Arrival at the Commandery City, Meeting the Commander

Arrival at the Commandery City, Meeting the Commander

"Finally, we've reached the commandery city."

Zhou Shan looked at the majestic giant city standing upon the earth in the distance.

It had taken a total of twelve days to travel from the West Ridge Iron Mine to the commandery city.

He had already cultivated Eagle Claw Iron Shirt to perfection, making it difficult to increase his cultivation further. However, Zhou Shan possessed the Nine Breaths Assimilation talent and was constantly absorbing the heaven and earth essence from the depths of the void.

Apart from the sixty years of cultivation from Eagle Claw Iron Shirt, he had stored another twelve years of Internal Force within his body. With these twelve years of Internal Force, as long as he cultivated a new martial art, he could immediately gain entry and convert it into the corresponding cultivation.

As the main city of a commandery, Qingyang City was far more magnificent than any county town Zhou Shan had seen along the way.

Its walls were built from blocks of blue bricks and stood more than fifty meters high. Even first-rate experts who had cultivated qinggong would find it difficult to leap onto walls fifty meters high without anything to use as a foothold, unless they had cultivated their qinggong to the utmost limit, reaching the realm of crossing a river on a reed and leaving no trace upon the snow.

Moreover, fully armed squads of Black Armored Guards patrolled the city walls, and dozens of military Armor-Piercing Ballistas were deployed along each of the four sides. They could shoot straight through the iron armor worn on one's body.

Forget First-class Martial Artists—even Superclass Martial Artists with more than seventy years of cultivation would not dare take a bolt fired by an Armor-Piercing Ballista head-on. Only top martial artists with over a hundred years of cultivation could barely withstand the ballista's might.

Before long, the group approached the city gate.

A long line had formed outside it.

Qingyang City was the center of an entire commandery, with countless people and merchant caravans passing through every day.

All of them had to pay an entrance fee and undergo inspection before entering the city.

Although the Vajra Sect had been wiped out, some surviving disciples had escaped and were hiding in the shadows, waiting for a chance to cause trouble. Furthermore, given the current situation, powers across the land were all fighting for territory and resources. Every faction was sending spies into other factions' domains to probe the true strength of hostile forces. Thus, everyone entering the city had to be inspected carefully.

However, Zhou Shan and the others belonged to the Black Armored Army and were responsible for escorting military supplies, so naturally they did not need to undergo any inspection.

After the soldiers at the gate verified their identities, they immediately had a path cleared for them.

Zhou Shan followed the group into the city.

Qingyang City truly lived up to its status as a commandery city. It was not only majestic, but prosperous as well.

The streets teemed with people, merchant caravans constantly came and went, and the crowds surged like a tide.

After entering the city, they did not stop to rest, instead heading straight for the Black Armored Army camp to store the escorted military supplies.

"All right, the mission has been completed successfully. Everyone is free to do as they please." Captain Li Wentao said, "You may enjoy yourselves in the commandery city for a few days. We will set out to return to Hengshan County in five days."

"Yes, Captain!"

The Black Armored Guards acknowledged the order, then departed one after another.

"My lord, I have a letter written by the Commandant for the Commander."

Zhou Shan stepped before Li Wentao and spoke.

Although he was a Centurion of the Black Armored Army, he was several ranks below the Commander. Above a Centurion was a Captain, then a Commandant, a Commander-in-Chief, and only then the Commander.

The Commander of the Black Armored Army was a true Martial Dao Grandmaster.

Therefore, Zhou Shan could not simply see the Commander whenever he wished.

"The Commandant told me about this matter." Li Wentao nodded. "Come. I'll take you to the Commander's residence."

Before long, the two arrived before a solemn and imposing residence.

"Commander's Residence!"

Three large characters were written on the plaque above the estate.

Qingyang Commandery had now been taken over by the Guiyuan Sect. Whether it was the city lord or the Commander, both were members of the Guiyuan Sect.

The city lord's duties mainly involved handling civil affairs, while the Commander oversaw a commandery's military matters. It could be said that he handled ten thousand affairs every day.

For others, meeting the Commander of the Black Armored Army would naturally not be easy, requiring an appointment in advance. But Li Wentao and Zhou Shan were both members of the Black Armored Army. After presenting their tokens and explaining their purpose, the Black Armored Guard guarding the Commander's residence accepted Commandant Chen Tianhu's letter and entered the estate to report.

Before long, the Black Armored Guard returned and said, "My lords, please come in."

"Zhou Shan, I'll be leaving first."

Li Wentao said.

His task was complete once he had brought Zhou Shan to the Commander's residence.

"Thank you for making the trip, my lord."

Zhou Shan thanked him, then followed the Black Armored Guard into the Commander's residence, where he was brought to a reception hall to wait.

"Centurion Zhou, the Commander still has official business to handle. Please wait here for a while," said the Black Armored Guard leading the way. "Once the Commander has finished handling his affairs, someone will naturally take you to see him."

"Thank you."

Zhou Shan nodded.

Soon, a servant came to serve tea, and Zhou Shan sat in the reception hall to wait.

Time passed bit by bit.

After waiting for around half an hour, a Black Armored Guard entered the reception hall and said, "Centurion Zhou, the Commander has finished handling his official business and wishes to see you. Please follow me."

"All right!"

Zhou Shan rose to his feet and followed the Black Armored Guard to meet the Commander.

The Commander's residence was enormous, complete with pavilions, towers, gardens, and artificial hills.

After walking for roughly the time it took to burn half an incense stick—

The Black Armored Guard led Zhou Shan outside a study and respectfully announced, "Commander, Centurion Zhou Shan has arrived."

"Very well, let him in!"

A dignified voice came from within the study.

Upon hearing this, the Black Armored Guard pushed open the study door, then stepped aside and said, "Centurion Zhou Shan, please enter."

Zhou Shan stepped into the study. The Black Armored Guard outside smoothly closed the door, then knowingly withdrew.

At last, Zhou Shan saw Fang Yuan, the Commander of Qingyang Commandery.

He was a middle-aged man who looked to be around forty. Though seated, one could still tell that he was exceptionally tall, at least one meter ninety. Rather than armor, he wore a black robe embroidered with gold-trimmed patterns. His face was square and upright, while his bearing was imposing.

The instant Zhou Shan entered the study, he felt an immense pressure from the man before him.

It was the oppressive aura of a Martial Dao Grandmaster. Even without being deliberately released, it still placed enormous pressure upon ordinary martial artists, like an ordinary beast encountering the king of all beasts.

"Greetings, Commander!"

Zhou Shan cupped his fists toward Fang Yuan, his expression respectful.

"I have read Chen Tianhu's letter." Fang Yuan raised his head and nodded at Zhou Shan before saying, "Since Chen Tianhu says you possess Innate Divine Strength, it must have been tested.

For someone like you, Eagle Claw Iron Shirt is indeed far too low in grade. However, after joining the Black Armored Army, whether you want Martial Arts Manuals or divine weapons and medicinal pills, you must exchange merit for them. Those are the rules.

But the sect does show preferential treatment toward geniuses.

How about this? Help me handle one matter. If you complete it, I can make the decision to grant you in advance a top-tier Cultivation Technique that can be cultivated to the Martial Dao Grandmaster realm. You can make up the merit required to exchange for this martial art later.

If you fail to handle it well, then you can only slowly accumulate merit."