The man's voice boomed through the hall—so loud that nearly everyone turned to look.
Bai Tingzhi stood ramrod straight in the center of the floor, expression earnest, waiting for Chen Sanshi's reply.
"Who's that? Doesn't he know any manners?"
"By his clothes, probably some country bumpkin…"
"When you enter a banquet like this, the first thing you do is toast the Young Heir and the other nobles. Even if he wants to meet Lord Chen, he should've done it privately. Shouting like that in front of everyone—it's practically…"
Choosing a faction!
But the problem was, Chen Sanshi was still a newcomer—his cultivation wasn't that high, and he didn't have the kind of background that gave him the right to start a faction of his own.
"Hold it right there."
Wen Qiushi narrowed his eyes. "The Young Heir's standing right in front of you, and you don't toast him first?!"
"Young Heir?"
Bai Tingzhi replied honestly, "I don't know any Young Heir. I only know General Chen."
At present, Chen Sanshi had indeed been officially granted the title of Fifth-Rank Martial Virtue General—a real, legitimate general of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
"Where did this fool crawl out from?!"
Yin Hanwen snapped. "Your Lord Chen just toasted the Young Heir himself, and you think you're above it? Do you even know how this works?!"
"Brother Bai, hurry up and toast the Young Heir."
Even Chen Sanshi was briefly stunned by the sudden turn of events. "Don't just stand there," he said quickly.
One look at the man told him everything—this Bai Tingzhi was a straightforward, honest type. A complete novice to courtly etiquette.
And with that outburst, he'd probably just offended the proudest man in the entire room.
"You're the Young Heir? General Chen asked me to toast you!"
Bai Tingzhi raised his cup and declared boldly, "Bottoms up!"
'He's as thick-headed as Zhu Tong,' Chen Sanshi thought, almost burying his face in his hand.
Cao Fan's lips twitched in anger. His eyes narrowed. "And what mongrel dares to drink with me?"
"If you don't want to drink, then don't," Bai Tingzhi shot back. "Why hurl insults? You wanna fight?!"
"Get out!"
Another young man in brocade robes stepped forward—Yan Changqing, grandson of Grand Secretary Yan Liang. He cupped his hands respectfully toward Cao Fan. "Young Heir, this one's clearly a country fool who doesn't know his place. Why bother lowering yourself to argue?"
At Chen Sanshi's warning glance, Bai Tingzhi finally bowed and left quietly.
But Cao Fan's expression hardened. "Yan Changqing, since when do you have the right to speak here?" His tone dripped venom. "Where'd you get the guts to come all the way to Liangzhou and challenge me in the Selection?"
"The Elite Selection is fair competition," Yan Changqing answered calmly, head slightly bowed. "I came under imperial order. Please don't take offense, Young Heir."
"Good," Cao Fan sneered. "Then we'll see who wins."
He turned to Chen Sanshi. "Brother Chen, let me give you a word of advice. The Yan family's finished—like crickets after autumn. They won't be hopping much longer. Don't pick the wrong side, or you'll regret it."
So he already assumed Chen Sanshi was aligned with the Yan faction.
In truth, even if Yan Changqing hadn't stepped in, that assumption would've stuck.
Court politics was a tangled web of factions. The most obvious were the Yan faction and the Gao faction.
It couldn't be said outright, but everyone in the bureaucracy knew the truth—behind those factions stood the Emperor and the Crown Prince, respectively.
Chen Sanshi had just received an imperial decree, which naturally made him seem like one of the Emperor's men—and thus, closer to the Yan faction.
Even if he didn't want to, he was already being pulled into political crossfire.
Such was the fate of anyone serving in court—no one could truly stay out of the struggle.
Luckily, he wasn't stationed in the capital. At least he didn't have to spend every day scheming over which foot to step into the throne room with first.
This, too, was probably deliberate.
The Emperor liked to keep his subordinates divided, forcing them to check one another. It made them easier to control.
"Lord Chen, I didn't get a chance to greet you earlier," Yan Changqing said after Cao Fan left. "But I must advise you—keep your men in check. This was a private feast. If it were the imperial court, things wouldn't have ended so lightly."
"He's not one of my men," Chen Sanshi replied flatly. "Still, I appreciate your words, Young Master Yan."
"No need for formality."
