The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 108 Yinshan Camp
However, although his murderous intent had dissipated, he remained outwardly calm and composed.

"If I keep you here, wouldn't I be implicated if your master came looking for you in the future?" Han Qing asked.

"Rest assured, sir, I, Yue Xiaobiao, am wholeheartedly devoted to you and there is absolutely no falsehood in my heart. If you do not believe me, I have a bottle of Seven Deadly Pills in my bosom. I am willing to swallow this pill and give the antidote to someone else. In this way, my life will be in your hands," Yue Xiaobiao said through gritted teeth.

“That’s a good idea. You don’t need to swallow the Seven Deadly Pills. I have a bottle of Soul-Severing Pills here, which are even better than the Seven Deadly Pills. Swallow them.” Han Qing said, taking out a small white porcelain medicine bottle from his pocket and pouring out a blood-red pill.

The Soul-Severing Pill was given to him by Huang Xiao before, specifically for controlling his subordinates.

He must take an antidote every seven days, otherwise his soul energy will continue to dissipate, eventually turning him into a fool.

As Han Qing spoke, he withdrew the Illusory Soul-Suppressing Chain with a thought.

Yue Xiaobiao gritted his teeth and swallowed the pill.

Seeing how decisive he was, Han Qing was finally completely relieved.

The Soul-Severing Pill is so formidable because each bottle contains only a specially formulated antidote.

In other words, the antidote to the Soul-Severing Pill that Yue Xiaobiao swallowed was only available to Han Qing, so there was no need to worry about him going back on his word.

He observed that Yue Xiaobiao was a shrewd and clever person, and had no choice but to resort to such extreme measures.

"Get up. I'm asking you, why are the Qian family hunting you down?" Han Qing asked in a deep voice.

Yue Xiaobiao was overjoyed, knowing that the crisis had completely dissipated. He stood up from the ground and said with a fawning expression, "I have recently reached the fifth level of the Body Dao Realm, but I am missing a high-quality sixth-level secret technique. I have heard that the Qian family is arrogant and domineering, and oppresses the people. I want to avenge the people and teach them a lesson. So I cleverly tricked them out of their treasury and obtained the true manual of the Dragon Elephant Skill. This martial art is hidden in a deserted grave ahead. I will take you there to retrieve it."

As Yue Xiaobiao spoke, he led Han Qingchao forward at a brisk pace of several hundred steps, and sure enough, they found a thick martial arts manual under a crooked locust tree.

The cover of this martial arts manual is light gold in color, and when you touch it, it feels smooth and soft. It has three large characters written on it: Dragon Elephant Skill.

Han Qing stroked the cover, already understanding that this was the genuine article, as only the genuine article would have such a special material.

He casually flipped through it again, and the numerous contents further confirmed his viewpoint.

"Indeed, with this Dragon Elephant Technique, I no longer need to bother searching for secret methods to break through to the Grandmaster level in martial arts." Han Qing nodded slightly.

Having obtained this secret technique, his trust in Yue Xiaobiao increased even more.

"Now we're going back to Jiannan Pass. I'll be going to the Northern Camp later. Have you thought it through?" Han Qing asked.

"I am willing to follow you through thick and thin, sir," Yue Xiaobiao hurriedly replied.

"In that case, follow me!" Han Qing used the Dragon Elephant Skill to fly rapidly towards Jiannan Pass.

Yue Xiaobiao followed closely behind, and suddenly, the light and shadow around him distorted, and he transformed into the appearance of another person.

Han Qing glanced at Yue Xiaobiao. Previously, Yue Xiaobiao had a shifty and somewhat sleazy appearance, but now he was heroic and extraordinary. Even the aura he exuded had changed, and even Han Qing could hardly detect the difference.

"The ability of those who deceive the Daoist cultivators to change their ways is truly remarkable."

"Hehe! My lord, I can not only disguise myself, but also others. If you wish to travel the world in the future, I can help you." Yue Xiaobiao laughed, revealing his lewd nature as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Will this method be exposed?" Han Qing's heart stirred; Yue Xiaobiao's abilities were indeed what he needed.

"Yes, but it's unlikely. This would only happen if the other party's level in the Dao of Dharma Thought is far higher than mine," Yue Xiaobiao explained.

The two walked and talked, and soon returned to Jiannan Pass after passing through many desolate graves.

