Chapter 135: A Call to Arms, Respondents Gather

"You were the sixteenth-to-last person to fall," Tian Yan remarked.

"Sixteenth-to-last?" Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised; he had expected to be among the very last. Tian Yan smiled, "Top-tier talents fall around the same time. Shi Yong and Zhuang Ziqing only lasted ten breaths longer than you, and the very last to fall was Feng Qiu."

"In the final stages, a bit of luck is certainly involved," Tian Yan added.

Zhao Xing nodded slightly. He agreed; when only a few dozen people remained, individual strength mattered less. It was more about the positions of the strongest talents on the opposing side and who to engage.

As Zhao Xing knew, the two strongest talents from the Martial Affairs Department, Xia Jing and Fu Ying, had both reached the late eighth-grade and mastered martial arts beyond the ninth turn. If one was unlucky enough to encounter either of them in the final stages, they could easily fall out of the top twenty-one.

"The Oblivion Training will take place every other day," Tian Yan instructed. "In between, you can participate in the selective training sessions offered by various academies."

"For others, achieving a 'C+' is sufficient to pass. However, for you, an 'A' grade is the minimum requirement for selective training," Tian Yan explained. "As a top-tier talent, you must complete ten selective training sessions a year, each with an 'A' grade. Anything less won't count."

"Understood," Zhao Xing nodded. "Then, I'll take my leave now."

"Go on."

Leaving Fuchun Garden and heading back to his residence, Zhao Xing found the path bustling with activity. Discussions about the Oblivion Training were everywhere.

"It hurts, it hurts so much! Those guys from the Martial Affairs Department hit too hard!"

"Tell me about it, my backside is bruised all over!"

"Brother, are you sure you were hit, and not just trampled?"

"You must have fallen early on. What martial art specializes in hitting the backside?"

"Xia Jing and Fu Ying from the Azure Dragon Martial Affairs Department are incredibly strong. I checked the warrior rankings; those two are number one and two."

"Guess how many people they knocked out?"

"How many?"

"Xia Jing took down 1,123 people, and Fu Ying knocked out 1,085. Just those two alone defeated over a fifth of all participants!"

"What? That's insane!"

"It's certainly an exaggeration. Their strength is on another level, a clear cut above the rest. No one else is as formidable. It's similar to our Agrarian Department; Shi Yong and Zhuang Ziqing are also in a league of their own, with everyone else a step below them."

"I wouldn't be so sure. Zhao Xing, who ranked third in the fourth trial last time, isn't weak."

"Zhao Xing isn't weak, but I always feel he's not overly strong. Someone might catch up and surpass him soon."

"Perhaps it's because Zhao Xing is quite low-key. In the past two months, I've rarely seen him spar or gamble. Meanwhile, Shi Yong has already reached Level 3 in the Nine-Section Dojo and hasn't been defeated yet!"

"Zhuang Ziqing also reached Level 3. He even defeated a 'Military Governor' from the Garrison Army in the Nine-Section Dojo. That military agrarian, who commands hundreds of people, still lost during their spar."

"You have a point. I've heard that Feng Qiu, Guan Junyang, Cao Shuang, and others have performed well in the Nine-Section Dojo, but I haven't heard anything about Zhao Xing."

"Is there really such a significant gap between me and Zhuang Ziqing or Shi Yong?"

Zhao Xing listened to the murmurs carried by the wind. He had been in the Ten-Sun Grotto-Heaven for two months, and aside from compulsory training or buying necessities, he rarely engaged in public activities, let alone socialized. He had only met Han Bing a few times; otherwise, he maintained a remarkably low profile.

"Although there's a difference between me and Shi Yong or Zhuang Ziqing, it shouldn't be a 'chasm.' Is it because of their Nine-Section Dojo records?" Zhao Xing pondered.

'Nine-Section Military Agrarians' specialize in military campaigns and warfare. The Nine-Section Dojo is also a unique feature of the military realm, where anyone can spar and compete with other military agrarians. During his two months in the Ten-Sun Grotto-Heaven, Zhao Xing had focused solely on cultivation, without diverting his attention to other matters. Naturally, he hadn't visited the Nine-Section Dojo to gamble for points.

"It seems this is why outsiders perceive a significant gap between me and others," he mused inwardly. "However, I've only just begun studying the Three Great Secret Manuals and haven't even started comprehending the Seasonal Monument yet. There's no rush to enter the Nine-Section Dojo."

