In the past few days, the city had been placed under martial law. Wanted notices were posted everywhere.
Rumor had it that many high-realm martial artists from major sects had been killed.
Two of the seven major sects in Liangzhou—Tongxuan Sect and Luoxia Manor—each lost five or six true disciples in a single night, along with dozens of inner disciples. Among the dead was even a prodigy who had cultivated the Bear Dominance Body. The killings caused an uproar across the region—yet there wasn't a single witness.
All of the victims had their heart blood extracted, so naturally, everyone concluded it was the work of the Witch God Sect.
"That shouldn't be possible."
Chen Sanshi couldn't make sense of it.
To infiltrate two sects simultaneously and massacre so many people, the Witch God Sect couldn't be just one person—it had to be a group. But this was Liangzhou, where the Eight Great Camps were stationed, and where Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong himself was present.
If there were that many Witch God Sect followers hiding here, they'd need a base somewhere. How could they stay hidden this long without being found?
Even Xiang Tingchun had managed to uncover clues back at Golden Bell Temple.
It made no sense—unless the Witch God Sect had some kind of special method.
Chen Sanshi wasn't just letting his thoughts wander aimlessly.
Once he officially took up his post in the Eight Great Camps, there was a good chance he'd be involved in the hunt for the Witch God Sect.
He also wanted to interrogate one of their high-ranking members personally—to find out what that so-called "immortal treasure's supporting device" really was, and what the purpose of that previous blood sacrifice had been. What did killing martial artists accomplish?
And that black qi in the mountains…
Could it be connected to the Witch God Sect?
"Hyah!"
Lost in thought, Chen Sanshi reached the inner city garrison's gate and dismounted.
Qianxun trotted off on its own, free to wander around. It behaved much like a well-trained hound—left to roam freely but always returning home at mealtime, and always ready to come running when called.
Inside the military city, the martial field was already crowded.
The participants in the Elite Selection had mostly arrived.
Cao Fan, Yin Hanwen, and others were among them.
Then Fang Qingyun stepped forward to announce that Yin Hanwen had withdrawn from the assessment—he had forfeited voluntarily.
"Brother Yin!"
Chen Sanshi slapped him on the shoulder. "Why'd you drop out?"
"Ah—!"
Yin Hanwen's face twisted in agony, nearly collapsing to the ground.
"Lord Chen, what are you doing?!"
Wen Qiushi's face darkened as he hurried to support his friend.
"Huh?" Chen Sanshi looked surprised. "My apologies—I didn't know Brother Yin was injured. No wonder you're giving up the competition. What happened? Don't tell me it was the Witch God Sect again?"
Yin Hanwen gritted his teeth through the pain, sweat pouring down his pale face. "Exactly that. A few days ago, on my way home from the restaurant, I was ambushed by a group of Witch God Sect followers. I took a sword strike—couldn't stop them."
"So Brother Yin is the only witness then!"
Chen Sanshi's eyes lit up slightly. "Did you see where they fled? The whole city's searching for them. If we can find their trail, it'd be a great merit."
"Heh, no such luck."
Yin Hanwen sneered. "Their lightness technique was extraordinary. They vanished in the blink of an eye—I couldn't chase them."
"I see. Then rest well, Brother Yin."
Chen Sanshi cupped his fists and turned to leave.
From the look of it, he was certain—the man he'd shot that night had been Yin Hanwen.
The hole in his shoulder was clear as day, even the bone beneath was missing a chunk. Even with healing elixirs, it'd take a long time to recover.
…
"Your Highness!"
Yin Hanwen's voice twisted with rage as he spoke to Cao Fan. "Did you see that? How arrogant he is!"
"You came up with the plan. You got hit, so deal with it."
Cao Fan's tone was calm but cold. "Still, don't worry. I'll avenge you. He shot you once, so I'll take his arm in return—cripple him for good."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Yin Hanwen's eyes burned with hatred. "That bastard's Tempering Organ skill is at Mastery, but where did he get the courage to fight back? When the duels start, Your Highness will defeat him within five rounds."
"No need for His Highness to step in," Wen Qiushi said disdainfully. "If I face him, I can cripple him myself. Though honestly, we might not even get the chance—he'll probably be eliminated in the first formation test."
"True enough."
Yin Hanwen chuckled spitefully. "He's dragging along a bunch of ragged soldiers from some backwater county. No matter how hard they train, they're still just rabble. Even if he somehow manages to pull off a fancy formation, it'll fall apart the moment it's charged. One push, one kill, and it's over."
"I heard the Grand Commander loves his soldiers like his own sons," another follower said mockingly. "Maybe that's why he's doing this—trying to put on a show for Lord Sun Xiangzong himself."