Because of Yue Xiaobiao's special status, if he returned, he would likely clash with Qian Hou. Therefore, Han Qing did not return with him. Instead, he instructed Yue Xiaobiao to climb over the city wall from another direction, enter the pass, and then blend into the crowd. They would then join the group at dawn to go to the north together.

When Han Qing returned to the courtyard, Qian Hou and the others had already left, leaving only Lin Yueqiu, Liu Xiaofeng, Qiu Da, and others waiting in the same spot.

"Young master, have you caught the person?" Lin Yueqiu stepped forward and asked.

"I have subdued Yue Xiaobiao. This man travels the world and his deception skills seem to be ever-changing. He is quite a capable person. I spared his life and will take him to the North at dawn," Han Qing said.

"Young master, this man is not trustworthy and we must be careful," Lin Yueqiu said in a deep voice. Yue Jinbiao's reputation was really bad, and his apprentice Yue Xiaobiao was naturally not someone to be trusted.

"It's alright! I've already ordered him to swallow the Soul-Severing Pill, so he won't dare to act recklessly. What about Qian Hou?" Han Qing asked.

“Young Master Qian has already left, saying he will meet you in Tianxiong City in a few days,” Lin Yueqiu replied.

“Very well, I think this person is a man of his word. Let’s set off at dawn for Tianxiong City,” Han Qing said.

Han Qing wasn't worried about Qian Hou going back on his word, because Tianxiong City was located at the border of Beidi and Yongzhou, and was guarded by Cao Zhen's soldiers, so it was not within the Qian family's sphere of influence.

After entering the city, the Qian family could not harm him.

The sky is bright.

Han Qing and his party set off immediately. This time, with Qian Hou's gold token, no one stopped them. The caravan passed through Jiannan Pass smoothly and headed north.

Yue Xiaobiao also joined the team when he came out of seclusion. He was extremely good at socializing and had become one with many of the martial artists in the team in just half a day.

Over the next few days, Han Qing and his entourage traveled along the official road.

Qian Hou's gold token was indeed very effective. Later, when they encountered some checkpoints and passes, as long as they showed the gold token, they didn't even need to hand over any documents, and the soldiers would immediately let them pass.

Several days later, Han Qing arrived at Tianxiong City in the northern part of Yongzhou.

Here, near the north, the temperature has dropped significantly, and walking on the official road, one is greeted by a bleak, cold wind.

There was still unmelted ice and snow on the road, and in the far distance, there were continuous mountain shadows, but they were also bare, without any greenery.

desolate!

This was Han Qing's biggest impression upon entering this place. Moreover, the further north he went, the colder and more desolate the weather became.

"I've heard that beyond the mountains of the North lies an endless ice plain, so it's no wonder it's so cold here," Han Qingxin thought.

Tianxiong City.

A magnificent stone city, with no entertainment facilities, only houses built of stone and frozen soil.

In a mansion purchased by the Qian family in the east of Tianxiong City, Han Qing and his group met Qian Hou again. Beside him were the Thirteen Guards of Baiyun, and behind him were five extremely tall war puppets, the Nine Hell Fangs.

Each puppet resembles a wolf in appearance, but is entirely red, with numerous large and small parts interlocking together with extreme precision.

"Brother Han, here are the five war puppets you requested," Qian Hou said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Brother Qian is indeed a man of his word; my judgment was correct," Han Qing said with a smile.

"I, Qian Hou, keep my word. How could I go back on my word? Besides these five Nine Hell Refined Teeth, take Brother Han with you as well. These thirteen have all trained in the Northern Camp for a long time and are extremely familiar with the Northern Lands. Their combat strength is also quite remarkable. The thirteen of them working together can kill a Grandmaster of Martial Arts. They will definitely provide you with a great deal of assistance," Qian Hou added.

"By the way, this is the Yinshan topographic map I mentioned before. Brother Han, please take a look. This map may have some omissions, but it is generally correct."

As he spoke, Qian Hou took a leather scroll from a guard behind him, on which was drawn a map of Yinshan.

The Northern Camp was divided into four camps, and Han Qing went to the Yinshan Camp, so Qian Hou gave him a map of the Yinshan terrain.

If it were the entire northern region, the map would be many times larger.

Han Qing took the animal skin scroll, flipped it open, and glanced at it. He found that the map was extremely detailed, clearly marking out what forces were involved in each section of road, each mountain, and each area, their strength, and what rare and precious materials were nearby.

