Special Examination!

As soon as the words fell, everyone present showed envy in their eyes!

Chen Feng, standing nearby, was happy for Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan hurriedly cupped his fists. "Thank you, Centurion!"

Yang Tianfeng laughed heartily and patted Wang Xuan on the shoulder.

"Perform well. I hope you won't disappoint me!"

"As for joining the camp, Chen Feng, you handle it!"

Chen Feng immediately cupped his fists. "Yes, sir!"

After Yang Tianfeng left, the entire target range instantly became lively.

Quite a few soldiers from the Archery Battalion stepped forward to greet Wang Xuan, and Wang Xuan responded with a smile.

These people would be his comrades and partners in battle in the future, so naturally, he would not offend them lightly.

But Wang Xuan also noticed that some people were watching him coldly from afar, their expressions far from pleasant.

Especially several Banner Officers clad in armor, whose eyes carried a chill.

After greeting everyone, Wang Xuan could not help asking Chen Feng, "Brother Feng, why does it feel like those guys over there are looking at me strangely?"

Hearing this, Chen Feng glanced at the Archery Battalion's Banner Officers in the distance and explained, "Perfectly normal. They're jealous!"

"You have no idea how coveted the position of Banner Officer in the Archery Battalion is!"

"The pay is at least more than twice as good as that of Banner Officers in other camps!"

"The number of Banner Officers in every camp is fixed. If you join the Archery Battalion and become a Banner Officer, someone will definitely get pushed out!"

"If it were you, would you be happy?"

Hearing Chen Feng's explanation, Wang Xuan immediately understood.

"So that's how it is."

Where there were people, there was strife. Once personal interests were involved, the conflict became even more obvious.

Chen Feng draped an arm over Wang Xuan's shoulder and smiled. "Don't mind them. They're the ones who should be worried, not you!"

Wang Xuan nodded.

"Come on. I'll take you to register first, and I'll tell you about the military camp while we're at it!"

The two then left the Archery Battalion and went to the place where new recruits registered in the military camp.

With Chen Feng leading him, Wang Xuan quickly completed his new recruit registration.

"Brother Feng, what exactly is the new recruit camp examination? Is it very difficult?"

Wang Xuan suddenly asked.

Chen Feng immediately explained, "The new recruit camp examination actually isn't difficult for you. It can only be considered a formality."

"As for the examination itself, it's very simple. You cultivate the army's basic cultivation technique. If you can get started within seven days, you can become a Martial Soldier."

"You're already a martial artist, with abundant qi and blood in your body. Seven days is absolutely enough for you to cultivate the army's basic technique. As for how far you can reach, that depends on your talent."

Wang Xuan nodded slightly.

"Then if someone fails the examination, are they eliminated?"

Chen Feng continued, "Not exactly. If they fail, they become ordinary soldiers—plainly speaking, cannon fodder."

"They received three hundred coins a month. The pay wasn't high, but they wouldn't lack food or clothing, and they could help support their families."

"As for archers, even the most ordinary archer had to be a martial artist at the Ox Hide level, and their monthly pay was one tael of silver."

"Not to mention Banner Officers above them, who receive ten taels a month. That's why so many people want to enter the Archery Battalion, but it's far too difficult."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan understood why those Archery Battalion Banner Officers had held such a strong grudge against him.

Ten taels of silver a month!

That was enough to cover half a year of living expenses for an ordinary person!

"Of course, the new recruit camp's basic examination isn't what you should be worried about. What you should value is the special examination!"

"The special examination? What's that?"

Wang Xuan frowned.

Chen Feng explained solemnly, "As the name implies, the special examination is more difficult. But once you pass it, your pay will be completely different!"

"For example, a new recruit who passes the ordinary examination becomes a Martial Soldier and begins climbing up from an ordinary rank-and-file soldier. Just like me—I spent two years before becoming a Banner Officer."

"But if you pass the special examination, you can be considered a reserve Banner Officer. In the future, becoming a Chief Banner or even a Centurion is possible!"

