Wang Xuan! You Motherfucker!

Wang Xuan stared coldly into the distance.

As his voice fell, a set of footsteps sounded from behind the distant tents, and a figure slowly emerged.

When Wang Xuan saw who it was, his gaze could not help but sharpen!

Lu Yang!

Why was this guy here?!

"What fine saberplay!"

"No wonder you are someone Centurion Yang thinks highly of!"

With a smile on his face, Lu Yang clapped as he slowly walked out.

"So it is Young Master Lu!"

Wang Xuan watched Lu Yang with some wariness.

He had been wholly focused on practicing the Ten Sun Blazing Saber and had not noticed anyone spying on him. Who knew when this fellow had arrived at the training ground?

Sensing the chill in Wang Xuan's words, Lu Yang smiled. "Brother Wang, do not be nervous. I bear you no ill will!"

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lu Yang."

"I come from the Lu Family in the county seat. Centurion Tang is my maternal uncle."

As those words reached his ears, Wang Xuan's expression shifted slightly.

White Water County had five Centurion Garrisons in total.

But two of those Centurion Garrisons followed the Commander outside to wage war year-round. Only three Centurions remained behind to guard the county.

Tang Wande was one of them!

Wang Xuan had heard Wu Shan mention Lu Yang during the day, but he had never expected this fellow to have such a connection to Centurion Tang!

Wang Xuan smiled and replied, "So it is Young Master Lu. Why have you come here instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?"

Lu Yang stepped before Wang Xuan and said with a smile, "I could not sleep, so I came out for a stroll."

"Besides, is Brother Wang not awake as well?"

Seeing Lu Yang's expression, Wang Xuan frowned.

"If Young Master Lu has nothing else to do, then please do as you wish. Wang still needs to practice his saberplay."

Wang Xuan did not exchange further pleasantries.

Wu Shan had reminded him to be wary of Lu Yang. Besides, who knew how long this fellow had been watching? If Wang Xuan had not sensed something amiss, Lu Yang might have kept watching indefinitely.

More importantly, Lu Yang's gaze carried an arrogant, lofty disregard for others that made Wang Xuan deeply uncomfortable.

Lu Yang noticed Wang Xuan's coldness but did not mind. He smiled and said, "Do not be in such a hurry, Brother Wang. Watching you practice martial arts earlier truly left me amazed."

"With Brother Wang's talent, I fear you will soon rise through the ranks!"

Listening to Lu Yang's flattery made Wang Xuan feel sick to his stomach.

Yet he still wore a smile as he replied, "Young Master Lu overpraises me. My little tricks are not fit to be displayed before others."

"If Young Master Lu has something to say, please say it plainly."

Lu Yang was taken aback, then laughed. "Brother Wang truly speaks without beating around the bush. I like dealing with people like you!"

"Then I shall not waste words."

"Brother Wang, you are here for the Soaring Dragon Assembly as well, are you not?"

Hearing the three words "Soaring Dragon Assembly," Wang Xuan's heart tightened!

The Soaring Dragon Assembly again!

"Yes. Is Young Master Lu not here for it as well?" Wang Xuan said evenly.

He did not reveal that he knew nothing about the Soaring Dragon Assembly.

Lu Yang chuckled softly. "The Soaring Dragon Assembly is held once every three years. It is an old rule in Azure Province."

"Everyone who enters is a dragon or phoenix among men!"

"Unfortunately, our county seat has only one slot. There are too many wolves and too little meat."

"Therefore, I wish to make a deal with Brother Wang."

"I wonder what you think?"

"A deal? What deal?"

Wang Xuan raised a brow.

"It is simple. Follow me!"

"Clear away every obstacle for me and help me obtain qualification for the Soaring Dragon Assembly!"

"In exchange, if you help me secure the qualification, I will recommend you to my uncle and have you become a Chief Banner Officer directly!"

"Once I enter the Soaring Dragon Assembly, I will surely soar into the blue clouds. Choosing to follow me will absolutely not be a bad thing."

"I have looked into your affairs. Your archery is outstanding, and Centurion Yang thinks highly of you. Yet Centurion Yang does not seem to value you that greatly, offering you only a Banner Officer position."

"To be honest, that is truly looking down on you!"

"With your ability, you should be able to go farther with me. If you follow me, I can take you to even greater heights. Chief Banner Officer will absolutely not be the starting point!!"

Lu Yang said with a smile.

His eyes brimmed with boundless confidence and arrogance!

After hearing Liu Ming speak of Wang Xuan during the day, he had sent someone to investigate Wang Xuan.

It would have been better if he had not looked into it. Once he did, he discovered that Wang Xuan was even fiercer than he had imagined!

Furthermore, after observing Wang Xuan in secret for over an hour, he found that Wang Xuan's Martial Path had not only reached the Iron Skin Realm, but he had also mastered a saber technique of at least the eighth rank or above!