“Such a detailed topographic map must have required a tremendous amount of manpower and resources to create. This is a great favor, Brother Qian. I will never forget your kindness.”

"Brother Han's words are enough. My Qian family helps others without expecting anything in return. I only hope that one day in the future, if I encounter a crisis that is difficult to solve and ask Brother Han for help, you can lend a helping hand to the best of your ability. I would be extremely grateful for that," Qian Houdao said.

The foundation of the Qian family's character lies in humility and helping others.

This act, seemingly selfless, actually sowed a seed of kindness and left behind a goodwill.

Perhaps this favor is worthless now, but one day in the future, when Han Qingzhen grows into a powerful figure, this favor will become invaluable, far exceeding the value of this topographical map and the Thirteen Guards of Baiyun.

The Qian family's goods are traded throughout the world, and there are many scoundrels in the family, yet they still manage to stand strong. It's not that they are immune to crises, but rather that they resolve each crisis by exploiting personal relationships.

"Don't worry, I, Han Qing, am a man of my word. I will remember this kindness. If Brother Qian needs help in the future, I will certainly not refuse. Farewell!" Han Qing said, cupping his hands in greeting.

He turned and left, renting a large courtyard in the city to house the five war puppets and the many valuables on the cart.

"Brother Lin, you take the Thirteen Guards of Baiyun and the Seven Swordsmen of Zongheng and stay here to guard. I'm going to report to the Yinshan Camp first. Qiu Da and Yue Xiaobiao, you two come with me."

After settling all the valuables, Han Qing turned around and gave instructions.

The person he trusts most here is Lin Yueqiu. Even the Thirteen Guards of Baiyun cannot gain his trust for the time being. Therefore, Lin Yueqiu must stay and guard this courtyard. If these valuables and war puppets are lost, it will be an extremely staggering loss for Han Qing.

Although the security situation in Tianxiong City is excellent, one should still be cautious.

As for why he didn't take them directly to the Yinshan camp, Han Qing had his own reasons.

He heard that the Yinshan camp was not a monolithic entity.

Because the imperial court is going to take action against the demon race in the north, various forces have recently heard the news and are placing their own people in the imperial camp to cultivate their own warriors. As a result, there are schemes and betrayals among them. At this time, it is very important to hide one's strength.

"Alright! Young master, rest assured, with me here, nothing will happen here," Lin Yueqiu said in a deep voice.

Han Qing nodded slightly, quite relieved. Lin Yueqiu was a Grandmaster of Martial Arts, and the Thirteen Guards of Baiyun seemed to have a combined combat power comparable to a Grandmaster of Martial Arts. In addition, with other guards, unless a Martial Saint personally came, it was impossible for anyone to steal this batch of treasure.

After settling things here, Han Qing rode out of the city, leading Qiu Da and Yue Xiaobiao northwards straight to the Yinshan camp.

Yinshan Mountain has undulating terrain, with a bluish-black color and crisscrossing mountain paths, making it a complex and even more treacherous mountain than the mountains of Sichuan.

Without a map to guide them, ordinary people could easily get lost if they ventured in.

The Yinshan Camp is said to be located among the mountains.

Three people, three fast horses, sped forward against the cold wind, quickly disappearing into the wasteland.

...

same moment.

Yongzhou.

Tiannan County.

On a wide avenue in the county town, a noble young man dressed in brocade rode slowly along, followed by a retinue of over a hundred beautiful maids.

Upon seeing this massive procession, the people on both sides of the road dispersed to the sides, kneeling and kowtowing, their bodies trembling slightly.

This young man was named Han Zhuang, and he was a notorious arrogant young master in the capital. He was the youngest son of Madam Luo Lan, the eldest daughter of the Han family, and with the backing of the Han and Luo families, his background was extremely powerful, so no one dared to provoke him.

With the support of his family's influence, Han Zhuang easily became the governor of Tiannan County. He acted recklessly and arrogantly, and even the local powerful families of Yongzhou dared not provoke him.

If ordinary people did not kowtow to him immediately, they would be thrown into prison at best, and killed on the spot at worst.

Although the Great Yu Dynasty had laws stipulating that commoners should kneel and pay homage to high-ranking officials of the court, such harsh and ruthless officials as Han Zhuang were extremely rare.

