Regardless of whether it was his previous life or his current one, w.a.n.g Chong had never been good with bows. Thus, w.a.n.g Chong couldn’t really guide Chen Burang on this aspect.
Even so, he retained some memory of various archery techniques from his previous life. Perhaps, this might prove useful in helping Chen Burang raise his capabilities!
After separating with Chen Burang, w.a.n.g Chong loitered around the crowd a little longer before returning back to the mountain peak. However, to w.a.n.g Chong’s surprise, he saw a few more figures standing near Zhao Jingdian.
“What happened?”
w.a.n.g Chong walked over and asked with a hushed voice.
“These people came not too long after you left. They are all very strong, and based on my estimates, their cultivation is at least at Origin Energy Tier 7. Like me, they all used the method of mutual destruction to pa.s.s the test.”
Zhao Jingdian said.
He had been sitting here since w.a.n.g Chong left so he witnessed the entire proceedings from start to end.
“Oh?”
Hearing Zhao Jingdian’s recount, w.a.n.g Chong couldn’t help but chuckle.
“There’s nothing too surprising about that. There are many smart people here as well. Most probably, they were watching by some corner when we were taking the test so it isn’t too surprising for them to know about the method as well.”
The biggest mistake one could make was to underestimate others. w.a.n.g Chong could immediately tell that those people were imitating Zhao Jingdian’s method.
Furthermore, given how they resorted to it the moment they rushed up, not even bothering to test the waters first, it was clear that they were confident. If they hadn’t witnessed Zhao Jingdian’s fight, they wouldn’t have dared to do something so risky.
“Those two are still alright. I can sense that their cultivation is around our level. However, that man… Somehow, I feel that he’s even stronger than you!”
Zhao Jingdian said fearfully.
“Oh?”
w.a.n.g Chong’s eyebrows shot up and a grim expression appeared on his face. Zhao Jingdian had witnessed his fight with the instructor, and he wasn’t the type of person to exaggerate.
If Zhao Jingdian said that the other person was stronger than him, then it was very likely that that was the case.
“Who are you talking about?”
“That person over there!”
Zhao Jingdian pointed to the person standing behind the instructor. Only then did w.a.n.g Chong realize that he had overlooked a figure.
That person was standing around ten zhang behind the instructor so w.a.n.g Chong simply thought that he was just a spectating student.
(~30m)
On top of that, the person had an extremely cold face, and the aura he emanated was equally frigid. Even when standing amidst a crowd, his presence would make him exceedingly conspicuous. He seemed to have a natural disposition in inducing fear and creating distance against others.
——There wasn’t a single person within a perimeter of three zhang around him. The fact that the crowd was circling around him showed a lot.
(10m)
“It’s him?”
w.a.n.g Chong’s eyebrows shot up in astonishment.
“… That person is extremely formidable. If I’m not mistaken, his cultivation should be very close to Origin Energy Tier 9. On top of that, when he crossed hands with the instructor, the instructor was actually unable to defend against him and was left with a small cut.”
Zhao Jingdian spoke with a slightly apprehensive tone.
To be able to induce such apprehension within Zhao Jingdian, the other party’s strength was indeed extraordinary.
However, that wasn’t what w.a.n.g Chong was concerned about. At this moment, his mind was currently preoccupied with something else.
w.a.n.g Chong knew who that person was!
He was Su Hanshan!
Even among the future great generals in Kunwu Training Camp, this person was ranked amongst the top tier. He was one of the few from the Three Great Training Camps who was publicly acknowledged to be a talented general capable of standing his own ground on the battlefield!
But right until the very end, he was only considered to be a potential great general. He didn’t manage to become a grade-1 general like w.a.n.g Chongsi, Go Seonji, and Zhang Shougui.
There was minimal news on Su Hanshan out in public, and all that was known about him was that he had come from Kunwu Training Camp.
“… To think that he would be a student of this instructor as well!”
w.a.n.g Chong muttered under his breath.
Looking at that figure ten zhang away, a complicated expression appeared on w.a.n.g Chong’s face.
In Kunwu Training Camp, Su Hanshan was definitely ranked in the top.
In the future, the army that he personally trained and led would possess the greatest offensive ability in a frontal fight across the entire Great Tang.
No matter how many layers of defense the other party put up, the army that Su Hanshan led would be able to tear apart their formation as though a sharp blade, stabbing right into the core of the opposing army and tearing it apart from within.
In a frontal clash on the battlefield, Su Hanshan’s army was a subject of fear for hostile nations and foreign tribes.
The troops that he trained fought right down to their very last breath. No matter how powerful the enemies were, no matter how disadvantageous the situation was, his army was able to stand upright without the slightest fl.u.s.ter.
And Su Hanshan had always braved through death with his subordinates as well, thereby becoming their spiritual leader as well! In terms of belief, there wasn’t a single army who was as resolute and tightly-knitted as Su Hanshan’s army.
But it was a pity that there was no such thing as a perfect being. Su Hanshan possessed an aloof personality, and this resulted in his eventual defeat.
Just as what that could be seen at this very instant, Su Hanshan was simply too cold and proud. His presence in itself made others instinctively distance themselves from him.
In other words, he couldn’t fit in.
In the military, there wasn’t anyone who was close to Su Hanshan. Even those who graduated from Kunwu Training Camp also didn’t have much of a relations.h.i.+p with him.
And on the battlefield, Su Hanshan never needed or expected reinforcement either.
His proud personality made him unwilling to accept the help of others.
However, there wasn’t a single person who could rule the battlefield by himself.
w.a.n.g Chong had failed back then, Su Hanshan was the same as well!
His personality had already carved out his eventual fate.
He disappeared along with his feared army on the battlefield of the great catastrophe!
“To think that I would meet him here!”
w.a.n.g Chong thought as his heart leaped in agitation.
Destiny was truly something inconceivable. To think that two lone wolves would meet one another here.
w.a.n.g Chong needed help, but due to the lack of help, he could only become a ‘lone wolf’ of that catastrophic age. On the other hand, due to Su Hanshan’s aloof personality, he was unwilling to accept help so he became a ‘lone wolf’ as well.
Looking at this talented future great general who would die before maturity, w.a.n.g Chong suddenly understood what he had to do.
“Alright!”
Seated on the rock, the instructor finally spoke, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I’ll be ending the test in advance. Initially, I only intended to accept two to three people but I ended up taking in the five of you. That’s more than sufficient already!”
“Remember this, my name is Zhao Qianqiu, and from today onward, I’ll be your teacher. For now, since the test is officially over, follow me. I’ll bring you all around to familiarize you all with the training camp.”
With the exception of w.a.n.g Chong, this was the first time everyone was hearing his name.
“So his surname is Zhao as well!”
Of the people gathered here, Zhao Jingdian was the most surprised to learn of Zhao Qianqiu’s name.
“Don’t think too much into it, let’s go.”
w.a.n.g Chong patted Zhao Jingdian’s back. Before leaving, he shot a final glance backward. By now, the students on the mountain had already thinned down significantly.
The recruitment was already nearing its end.
Yiiiii!
Facing the bottom of the mountain, w.a.n.g Chong whistled. Soon, the neighing of a colt sounded and a cloud of dust flew into the air. Before long, an indigo figure could be seen charging over.
In just a short moment, a colt of around w.a.n.g Chong’s height with hoofs as white as snow appeared amidst swirls of dust. Its mane flew majestically with the wind as it excitedly licked w.a.n.g Chong’s face.
“Alright, Little Shadow, stop licking me.”
Its tongue felt ticklish, and w.a.n.g Chong couldn’t help but chuckle as he stroked the White-hoofed Shadow’s indigo coat. It had only been a few days since it started following w.a.n.g Chong but it had already grown very fond of him.
“I see, you already have your own war steed. That is great. Groom it carefully and don’t waste such a good spirit steed. In the future, it’ll become your second life.”
A deep voice sounded from behind. Turning around, w.a.n.g Chong saw five pairs of eyes staring at him with bizarre gazes.
The one who had just spoken was Instructor Zhao Qianqiu.
None of the people here were fools. With just a single glance, it was clear that w.a.n.g Chong’s steed was anything but ordinary. It was enviable that w.a.n.g Chong had such a steed when he had just entered the training camp.
In any case, Zhao Qianqiu didn’t speak too much about it. After saying those words, he turned around and advanced forward.
From the examination area where the instructors were stationed to the peak of the mountain, there was a fence. Imperial Army guards were stationed behind the fence to guard the area, and only those who had pa.s.sed the instructors’ tests were qualified to enter the barracks within the region.
Flas.h.i.+ng his token, Zhao Qianqiu was able to bring the group in without any problem. Soon, they arrived at the barracks.
“Kunwu Training Camp can be further divided into four smaller camps—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—and they are located on the four peaks of the mountain. Based on the instructor one is under and one’s level of cultivation, the recruits will be allocated to one of the camps. Of which, the allocation for Vermilion Bird is slightly more unique as it’s where all the ladies live.”
“Heh. The reason why I’m telling you this is to warn you all not to go peek at the ladies. Don’t even dream about sneaking into the Vermilion Bird Peak——I know that some of you will definitely try it in the future!”
Hearing those words, the group couldn’t help but chuckle.
“This instructor sure is interesting.”
w.a.n.g Chong thought.
“If you were to peep on those ladies, you’ll definitely be kicked out of the camp. However, that is not the reason why I’m warning you. The ladies of Vermilion Bird base are exceptionally powerful. Even though your level of cultivation isn’t bad either, you all might not necessarily be a match if you were to encounter them.”
For some reason, Zhao Qianqiu’s words reminded w.a.n.g Chong and Zhao Jingdian of the Little Marchioness Yi, Yi Weiliang.
Zhao Qianqiu’s words were definitely not an exaggeration.
“Alright, I’ll bring you all to the training grounds now. This is the location you’ll be frequenting the most in the future!”
Saying so, Zhao Qianqiu brought the group further up the mountain peak.