Several hours slipped quietly by. Gao Yuliang jogged all the way to Qing Chen's tent, where the clatter of his armor plates abruptly stopped.
Only after a voice inside said, "Enter," did he bow, lift the tent flap, and step cautiously inside.
"My lord, it's time for the Army Competition!" Gao Yuliang spoke rapidly, his expression urgent.
"Sea-Calming General Wei Ting has personally taken charge of the formation and deployed the Myriad Armies Profound Mirror Formation. Every battalion is assembling at once!"
Qing Chen sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion without opening his eyes. "Is the roster correct?" he asked mildly.
"It has been submitted according to your instructions, my lord. There are absolutely no errors." Gao Yuliang hurriedly offered a jade slip and said,
"The rules are unchanged from what you described before-two thousand men per battalion, with only one Golden Core Early Stage cultivator permitted, no more than fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Qi Refining soldiers making up the rest."
"Mm."
Qing Chen swept it with his divine sense, taking in the jade slip's entire contents, then ordered impassively, "Send word to Lin Changsheng. Have him muster the men and go to Lord Yue to draw lots."
He paused, then added, "Tell him I will come personally to oversee the battle a little later."
"Yes, my lord!" Gao Yuliang bowed and withdrew from the tent, his hurried footsteps stirring a wisp of dust.
Silence settled over the tent once more.
In truth, Sea-Calming General Wei Ting would have preferred to set the cultivation limit at the Late Golden Core Stage or Peak Golden Core. That would have made the Army Competition more worth watching.
Unfortunately, the Gou Wu Whale Army was a stepmother's child, unwanted and neglected.
It was only out of respect for him that the Ministry