"The army will cultivate you with twice the effort. Whether in resources or cultivation techniques, you'll be different from ordinary soldiers!"

"When Centurion Yang said he hoped you would pass the new recruit examination, strictly speaking, he meant the special examination!"

"If you fail it, the Centurion will still promote you to Banner Officer, of course, but I'm afraid the importance he places on you will be rather ordinary."

"But if you pass the special examination, then with your current Martial Path strength and archery skills, the Centurion will certainly focus on cultivating you!"

"With the Centurion's guidance, let alone Banner Officer, even becoming a Chief Banner or Centurion may not be impossible!"

At this point, Wang Xuan nodded unconsciously.

The special examination was, plainly speaking, prepared for geniuses in the new recruit camp.

The army would not allow geniuses to be held back by resources, cultivation techniques, and the like.

Wang Xuan nodded heavily. "I understand, Brother Feng."

"I'll give it everything I have."

Chen Feng put an arm around Wang Xuan's shoulders and smiled. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Your brother here believes in you!"

"I'm already really looking forward to the day you become a Centurion. Then I'll have someone backing me in the military camp, and I'll be able to walk sideways."

Wang Xuan could not help laughing.

"Come on, let's go buy some things in the county town."

"Then we'll go home together!"

Whitestone Town.

Zhou Estate.

"You useless trash!"

"You can't even handle such a trivial matter! What use do I have for you?"

Zhou Bapi's face was furious as he slapped Manager Qian across the face, sending him tumbling to the ground.

The latter's face had swollen like a pig's head.

Yet Manager Qian did not dare resist. He could only kneel and beg, "Master, it truly wasn't because I handled things poorly."

"Who knew that little bastard had won the favor of the county town's Centurion and even had money to pay his taxes!"

"The Banner Officer who killed Hou Feng yesterday was there too. I didn't dare forcibly make a move and bring him back!"

Manager Qian felt deeply wronged.

Today's matter could not be blamed on him either. Who could have known that Wang Xuan, a mere mountain yokel, had actually won the favor of the county town's Centurion?

And somehow, he had found the money to repay the debt.

Zhou Bapi's chest heaved violently with rage. He raised his foot to kick Qian Tong again, but stopped midway and lowered it!

"What rotten luck!"

Zhou Bapi also knew that Manager Qian could not be blamed for what happened today. It was simply that brat from the Wang Family having good luck.

"But then again, how did that little bastard catch the Centurion's eye?"

After calming down, Zhou Bapi could not help muttering to himself.

A hunter who had hunted in the mountains had suddenly caught a Centurion's eye and been taken into the county town's military camp. No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand why.

"Master, could it be... because of Hou Feng?"

Manager Qian reminded him at this moment.

Zhou Bapi's gaze sharpened.

"You're right. If Hou Feng's death has something to do with that little bastard, then it can be explained."

"Could it be... that this brat has become a martial artist?"

Zhou Bapi's brow furrowed even deeper.

"What should we do now, Master?"

"The Blood Sacrifice is still short of one crucial offering. If we use a substitute, I'm afraid..."

Before Manager Qian could finish, Zhou Bapi interrupted him. "Nothing can go wrong with the Blood Sacrifice!"

"As long as I complete the Blood Sacrifice, I'll be able to break through to the Dragon Serpent Realm in one stroke. Even reaching the Entangling Serpent Realm may not be impossible!"

"As for the offering..."

"Once the Blood Sacrifice is complete, we'll leave this place anyway!"

"Qian Tong, take men tonight and bring that offering back. Even if you have to kill that little bastard, you must get it done!"

"As long as you bring the person back, we'll immediately begin the Blood Sacrifice. Even if the army finds out afterward, it'll already be too late!"

Upon hearing the words "Blood Sacrifice," Manager Qian's eyes surged with intense delight and burning eagerness!

"Yes, sir!"

"This time, I definitely won't fail!"