Capítulo 62: Chapter 62: This Prince Consort Really isn’t Simple. (Two in One Chapter)
In the forest on a high mountain within the First Military Camp, streaks of sword energy slashed through the surrounding trees, leaving neat marks on their trunks.
Every time a leaf floated down from the branches, it would be sliced cleanly in half before it touched the ground.
[You practiced the Bingyan Sword Technique for one hour: Sword Qi +30, Sword Intent +15, Bingyan Sword Technique Proficiency +12.]
Reading the string of text in his mind, Xu Ming exhaled deeply.
Every evening after training, Xu Ming would climb this mountain to practice his swordsmanship alone.
His fists were his primary method for growing stronger, but Xu Ming didn't want to neglect his swordsmanship either.
He never intended to stay in the Blood Asura Battalion forever. After a few years, once he had learned everything the Battalion could teach him and could only improve his martial arts on his own, Xu Ming planned to leave. He would then dedicate himself to studying the sword, perhaps by joining a sect or exploring other opportunities.
As for why Xu Ming didn't join a sect to study swordsmanship first and then come to the Blood Asura Battalion to train in martial arts, the reason was simple:
Anyone who had trained in other sects was barred from entering the Blood Asura Battalion.
Although there were other respectable martial arts schools in the world, Wu Kingdom's Blood Asura Battalion was the most renowned in Xu Ming's eyes. Many martial artists regarded it as the holy land for martial cultivation, and countless warriors dreamed of joining it, only to find the path closed to them.
With such a valuable resource at hand, Xu Ming wouldn't pass it up.
Feeling it was getting late, Xu Ming put away his peachwood sword, took a quick bath in a nearby waterfall pool, and then used the Sky Ascension Steps to "fly" down the mountain.
"When I reach the Cave Mansion Realm and can practice real flight techniques, I'll finally stop relying on this silly method," Xu Ming thought to himself. "This isn't flying—it's more like a hen flapping its wings a couple of times."
The only advantage of the Sky Ascension Steps was that it consumed spiritual energy rather than physical strength, so he didn't break a sweat.
Once he reached the bottom of the mountain, Xu Ming switched to a brisk walk.
When he passed by the training grounds, he noticed someone practicing punches against a wooden post.
Curious, Xu Ming got closer and saw it was his dormitory roommate—Guang Yin.
In the nine months since joining the camp, Xu Ming's first impression of Guang Yin was that he was timid and introverted.
This boy, two years older than Xu Ming, always spoke and acted cautiously, as if afraid of making a mistake.
One day, a hapless tiger wandered down from the mountain into the camp and was mercilessly toyed with by the soldiers, much like a cat with its prey. Guang Yin, terrified, hid the entire time.
And yet, he was a martial artist at the peak of the Mercury Realm! He could have easily taken down the tiger himself.
The tiger incident wasn't even the worst of it.
One night, a snake slithered into their tent. Guang Yin screamed and bolted out in panic, startling Xu Ming and the others awake.
That unlucky snake ended up as their late-night snack, roasted over the campfire. It tasted pretty good, actually.
Even so, Guang Yin spent the next month unable to sleep peacefully. Every time he saw a piece of rope, he thought it was a snake and freaked out.
It was like a textbook case of mistaking a bowstring for a snake.
To be honest, it wasn't just Xu Ming—everyone in the camp was baffled.
How could someone so timid join the army? Wu Kingdom didn't enforce conscription; all enlistment was voluntary.
What's more, how had he managed to get into the Blood Asura Battalion? With such strict selection criteria, how had Guang Yin passed?
If Xu Ming and the others hadn't gone to the bathhouse together and seen that Guang Yin did indeed have "a bird," they might have suspected he was actually a woman.
After all, even Wu Yanhan, who looked prettier than most women, seemed more manly than Guang Yin.
"It's so late, and you're still practicing?" Xu Ming walked over and greeted him.
Xu Ming only found Guang Yin's timidness a bit odd, but he didn't mock him for it.
"Ah!" Guang Yin was startled and let out a loud cry, shivering as he turned around. Realizing it was Xu Ming, he sighed in relief.
"Why are you shouting so loud? You scared me," Xu Ming said helplessly.
"I-I thought it was a ghost…" Guang Yin scratched his head awkwardly.
Xu Ming chuckled. "A ghost? What kind of ghost would dare enter the Blood Asura Army camp with such intense blood energy around?"
Hearing this, Guang Yin felt even more embarrassed.