Yan Changqing smiled faintly and stepped closer. "We're both servants of His Majesty. During the Selection, we should support each other. If I manage to take first place and receive the true disciple's inheritance, I'll make sure you become one of my frontier generals in the future."
"Brother Yan," Sun Buqi interjected, grinning, "but what if Sanshi takes the first place himself?"
"Oh?"
Yan Changqing raised a brow, lips curving in amusement. "I mean no disrespect, but Lord Chen just recently reached the Tempering organs stage, hasn't he? The rest of us are at least Minor Achievement. I myself am one step away from Transforming Strength.
"As for the final round—the martial duel—he may not even make it that far."
He smiled modestly, though his tone carried confidence. "On paper, I might be slightly beneath the Young Heir, but if I break through to Major Achievement before the tournament ends, I might just surpass him."
He was nearly at Major Achievement already.
Chen Sanshi couldn't help but feel a twinge of pressure.
If he didn't reach Minor Achievement soon, his chances of winning would drop sharply.
The banquet went on late into the night.
Chen Sanshi, uninterested in further small talk, excused himself early.
Once outside, he turned to Sun Buqi. "Buqi, I remember reading that the Luotian Mountains near Liangzhou are full of spirit beasts, right?"
"Yeah," Sun Buqi's eyes brightened instantly. "I know just where to find them. You're thinking of hunting beasts to boost your cultivation?"
Chen Sanshi nodded slightly.
He'd already pushed his medicine intake to the limit.
The only way to speed up now was through nourishment—meat infused with natural qi and blood.
Spirit beasts were just like treasure herbs—rare, precious, and impossible to buy with money.
Only martial practitioners went hunting, and whenever they caught a spirit beast, they always kept the best cuts for themselves. Only the scraps—the bits that couldn't be eaten or used—ever made their way to market.
Moreover, the flesh of most spirit beasts lost its potency quickly. Once the freshness faded, the qi and medicinal essence vanished along with it.
"Round and round, back to the old trade again," Chen Sanshi muttered, half amused.
He asked Sun Buqi for details about the Luotian Mountain Range.
"There are plenty of beasts," Sun Buqi said, counting on his fingers. "For example, the saber-toothed tiger. Its blood can be brewed into wine that greatly helps in Tempering organs. The rest of its body is packed with nourishing essence—but it's vicious as hell. A single saber-toothed tiger has the combat strength of a martial artist at the Tempering organs stage."
He continued, "Then there's the giant ape, the flame bear, and the shadow leopard. Lots of kinds. Each one is more nourishing than the last—but also more dangerous, and hard to find.
"And one more thing—you must never go too deep into the mountains. That's where the poison beasts live."
"Poison beasts?"
Chen Sanshi frowned. "Explain that."
"They've only started appearing in the last few years," Sun Buqi said, rubbing his chin. "Poison beasts are different from spirit beasts. They're just as strong, but their meat's inedible. Eat even a bite, and it'll corrode your organs and damage your meridians.
"In the deep mountains, you might even run into swarms of them. If they surround you, it's extremely dangerous. And even if you kill them all, there's nothing to gain—no usable meat, no valuable parts. So who'd bother risking their life for nothing?
"Worse still, they're multiplying fast, almost like they spread through infection.
"There's a region where an old ape used to roam—it could mimic human movements and wield weapons. Now, that very same kind of ape has developed toxins throughout its body.
"And rumor has it, deep in the heart of the Luotian Range, there's a colossal python. Decades ago, someone claimed to have seen it—over 50 zhang long and 1 zhang thick!"
'That's supposed to be a snake?' Chen Sanshi thought incredulously.
He was even more interested in the poison beasts. "They appeared so suddenly, and no one's investigated?"
"Of course people did," Sun Buqi said with a shrug. "But they found nothing. Eventually, everyone gave up."
'If something strange happens, there's always a reason behind it,' Chen Sanshi thought. He made a mental note to keep an eye out when he had the chance.
Ever since learning that reaching the peak of martial cultivation might lead to the immortal path, he'd become more curious about everything related to such mysteries.
"There's another thing you might not know," Sun Buqi went on, clearly enjoying the role of teacher. "After reaching the Transforming Strength stage, you can't keep using ordinary weapons. You'll need a mystic weapon instead.
"See, Transforming Strength means converting your qi and blood into a tangible force—internal force. At that point, you must channel that force through your weapon.