"This one really knows how to plot," someone else laughed. "He knows his background's humble. Sure, he's got talent, but nothing exceptional. To earn a bright future, he has to draw attention. First he led refugees across the river to earn the Emperor's praise, and now he's trying to prove he's loyal and sentimental by bringing his old troops here—what a clever act."
"You're overthinking it," another scoffed. "The Grand Commander does appreciate loyalty, sure. But dragging a bunch of useless trash to perform in front of him? Sun Xiangzong's no fool—he'll see right through the act. It'll just backfire."
"Exactly. In the end, this test is about real commanding skill."
"Let him play the righteous fool—we'll just sit back and watch him embarrass himself."
The group broke into laughter.
Only Cao Fan's expression stayed calm.
"Not necessarily," he said quietly.
Wen Qiushi blinked. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"I had men observe his troops," Cao Fan said evenly. "Those soldiers from that little county in Yunzhou—they've been training under an old man's command. Their formation work is solid, smooth, and tight. Don't underestimate them. They may come from a small place, but they've fought life-and-death battles before. They're not as weak as you think. In this first assessment, I'd say he'll pass without issue."
The court in the capital had even sent word to him—if the chance arose, he was to befriend Chen Sanshi, perhaps even win him over.
At first, he hadn't understood why. After all, a cultivator with the Nine-Dragon Body wasn't exactly rare.
Why would they bother trying to win over some nobody from the countryside?
It wasn't until a few days ago, when Cao Fan witnessed Chen Sanshi's archery atop the mountain, that his opinion began to change. Later, after watching the man drill his troops personally, he had to admit—Chen Sanshi truly knew how to train soldiers. The formations were tight, the movements fluid, the discipline unmistakable.
That kind of command wasn't luck. It was skill.
He might be weak in cultivation for now, but with that kind of talent, he could easily become a great general someday.
Still, two words summed up Cao Fan's thoughts—what a pity.
The man clearly had no intention of submitting.
Leaving aside Yan Changqing for the moment, this kid…
He actually dared to think about contending with him for the top spot in the Elite Selection!
From the look in Chen Sanshi's eyes, Cao Fan could tell—it wasn't arrogance, it was conviction. A sharp, unyielding confidence that screamed defiance. It made his blood boil.
'He really wants to die.'
For years, Sun Xiangzong had been a tyrant of the Northwest.
Now that the old Grand Commander was near the end of his life, how could they possibly allow the secret techniques that transcended even the Martial Saint realm to fall into the hands of someone not bearing the surname "Cao"?
That alone meant Chen Sanshi deserved death.
Still, Cao Fan wasn't too worried.
For all his skill, Chen Sanshi's realm was far too low. Even if he somehow broke through to Minor Achievement in Tempering Organ recently, there was no way he could stand against someone who had already reached Perfection in the same stage.
Of course, the best outcome would be to cripple him before the combat phase even began. After all, the Emperor himself had issued the decree for this selection—if Cao Fan were to personally strike now, it might anger his imperial grandfather.
Fortunately, the arrangements had already been made.
Even if that bastard surnamed Chen managed to pass the formation stage, he'd never survive the second test—the Formation Breaking round.
"His Highness truly has the bearing of a great general!" Wen Qiushi quickly flattered. "That's what they call knowing yourself and knowing the enemy—victory in a hundred battles!"
"Yes, yes, exactly!"
A chorus of sycophants chimed in.
"Brother Yin," Tang Yingke cautiously stepped forward. "Is your injury alright?"
"Get lost!"
Yin Hanwen sneered. "If you hadn't exposed us that night, how would I have taken that arrow? Once the selection's over and we return to the capital, you'll pay for it."
"Brother Wen, yesterday I—"
"Brother Yao—"
No matter who Tang Yingke tried to speak to, he was either met with ridicule or ignored entirely.
…
Chen Sanshi caught sight of it all.
Just for speaking up in his defense, Tang Yingke had been completely ostracized. It was clear—his days in the selection wouldn't be easy.
"Hey."
Bai Tingzhi approached Tang Yingke, who sat alone in the corner, unacknowledged by anyone. "Those bastards treat you like dirt—why keep trying to curry favor? Come with me. Follow General Chen. You'll make something of yourself one day."
"Tingzhi, don't go recruiting people here."
Chen Sanshi stepped forward, cupping his fists. "Brother Tang, my thanks for your help that day."
"Lord Chen, you're too polite. I didn't do much."
Tang Yingke sighed. "You don't need to worry about me. I came to the selection mainly for experience, not to fight for the top. When the duels start, if I'm matched against His Highness or his men, I'll just forfeit. But you, Lord Chen—you'd best be careful. This morning I saw someone talking with the one in charge of the second test... well, just be cautious."
