Selection, Zhou Shan Shows His Skill

Selection, Zhou Shan Shows His Skill

"Greetings, Commander!"

When Commander Wu stepped onto the viewing platform, the two thousand Black Armored Army soldiers below shouted in unison.

At the same time, all two thousand Black Armored Army soldiers dropped to one knee in perfectly synchronized motion, as though they had undergone countless drills. Only centurions and captains did not need to kneel, merely bowing slightly in salute.

"Rise!"

Commander Wu said.

Rustle!

The two thousand Black Armored Army soldiers rose neatly to their feet.

"There are currently five vacant captain positions in the First Battalion. Today's selection is being held to choose five martial artists to fill those vacancies," Commander Wu said. "Among those participating are centurions from the Black Armored Army, as well as martial artists from Qingyang City's major factions, forty people in total.

"The selection method is simple. Lots will determine your opponents. The winners advance to the next round, and in the end, the five strongest martial artists will be chosen as First Battalion captains.

"Now, all of you come forward and draw lots.

"The numbers range from one to twenty. Those who draw the same number will be opponents.

"Those who draw number one will be the first to enter the arena and compete."

A commandant behind Commander Wu took out a bamboo lot tube.

Zhou Shan and the others stepped forward and each drew a bamboo slip from the tube.

"Number one!"

Zhou Shan looked at the number on his bamboo slip.

This meant he would be the first to fight, and his opponent would be the martial artist who had also drawn the number one bamboo slip.

"I drew number one!"

Zhou Shan raised his bamboo slip for all to see, then walked toward the arena.

With a leap, Zhou Shan landed atop the arena.

The other martial artist who had drawn number one, Liu Chi, followed close behind and also leaped onto the arena.

"Arena matches must not claim lives. Anyone who deliberately kills will die," Commander Wu said simply after seeing Zhou Shan and Liu Chi enter the arena. Then he said, "The match begins now."

"Take my blade!"

Liu Chi let out a fierce roar and swung the golden-backed cleaver in his hand down at Zhou Shan.

"Barely at the level of a First-class Martial Artist."

Though Zhou Shan had not fought many First-class Martial Artists, one look at Liu Chi's attack told him that Liu Chi was even weaker than the young manor lord of Heavenly Sword Manor.

Zhou Shan shot forward, pouncing toward Liu Chi like a soaring eagle.

Clang—

Eagle claws flashed through the air and directly seized the descending golden-backed cleaver.

At the same time, a rebounding force erupted, numbing Liu Chi's tiger's mouth. His blade had felt as though it had struck black iron.

"Get down!"

After gripping the golden-backed cleaver with one hand, Zhou Shan took a step forward and struck out with his other palm, slamming it fiercely into Liu Chi's chest. Liu Chi immediately flew backward like a kite with its string cut.

Boom!

Liu Chi flew straight off the arena and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Zhou Shan had controlled his strength perfectly. Though he had sent Liu Chi flying, he had not injured him.

Whoosh!

Zhou Shan tossed out the golden-backed cleaver in his hand. It landed upright, stabbing directly into the ground before Liu Chi, who had fallen from the arena.

"Zhou Shan wins!"

Commander Wu announced the result of the first match.

"What? He defeated Liu Chi in one move?"

"Liu Chi may have only recently reached fifty years of cultivation, but he is still a First-class Martial Artist. To defeat him in one move, one would need at least the strength of a peak First-class Martial Artist."

"This youth named Zhou Shan is so young, yet he already possesses such strength."

"Zhou Shan... that name sounds familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere."

"I remember now. Two months ago, Yi Shaofeng, the young manor lord of Heavenly Sword Manor, set up an arena in the eastern district and challenged martial artists of his generation. The young talents from Qingyang City's major factions all lost to Yi Shaofeng. In the end, he was defeated by a youth named Zhou Shan. The major factions searched all over Qingyang City but could not find any trace of Zhou Shan. Who would have thought he would appear in the Black Armored Army camp?"