"Some weapons can conduct it perfectly, wasting almost no energy at all. But ordinary ones can't handle it—they weaken the transmission so much that you can't use your full strength.
"Your Mountain-Suppressing Sword counts as a mystic weapon, but your Reed-Leaf Spear doesn't. You'll have to replace it someday.
"Certain materials from spirit beasts can be used to forge mystic weapons too—but that's something for when you reach Transforming Strength. I'm just giving you a heads-up."
"Internal force… mystic weapons…"
Chen Sanshi thought aloud. "Could internal force be used with a bow?"
He'd long felt that archery had become a burden. Killing someone at the Tempering organs stage took too much time and energy—he had to wear them down slowly, until their movements faltered and their guard broke.
That was why, lately, he'd switched to fighting head-on with the spear.
But if internal force could be infused into arrows…
The idea lit a spark in his mind. He remembered the Witch God Sect expert, Amugu, and his terrifying attacks—strikes that didn't even need to touch the body, power released from a distance. That must've been internal force.
If he could coat his arrows with that same force, it would be like launching ranged internal force attacks!
Combine that with a heavier bow, and he might once again make archery lethal—just as deadly as when he'd killed martial artists of the same level back in the Bone Tempering stage.
But Sun Buqi's reply quickly doused his excitement.
"No way," he said flatly. "Internal force can only be released through your body or your weapon in an instant. It doesn't leave the body until the Profound Manifestation stage—only then can you form gang qi, external energy. But who knows? Once you reach that level, you could ask my father. He might know."
Chen Sanshi nodded. "Fair enough. One step at a time."
Better to stay grounded. First, he needed to hunt a spirit beast, break through to Minor Achievement in Tempering organs, and prepare for the Selection duels.
Liangzhou City was going to be a battlefield of dragons and tigers—every top-tier faction under heaven had gathered there, all seeking the same thing: the path beyond Martial Saint.
He glanced at Sun Buqi. "Buqi, about your father's disciples—none of them ever broke through past Martial Saint. Is that because they lacked talent, or…?"
"Mostly because of talent," Sun Buqi said with a sigh, his mood dimming. "My senior brother's the only one who's even close, but my father never passed him the true teachings. No idea why. Maybe he deserves it. These last few years, he's been cozying up to court officials, helping them strip away my father's authority."
Senior brother…
Chen Sanshi remembered that man by the Hongze River—the one wielding the massive halberd.
"General Chen!"
A loud voice called out as their carriage rolled to a stop. It was Bai Tingzhi—the same man who had caused a scene at Immortal Crane Pavilion earlier. He now stood in the road, a wide saber strapped across his back.
"I came to apologize!" he said earnestly. "They told me my behavior earlier might've caused you trouble. I'm sorry for that!"
Chen Sanshi waved dismissively, signaling that it was fine. He didn't bother saying more and gestured for the driver to move on.
But Bai Tingzhi wasn't done.
"Lord Chen! Let me follow you!" he shouted, jogging beside the moving carriage. "I admire your character, sir! I've decided—I'll follow you for life!"
"Brother Bai," Chen Sanshi said helplessly, lifting the curtain. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't even hold a position in Liangzhou yet. What would you follow me for?"
"I'll do anything!"
Bai Tingzhi followed right behind, his tone firm and honest. "Lord Chen, I was born in a poor family. I started practicing martial arts when I was a child just to find someone truly worth serving. Those corrupt officials in the court aren't it. You're the only one I'm willing to follow!"
"Let's focus on the Selection first," Chen Sanshi said evenly. "Do your best—you might even score higher than me."
Anyone qualified to attend the banquet was no ordinary talent; their cultivation and aptitude were all exceptional.
"Even if your rank ends up lower, General, it's only temporary," Bai Tingzhi said confidently. "I believe you'll take first place!"
He clenched his fist. "About today—sorry for the trouble! I'll make it up to you. I'll hunt down a spirit beast and bring it to you as an apology!"
Chen Sanshi blinked. "You know where to find spirit beasts?"
"I do," Bai Tingzhi said, nodding eagerly. "I've been in Liangzhou for three months. I ran out of money long ago, so the only way to improve my cultivation was to rely on the mountains. I've been scouting for nearly two months and recently found signs of spirit beast activity."