He had his own plans and wouldn't be easily swayed by external comments.

"This month, I'll first complete the Oblivion Training and also take a few selective training courses." Zhao Xing wasn't in a hurry to start the selective training. After all, the Oblivion Training was currently the most important; if he fell out of the top 21 three times in a row, he would be demoted.

This time, Zhao Xing ranked sixteenth, only five places away from falling out! Marquis Tian said there was an element of luck in the final stage, but he also mentioned that Zhuang Ziqing and Shi Yong lasted ten more breaths!

"There's still room for improvement in 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar' and 'Sound Bending Form'," Zhao Xing reflected. "I also need to continue comprehending the 'Yin-Yang Ego Scripture'." He analyzed, "In the final stage, my 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar' was already somewhat distorted, primarily due to immense vital energy consumption and injuries, which allowed Xia Jing to easily reach me."

"If I had unleashed it in peak condition? No matter how powerful Xia Jing and Fu Ying are, they couldn't have withstood my 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar' and knocked me out in one move."

"If I can improve my strength further, I'll last longer in the final stages. After facing me once or twice, those talents from the Martial Affairs Department will realize I'm a tough opponent and naturally target others first," Zhao Xing thought. "While luck plays a part, strength also influences an enemy's choice."

The Oblivion Training began on the seventh day of the fifth month. After it concluded, there were two days of rest, during which the agrarians eagerly began selective training, which offered a wide variety of content. Teachers from the Heavenly Time, Geographical Advantage, Granary, and Flat River Academies, as well as other branch academies, would set up training challenges for the agrarians. However, Zhao Xing didn't pick any immediately, instead sticking to his own plan.

On the tenth day of the fifth month, at the Southwest Training Ground.

"Charge!"

"Break through them!"

"Agrarian brothers, are you ready for my big fists?!"

"Hmph, you fell before I even exerted myself."

It was a chaotic melee, another one.

In the initial phase, Zhao Xing once again used the 'Sound Bending Form' to penetrate weak points in the warrior formation. He then moved around, actively eliminating other warriors, and simultaneously guided more agrarians to stay close to him. By the mid-to-late stages, the vital energy had become extremely chaotic, but Zhao Xing still navigated it with ease.

"Zhao Xing! Fight me one-on-one!"

As he walked, Zhao Xing suddenly heard an angry roar. It was Chen Fang from the Azure Dragon Martial Affairs Department. After being eliminated by Zhao Xing last time, Chen Fang's ranking plummeted, and he was reprimanded by his teacher for being too careless. This left Chen Fang extremely resentful, wondering how he had been outmaneuvered by that agrarian. Thus, he rallied his fellow "victims," Hu Bing and Shan Fei from the Black Tortoise Department, determined to avenge their previous defeat against Zhao Xing.

"There's no honor in dealing with these brutes; let's all attack together!" Zhao Xing incited the nearby agrarians, charging towards Chen Fang.

"What? How despicable!"

Seeing this, Chen Fang, Hu Bing, and Shan Fei immediately fled in disarray. They weren't foolish; if Zhao Xing had accepted the challenge, it would have been three against one. But with so many agrarians accompanying Zhao Xing, and clearly not a disorganized mob, they immediately turned tail and ran.

"Hmph, you're still too green to play mind games with a military agrarian," Zhao Xing scoffed, not pursuing the three, and continued to move around the training ground.

Several hours later.

The agrarian side suffered another major defeat, but having learned from their first experience, they noticeably lasted much longer. They held out for an hour more than the first time before being completely defeated. This time, Zhao Xing was the fourteenth-to-last to fall, knocked down by Fu Ying from the Azure Dragon Martial Affairs Department, and still ended up bruised and battered.

On the thirteenth day of the fifth month, at the Southwest Training Ground.

The cohesion among the agrarians grew stronger, largely because Zhao Xing, Zhuang Ziqing, Shi Yong, Feng Qiu, Meng Song, Jiang Tianming, Guan Junyang, and others began consciously organizing their ranks. With these capable individuals leading the way and holding a numerical advantage, it indeed had some effect. However, the proximity and confined space were still major obstacles. The agrarian side still suffered a significant defeat. This time, Zhao Xing lasted until he was the nineteenth-to-last to fall, knocked down by Huang Qingshan from the White Tiger Martial Affairs Department, resulting in four broken bones.

