My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"Issue each of them a knife."

Sun Xiangzong suddenly spoke.

"Yes, Master!"

A general with a bear's back and a tiger's waist, clad in armour despite a bald head with scars from ring incisions, and a huge Buddha bead necklace around his neck, complied. He pulled out two bright blades from the belts of two soldiers behind him and threw them in front of the quarreling pair.

"Mr. Sun."

Governor Liu exclaimed in shock, "What do you mean by this?"

"Women's gossip!"

The bald general grumbled, "Your arguing has almost put my master to sleep. If you truly can't stand each other, roll down there and settle it with life and death! Oh, I forgot, Mr. Hou doesn't even have that thing!"

"You..."

Mr. Hou's face turned green with rage, pointing with his orchid fingers at the other party: "General Meng, you dare insult me?!"

Meng Guangxin was not the least bit afraid.

Noticing the expressionless Sun Xiangzong, they finally dared not quarrel any longer, with each of them quieting down to watch the next contest at the Selected Spear.

...

"Brother Chen, it's fine to take a 'B' grade too."

Yan Changqing consoled, "Once I win the Selected Spear and secure my footing, I will promote you a great deal."

"Then I must thank you in advance, Mr. Yan."

Chen Sansi wasted no words and led his men onwards.

The Martial Arts Arena was a large enclosed space, easily accommodating tens of thousands of people. Moreover, several hundred people sat on the walls above, watching the Selected Spear contest, each with a powerful energy within.

With his keen eyesight, Chen Sansi spotted Mr. Hou and the two people beside him with just a glance.

One wore a crimson official robe adorned with pheasant patches, and the other, an old man in coarse linen.

From where they sat, it was clear they were the chief examiners—the man in the red robe was naturally Governor Liu, and the old man in linen was likely Sun Dushi, Sun Xiangzong.

It was unexpected that the great Supervisor, whose reputation was formidable, would be so unremarkable in appearance.

Not only that, the energy flowing within him was also unique.

In all the practitioners present, the energy was transparent, differing only in thickness—like Mr. Hou's energy being extremely dense, almost materialized, and Governor Liu wasn't far behind, not to mention the bald monk-like general and the other generals.

But.

The energy in Sun Xiangzong's body was green!

Unlike anyone else's.

It was somewhat similar to the pale blue energy within Exotic Beasts, but deeper. It was more fitting to describe it as green.

Above Martial Saint, indeed extraordinary.

Even the method of cultivation was completely different from that of ordinary martial artists.

But...

Looking around the world, Chen Sansi couldn't find this "Qingxuan Energy" anywhere. Could it be cultivated rather than absorbed? Or is it only discoverable at a certain level of attainment?

"Clang—"

Li Qianzong stood on the high platform and announced, "Selected Spear Generals, please ascend the platform and command your subordinates from above. Do not participate personally in the battle. The assessment will start after two sticks of incense."

Forming an array was naturally about commanding ability. If one took charge of everything personally, it would not make one a general but a mere commoner.

Chan Sansi climbed onto the high platform and noticed traces on the ground, including bloodstains. It seemed that indeed someone could die during the drill, which was understandable. Without the threat of real death, the true combat effectiveness of the soldiers could not be tested. It was just uncertain how it would be done.

"Roar..."

His ears twitched to a low growl from within the walls: "I see."

Chen Sansi nodded to Xu Wencai among the crowd, signaling that they could begin.

"Form the array—"

Xu Wencai unfurled his Feather Fan.

Over five hundred men arranged themselves into a simple defensive Four Gates formation with incredible speed.

"Once the official assessment begins, a squad of our own cavalry will charge to break through the formation. They might cause injuries, but they will definitely not take your lives, rest assured," Li Qianzong announced loudly. "Your task is very simple: there is only one, and that is to maintain the formation." Explore more stories with empire

They wouldn't take lives?

Perhaps not.

Clearly, this was a test of the ability to respond to sudden attacks, to see how they would react to unforeseen circumstances on the battlefield and what the outcome would be.

However, Chen Sansi was confident in his subordinates and saw no need to break the rules by giving an advance warning.

"These aren't soldiers from the Liangzhou Guard, are they?"

Governor Liu Zhongxian, assisting the Supervisor in controlling the army of three states, naturally could tell at a glance.

"Indeed they are."

Mr. Hou was also surprised, "Whose soldiers are they?"

General Zhao, also in the audience, replied, "They are the routed soldiers who fled from Po Yang County."

"Routed soldiers?"

Liu Zhongxian couldn't help but chuckle, "What is Mr. Chen's intention with this?"

"How could Mr. Chen be made to use routed soldiers?"

Mr. Hou glared behind him, his shrill voice cold and piercing, "General Zhao, Mr. Chen is a general conferred by His Majesty, is someone daring to target him, denying him troops?"

"Mr. Hou, Zhao would never do such a thing."

General Zhao responded, "Mr. Chen insisted on using his old troops, many can attest to that, and there's no need for the two esteemed gentlemen to underestimate them. It's said that these country soldiers have been trained exceptionally well."

"Oh?"

Mr. Hou said with interest, "Mr. Chen is preparing to showcase his command skills to everyone."

"Don't throw a rock only to have it land on your own foot."

Liu Zhongxian watched with anticipation.

Sun Xiangzong still didn't speak, just watching quietly.

"Boom, boom, boom—"

The war drums sounded.

The Martial Arts Arena was like a large coliseum, and with the sound of the drums, the eight gates of the coliseum opened simultaneously. From each gate came twenty cavalry, heading straight towards the Four Gates defensive formation.