At this moment, Han Zhuang sat on his horse, squinting as he surveyed the crowd of people on both sides. Some people had not knelt down in time and had been killed by his guards. The remaining people were all intimidated and dared not show the slightest negligence.

He saw these people trembling, and a great sense of pleasure welled up inside him. This feeling of being high above and in control of the lives and deaths of others was what fascinated him the most.

Beside him was a martial artist dressed in a grayish-blue robe, who looked him over. He saw that Han Zhuangfang had a wide mouth and ears, an extremely ugly appearance, like a strange beast, and a despicable character. A look of disgust flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to normal.

In fact, besides him, many people around Han Zhuang disliked this person very much, and many officials in the yamen both respected and resented him, but dared not vent their anger due to his power.

A moment later, Han Zhuang and his entourage rode away, and the people kneeling on both sides of the street dared not get up for a long time.

Fifteen minutes later, Han Zhuang returned to his large mansion in the city.

In the hall.

He sat upright in the chair, leaning against the backrest, his eyes slightly narrowed, while two beautiful maids massaged his shoulders and back behind him.

"Young master, this is the latest secret letter from our spies in the city." An elderly man in a blue robe presented the letter with both hands.

Han Zhuang opened his eyes, took the letter from the old man's hand, and glanced at it. The first half of the letter contained the latest information about Luo Ding's murder.

"Hmph, this kid was arrogant. He dared to call me a martial arts cripple back then. Good riddance!" Han Zhuang's face showed a gloating smile.

Luo Ding was a genius from a young age, but he was arrogant and lawless, which made him disliked by many people.

"Han Qing? Qi Wufeng has found another martial arts prodigy?" Han Zhuang continued reading.

The latter part of the letter contained intelligence about Han Qing that the Luo family had gathered.

The letter mentions two points. First, he is suspected to be the mastermind behind Luo Ding's murder. The reason it is only suspected is because Han Qing's strength in Shu is significantly lower than Luo Ding's.

Secondly, there is a possibility that Han Qing is Su Jin's child. Roland ordered him to find a way to bring Han Qing back to the mansion for detailed interrogation.

After reading the letter, Han Zhuang said loudly, "Go and investigate. If you find any information about this person, report back to me immediately!"

As Han Zhuang spoke, he tossed the letter to the blue-robed martial artist kneeling on the ground in front of him.

The latter took the letter and saw a portrait inside, which was of a handsome young man.

"Yes!"

He responded and bowed as he left the room.

...

Half a day later.

Han Qing and his two companions trekked through the mountains and forests, passing through several winding mountain paths, and finally discovered the Yinshan Camp in a wide, open valley.

Yinshan, due to its year-round snow cover, is many times colder than the mountains and forests of Sichuan. As far as the eye can see, there are pine forests everywhere, covered with snow, and wisps of malevolent energy rise from the ground.

Han Qing didn't know where this malevolent energy came from, but in this kind of environment, the strength of those who cultivate their spirit would be weakened to a certain extent, which would be more advantageous to martial artists.

"Hey!"

"what!"

Han Qing and his two companions had not yet approached the main camp, but from a distance they could see a row of barracks connected together in the flat valley.

It seemed as if someone was practicing military formations in the camp. Many soldiers were shouting in unison, their voices forming a wave that rose straight into the sky, deafening and clearly audible from miles away.

Qiu Da, sitting on his horse, was almost knocked to the ground by the loud shout, and couldn't help but show a look of awe in his eyes.

"With such a display of power, the soldiers in the Yinshan camp are truly ferocious warriors."

Han Qing nodded slightly; this single shout alone was enough to demonstrate the spirit and morale of an army.

He had initially thought that Huang Xiao's rebel army was already quite elite, but after secretly comparing them in his mind, he felt that the two were vastly different. However, this was normal; the soldiers in the Yinshan camp were mostly brave and experienced veterans, and if anyone was to be compared, it would be the elite troops under Qi Wufeng's command in Shu.

Yue Xiaobiao, standing to the side, didn't seem to have any particular feelings. His appearance had changed back to that of a burly, dark-faced man, and his demeanor had also changed, gaining a wilder air.

Han Qing, standing to the side, was also unable to discern the truth. If he hadn't known that the dark-faced giant was Yue Xiaobiao, he would have thought it was someone else entirely.

"drive!"

The three continued on horseback, and the closer they got to the Yinshan camp, the more they could feel the might of the army.

With each shout, the cries of all the soldiers would transform into a tidal wave, sweeping across the land.

