the prizes are great—material wealth, honor, even special privileges. But I've never heard of anyone choosing this path. After all, a cultivator's strength isn't limitless; once your power is exhausted, even if you've won ninety-nine times, it all comes to nothing. The fourth is the cross-realm challenge—facing those of a higher cultivation level, with both single and consecutive matches..."

In the end, the elder simply omitted any mention of the rewards. Not just he, but his ancestors for generations had never heard of anyone attempting a cross-realm challenge. Anyone who did must be either seeking death or mad.

"I see," Dugu Bieli mused for a long moment, then asked, "Is there any way to bring the entire village along?"

"Ah?" the elder was stunned, swallowing hard before replying hesitantly, "There is, actually..."

"Speak."

"Form a regiment. The whole village joins."

"And you mean?"

"Respected guardian, if we all want to enter the city together, forming a regiment is the only way. The whole village can go, and then we'll be inside the city." The elder hesitated, then added, "But to form a regiment, we have to go to the Regiment Guild and pay water as a fee... After that, we can come and go or stay as we please, without worrying about being hunted as bandits..."

"Good. Then it's settled." Dugu Bieli made the decision at once, rising to pace as he calculated. "The rain we've collected should suffice for the journey... The water gained from defeating the Thirteen Wolves should be nearly enough too. Hmm, I heard the Lord of Dawnlight City is an old acquaintance of yours. If there's a shortfall, perhaps he can front us the difference, and once I win at the battle arena, we'll have surplus water... By the way, are there any betting houses in the arena, or similar organizations?"

The elder stared blankly, his responses automatic—his nerves had begun to numb. "There's direct betting in the arena. You pick your side and wager. The more you bet, the more you win—if you win. But if you lose..."

"No, only tell me what happens if I win," Dugu Bieli interrupted pointedly.

"Oh..." The elder nodded like a puppet. "The more you bet, the more you win. If the village pools all its water, that's about two spatial pouches' worth. If we win, it doubles to four. Win again, it's eight..."

"Very good. You'll handle the arrangements. Finish within a day—then we depart."

"Oh..." For the first time, the numb elder's voice trembled with the hint of tears...

A day later, the once-bustling Dugu Village stood desolate and empty, not a soul in sight. Every well and pit had been dug up, not a single drop of rainwater remained. Everything that could be carried had been painstakingly taken by the villagers.

From above, the winding, rugged mountain road was a thin line snaking through the land. Over a thousand villagers, uprooted from their home, trudged onward under Dugu Bieli's leadership.

Their destination: Dawnlight City.

……

The Eastern Wilds boasted six great kingly domains, each ruled by a king appointed by the Eastern Emperor.

The Butterfly Queen—also called the Queen of Dreams—was one of the Six Kings. Though a woman, her reputation was legendary throughout the Five Desolates. Speak of her kindness, and all sing praises; mention her terror, and children are hushed at once.

Some have compared the kings of the Five Desolates, and, invariably, she ranks among the top three. No matter how many times, the conclusion is the same.

It is said that of the Six Kings of the Eastern Wilds, only she was personally cultivated by the Eastern Emperor. Her most formidable technique was inspired by the Emperor himself: the Grand Dream Art, able to strike the unwary and kill without trace. Often, her victims fell before they even sensed the threat.

Each king commands several ministers—three or four, depending—each with ten or so marquises below them. This often leads to chaos in governance, gaps in oversight, and consequent hardship for the people, no matter how capable the king may be.

The one exception is the realm under the Butterfly Queen. There, peace reigns; banditry is rare, the people are secure, and every trade flourishes.

……

Dawnlight City, nominally, falls under the Butterfly Queen's domain.

At its level, the city may appoint its own governor, responsible for daily security and entitled to form a city guard—formally, the City Patrol and Defense Force, or simply "City Guards."

But the governor's authority extends further: he can appeal against arbitrary orders from above, and in emergencies may petition the King directly. Other factions wishing to establish branches here must seek his approval, submit to his oversight, and remain under his supervision even after approval.

The Battle Alliance office and Regiment Guild mentioned by the elder both operate under the governor's watchful eye. Should Dugu Bieli seek the governor's favor due to old ties, he could expect deference from both factions.

How much of that old friendship remained, however, was impossible to say.

After half a month of arduous travel, they arrived at last.

Dugu Bieli settled the villagers in an abandoned mine outside the city, then, with the elder and another slightly more worldly villager, entered the city. After much inquiry, they finally arrived at the guild's entrance.

Everything went smoothly—except when it came time to pay the water fee. The water taken from the Thirteen Wolves was not enough; only by adding the village's entire reserve did they scrape by.

When forming a regiment, a name is required. Dugu Bieli simply named it the Dugu Regiment, appointing himself as leader, with the thousand-odd villagers as members.

