Chapter 487: Only by Becoming a Holy Warrior will You be Free

Tranquil Hill.

Snow-capped peaks towered overhead, and the frigid air descended upon this valley of green grass and crimson flowers, leaving only a refreshing chill.

Around the brownish-yellow wooden house, several makeshift shelters had been hastily erected.

These shelters were constructed using local materials, trunks and branches trimmed flat, then roughly assembled.

The Bayonet Gang members resided within these shelters.

The brown wooden house they guarded housed only two individuals: Bing Xiao and Spring Boxer.

No one questioned this arrangement. Even Lan Zao understood that Bing Xiao was the Bayonet Gang's former leader, and since Spring Boxer served as Teng Dong Lang's coffin bearer, he was naturally destined to be the next leader.

Spring Boxer's days were far from easy.

Periodically, waves of overwhelming memories would surge into his mind, sending him into dizzying unconsciousness.

After lying in bed for a while, he would slowly regain consciousness.

He'd stay lucid for a short time before slipping back into unconsciousness.

Through this endless cycle, he absorbed vast amounts of Teng Dong Lang's memories.

Spring Boxer was growing at an astonishing rate!

Bing Xiao took on the responsibility of tending to him day and night.

Suspecting possible traitors among the Bayonet Gang members, Bing Xiao trusted no one else, not even Lan Zao, or rather Hen Fa to them.

The bedridden Spring Boxer stirred once more.

The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was the old gang leader.

Bing Xiao stood by the window, reading a book in the bright daylight streaming through.

Tranquil Hill was the divine domain of the Dueling God, where night held no meaning, 24 hours of unbroken, radiant light.

Seeing Bing Xiao, Spring Boxer felt an overwhelming sense of security and gratitude surge within him.

His journey to this day owed much to Teng Dong Lang's cultivation, but the old gang leader Bing Xiao's assistance had been equally immense.

Noticing Spring Boxer had awakened, Bing Xiao immediately approached the bedside, “Seems your gains this time were substantial.”

Spring Boxer nodded, “This time, I gained Lord Teng Dong Lang's combat experience. He fought a fierce battle against a ferocious rabbitman warrior atop a snowy mountain. His comrades fell one by one. The original hundred-strong squad was nearly wiped out, leaving only him and three allies. Lord Teng Dong Lang was clinging to life by a thread. It was only through the selfless sacrifice of his comrades that his life was saved."

Bing Xiao realized: "You mean that battle. That rabbitman warrior was called Qing Hong Yan. Though his temper was explosively volatile, he was a persecuted, ill-fated snow rabbitman. You may encounter him in the future."

Spring Boxer paused, his tone tinged with resentment and grievance: “In my memory, it was Teng Dong Lang who defeated him, leaving the rabbitman unconscious. But did that rabbitman giant not die? Why didn't Lord Teng Dong Lang kill him?"

"There must have been explicit military orders at the time. As for the full story, you'll understand it in time." Bing Xiao declined to elaborate.

Spring Boxer lowered his head, a pensive look crossing his face, “No wonder when I experienced that memory, I felt Lord Teng Dong Lang's complex emotions back then, anger, hatred, responsibility, sympathy, and more.”

Spring Boxer had gained access to Teng Dong Lang's memories, effectively reliving some of the pivotal moments from his remarkable life.

By immersing in these memories, he could not only obtain experience but also savor the emotions that Teng Dong Lang felt at that time.

Spring Boxer placed a hand over his heart, his expression complex, “Receiving Lord Teng Dong Lang's experiences feels like he's come back to life, teaching me through a strange kind of guidance. Lord Bing Xiao, sometimes I have this illusion, when I wake up, I feel like Lord Teng Dong Lang is right beside my bed.

Saying this, Spring Boxer's eyes turned red.

Bing Xiao sighed, stepping before Spring Boxer. He grasped the fighter's wrist and pulled him up, “Don't wallow in sentimentality. You've inherited Teng Dong Lang's legacy, now you must strive even harder.”

“This period of absorbing his experience is crucial for you.”

"Stop wasting time. Go eat and drink. You must maintain your physical condition—you didn't eat while unconscious."

Spring Boxer composed himself, got out of bed, and approached the dining table, devouring his meal in large bites.

The table was perpetually laden with abundant food.

This sustenance wasn't hunted from valley beasts or gathered berries by the Bayonet Gang, it was a divine blessing granted through Bing Xiao's prayers!

This was the divine domain, a place of wonder.

As a holy warrior of the Dueling God, Bing Xiao's prayers received instant answers, yielding exquisite delicacies.

While eating and drinking, Spring Boxer's ears twitched slightly, picking up the sounds of the Bayonet Gang members training outside the wooden hut.

He couldn't help but look thoughtful as he addressed Bing Xiao: “Gang Leader, what should we do about those guys like Xiong Ju and Hen Fa?”

Upon hearing this, Bing Xiao's eyes lit up. He smiled with satisfaction, “Indeed. After absorbing Teng Dong Lang's experience, you've truly matured considerably.”

People would change.

A person's maturity stemmed primarily from experience, not age.

The more experiences one accumulated, the more mature they became.