Within the Iron Skin Realm, he possessed absolutely formidable strength!

There was only one qualification slot for the Soaring Dragon Assembly in all of White Water County!

To obtain that qualification, the first step was to stand out in the county seat recruit camp assessment and place among the top three in the special-grade assessment. Only then would one be qualified to compete for it!

If Wang Xuan followed him, Lu Yang would not only have one less opponent, but Wang Xuan could also clear away much of the resistance for him.

However!

Wang Xuan could not help sneering inwardly at those words.

This fellow really has a huge mouth!

He opens his mouth and promises a Chief Banner Officer position. Is he not afraid the wind will make his tongue flash-freeze?

And judging by what he said, this Soaring Dragon Assembly must be extremely important. Otherwise, as a Centurion's relative, he would not need to compete for it!

Could this be why Centurion Yang sent me to the recruit camp?

For a moment, many thoughts ran through Wang Xuan's mind.

With his current strength, along with the merit he had earned by killing the Pity Life Sect Demon-Humans yesterday, he could have skipped the recruit camp entirely!

But!

Yang Tianfeng had not done so.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Young Master Lu."

"I am not accustomed to following others, so Young Master Lu should seek someone else."

Just as Lu Yang waited with a beaming smile for Wang Xuan to agree, Wang Xuan calmly spoke and rejected him.

Lu Yang's expression instantly froze.

He seemed unable to believe that Wang Xuan would actually refuse him!

Lu Yang's face darkened at once as he stared coldly at Wang Xuan. "Are you rejecting me so quickly because the price I offered is not high enough?"

"Or is it... some other reason?"

Wang Xuan replied, "Young Master Lu is overthinking it."

"I joined the army only to find a foothold in these chaotic times."

"As for the Soaring Dragon Assembly qualification you mentioned..."

"Let us each rely on our own abilities."

As those icy words reached his ears, Lu Yang's face immediately darkened.

"Are you certain... you wish to refuse me?"

Lu Yang's aura surged, and his blood and vitality pressure erupted at that moment, crushing toward Wang Xuan without the slightest restraint!

A powerful pressure swept forth!

Lu Yang's Martial Path was likely only one step away from completing the Iron Skin Realm!

But!

After facing Demon-Humans at the Dragon Serpent Realm yesterday, Lu Yang's blood and vitality pressure felt like child's play to Wang Xuan.

It held not the slightest intimidation.

"My apologies, but if there is nothing else..."

"I still need to continue cultivating."

"Please do as you wish, Young Master Lu!"

Wang Xuan rejected him again.

Never mind the importance of the Soaring Dragon Assembly qualification.

Lu Yang's attitude of acting as though Heaven was first and he was second already made Wang Xuan extremely displeased.

Follow him?

Pah!

As for offending Tang Wande by refusing Lu Yang, Wang Xuan did not care.

He did not serve under Tang Wande, so what was there to fear?

Lu Yang stared fixedly at Wang Xuan before suddenly sneering. "Good, you are arrogant enough!"

"It seems you think killing a few beasts from the Pity Life Sect has made you so pleased with yourself that you have forgotten who you are!"

"Since you are so confident, then let us wait and see!"

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you: the special-grade assessment has a death quota. When the time comes, you had best watch yourself. Do not fail the assessment and end up dead!"

"I hear you have a sister-in-law at home as beautiful as a flower. What a pity..."

Lu Yang threatened him without the slightest restraint.

Upon hearing those words, killing intent surged wildly within Wang Xuan!

The next moment!

Clang!

He abruptly drew his saber and struck with the Ten Sun Blazing Saber!

Scorching saber qi swept forth!

Lu Yang's expression changed drastically!

"Wang Xuan! You motherfucker, you dare attack me!"

Lu Yang erupted with blood and vitality, immediately swinging both fists to meet the blow!

Bang!

With a muffled boom, Lu Yang was sent flying by the slash. The sleeves around both his hands were burned to ash by the scorching saber qi of the Ten Sun Blazing Saber!

His fists had turned bright red, showing faint signs of scorching!

Wang Xuan said coldly, "I hate being threatened more than anything."

Lu Yang's blood and vitality churned, and his lungs were about to explode from rage!

He had never imagined that Wang Xuan would dare strike directly!

With his status, he was respected wherever he went. Never had anyone treated him like this!

"Fucking dog bastard!"

"I will kill you!"

Lu Yang roared.

He gathered all his blood and vitality into his fists, clearly preparing to use a martial technique to hammer Wang Xuan to death!

Wang Xuan remained expressionless at the sight.

Though Lu Yang was strong, he was still inferior to the Pity Life Sect Demon-Humans from last night. Wang Xuan could still kill him with a single slash!

"Stop!"

Just as swords were drawn and bows bent, an enraged shout suddenly rang out.

The two immediately stopped.

Xu Kui strode over, his face dark.

"This is outrageous!"

"Who allowed you two to fight here?"