……

Outside the gate, three men in ragged hemp clothes squatted together, sighing and frowning in distress.

"What do we do?"

"If we can't find water soon, everyone back home is doomed."

"Just registering a regiment is so expensive..."

"......"

"Enough!" Dugu Bieli took a deep breath and stood, cutting them off. "Since our plan is set, we follow it. Now—to the battle arena!"

……

Compared to the grand estates of nobles or ministers, the city's scale was small; but compared to a village, it was vast beyond imagination. The three walked for a long time without glimpsing the arena's sign.

With no other choice, they resorted to their last tactic—asking for directions.

"Looking for the arena?" The man whose sleeve they grabbed, Liu San, sneered at their beggar-like clothes. "You lot want to gamble? Do you even have water?"

"Heh," the elder replied, bowing and smiling, "Please, could you point us the way?"

"Yes, yes," echoed the villager, bowing humbly, while the third man, hair long and disheveled, covering half his face, remained silent and cold as stone.

Liu San spat, curling his lip as he turned to leave, muttering, "Country bumpkins... worthless peasants..."

Whoosh—

Suddenly, a fierce wind whipped up, dust swirling like a dragon.

Bang!

The ground trembled with a helpless groan. Out of the whirlwind shot a figure, who in an instant closed in and seized Liu San by the chest, lifting him off his feet.

"What are you doing? You want a fight? You know where you are? If you touch me, the city guards will wipe out your whole family..." Liu San's face changed, but he refused to back down, mixing threats with fear. Yet the man with his hair covering his face was unafraid. "Tell me where the arena is, and I won't kill you. Otherwise, you'll die here first!"

"You... you..." Panic seized Liu San as a sixth sense told him the threat was no idle boast. He relented at last. "Fine, fine, I was just heading there myself. Follow me... Oh, by the way, brother, you're a general, right? Impressive. I, a seasoned warrior, didn't even get a chance to react..."

……

Under the Butterfly Queen’s rule, the Battle Alliance branch here was the Butterfly Division. In Dawnlight City, it was the Dawnlight Sub-Arena.

If wealth was measured in the prehistoric world, the Battle Alliance would top the list. Thus, their arenas were built with grandeur—lofty gates, layered pavilions, winding corridors.

At the entrance, the rules required registration and verification of name—aliases and code names permitted.

All set, Dugu Bieli and his companions finally stepped into the arena.

There were several arenas, each for a different level. The city’s upper limit was the Commander. They entered the Warrior Arena. The rules matched what the elder had described, saving much time.

Entering the semicircular archway, they were greeted by a raucous crowd of hundreds of warriors, shouting and surrounding the center. There, two warriors grappled fiercely, exchanging blows. One was burly and his breath steady; the other, drenched in sweat, was clearly at his limit. Sure enough, moments later, the burly man kicked his opponent from the platform—a clear victory.

The audience below, waving flags and shouting, were either jubilant or dejected. Those who had bet on the winner hurried to a corner to collect their winnings, while the victor leapt down to claim his reward. The arena supervisor handed out prizes efficiently.

After several more matches, a loud voice rang out: "Number forty-four, Dugu, to the stage!" Dugu Bieli glanced down—his number. He nodded to the elder and the villager, then strode forward, leaping gracefully to the center of the platform, calm and aloof.

"Challenger: Number twenty-three, Wolf. Wolf's record: twenty-seven victories, eighteen losses," the supervisor announced, then Dugu’s stats: "Dugu, zero victories, zero defeats."

"Wolf to the left, Dugu to the right—place your bets now."

"Wow..." The crowd below erupted, all the warriors rushing excitedly to wager. "Bet on Wolf!"

"Ran into a rookie at last—what luck!"

"Right? A newbie on the stage? That’s rare. If you don’t bet on Wolf, your head’s been caught in a door."

"Ha, easy double on resources—I'm all in!"

"Me too."

"I'll bet half."

"Ha, coward..."

"......"

The bets were overwhelmingly one-sided. Only Liu San, the man threatened into guiding them, seemed lost in thought as he stared at Dugu Bieli standing quietly on the platform. Gritting his teeth, he placed all his possessions on the right.

In the end, four hundred and five bets on Wolf. One on Dugu.

A keen-eyed onlooker cried out, "Which idiot bet on the rookie? Hahaha..." The jeers and mockery rang out, unending. Liu San quickly ducked his head, fearful of being exposed and shamed forever.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the crowd parted as a tall, thin man strode out expressionlessly. With a light leap, he landed on the platform.

In the distance, the elder and the villager caught their breath, their hearts in their throats, faces full of worry. They watched their guardian intently, praying that the village’s ill fortune would not doom him.

"Heaven protect us, Five Emperors protect us..."