Surely You Wouldn't Have the Nerve to Show Up, Fang Qian? (Please Subscribe and Vote with Monthly Tickets)

Hearing this, Xu Zifeng hurriedly said, "Why didn't you let me know beforehand that Miss Li was coming? Look, I didn't even bring a gift."

Ma Hei waved a hand with a smile. "Your Highness is busy with military affairs. How could we trouble you with the trifling matters of us Gu Cultivators?"

As he spoke, he gestured invitingly. "Please, have a seat."

Just then, more than a dozen Gu Cultivators in the traditional clothing of their respective tribes filed in behind Ma Hei, including burly men from the Black Miao Tribe and young men from the White Miao Tribe.

Ma Hei introduced them one by one. "These are all fellow cultivators preparing to enlist this year. They're waiting for the Ministry of War's screening."

The Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's screening was now so strict that even Ma Hei found it a headache.

He held an officer's post himself and had thought that would speed things along.

Who would have thought his screening would be even stricter than everyone else's, precisely to prevent relatives and associates from slipping in and passing themselves off as qualified?

The screening was no simple matter. It checked not only their personal strength and whether they had any bad habits.

Investigators also had to visit their hometowns to check whether they had committed any offenses and look into their family backgrounds.

After a whole day of it, Ma Hei's head had nearly exploded.

He wondered why enlisting had never been this troublesome back when he joined.

Xu Zifeng's eyes lit up. "What a coincidence! I have a good friend in the Ministry of War named Wu Qi. He helped me out enormously last time."

He turned to Ma Hei. "You've met him too-Director Wu. Why don't I host dinner tonight and invite him along?"

Ma Hei