"Good," Chen Sanshi said with a small smile. "Tomorrow, come to my residence. We'll head into the mountains together."
"Yes, General!" Bai Tingzhi saluted crisply before finally stopping his pursuit.
"Is this guy my… fanboy?"
Chen Sanshi muttered under his breath, feeling slightly awkward at the fiery look in Bai Tingzhi's eyes.
After the Hongze River incident—and with the emperor's public decree—he seemed to have become quite the celebrity.
Unfortunately, his cultivation realm hadn't caught up yet.
On any other year, it wouldn't have been a problem. But this time, countless prodigies from across the realm had gathered in Liangzhou, raising the bar for the Selection several times over. Now, his current strength suddenly felt lacking.
When he returned home, Siqin and Mohua had already prepared everything perfectly.
All Chen Sanshi had to do was eat and train.
[Technique: Unified Spear Technique (Mastery)]
[Progress: 423/1000]
That night, he naturally shared time with his wife.
At dawn the next day, Bai Tingzhi was already waiting at the gates.
But before they could set out for the hunt, they were intercepted by Thousand-Household Officer Li. "Gentlemen, please come with me to the Eight Garrisons first. General Fang will be announcing the first round of the assessment."
"I thought the Selection wasn't starting for another ten days?" Chen Sanshi asked.
"You'll understand when you arrive, Lord Chen," Li replied with a smile.
The Eight Garrisons were no ordinary military encampment. Unlike the common guard posts or barracks, these were elite forces—each garrison had its own fortified district, practically a city within the city.
As they walked through, the soldiers patrolling the streets were all clad in finely crafted armor and carried polished weapons. Their posture was sharp, their steps firm, and the fierce aura around them made it clear—they were battle-hardened veterans.
The training fields stretched wide—dozens of martial arenas, large and small.
At the central parade ground, General Fang Qingyun sat high on a platform overlooking the gathered candidates—each one an aspiring commander for this year's Selection.
Every participant was handed a formation diagram.
Glancing at it, Chen Sanshi immediately recognized it—the Four-Gate Encirclement Formation.
Arranged according to the Nine Palaces pattern, this formation required each unit to move in intricate, interlocking sequences, merging seamlessly as one body. Once deployed, no matter where the enemy attacked from, they'd feel surrounded on all sides.
It was a formation of high difficulty, demanding not only strong coordination but also unwavering discipline. Whether it could hold under chaos would be the real test.
"Everyone!"
Fang Qingyun's clear, commanding voice spread across the field. "The purpose of the Selection is to find leaders—true commanders of men. A general who cannot command formations can only charge blindly into battle, a mere brute soldier.
"So, the first test of the Elite Selection is—formation deployment!
"Many of you may have already recognized it. The formation in your hands is called the Four-Gate Encirclement Formation, one of the higher-grade battle arrays.
"Soon, General Zhao of Liangzhou will dispatch a contingent of his elite troops from the Liangzhou garrison. Each of you may select your own men from among them.
"Then, you will have nine days to train and drill your chosen troops.
"After nine days, the assessment will take place here, before all.
"The Grand Commander, the Provincial Governor, the Imperial Supervisor, and several generals will personally attend to observe your formations. Whoever demonstrates the most fluid, solid, and unbreakable formation—one that remains steady even in simulated chaos—will be declared the winner!
"That is all. You may now proceed to General Zhao's side to select your troops. Training begins today!"
As soon as the announcement ended, the candidates moved toward General Zhao's drill grounds to pick their soldiers.
Formation training!
Chen Sanshi's eyes brightened.
With his [Commanding Troops] skill, even if given raw recruits—as long as they knew basic stance training—he was confident he could have them executing formation drills smoothly within nine days.
What he didn't yet know was how they'd be testing the formation's resilience afterward.
Still, he trusted his own men far more than any others.
After all, his soldiers bore the [Blood Oath of the Battlefield].
That kind of loyalty and unity couldn't be matched.
Thinking of this, he stepped forward and asked, "General Fang, may I use the men I brought from Poyang?"
"Oh?" Fang Qingyun raised a brow, then nodded. "Of course you may. But think carefully—others will be using the elite troops from Liangzhou's garrison. These soldiers just returned from fighting barbarians beyond the Great Wall. The men you brought from Poyang…"
"I'm sure of it," Chen Sanshi said firmly.
His tone left no room for doubt.