Xu Ming glanced at the training stake beside Guang Yin and changed the subject. "Are you practicing the Asura Fist?"
The training stakes in the camp were no ordinary wood. The stakes for practicing the Asura Fist were made of Bloodworm Wood, which could absorb blood energy. The Asura Fist, in turn, was extremely effective for enhancing blood energy. Practicing with these stakes not only unlocked one's potential but also prevented an overflow of blood energy that could lead to deviation and loss of control.
"Yeah." Guang Yin nodded. "I couldn't sleep, so I came out to practice a little."
Xu Ming raised an eyebrow. "I thought you usually sleep like a log."
Guang Yin stayed silent.
Xu Ming shook his head. "It's better for you to go back and get some rest. We have training early tomorrow morning, and if you affect your performance, it'll be counterproductive."
"You… you go ahead, Brother Xu. I-I'll practice just a little longer and then head back," Guang Yin said timidly, as if any hint of sternness from Xu Ming would immediately make him give up.
Xu Ming looked at Guang Yin thoughtfully. "Are you worried about the selection three months from now?"
Guang Yin froze for a moment, realizing his thoughts had been seen through, and then he nodded. "I'm not as strong as you and Brother Wu. You guys pick up everything the instructor teaches after just one try, and even Brother Li gets it quickly. I need to practice many, many times just to keep up. Three months from now, half of us will be eliminated, so I… I just want to give it my best shot."
Xu Ming sighed. "Guang Yin, have you ever thought that maybe your personality isn't suited for being a soldier? Even if you pass the selection, you'll eventually have to carry out all kinds of missions—missions involving life and death. What will you do then?"
Xu Ming knew he might be saying something harsh, but he genuinely wanted Guang Yin to think it through. Once he passed the selection, he would truly be living a life where his head was tied to his belt, always at risk.
Hearing Xu Ming's words, Guang Yin's expression and gaze grew hesitant. To be honest, Xu Ming could already see the seeds of retreat in him.
After a long while, Guang Yin looked up and smiled sheepishly. "Brother Xu, I know that. But I still want to try."
"…"
Xu Ming looked at Guang Yin, who simply scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his sincerity shining through.
"Alright. If that's your choice, I won't say any more."
Xu Ming walked forward, facing the training stake.
"Brother Xu?" Guang Yin asked in confusion.
"I noticed a couple of your Asura Fist moves earlier. Your force distribution was off. Let me demonstrate for you." Xu Ming rolled up his sleeves.
"Brother Xu, there's really no need to trouble yourself," Guang Yin said, waving his hands.
"It's fine. Watch closely."
With that, Xu Ming began executing the moves of the Asura Fist, his strikes landing on the stake one after another. Powerful bursts of blood energy flared out, only to be absorbed by the stake.
Guang Yin wanted to say something, but seeing how seriously Xu Ming was teaching him, he could only keep the gratitude in his heart and focus earnestly on observing.
From then on, every night after Xu Ming finished his sword training, he would spend half an hour at the training grounds coaching Guang Yin.
Day by day, Guang Yin improved noticeably. His progress was significant, and far better than what he had initially believed himself capable of.
For some unknown reason, whenever Xu Ming watched Guang Yin throw his punches, he always felt a strange yet indescribable sensation.
To repay Xu Ming, Guang Yin would wash his clothes, pour tea, and serve him every day.
Although these were small, insignificant tasks, Guang Yin used his own way to repay the favor.
Gradually, the others also learned about Xu Ming teaching Guang Yin the Asura Fist, but no one said anything.
After all, they shared the same thoughts as Xu Ming: even if Guang Yin passed the assessment, what then? The missions of the Blood Asura Battalion were always life-or-death. With his timid personality, he would be far too easy to get killed.
In the blink of an eye, three months passed, and the Blood Asura Battalion's newcomer assessment began.
There were exactly one thousand recruits—not one more, not one less.
Half of them would be eliminated, possibly more, but certainly not fewer. Those eliminated would either return home or be transferred to other military units. If they performed exceptionally well later, they might be promoted back to the Blood Asura Battalion someday.
That morning, at the break of dawn, the sound of Wang Meng's "clang clang clang" as he beat the gong startled everyone in Camp 484 out of bed.
"You brats, today is the first assessment since you joined the Blood Asura Battalion! It might also be your last!
The rules are simple. In a moment, there will be ten assessors, each stationed in one of the ten wooden huts.