Han Qing activated his divine eye and saw a malevolent aura rising into the sky from within the camp, billowing and spreading throughout the world, resembling a pitch-black sphere.

"Such a surging murderous aura!" Han Qing thought to himself in amazement.

The more soldiers there are, the stronger they are, and the more people they kill, the more ferocious the murderous aura they exude.

He suddenly understood why the book said that even a sage would not dare to stop a fierce army of tens of thousands of men.

Because the malevolent energy was too strong, ordinary cultivators could not even leave their bodies within this black sphere. Even if they did, their spiritual power would be like a small boat adrift in a storm, capsizing at any moment.

"Even those who cultivate the spirit are not invincible. When the number of martial artists reaches a certain level, even the most powerful cultivators will be killed," Han Qing pondered.

The three rode forward on horseback, and soon the Yinshan camp came into view.

Han Qing first saw a thick, high wall, built of frozen soil. Many soldiers stood guard on the wall, their spears and swords gleaming coldly, exuding a murderous aura.

At the camp gate, a large group of soldiers were entering the camp. Most of these soldiers looked pale and had confusion and fear on their faces.

Han Qing glanced around and saw this scene, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The military service in Dayu was very demanding, and every household had to conscript men for every major battle.

Most of these people came under duress; only a very small minority came voluntarily.

"When the world is truly at peace, with no more battles and wars, the heavy military service will be abolished, the people will be able to live and work in peace and contentment, and only then will everyone in the world be happy," Han Qing sighed in his heart.

"who?"

Just then, a clear shout came from ahead, followed by the rapid sound of hooves. A burly man with a stubble beard rode forward, leading a large group of soldiers, and arrived in front of Han Qing and his two companions.

"My name is Han Qing. I have come to the Yinshan camp to join the army by order of the Ministry of War. This is the document from the Ministry of War and General Qi Wufeng's letter of recommendation." Han Qing said, taking out the two items from his bosom and handing them to the big man.

The latter opened the letter, examined it carefully, pointed his whip at the camp, and said loudly, "Follow me!"

The burly man turned and led his soldiers toward the camp, with Han Qing and the other two quickly following behind.

The group passed through three gates, three high walls, and three layers of blockade, successfully entering the camp.

Han Qing activated his divine eye, and everywhere he looked, a murderous aura permeated the air.

He had already stepped into the pitch-black swarm of evil energy he had seen before, and he tried to control his magical thoughts to leave his body, which was indeed extremely difficult.

These streams of malevolent energy surged and crashed around like turbulent currents, and the Dharma thought, though situated within them, was completely unable to control them, being swept away and swaying in all directions.

Han Qing had no choice but to withdraw this wisp of Dharma thought, which also confirmed his previous guess.

"I am a cultivator at the Military Arts Realm, and even I can only unleash less than one percent of my full strength amidst the chaotic flow of malevolent energy. The situation is even worse for other schools of thought," Han Qing concluded to himself.

"We've arrived! You all wait here, I'll go inform General Cao!"

Just then, Han Qing and the other two were led to a camp. The big man dismounted, gave an order, and headed toward the center of the camp.

Han Qing and the other two did not enter the barracks, but waited outside.

Before long, the burly man returned and shouted again, "Come with me to see General Cao!"

Han Qing and the other two followed the man toward the center of the camp. After turning several corners, the group stopped in front of the central tent. Many heavily armored soldiers stood guard around it, and a general's flag was planted above the tent with a Cao character written in a flamboyant style.

"Go in, Lord Cao is inside!" The burly man pointed and turned to leave.

Han Qing led the two into the main tent. Upon entering, they first saw a middle-aged man with a fair complexion, no beard, and a broad back sitting at the front. He exuded a majestic and imposing aura, as if he had been through countless waves and his heart was already unbreakable.

On both sides of the tent stood burly men of various builds and appearances, who must have held important positions in the army. Each of them had piercing eyes and exuded a murderous aura.

At this moment, no one spoke in the tent; the atmosphere was heavy, with only the sound of three people's footsteps.

As Qiu Da walked among them, he felt immense pressure. Fear crept into his eyes as he lowered his head, not daring to look up at Cao Zhen, who sat upright in front of him.

Yue Xiaobiao remained calm, observing the faces and demeanor of the people around him.

Han Qing, however, stood tall and strode forward, without a trace of fear or trepidation.