He gave a small bow, then turned and left.
"The second test... Formation Breaking?"
Before Chen Sanshi could think further, the horns blared and drums thundered across the martial field, announcing the official start of the Elite Selection.
"Commanders!"
Fang Qingyun sat high upon the platform, his calm voice ringing clear across the field. "The Elite Selection begins! The first test—Formation Deployment!
"Next, we'll call your names in order.
"When your name is called, lead your men to the designated closed training field five li away. There, you will be formally tested. The standard is simple—whose formation best withstands real battle."
"Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong, Governor Liu, and Military Inspector Hou will serve as chief examiners. They'll personally evaluate your results. Rankings will be divided into four grades—A, B, C, and D. Once all assessments are done, your combined scores will determine your final placement and the title of this year's champion."
He paused, smiling faintly. "Aside from that…"
The scholarly officer in blue robes spoke in a lighter tone. "Officials from Youzhou, Liangzhou, and Yanzhou have all come to watch. Quite a few of them, in fact, have unmarried daughters. So, gentlemen—do your best. This may be your chance to win both honor and a fine wife!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd, breaking the tension.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed.
Several of the young commanders from humble or common families straightened their backs, eyes burning with renewed determination.
This was their chance.
Fists alone meant nothing in the world of men.
Power. Connections. Background.
That was what truly mattered—especially for those seeking office in the imperial court.
"Alright, let's begin."
Once Fang Qingyun finished, a soldier rolled his wheelchair back behind the reviewing platform.
Li Qianzong, the officer beside him, opened the roster and called, "Cui Yongping!"
"Here!"
"Proceed!"
A young commander answered crisply, leading his 500 soldiers northward in tight formation.
Five li away stood a sealed martial field, surrounded by walls three zhang high. No one outside could see what happened inside. Naturally, that meant no one knew the exact testing methods being used.
Even after the assessment ended, the teams didn't return the way they came—they exited from another gate entirely. The secrecy was airtight.
Until the final announcement of results, no one would know what was really happening within.
…
Inside that closed-off martial field, towering walls rose on all sides. Pavilions had been built atop the ramparts, the smaller ones draped in silk curtains that concealed the guests—family members and officials who had come to watch.
At the central pavilion, the main reviewing stand, sat the three chief examiners: Sun Xiangzong, Governor Liu, and Inspector Hou.
Behind them stood the assembled officials of various ranks from the surrounding provinces—governors, generals, and even prefects. The lowest among them still held high office.
It was a gathering of true power.
Since this Elite Selection was a form of military examination, it couldn't rely solely on Sun Xiangzong's word. There had to be witnesses to ensure fairness—and to remind the participating commanders that they served the Great Sheng Dynasty, not the Sun family.
That rule had only been in place for the past ten years.
Before that, everything had been decided by Sun Xiangzong alone.
"Grand Commander Sun."
Governor Liu set down his teacup, smiling faintly. "There are quite a few talented young men this time. With a bit of guidance, some of them are sure to become great generals in the future."
"Yes."
Sun Xiangzong, dressed in coarse hemp robes, leaned back lazily in his grand chair, half closing his eyes. "This will be the last time this old man takes on a disciple. I hope they can give me a few surprises."
"Governor Liu,"
Inspector Hou's sharp, high-pitched voice rang out. His hand holding the teapot was raised delicately, fingers arched like an orchid. "Who do you fancy this time?"
"Of course, His Highness the Heir!"
Governor Liu replied confidently. "The Crown Prince's son possesses a dragon's heart and a tiger's bones. His Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, personally bestowed by His Majesty, has been honed to perfection. He has already reached Perfection in Tempering Organ, only a step away from Transforming Strength. This year's top title can belong to no one but him! If Grand Commander Sun takes His Highness as his final disciple, he'll likely become the next Dragon Marshal!"
"Governor Liu, you're being a bit too hasty."
Inspector Hou smiled, disagreeing as he slowly listed several names. "I think Grand Secretary Yan's grandson, Yan Changqing, is quite good. Just yesterday, he also broke through to Tempering Organ Perfection.
"As for his physique, he possesses the Qilin Body—a natural Martial Saint constitution. In the capital, many already call him the 'Qilin Heir.'
"Then there's Lu Shuhua, the young sect master of the Tongtian Sword Sect in Liangzhou. Born with a Sword Heart, he's destined to become a Sword Saint in time.
"Add to that Wen Qiushi of Splitting Moon Manor, Wen Shaoyang of the Falling Cloud Gate in the capital, Fei Yuliang from Youzhou, and Xie Sishu from Yanzhou—all are strong contenders.