On the fourteenth day of the fifth month, Zhao Xing's 'Sound Bending Form - Sound Blade' and 'Sound Bending Form - Sound Stab' broke through to the ninth turn.

On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar' advanced to the sixth turn.

On the sixteenth day of the fifth month, with Zhao Xing's increased strength and the improved coordination of the Agrarian Department, others were reluctant to engage Zhao Xing. Ultimately, only ten people remained, and it was Xia Jing from the Azure Dragon Martial Affairs Department who delivered the final blow to Zhao Xing. This time, he was the ninth-to-last to fall.

May 17th.

"Clip-clop, clip-clop."

Gao Ming rode his bamboo horse to the gate of the Eighteen Locust-Willow Courtyard.

"Zhao Xing, your order is here! It's at your door!"

"Okay."

Zhao Xing appeared at the courtyard gate, his forehead bandaged with gauze and plaster, then brought the box inside.

"I spent four thousand points a few days ago, and another two thousand today to buy Lung Metal Spirit Fluid. My points are all gone now."

"I hope 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar' can make a breakthrough this time."

"Damn it, you brutes just wait for me."

Zhao Xing clutched his head, glanced left and right, and quickly carried the box into the courtyard. Soon after, a roar echoed from within the house.

On May 18th, with the aid of the Lung Metal Spirit Fluid, Zhao Xing could practice sound-wave martial arts almost without interruption. After ten days of intense, point-consuming practice—a total of six thousand points—'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar' finally broke through to the seventh turn! This breakthrough had a ripple effect, significantly boosting the progress of both ninth-turn 'Sound Bending Form' martial arts.

On May 19th, at the Southwest Training Ground, another Oblivion Training session began. This time, as the battle commenced, Zhao Xing unleashed 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar' and shouted loudly:

"Anyone with a seventh-turn martial art, rally to me!"

"First, let's take down those from the Four Great Martial Affairs Departments: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise!"

"This time, it's not for rankings, but for revenge!"

Han Bing was the first to respond: "I'm in!"

Zhuang Ziqing quickly followed: "Count me in!"

Cao Shuang and Jiang Tianming hesitated for a moment, then also joined. The five top-tier talents from the Geographical Advantage Academy initiating the organization immediately triggered a bandwagon effect.

Having been bruised and battered for days, the agrarians had been simmering with pent-up frustration. Zhao Xing's simple slogan, "Not for rankings, just for revenge," instantly resonated with them. If even the top-tier talents didn't care about rankings, what did a 'B' grade like them have to fear?

"Charge!"

"I'm coming too!"

"Kill them all!"

"Let's finish off these uncouth brutes!"

With Zhao Xing's rallying cry, a massive response immediately followed.

Not only from the Geographical Advantage Academy, but many people from the Granary, Flat River, and Heavenly Time Academies also actively moved closer. Shi Yong, from the Heavenly Time Academy, glanced at Zhao Xing in surprise. After a moment's thought, he too followed. Thus, on May 19th, a rare scene unfolded during the Oblivion Training. The Agrarian Department's formation launched a powerful offensive.

Led by Zhao Xing, Zhuang Ziqing, and Han Bing, nearly a hundred talents formed a sharp spearhead, actively charging towards the warrior formation!

"Have these agrarians gone mad? They're not running?" In the warrior formation, Zhang Jie watched the charging agrarians from the back, instantly surprised.

"They usually just hold their ground and resist, with only a few charging. Why so many today?" Chen Fang also watched, puzzled.

The personnel of the Four Great Martial Affairs Departments were positioned at the rear of their formation, a setup precisely opposite to that of the Agrarian Department.

"They're just desperate," Hu Bing scoffed. "But what good will desperation do?"

"Something's off; this time seems different," Shan Fei said, jumping up for a look, then landed with a shocked expression. "Oh no, this really does seem different."

In the sky, aboard the multi-storied boat.

"Good, good lad!" Lu Bang slapped the table and stood up. "I've finally been waiting for you."

"His move has created an immense momentum, igniting the agrarians' fighting spirit," Zuo Zizhi observed. "Marquis Tian, did you know he would do this today?"

"No," Tian Yan shook his head. "He didn't say anything."

"Not for rankings, just for revenge? This Zhao Xing certainly knows how to organize," Fang Wu remarked, a strange glint in his eyes. "If he had used any other slogan, others might not have believed him, but this one is incredibly inflammatory."

Fan Zhaoli smiled slightly: "With his incitement, most people followed, even Shi Yong."