"The major factions should have thought of it long ago. They searched every corner of Qingyang City, but they had no right to set foot in either the City Lord's Manor or the military camp."

"This Zhou Shan seems even stronger than he was two months ago."

"Yi Shaofeng possesses an Innate Sword Bone. This youth named Zhou Shan is likely gifted beyond measure as well."

Zhou Shan's single move defeat of Liu Chi shocked all the other martial artists participating in the captain selection.

Moreover, it was only after hearing Commander Wu announce Zhou Shan's victory that these martial artists realized the youth before them was Zhou Shan, the one who had defeated Yi Shaofeng, the young manor lord of Heavenly Sword Manor, two months ago.

Yi Shaofeng had kept his arena open in Qingyang City for three days, and his name had long spread through every street and alley.

Yet Yi Shaofeng had been defeated by a youth named Zhou Shan. Thus, Zhou Shan could be said to have become famous throughout Qingyang City. Everything Yi Shaofeng had done had merely made a wedding dress for Zhou Shan.

Qingyang City's major factions had all wanted to recruit Zhou Shan, but he had vanished from the face of the earth.

"He is a true genius."

"To become a First-class Martial Artist at such a young age, his future is limitless."

"Zhou Shan's strength has likely already reached the peak of the First-class Martial Artist realm."

The martial artists participating in the captain selection all sighed.

The gap between people was simply too great.

In this world, there would always be heaven-favored prodigies whose two or three years of cultivation rivaled the bitter training of others for thirty or forty years.

After Zhou Shan stepped down from the arena, the selection continued.

All those participating in the captain selection were First-class Martial Artists. People like Zhou Shan, who could defeat their opponents in a single move, were ultimately rare. Most had to fight bitterly for dozens or even over a hundred exchanges before narrowly overcoming their opponents.

Nearly an hour passed before the first round of matches ended.

Of the forty martial artists, twenty remained.

The twenty martial artists stepped forward and drew lots once more.

"Number five!"

This time, Zhou Shan drew number five.

Zhou Shan waited until the first four matches were over.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhou Shan entered the arena.

His opponent was a burly man with a broad back and thick waist.

"This time, Zhou Shan's opponent is Lin Chong. I wonder who will win."

"Lin Chong is a peak First-class Martial Artist with more than sixty years of cultivation. No one here would dare claim certain victory over Lin Chong. Barring surprises, one of the five captain positions was sure to be his. But against Zhou Shan, there is some suspense."

"That's right. Zhou Shan defeated Liu Chi in one move. His strength rivals that of a peak First-class Martial Artist."

"This should be a battle between dragon and tiger."

Seeing Zhou Shan face Lin Chong, everyone became alert.

"Who do you think will win?"

On the drill ground's viewing platform, Commander Wu and the four commandants were also discussing the match.

"It is hard to say. Zhou Shan and Lin Chong each have their own advantages." One square-faced commandant said, "Zhou Shan possesses Innate Divine Strength. Even if he has only recently become a First-class Martial Artist, he can still fight martial artists with more than ten additional years of cultivation.

"Lin Chong's advantage lies in his deep cultivation. He has reached the peak of the First-class Martial Artist realm and possesses abundant combat experience. Even if Zhou Shan has Innate Divine Strength, he still has weaknesses—Weak Points.

"If Lin Chong finds an opportunity to strike Zhou Shan's Weak Points, Zhou Shan will most likely lose."

"I think the opposite. My bet is on Zhou Shan."

"What is the point of merely guessing here? Why not wager something?"

"Fine. Whoever loses will treat the others to drinks."

The four commandants discussed among themselves.

Some bet on Zhou Shan, while others bet on Lin Chong.

"Commander, who do you think will win?"

One of the commandants asked.

"Zhou Shan!"

Commander Wu smiled.

"Why?"

Another commandant who supported Lin Chong asked.

"You will know if you keep watching."

Commander Wu smiled but said no more.

He knew that, besides Eagle Claw Iron Shirt, Zhou Shan had also cultivated the Golden Bell Shield.

However, these commandants did not yet have sufficient status to know that.

(End of Chapter)