"With so many prodigies, has Governor Liu truly not noticed them?"
"Hehe~"
Governor Liu chuckled. "Talents, yes. But only two or three among them are truly fated to become Martial Saints. Inspector Hou, don't forget—the final test, Bone Appraisal, is part of the overall score, and it carries double weight.
"One 'A' in Bone Appraisal equals two 'A's in any other assessment.
"The top titleholder will receive the empire's best resources and training. The cultivation pills alone will consume an unimaginable number of rare ingredients. Naturally, we must choose someone whose upper potential is the highest."
Some physiques displayed dazzling cultivation speed early on but slowed dramatically after reaching the Meridian-Connecting or Profound Manifestation realms, even getting stuck forever with no hope of advancing further.
Take Fei Yuliang of Youzhou, for example. His Heavenly Gang Body let him advance to Profound Manifestation faster than his peers, but he would never reach Martial Saint. Beyond that, impossible.
Someone like that could be nurtured as a strong general—but unworthy of the championship title.
That was why the Bone Appraisal carried so much weight.
Of course, a true Martial Saint Body didn't appear every year.
In past selections, even a Heavenly Gang Body would've counted as first-class.
But this year was different—it was the final Elite Selection. Sun Xiangzong's last disciple. Naturally, it drew geniuses from across the realm. The overall standard had risen severalfold.
Even the official martial examinations couldn't compare to the difficulty of this year's selection.
"Even so~"
Inspector Hou insisted, "Yan Changqing, Lu Shuhua, and Xie Sishu—all three have the potential to become Martial Saints."
"That's it?"
Sun Xiangzong's deep, weathered voice rolled through the pavilion. "You're only looking at those few?"
"Who else could there be, Grand Commander?"
Governor Liu stroked his beard. "Those few have reached Tempering Organ Perfection. The rest may be skilled, but none are close to taking the top spot."
"..."
Sun Xiangzong's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest. His tone was mild, yet carried weight. "In this old man's eyes, these rules need changing. A Martial Saint Body isn't everything. I've had three disciples with so-called 'Innate Martial Saint Bodies'—yet only one truly reached that realm. The other two have been stuck at Profound Manifestation for years. Talent is one thing—but understanding, comprehension—that's what really matters."
"Grand Commander Sun makes a fair point."
"Yes, the Grand Commander is as sharp as ever."
"Still, these rules can't be changed at a whim."
Behind them, a voice sounded. It was Fang Qingyun, who had just stepped up onto the wall. "Buqi, if I'm not mistaken, Junior Brother Chen's physique should be the Nine-Dragon Body, right?"
"Yes. My sister saw it herself when he awakened his Nine-Dragon Tendons—it can't be fake."
Sun Buqi scratched his head with a bitter look. "But that'll hurt him this time. The Nine-Dragon Body's lower limit is the Profound Manifestation realm—it guarantees a general's foundation. But the ceiling's also stuck at Profound Manifestation…
"In past Bone Appraisals, that'd earn him an A-grade for sure. But with so many Innate Martial Saint Bodies flooding in this year, the Nine-Dragon Body won't stand out. He'll probably only score a B, same as Wen Qiushi and the others. That'd drag him down a lot. Fourth Senior Brother, isn't there any way to help him?"
"It's… troublesome," Fang Qingyun murmured, frowning. Then he turned to his aide. "Go to my quarters. Bring every book I have on martial physiques."
"Eh?"
Sun Buqi blinked, surprised at his senior brother's response. "Fourth Senior Brother, does that mean… you also want Sanshi to win the championship?"
"It's not me who wants that," Fang Qingyun replied, his gaze drifting toward the front of the grandstand, where an old man in coarse robes sat motionless. "It's him."
"My father?"
Sun Buqi's eyes widened in shock and delight. He hadn't expected his father to hold such favor for Chen Sanshi.
"Ah…" Fang Qingyun sighed quietly. "Unfortunately, rules are rules. With Governor Liu and Inspector Hou here—and all these officials from three provinces watching—even Master can't show favoritism."
"I'll check the records. If I can find even one example in a thousand years of a Nine-Dragon Body breaking through to Martial Saint, then it'll barely qualify as an A-grade root bone."
Because he alone knew—
This selection wasn't just about choosing Grand Commander Sun's final disciple.
It was tied to something far greater.
A move that would shape the Eight Great Camps… and perhaps determine the fate of the entire realm.
This game was set with eight dead, one crippled, and one living piece.
Whether it would end in death, ruin, or survival—
all depended on how far this young man from Poyang County could go.