Fang Wu stated, "It would have been somewhat disappointing if he hadn't organized this. If Shi Yong hadn't followed at a time like this, I would have truly given him a low score. No matter how strong an individual is, what kind of resistance can they mount alone? How can one become a general? Even if his dojo rank reached a higher star level, it would be pointless. It's a good thing he followed this time."

Fan Zhaoli asked, "General Fang, do you think the Agrarian Department has a chance to win this time?"

Fang Wu shook his head: "Honestly, no. The gap isn't something courage alone can bridge. But it will certainly cause a lot of chaos. Zhao Xing is targeting the talents of the Four Great Martial Affairs Departments. I estimate there will be significant changes in the top rankings of the Martial Affairs Department this time."

Zhao Xing's shouts were confined to the range of the agrarian formation. The opposing warrior formation didn't realize that the agrarians' target was their Four Great Martial Affairs Departments' talents. The warrior formation was arranged from weakest to strongest. The warriors at the very front simply couldn't withstand the charge of the elite group Zhao Xing had rallied.

"Roar!"

With 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar,' dimming the sun and moon, Zhao Xing charged at the very front. Behind him, a phantom image of a Kui Niu seemed to appear, roaring towards the sky. The shockwave spread towards the foremost line of warriors, directly causing over a thousand people at the front to panic, as if disaster was imminent.

Moreover, this roar wasn't intended to eliminate people but primarily to create chaos. Under its impact, seventy percent of the warriors experienced intermittent blindness and deafness. With panic setting in, compounded by their loss of sight and hearing, the usually brave warriors immediately began to rout, turning and fleeing frantically towards the rear. This created a huge obstacle for the talents of the Four Great Martial Affairs Departments behind them.

"Don't run!"

"Damn it, what are you afraid of?!"

"Are you crazy? I'm a warrior, why are you hitting me?!"

"Mountain-Crushing Fist! Get out of my way... damn it!"

Chaos, utter chaos. The agrarians' surprise organized attack, combined with Zhao Xing's roar, achieved an excellent effect.

As the distance closed, large numbers of warriors were immediately eliminated. Half of them were eliminated due to the warriors themselves losing formation, trampling, and attacking each other.

Zhang Jie, eliminated!

Chen Fang, eliminated!

Hu Bing, eliminated!

Shan Fei, eliminated!

Lu Dong, eliminated!

At this moment, the Four Great Martial Affairs Departments experienced large-scale eliminations, mainly because talents like Zhao Xing, Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, Jiang Tianming, Meng Song, and Cao Shuang were incredibly fast. The elite team of agrarian talents they formed was like a sharp blade, piercing deep into the warrior formation.

With their own formation in disarray, the strength of the Four Great Martial Affairs Departments' personnel, apart from a small handful of top-tier individuals, was greatly diminished, reducing them to 'inferior horses'. Conversely, the Agrarian Department's spearhead team was entirely composed of 'superior horses'!

"What a joke!" Chen Min exclaimed in shock from the multi-storied boat, watching the scene unfold. "How could they be so incompetent?"

"What's happening? Why are they routing so quickly?" Another martial master couldn't sit still, gripping the railing tightly as he stared down.

"Zhao Xing's roar is a bit too powerful, isn't it? Seventy percent of the people from the various Martial Affairs Departments were affected?"

"What an impressive 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar'! With such power, it must have reached the seventh turn!"

"How did he reach the seventh turn with 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar'? It's so hard to cultivate! I saw it at the fifth turn in previous sessions."

"He's cunning. He had enough power to collapse the front lines directly, but instead, he chose not to unleash maximum force. He caused deafness and blindness, making the warriors fall into disarray themselves."

"How disgraceful..."

It was completely unexpected; Zhao Xing had actually unleashed a seventh-turn 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar'! Not only were the martial masters from the Martial Affairs Department surprised, but the experts from the Agrarian Department were also astonished.

"A seventh-turn 'Kuinniu's Thunder Roar'? Are we going to win this time?" Ge Jinsong murmured to himself. "He was a regular clerk before. There's no reason he would have learned it earlier, meaning he reached the seventh turn in at most two months... Is his martial arts comprehension really that high?"

Martial arts training will largely conclude with this chapter; it won't take up too much space, and the focus will remain on the agrarian perspective.

There will be a third update after midnight. Please don't stay up late; you can read it tomorrow.

(End of Chapter)