He recalled the information Qi Wufeng had given him about Cao Zhen's career and evaluation.

Cao Zhen rose from a soldier in the north to the position of commander of a battalion.

While the support and guidance of the Qi family were indispensable, Cao Zhen's own abilities were also extremely strong.

Qi Wufeng described this man as having a heart as firm as a rock, unbreakable, extremely strict in disciplining his troops, almost ruthless and heartless, and extremely renowned.

While he was pondering, he had already arrived in front of Cao Zhen and suddenly shouted loudly, "Han Qing pays his respects to Lord Cao!"

This loud shout, full of energy, broke the dull atmosphere in the tent, causing many commanders and centurions on both sides to show strange expressions.

During this period, they saw many young noblemen come here with letters of recommendation to join the army. Some were there to gain experience, while others wanted to rise to prominence and make a fortune.

Most people would instinctively feel fear upon seeing Cao Zhen, but very few would have a voice as clear and bright as Han Qing's, which shows his unwavering resolve and extraordinary courage.

A flicker of emotion finally crossed Cao Zhen's calm eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Han Qing, I have already read General Qi Wufeng's letter of recommendation. However, times have changed. If you want to become a battalion commander, you will have to compete in martial arts with the recommenders of the major powers in the court."

Of course, if you only wish to become a centurion or a platoon leader, this general can certainly arrange that for you.

When Cao Zhen spoke, his voice had a peculiar magnetism, but his face remained expressionless, as steady as an emotionless mountain.

"My lord, I am willing to fight for it," Han Qing said loudly again.

The army is full of factions and internal struggles. If he were to become just a centurion, and the battalion commander above him were from the Luo family faction, he would be subject to control everywhere in the army, and might even be in mortal danger. Therefore, Han Qing had a clear goal from the moment he arrived in the army: to win the position of battalion commander.

"Alright, I will arrange a martial arts competition in three days. Everything will be decided by strength, only in this way can we convince everyone! You may leave!" Cao Zhen waved his hand.

Han Qing bowed slightly and withdrew from the Northern Camp.

The moment Qiu Da stepped out of the tent, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders.

"As expected of a general in charge of an army, his strength is truly unfathomable, and his aura is so overwhelming that I can hardly breathe."

"Cao Zhen, as a commander of an army, is indeed incorruptible and extremely composed," Han Qing remarked.

"The three of you, come with me!"

At this moment, the martial artist who had brought Han Qing and the other two to see Cao Zhen earlier approached again.

The three followed him back to the previous barracks.

"You will stay here for the next three days. Once the assessment is over, the general will arrange new accommodations for you," the burly, dark-faced man said in a rough voice.

"Okay." Han Qing nodded slightly.

The three entered the barracks, which were clean and tidy, with only three beds and some tables and chairs.

Han Qing wasn't a picky person; the army wasn't a place for leisure, and having a place to stay was already a blessing.

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Yinshan Camp.

On a spacious training ground.

Cao Zhen sat upright in his chair, dressed in a black casual suit. He stared straight ahead with a blank expression, his eyes radiating a deep and mysterious light.

Beside him were more than twenty elite warriors who held important positions in the military.

Hundreds of soldiers stood around the training ground, all armed with swords and clad in armor, their faces resolute.

In front of Cao Zhen, there were twenty people standing in two rows, sizing each other up with hostility in their eyes.

Han Qing was among them. These twenty people were all recently recommended to join the army at the Yinshan camp. They were either descendants of important officials of the court, from aristocratic families, or genius martial artists cultivated by a certain force.

Han Qing closed his eyes slightly, his spiritual thoughts left his body and spread outwards. In an instant, all twenty people appeared in his mind.

"Humph!"

Suddenly, he heard a cold snort, and one of the figures became blurry and then disappeared.

Han Qing opened his eyes and his gaze fell on a middle-aged man in a gray robe beside him. Just now, the moment his spiritual senses came into contact with him, they were directly devoured. That cold snort also came from him, which showed that this person was also a cultivator of spirit refinement.

Han Qing carefully examined him and found that among the twenty people, this person posed the greatest threat.

Leaving aside those who cultivate their spirit, their physique is extremely robust, and their exposed skin is covered with a thick layer of scales, suggesting that they possess a rather formidable external martial art.

The middle-aged man also looked him up and down. Their eyes met, and Han Qing frowned. He even sensed a hint of murderous intent.

