A journey of dozens of miles only took Li Feng and his party half an hour to complete, and no trouble was encountered along the way. Soon, the First Line Pass ca into view.
"Is this the First Line Pass?"
Having heard of it and seeing it in person were two completely different things, not just for Li Feng, but for Lei Ba, Shadow, Lan and the hundreds of trusted aides behind him who all looked on in awe at the First Line Pass suspended in mid-air.
The end of the Sword Qi Great Rift Valley was located here, while the other side of the mountain seed to have been cleaved in half by a sword, forming steep cliffs.
The First Line Pass was built on the concave cliff above these cliffs, forming a suspended pass that truly was a place where one man could hold off ten thousand.
After a mont of awe.
Li Feng led his people to a gate wall on the north side of the First Line Pass, which was more symbolic than practical. The wall was only about a hundred ters wide, with the gate occupying a third of it.
"Who goes there?"
Above the city gate on the wall, a guard shouted down at Li Feng’s group.
Li Feng stepped forward and openly stated his identity, "Li Feng, Flag Master of the Vermilion Bird Camp in the Nine Layers Mountain, is passing through the First Line Pass and requests to be announced."
"This is my Vermilion Bird Flag Master Token." Li Feng threw the token up to the guard on the gate wall.
The guard caught the token, glanced at it, and said, "Wait below the pass, I will report this."
The guard turned around, his subordinate following behind him, "Boss, this Flag Master Token seems to be real."
"Of course I know it’s real. Go imdiately to the garrison to notify Camp Captain Du and tell him the person he ntioned before has arrived."
"Yes."
The subordinate nodded and rushed to the garrison behind the gate wall to deliver the ssage.
"Boss, the person outside the gate seems to be quite significant, with hundreds of followers behind him. Aren’t we worried about keeping them outside waiting?"
Another subordinate expressed his concern.
"You can see that, can’t I? Prepare to open the gate." The team leader guarding the gate was in his forties or fifties and had remained only a team leader at his age, indicating he lacked a distinguished background or notable heritage.
He couldn’t afford to offend Du Yanran, nor could he offend the Flag Master from Nine Layers Mountain outside the gate, especially since once they left Nine Layers Mountain, even the Flags Master would be granted a Camp Captain position in the Border Army, at the very least a Colonel.
Unlike him, who had struggled at the border for twenty years and was only promoted to a team leader.
"Ah."
"What do you an ’ah’? I’ve already verified the Nine Layers Mountain Flag Master Token, it’s real, and I’ve sent soone to notify Camp Captain Du. I’ve opened the gate, so the rest is none of our business."
The team leader was worldly-wise, knowing these noble descendants might have so grievances to settle. Let them fight or make trouble—it’s none of his concern.
If it beca serious, soone more capable would handle it.
The gate slowly swung open.
Seeing this, Li Feng directly led his people through the gate into the wall’s interior, with the gatekeeper team leader standing on one side inside the gate, hands cupped to offer the Flag Master Token.
"Li Flag Master, here’s your Flag Master Token. I’ve sent soone to notify the inner garrison’s leaders, who should arrive soon. I ask Li Flag Master to wait in the rear of the pass, as the terrain of the First Line Pass is unique, and there are quite a few people on your side."
Li Feng nodded upon hearing this, noticing there was indeed space to stand on the other side of the gate wall. Beyond the hundred-ter road, the path narrowed, turning into a narrow passage almost recessed into the cliff, no wider than nine ters.
Moreover, as the entire First Line Pass suspended on the cliff, there wasn’t much space to set up camp, so organizing the hundreds of people required them to be accommodated.
Li Feng didn’t have to wait long before a figure appeared, quickly traversing the path towards him.
Du Yanran landed in front of Li Feng, sweeping his gaze over Li Feng and the hundreds of people behind him, correctly guessing they were his recruited Personal Guard Camp, exuding a robust aura.
"Are you Li Feng?"
Du Yanran’s face carried a smug expression, sizing Li Feng up with slight disdain in his eyes.
Li Feng sensed the derogatory tone in Du Yanran’s voice, wondering why there was hostility from soone seemingly unfamiliar.
"That’s right, I am Li Feng, from the Nine Layers...!" Li Feng was interrupted before he could finish his introduction.
"No need for unnecessary words, I know who you are and that you’re the new Flag Master of the Vermilion Bird Camp, but hasn’t anyone inford you that your position holds no practical use in the borderlands?"
Du Yanran said, glancing at Li Feng, "Moreover, why aren’t you training inside the Nine Layers Mountain instead of coming to the First Line Pass, and who are these hundreds of people behind you?"
"This is a crucial border point, with you entering with such a group, shouldn’t you provide an explanation, or you won’t pass the First Line Pass."
Li Feng understood from Du Yanran’s words that he was being intentionally harassed and had already inquired beforehand about the complex ties between Nine Layers Mountain and the Ancestor Dragon Army, where academies’ students would join the Border Army after leaving Nine Layers Mountain.
Thus, the core military officers in the Border Army were mostly from Nine Layers Mountain, sharing a common background. Li Feng’s identity might not invite enthusiasm, but should not lead to trouble.
Yet, Du Yanran was clearly picking a fight.
However, Li Feng wasn’t acquainted with the man before him, but could soone from Nine Layers Mountain have sent word, predicting his passage and scheming to trouble him?
Very likely.
Li Feng had departed quickly while ssages could be sent via birds. While new to Nine Layers Mountain, Li Feng had made enemies, such as Murong Ye from Azure Dragon Camp and Bai Yi, descendant of the military god.
Li Feng sighed internally and asked the troubleso Du Yanran, "May I ask who you are?"
Du Yanran observed Li Feng remain composed, sneering internally; though he had so poise, that wasn’t enough.
"Du Yanran, surely you’ve heard of ."
Du Yanran carried a proud deanor, having once been a prominent figure in Nine Layers Mountain not so long ago, even if Li Feng was in the Vermilion Bird Camp while he was from the White Tiger Camp.
Li Feng glanced at Du Yanran and remarked bluntly, "Sorry, doesn’t ring a bell, though you’re from Nine Layers Mountain?"
Du Yanran nearly choked on his spit, expecting Li Feng to deferentially call him senior and listen compliantly upon hearing his na.
Unexpectedly, the opposite claid not to know him.
Was this possible?
He had only left Nine Layers Mountain five or six years prior; his na surely spread there.
This guy was clearly doing it on purpose.
Du Yanran’s eyes twitched, already having a poor impression of Li Feng, now sneering internally, realizing why his junior said he was arrogant.
"Hm, really don’t know , consider again before speaking. I’m not so nobody."
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