In the Asura Field, the time spent training is not fixed. Normally, it doesn't take very long, usually one or two months, as was the case with the two previous times Lu Ye experienced it.

But there are exceptions. Some training scenarios might take several years, or even over a decade.

Before completing the final task, cultivators cannot leave, except in one situation. That is, if someone challenges them within three days of the ranking being set in the combat field, and the challenged chooses to fight, they will directly enter the combat field space and will return to their training scenario after the fight.

So cultivators who wish to maintain their rank need not worry about training causing them to miss things.

Today's training scenario is undoubtedly a place where Lu Ye can rapidly accumulate Asura Seals, so he doesn't want it to end quickly; it'd be best if he could stay for over a decade...

At the current rate of obtaining Asura Seals, over a decade might allow him to exchange for the affiliated treasure of the Asura Field.

But he knows this is probably impossible because this world is at too low a level; the Asura Field would not allow him to stay here for too long.

"Benefactor, take care on your journey!" Yao Nuan said, and the other women stood behind her, all looking at Lu Ye with grateful and reluctant expressions.

Now that they've escaped the sea of suffering and reached Ding'an City, no one will know about their past experiences, and they can completely start a new life in the future.

Lu Ye nodded, "You all take care as well!"

He raised his hand to grab the reins of the black horse, about to turn and leave.

Just then, a rapid sound of hoofbeats came rushing from a distance, followed by a series of swooshing sounds breaking through the air.

The sound of thumps came, mixed with screams, and the gate area instantly turned chaotic!

Yao Nuan and the others looked pale with fright.

Lu Ye already stood before the group of women, wielding a long spear, several broken arrows falling in front of him. He had sensed something wrong and timely intercepted those arrows; otherwise, someone from the group of women behind him would have been in trouble.

He focused his gaze and saw in the distance, about a hundred feet away, a group of uninvited guests on horseback. The leader had a fierce expression, with only one eye visible; the other was covered by a black cloth, like a patch of dog skin plaster.

There weren't many people, only about thirty, each carrying a longbow and with a black scarf tied on their sleeves or foreheads. The recent commotion was caused by them.

In that volley, at least a dozen bystanders fell victim, some dying on the spot, while most survived but were currently wailing in pain and crying.

Lu Ye's eyebrows raised slightly.

Along the way, he had killed many mountain bandits who blocked the road and robbed, so at a glance, he knew this gang was up to no good.

They had already reached Ding'an City, and yet Asura Seals were being delivered to him?

"Black Scarf Army!" At the city gate, a guard's face changed drastically upon seeing the black scarves on the bandits, looking like he'd seen a ghost in broad daylight. He never expected the infamous Black Scarf Army to show up here.

Then he saw a young man with a long knife at his waist and wielding a thick long spear enthusiastically charge towards the Black Scarf Army.

The one-eyed Black Scarf Army member sat atop a tall horse and, after having his subordinates kill over a dozen civilians indiscriminately, was about to declare the Black Scarf Army's demands as usual, when he saw Lu Ye actively approaching. He was momentarily stunned, then immediately gave a cold snort, "Kill him!"

In this world, there are always some who overestimate their abilities and fancy themselves as righteous clowns, thinking they can resist the overwhelming tide.

He had seen many such people before, but they all turned to dust under the iron hooves of the Black Scarf Army.

At his command, a group of archers behind him immediately launched a chaotic volley of arrows.

The swooshing sound of arrows filled the air again, and at such close range, with Lu Ye not intending to dodge at all, even if these archers were less accurate, about half of the arrows struck him.

At the city gate, many people watched through their fingers, unable to bear seeing it.

"Hmm?" The one-eyed Black Scarf Army was surprised because the arrows hitting the newcomer failed to hurt him. It was as if the man was wearing armor of bronze and iron; the arrows bounced off, leaving only marks on his clothes.

"A cultivator!" The one-eyed Black Scarf Army noticed the spirit force fluctuation on Lu Ye's body and immediately drew a large blade from his horse. Regardless, he too had cultivation accomplishments, confident he wouldn't be weaker than the opponent.

Lu Ye had reached the one-eyed Black Scarf Army and thrust forward with his thick long spear.

"You're bold!" The one-eyed Black Scarf Army roared angrily, leaping from his horse, using his momentum to fiercely slash down at Lu Ye's head with his machete.

He had brute force, plus cultivation at the 5th orifice, confident a passerby like this couldn't possibly withstand his strike, especially since the other appeared so young.

When he was his age, he hadn't even started on the cultivation path.

Splurt...

The one-eyed Black Scarf Army's eyes trembled violently as he felt intense pain in his chest; the entire person had been pierced by the long spear, hanging like a dead fish on the spear.

"You..." He was terrified, but only managed to utter a single word before his consciousness faded.

Lu Ye swung his spear, tossing a corpse aside, and fiercely charged into the group of archers, almost taking down one with each strike, effortlessly.