"Why would this person want to kill me? Could he be a member of the Luo family?"

It's normal to be hostile, but it's not normal to have murderous intent.

Although the two are competitors at this moment, they have no past grievances or recent troubles. If they can kill each other at the slightest disagreement, they are either bloodthirsty people or there is something fishy going on behind the scenes.

Han Qing withdrew his gaze, his face remaining expressionless, but a strong sense of vigilance had risen within him.

At this moment, a burly man with a thick beard standing next to Cao Zhen shouted loudly: "Everything in the army should be done quickly and simply. The test content is very simple, divided into three stages: archery, horsemanship, strength, and combat ability."

"Now, let's start with the first test: archery and horsemanship!"

The assessment began quickly. Each person had to ride a horse along a straight road in the training ground from east to west. There were many targets on both sides, which were scattered at varying distances, ranging from 500 paces to just a few dozen paces.

The assessment was very simple: each person rode a horse while shooting at a target.

The more arrows that hit the target, the farther the target, and the shorter the time taken, the higher the archery skill.

Han Qing was scheduled to appear seventh. He possessed the perfected Seven Star Arrow of the Heavenly Wolf, so this challenge was a breeze for him.

When the bearded man called his name, he mounted his horse, rode forward, drew his bow and shot an arrow like a shooting star.

Brush brush!
The bowstring twanged, and arrows flew faster and faster. In the blink of an eye, the entire quiver of arrows was emptied, all of them hitting the target, and all of them were the furthest targets.

This exquisite archery skill immediately caught the attention of everyone present. Cao Zhen nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation appearing in his eyes, while the other examiners were all taken aback, their gazes towards Han Qing filled with hostility.

Next, the other examinees took turns to compete, but none of them could match Han Qing's archery and horsemanship skills.

The second challenge is a test of strength.

Each of the twenty people had a Heavenly Light Stone placed in front of them. This large stone could sense the strength of force and emit light. It was an extremely unique stone of heaven and earth, commonly used to test the strength of force.

Under the command of the burly man with a thick beard, twenty men threw punches simultaneously, their fists brimming with power.

In an instant, all twenty Heavenly Stones shone with brilliance.

Han Qing once again overwhelmed all others, and the light emanating from the Heavenly Light Stone was the most dazzling.

The final challenge: real-world practice.

Han Qing thought he was going to fight, but Cao Zhen simply asked everyone to choose a weapon that suited them and practice a set of fighting techniques.

If you are skilled with a knife, then demonstrate a knife technique; if you are skilled with a gun, then demonstrate a gun technique.

Han Qing then chose a sword and stepped forward to unleash a set of Phantom Thousandfold Blades.

The blade flashed like a shadow, perfectly round like a ball, and whistled through the air as it was swung.

Seeing this, Cao Zhen and the others nodded repeatedly.

Most of them had heard of this sword technique but had never seen it, yet they could sense how exquisite the skills it contained, clearly a level above the sword techniques of the others around them.

After these three tests were completed, Cao Zhen announced the end of the assessment on the spot.

"Han Qing, I hereby appoint you as the commander of the Yinshan Tiger Might Battalion!"

"Chen An, I hereby appoint you as the commander of the Yinshan Thousand Oxen Camp!"

"Deng Weitong, I hereby appoint you as the commander of the Xuanwu Camp in Yinshan!"

...

Twenty people were vying for three battalion commander positions; this was something Cao Zhen had made clear before the assessment began.

The remaining seventeen who failed in the competition were appointed as either commanders of a thousand or a hundred based on their performance just now.

However, despite being commanders of the same camp, they were quite different.

All three battalions consisted mainly of new recruits, with each battalion having 3,000 soldiers. However, the Tiger Might Battalion had the strongest overall strength, followed by the Thousand Ox Battalion, while the Xuanwu Battalion was the weakest.

This arrangement was accepted by the vast majority of people, and Han Qing's performance was indeed the best of the entire event.

Chen An, who ranked second, also performed exceptionally well. His strength and swordsmanship far surpassed those of the others, but he was inferior to Han Qing in every aspect.

This person was none other than the middle-aged man who had previously harbored a slight murderous intent towards Han Qinghuai.

...

into the night.

In a barracks of the Yinshan Camp.

Chen An sat upright in the chair, his face gloomy. One hand was on the knife, and the other hand was on the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface.

(End of this chapter)