Spring Boxer had lived Teng Dong Lang's life, which was filled with grueling battles, brushes with death, and memories of strategizing, weighing every option, and ultimately commanding armies to victory.

He was maturing.

Crucially, he had gained Teng Dong Lang's memories of being recognized by Tranquil Hill and becoming a holy warrior, deeply understanding Tranquil Hill's significance.

At the critical moment on Flower Skirt Island, he even requested Bing Xiao to bring in Xiong Ju and the others.

Now, however, he began contemplating the most prudent way to handle Xiong Ju and his group. After all, there was a strong possibility of a mole among them!

Bing Xiao stated, “I've already devised a plan for this matter.”

“Their successful conversion in faith will prove their loyalty.”

"After we depart Tranquil Hill, we'll take the newly initiated holy warriors with us. As for the rest, they'll have to be temporarily imprisoned."

Spring Boxer frowned slightly, “Though I'm not a clergyman, I know faith alone can't determine loyalty.”

Bing Xiao nodded slightly, “To be precise, it works like this.”

“Faith can be divided into several levels: casual, ordinary, devout, and fanatical.”

"Casual believers possess some knowledge and understanding of a faith but lack deep study or practice. They profess belief verbally yet do not strictly adhere to its principles in action."

"Ordinary believers are traditional adherents of a religion or faith. They follow its doctrines and rules without extreme zeal. Their understanding and practice vary but generally hold a sense of devotion and reverence toward their religion or belief."

"Devout believers possess a strong sense of identification with their faith and actively practice it in daily life. They strictly adhere to the doctrines and regulations of their faith in their daily lives, ensuring they receive the blessings and protection of their faith."

"Fanatical believers pursue their faith with excessive extremism. Fanatical believers believe only absolute faith can bring salvation or blessings, disregarding all rational thought and action. They may resort to extreme behaviors, often harming themselves or others."

“You've also gained memories of Teng Dong Lang being chosen as a holy warrior, yet the selection criteria remain unclear.”

"To become a holy warrior of the Dueling God, transcendent level is secondary. The most crucial criterion is faith level. Only those of the devout level can become holy warriors."

“So that's how it is.” Spring Boxer realized, but more questions immediately followed, “But even if all holy warriors are devout level, strictly adhering to the Dueling God's doctrines and rules, it doesn't necessarily mean a traitor would defect to us. Faith alone doesn't determine friend or foe.”

Bing Xiao roared with laughter, thoroughly delighted.

He couldn't resist slapping Spring Boxer's shoulder repeatedly, praising, “Young man, your ability to reason like this is truly remarkable.”

“This is the turning point in your life.”

“The true value lies in the wisdom imparted by Teng Dong Lang, not mere combat experience.”

After a pause, Bing Xiao continued, “You're right. Even among holy warriors of the Dueling God, we could be adversaries. Killing one another wouldn't violate His doctrine.”

"If a traitor lurks among us, they might still attain faith and become a holy warrior. Even if we bring them out, it won't stop them from opposing us."

"The crucial point is this: once we become holy warriors, our bodies undergo divine transformation, like hidden mechanisms being activated. Should a traitor ever strike, their very identity as a holy warrior becomes a scythe of death!"

Spring Boxer nodded repeatedly, understanding fully.

Bing Xiao didn't force anyone to convert, but in practice, he was already guiding them.

Taking those who become holy warriors with them, even if there's a mole among them, was nothing to fear. It was because the fate of the mole was no longer in his own hands.

Of course, there were many possibilities, a shift in allegiance could see the mole defecting to their side.

As for the others, they could not prove their loyalty, had entered Tranquil Hill, knew too many secrets, and remained unworthy of becoming holy warriors. With no leverage over them, imprisonment was the only option.

At this thought, Spring Boxer couldn't help but glance out the window, observing the training scenes of some gang members. He silently cheered them on: “Xiong Ju, Hen Fa, everyone... I hope your conversion succeeds. Only by becoming holy warriors can you regain your freedom.”

Lan Zao stood before the wooden hut's main entrance, facing the stream, and suddenly opened his mouth to spit.

A small Air Cannon projectile shot from his mouth, striking the stream. It didn't explode immediately but sank beneath the surface.

Then, with a soft pop, it detonated, sending droplets flying everywhere.

“Interesting.”

“Who would've thought someone in Tranquil Hill had trained in Air Cannon too.”

While practicing this battle skill, Lan Zao had experienced a kind of resonance, gaining valuable insights.

With these insights, he quickly mastered the force control of the Air Cannon.

Now, he could precisely compress air and control the timing of the explosion. For instance, whether it detonated upon hitting the water's surface or after submerging beneath it.

“Too bad I don't worship the Dueling God.”

“If I had converted, the experience I gained wouldn't be so fragmented, like scattered pieces.”

"Come to think of it, having a little faith isn't such a bad thing. At least, it benefits me."

Lan Zao mused inwardly.

He was unaware of the arrangements Bing Xiao had made for their group. Fortunately, his faith had always been rather scattered. He worshipped the Sea God, the Wind God, and even the Fishnet Goddess. Thus, adding a new deity, the Dueling God, didn't feel like a contradiction.

However, such superficial devotion could never reach the devout level.

Without becoming a holy warrior, he faced the prospect of imprisonment.