Chapter 121: A Formidable Character (Please Subscribe)

All eight of his top-tier experts were now cultivating with Body-Forging Pills, and the results were exceptional. Their cultivation speed far exceeded that of their peers, and their foundations had become incredibly solid, giving them all the potential to eventually break through to the rank of Grandmaster. Even if their foundations were lacking, with Fang Xian’s help, they could be elevated to the level of Grandmaster using Barrier-Breaking Pills—though Fang Xian would, of course, continue to vet their loyalty.

Whenever the system shop restocked pills like the Barrier-Breaking Pill or the Blood-Bond Pill, which required time to refresh, Fang Xian would redeem them immediately to accelerate the update cycle. Consequently, he now had three Barrier-Breaking Pills in his possession. He had already given one Blood-Bond Pill to Wu Qingluan and fed another to the King of Falcons; the next ones would be reserved for the King of Fire and the King of Tigers.

Wu Qingluan had already fed a Blood-Bond Pill to her Akhal-Teke horse. Having formed a pact, the rider and steed had achieved a state of perfect unity. Should she return to the battlefield, her combat effectiveness would multiply several times over. A telepathic warhorse could anticipate its rider's intentions at any moment, knowing how to advance, retreat, or dodge without needing explicit commands. This not only freed the rider’s hands but also allowed for unexpected strikes against the enemy.

With the King of Fire at his side, Fang Xian had no fear of mounted combat, which was one of his core advantages. Furthermore, since consuming the Blood-Bond Pill, the King of Fire’s physical condition had been significantly enhanced; in an explosive state, its strength was likely on par with an ordinary Grandmaster.

"Many thanks, sir," the men said, approaching Fang Xian to express their gratitude after receiving their pills.

"Remember to prepare the saddle and gear for the King of Fire tomorrow morning, and feed it plenty of high-quality grain. Make sure it’s well-fed," Fang Xian instructed.

The next morning, Fang Xian rose early to find that Zhou Dadan had already prepared the King of Fire. It stood majestically outside the medical clinic; had Fang Xian not specifically tasked Zhou Dadan with its care, even a first-rate expert like him would never have dared to approach the beast.

Fang Xian had also prepared himself. His Morphing Divine Armor had transformed into a suit of standard bright-light armor worn over his clothes. With his divine bow on his back, the Falling Star Sword at his waist, and the Heaven-Earth Divine Halberd in his hand, he looked every bit the formidable general, stripped of the scholarly air of a man of letters. He had suppressed the glow of his divine artifacts; as they possessed the ability to conceal their own brilliance, they appeared to outsiders as nothing more than ordinary, weathered gear, giving no hint of their true nature as legendary weapons.

"Brother Fang, is that you?" Situ Yan asked, rubbing her eyes in disbelief as he emerged from the courtyard.

"What? Can’t recognize me?" Fang Xian came over and ruffled her hair, a habit he had unconsciously developed over the past few days. Situ Yan half-closed her eyes, letting him stroke her head like a contented cat.

"You look so imposing in this attire—even more majestic than the marshals. You’ll surely win the title of Martial Champion," Situ Yan said, having come early to see him off and offer her blessings.

"Very well, I’ll take your word for it. If I win the title, I’ll treat you to drinks when I return," Fang Xian laughed, waving his hand as he stepped out of the clinic. He swung onto the back of the King of Fire and shouted, "Giddyap!" The horse shot forward like a streak of flame, vanishing instantly at the end of the street.

South of the capital city of Wu, the Imperial Guard’s main drill ground spanned dozens of acres and served as the barracks for the Imperial Guard. It was here that the palace examinations for the military service were held every few years.

The exam consisted of two main sections. The first was a test of military strategy, evaluating the candidates' grasp of tactics and planning, usually by analyzing historical battles to gauge their familiarity with the art of war. The second section focused on martial prowess, testing skills in archery, horsemanship, foot combat, and mounted combat. Even for a future marshal, individual martial strength remained critical for leading charges and surviving crises on the battlefield.

When Fang Xian arrived at the drill ground, he found the surrounding roads closed off. The perimeter was lined with guards in shining armor and bristling with weapons; constant patrols made it impossible for even a fly to slip through unnoticed. Because the palace examination was of such importance—drawing candidates from across the empire and high-ranking military officers, with the potential to produce future marshals and generals—the Ministry of War treated it with the utmost gravity. Moreover, Emperor Wu Qingdi himself would attend the afternoon martial tests to personally select the Martial Champion, making the security measures understandably intense.

As Fang Xian arrived on the towering King of Fire, he immediately caused a stir. The stallion stood a head taller than any ordinary warhorse, its coat a brilliant, fiery red, radiating a formidable pressure that caused other horses to instinctively recoil.

"Look, who is that? His mount looks incredible," a young martial candidate whispered, pointing at Fang Xian in surprise as dozens of others queued to verify their identities at the entrance.

"Hmph, you country bumpkin. Do you know what that is? It’s an Akhal-Teke horse. They say the Grand Princess imported two of them—one male, one female—from the Zhou Kingdom at a great price. The mare was tamed by the Grand Princess, but the stallion has always been with the Wu Guard. Who would have thought it would appear today? It seems some fierce warrior from the Wu Guard has managed to tame it," said someone who seemed privy to the inside story.

"To be able to break an Akhal-Teke... this man is a formidable rival. I wonder who he is?" Suddenly, the eyes of the dozens of candidates in line turned toward him. None of them recognized Fang Xian, nor did they realize the man before them was the renowned Divine Doctor—or the very same man who had won the literary champion title in the civil service examinations not long ago.

Once Fang Xian dismounted and joined the back of the queue, the other candidates lost interest. Seeing he was a stranger and not particularly hulking in stature, they dismissed him from their thoughts.

"Tell me, who are the big names to watch in this year’s exam?" Fang Xian, finding himself undisturbed, listened in on their chatter while waiting in line.

"Let me tell you, there are many experts this year. Quite a few are secular disciples from major sects. For example, Tong Zhaopeng from Dongjiang Commandery—they say he’s a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, his internal and external arts are peerless, and he broke through to the first-rate expert level at only twenty-two."

"I know one—Gong Guoqiang from Qingyuan Commandery, an outer disciple of the Yin-Yang Valley. His strength is extraordinary; rumor has it he reached the first-rate level long ago."

"And don't forget Han Jiahong from Huayang Commandery. Some say his master is an outer disciple of the Dao Sect. Even at his young age, he has mastered the Dao Sect’s 'Adamantine Body,' making him impervious to blades and arrows."

"Those you've mentioned are just ordinary martial students. I hear this year's exam is packed with powerful generals from the various armies. Take Tang Yuyong of the Zhenshan Army, Liu Dongsheng of the Polang Army, Zhao Yaozhong of the Jinwu Army, or Wang Dongzhu of the Feifeng Army—these are all seasoned killers who have seen countless battles."