These archers, witnessing the strongest one-eyed leader die so easily, were all shocked and dared not face Lu Ye, only thinking of fleeing.

But where could they escape to? Under the blessing of Move-Like-The-Wind, even if they were on horseback, Lu Ye could hunt them down to death!

In just a moment, the attacking Black Scarf Army was completely annihilated, leaving only dozens of restless warhorses neighing uneasily.

In front of the city gate, a brutal scent filled the air.

Lu Ye wiped the blood from his spear on a corpse and walked back, but to his surprise, despite his act of chivalry and justice, the people in front of the city gate showed no joy, instead were full of fear.

Only the guard captain showed a shocked and admiring expression.

Lu Ye couldn't be bothered with them and just went up to Yao Nuan and the others, asking, "Are you all right?"

All the women shook their heads.

"Alright, if everyone's fine, let's enter the city. It's not very safe outside." Lu Ye waved his hand. He had noticed this world was chaotic before, but didn't expect it to be to such an extent, with ruffians causing trouble right at the city gate.

Yao Nuan and the others nodded, "Take care, benefactor."

Hurried footsteps came from the side, Lu Ye turned to see the guard captain approaching. The man, about forty, clasped his fists and said, "I am Zhou Ping from Ding'an City, may I ask your esteemed name?"

Lu Ye could sense traces of cultivation from the man, but couldn't discern how many spiritual orifices he had opened. From his previous interactions, it seemed Zhou Ping hadn't opened many.

"Lu Ye."

"Mr. Lu!" Zhou Ping saluted again, very respectfully and with eagerness in his eyes, "May I ask, sir, are you leaving?"

"Indeed, any suggestions?"

"I wouldn't dare. It's just that you might not know, just now the Black Scarf Army's vanguard and reconnaissance squads were killed, they surely won't let it rest, and will come skirmishing with a greater army. Sir, your act of justice, I wish to invite you to stay and resist the bandit army with us!"

Lu Ye blinked, "You mean… more Black Scarf Army will come?"

"Certainly, this bandit army commits all sorts of evil acts, leaving the people destitute where they go. Several cities have already fallen, but unexpectedly they arrived so quickly, already near Ding'an."

Lu Ye at once became solemn: "Eradicating evil to bring peace, protecting the homeland—it is our duty without hesitation!"

Zhou Ping was overjoyed, "In that case, thank you very much, sir. Please enter the city, and come with me to meet the City Lord!" He didn't expect Lu Ye to be so agreeable.

"Please." Lu Ye gestured.

After a while, Zhou Ping gave an order and led Lu Ye into the city, Yao Nuan and the others following joyfully. Although their time together hadn't been long, during these days, Lu Ye had repeatedly repelled the bandit attacks, providing them with temporary peace. As they reached Ding'an City, and with Lu Ye about to depart, they were already reluctant to let him go. But now, great news: Lu Ye decided to stay!

Zhou Ping belonged to the Zhou family, one of Ding'an's three great clans, and was a local force. Seeing Lu Ye bring so many women made it inconvenient for him, so he first arranged for Yao Nuan and the others into a Zhou family courtyard before taking Lu Ye to the City Lord's Residence.

On the way, Lu Ye chatted idly with him, learning a bit about the Black Scarf Army.

This world suffered constant bandit troubles, with rogue mountain bandits claiming king everywhere. The Black Scarf Army started this way, initially just a band of mountain thieves, but gradually expanded and adopted the Black Scarf Army title.

With deeper roots, they were no longer satisfied with petty theft, but began targeting densely populated areas, repeatedly slaughtering villages and attacking cities. Their reputation spread, attracting more and more mountain bandits to join, so to speak, the entire Black Scarf Army was made up of numerous mountain bandit gangs.

Wherever this bandit army went, they made cities anxious. Zhou Ping had heard they were still five hundred miles away, yet somehow they'd already drifted nearby.

Today's appearance of the Black Scarf Army's reconnaissance team likely means the entire army will soon gather around Ding'an. With such a juicy target right by their mouth, the Black Scarf Army surely won't let it go.

This was the reason for Zhou Ping inviting Lu Ye. From the previous engagement, Zhou Ping saw Lu Ye's considerable strength.

After a while, in the City Lord's Residence, in a side hall, Lu Ye and Zhou Ping sat, with maids serving tea before stepping out.

The two chatted while waiting.

Zhou Ping was enthusiastically sharing intelligence on the Black Scarf Army with Lu Ye but failed to notice Lu Ye's gradually indifferent expression.

After a while, Zhou Ping's mouth felt dry, wondering aloud, "Why hasn't the City Lord arrived yet?"

He had sent someone to report when they arrived, so logically the City Lord should have appeared already.

Lu Ye turned to look at him, eyes lingering.

Zhou Ping met his gaze, "Sir, what's the matter? Is there something on my face?"

"Do you feel dizzy?" Lu Ye suddenly asked.