You'll draw lots to determine which hut you go to. Once you enter, you'll spar with the assessor, and they'll decide whether you pass or fail. That's it. Now draw your lots!"
Wang Meng brought out a bamboo tube.
Xu Ming and the others each drew a bamboo stick from the tube.
Xu Ming drew Hut Five, Wu Yanhan drew Hut Five as well, while Xiong Haizhi and Guang Yin ended up with Hut Three. Li Han and the others were assigned to Hut One and Hut Two.
Xu Ming stepped into Hut Five and was surprised to find a female warrior waiting for him.
The female warrior crooked her finger at Xu Ming. "Come on, kid, let's see how well you little ones have been practicing."
"Please instruct me, Examiner," Xu Ming said, clasping his fists in salute.
The moment Xu Ming straightened up, he lunged forward. The wooden floor beneath his feet shattered instantly, sending a powerful gust of wind rushing toward the female warrior.
Her expression flickered with surprise—she hadn't expected this kid to be so fast.
Xu Ming's fist barreled toward her face, but she raised her arm to block. The clash of her martial aura and the blood energy of Xu Ming's Asura Fist rippled outward, scattering the force where they met.
Just as she attempted to grab his right fist, Xu Ming's left leg whipped up in a high kick aimed at her waist.
The female warrior hesitated but dodged, only for Xu Ming's right fist to surge toward her again with incredible force.
This time, she didn't dodge. Instead, she chose to gauge his strength directly.
Xu Ming's punch landed squarely on her ribs with a resounding clang!
It sounded as if his fist had struck solid bronze.
Without pausing, Xu Ming unleashed another punch, this time aimed at her head.
The swift punch grazed the examiner's head before spinning slightly, as Xu Ming rotated mid-movement and struck with both palms simultaneously.
She countered, nearly landing a blow that would have left a mark on Xu Ming's abdomen as he leapt into the air to evade.
"Kid, you're interesting. Come at me again," the female warrior said with a smile, motioning for him to continue.
"Then, Examiner, be ready!"
Xu Ming sprang forward with a low, skimming dash, closing the distance in an instant and delivering a powerful strike.
This was just his first punch.
Then came another punch.
And another.
Although each strike was effortlessly blocked by the female warrior, who remained unshaken, Xu Ming's fists fell like a torrential downpour—relentless and fierce.
"The Wang Family's Drum-Beating Style of the Heaven-Opening Fist?" The female examiner's heart stirred with surprise, and then a smirk curled at the corner of her mouth.
Interesting.
Let's see how many punches this kid can throw.
The Drum-Beating Style of the Heaven-Opening Fist—each strike grows louder and heavier than the last. By the final blow, either the opponent is dead, or the user collapses from exhaustion. It's a move of no return.
"Boom!"
Xu Ming no longer knew how many punches he had thrown.
With this punch, a faint golden hue radiated from his fist. It carried the full force of thunder and lightning, aimed at the examiner's chest, as if to shatter her insides.
The female examiner initially intended to take the blow head-on, but at the last moment, she dodged.
Even she was stunned by her own reaction—it was entirely instinctual.
This punch had made her sense danger!
Her movements became as light as the wind, dodging Xu Ming's strikes with the grace of a dragon swimming through water. Her fists fluttered like butterflies dancing among flowers, weaving through his attacks while searching for an opening.
"Pa! Pa! Pa!"
Dense smacks rang out as Xu Ming's punches met air or grazed her skin, his speed so rapid it was dazzling to the eye.
Xu Ming's fist transformed into a streak of cold light, striking straight for her throat.
But the examiner's body shifted slightly, rippling like water, narrowly evading the fatal blow.
"Be careful now."
The female examiner sneered, her aura suddenly surging. Each of her punches now felt like a sledgehammer, thudding against Xu Ming's chest with dull, resounding force.
In that instant, her fists cut through the air like sharp swords, bypassing all resistance and landing squarely on Xu Ming's abdomen.
"Thud!"
Xu Ming flew backward like a broken kite, landing hard on the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
As he struggled to his feet, the female examiner's foot lashed out again, slamming into his chest.
Xu Ming was sent flying out through the door.
A moment later, a wooden plaque tumbled onto his chest. On it, two words were clearly inscribed: "Passed."
Back inside the wooden hut, the female examiner flexed her fists, only to realize she couldn't fully clench them. They were trembling slightly.
"This Prince Consort really isn't simple," she muttered to herself.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder