Chapter 44: A Thousand Layers of Troops (Please Vote for Recommendations!!!)

Chong Fan stepped out from the safe spot Jiang Feng had found for him and walked forward. He grasped the jade pendant that had never left his side, and with a sudden pull, tore it from his waist.

A golden light ignited at the base of the pendant, rapidly tracing the intricate patterns upward. In just a few heartbeats, the light flared beyond the pendant and shot straight up into the sky, where it exploded in midair, blossoming like a firework.

Almost as soon as the firework burst, a gray figure appeared, half-kneeling behind him and intoning respectfully, "At your command, young master."

Only moments later, a long, piercing whistle swept across the sky. One figure after another shot forth from the distant horizon, dropping to one knee and declaring, "At your command, young master."

Chong Fan lifted his head and called out, "Qianchong Army, where are you?"

A thunderous roar rumbled from afar, rolling like storm clouds. A dark mass appeared at the edge of sight, growing closer and closer until it neared the Changchuan River.

A troop of soldiers in black armor suddenly emerged, each astride a massive black beast. With every breath, the beasts exhaled a swirling black mist that enveloped the riders.

The black-armored cavalry advanced with astonishing speed, rushing to the bank of the Changchuan River without pausing. The colossal beasts stepped onto the water, sending ripples spreading outward. They charged across the river’s surface as if it were solid ground, thundering onto the land of Hezhong County.

At the center of the formation was a carriage drawn by two even larger beasts. The carriage stood empty, as though awaiting someone to ascend.

The pounding of hooves shook the earth, the momentum overwhelming. Every rider remained silent, black helmets pulled low to obscure their faces, but anyone could sense the murderous intent burning in the eyes that glinted beneath the visors.

Yes, murderous intent! Only soldiers who had survived countless battles, who had soaked in oceans of blood, could possess such a killing aura.

“Th-the Qianchong Army?!”

The spectacle of this army stunned both You Zong and Liang Liuchao, who ceased fighting, exclaiming in disbelief, “Why is the Qianchong Army here?!”

The Qianchong Army—elite troops of the Chong family—each one a veteran of the Imperial Demon Guard from Diyu City.

Only two people in the world could command them: the head of the Chong family, and her only son.

The black beasts halted nimbly before the county office, their arrival shaking the heavens. The leader spoke in a deep voice, “We are armored and cannot salute, but we are at the young master’s command!”

Chong Fan’s slender figure stood in the center of the square. He turned and nodded to Jiang Feng, asking, “Shall we ride together?”

Jiang Feng had always suspected Chong Fan’s origins were extraordinary, but at most he’d thought the boy a scion of a powerful clan. Never had he imagined he could summon such overwhelming might.

He gazed curiously at the black armor and the mist-breathing beasts, then nodded. “Of course!”

The black-armored soldiers parted, and the two fiercest beasts drew the carriage forward. Chong Fan stepped up, and Jiang Feng followed.

Chong Fan kept his eyes lowered, a faint smile on his lips.

Even before the awe-inspiring Qianchong Army, Jiang Feng showed not a trace of fear. His body was steady, not the slightest tremor as he walked.

Once aboard, Chong Fan asked, “What do you plan to do?”

Jiang Feng glanced around. The sudden arrival of the Qianchong Army had brought the surrounding battle to a standstill; all eyes were now on them.

Jiang Feng spoke in a loud, clear voice: “First, halt this fighting!”

Chong Fan nodded slightly, and the black-armored soldiers moved at once. The martial experts who had arrived ahead of time to await Chong Fan’s orders now sprang into action. In less than the time it takes incense to burn, the chaos was quelled—without a single casualty.

Receiving confirmation, Jiang Feng nodded and pointed to the county office. “Next, bring out all the Bright Beasts that were drugged and reveal the truth of what happened!”

One after another, the Bright Beasts were dragged into the square—some corpses, others still in a drugged frenzy, on the brink of death.

At the sight, the scattered cultivators wiped blood from their faces and stirred restlessly once more.

Jiang Feng’s voice rang out again: “Since the examination was sabotaged by the examiners, the results must be annulled and the test held anew!”

He paused, lowering his voice, “Will this part be troublesome?”

Chong Fan smiled and shook his head. “Not at all.”

He beckoned to Liang Liuchao, who strode over, jaw clenched.

Chong Fan bowed slightly and said calmly, “The preliminary exam of Hezhong County is hereby interrupted. For the sake of fairness, Lord Liang, might you restart the examination, recalculate the results, and reissue the Tianzhao tokens?”

Liang Liuchao stared intently at the youth before him and asked slowly, “May I ask who you are…”

Chong Fan smiled faintly. “I think, Lord Liang, that question is not for you to consider.”

Liang Liuchao glanced over Chong Fan’s shoulder. The black-armored soldiers stood silent; the beasts exhaled their black mist in silence. Their mere presence seemed to conjure the roar of myriad troops and the stench of blood.

There could be no better proof of identity.

Only two people could command the Qianchong Army. If it wasn’t that illustrious woman, then it had to be—

With a thud, he set down his warhammer and saluted with a crash. “Indeed, the previous examination was rife with injustice and must be restarted! This is the duty of the Hezhong County office. I take my leave!”

“Wait.”

As he turned to go, a voice stopped him.

Liang Liuchao turned, looking to the other youth on the carriage.

Truth be told, compared to Chong Fan, this one was even harder to fathom. He was not strong, had yet to enter the ranks, dressed plainly, and bore no remarkable air. Such an utterly unremarkable boy stood side by side with Chong Fan atop the general’s seat of the Qianchong Army, utterly at ease, as though it were nothing out of the ordinary.

What’s more, he had seen clearly that all the orders just now had come from this youth; Chong Fan merely instructed the army to carry them out.

Who, exactly, was this boy?

Cautiously, he saluted again. “May I ask who you are…”

Jiang Feng smiled. “I’m just a nobody, here today only to see what the Tianzhao preliminary exam is like.”

He exhaled, sweeping his gaze across the crowd, and shook his head. “Lord Liang, you preside over Hezhong County. Now that such an unpleasant incident has occurred, do you intend to simply let it pass? Are you prepared to ignore the dead and wounded? Is there no one who will answer for this?”

Liang Liuchao glanced in You Zong’s direction. “Of course, someone will be held responsible for this.”

Jiang Feng shook his head. “No, Lord Liang. I believe the responsibility is yours! To comfort the innocent injured, to apprehend the culprits, to seek out the truth—these are the duties of the one in charge!”

He fixed Liang Liuchao with a grave stare. “Moreover, you should step forward and give an account to all those who have been drawn into this!”

“The Tianzhao preliminary is a matter of national importance. Why was it allowed to fall into outsiders’ hands from the start? Why did you and your men only show up when things were already out of control?”

“I think you owe everyone a reasonable explanation for all of this!”

Liang Liuchao’s face changed drastically.

He had smiled faintly at Jiang Feng’s earlier words, but the latter questions struck at the true heart of the matter!

Involuntarily, he glanced at the crowd. The independent cultivators, previously cowed by the Qianchong Army’s arrival, now began to stir again at these words, casting suspicious glances at him and whispering among themselves.

Jiang Feng pressed on, unrelenting. “Lord Liang, can you do this?”

Liang Liuchao fell into a long silence before finally grinding out his answer: “…Of course! I will thoroughly investigate what truly happened and ensure it is handled properly!”

Jiang Feng smiled and nodded. “I hope so.”

Liang Liuchao drew a deep breath. “Forgive me, there is much to attend to. I must withdraw for now!”

With that, he turned and strode away, barking orders. At his command, the county soldiers moved to clean up the scene, re-erect the pavilions, and restore order for the examination.

The disciples of Flowing Torrent Sect stood by the wall in silence. You Zong glared after Liang Liuchao’s retreating figure, face grim.

After a moment, he strode forward and bowed stiffly. “Thank you for your reminder…”

He was cut off coldly by Jiang Feng. “No need to thank me. I was only voicing my own doubts, not helping you! The deaths and injuries here—those are on your heads in the end! Disciples of Flowing Torrent Sect—such an illustrious title!”

You Zong’s face paled. Chong Fan said coolly, “In the name of Heaven’s Reach, the Tianzhao preliminary is inviolable. Did you not consider this when you accepted your orders?”

You Zong’s arrogance and murderous air vanished in an instant; his lips trembled with terror.

Chong Fan tilted his head and asked, “What is the punishment for disgracing the name of Heaven’s Reach?”

A muffled, icy voice answered from beneath a black helmet: “To disgrace Heaven—is death!”

Chong Fan nodded. Suddenly, an overwhelming aura surged toward You Zong, thick with the scent of death, instantly paralyzing him.

You Zong shook violently, then roared, and his mount—the Heartquake Beast—howled as well. A shockwave blasted outward, striking in all directions.

Seizing the moment, You Zong broke free and charged at Chong Fan.

He saw clearly: the weakest link before him was the two youths atop the carriage, who also held the highest status. If he could seize them, he might escape by using them as hostages.

You Zong was frighteningly fast; in the blink of an eye, he was upon them.

He vaulted from his beast, golden light rippling along his spear, the air distorting with heat, flame blooming around the weapon.

This was the power of a Martial Master of the Three-Chained Heart-Mind level!

Jiang Feng frowned and instinctively stepped in front of Chong Fan.