Chương 166: War God — Chapter 166 - The Dragon Flag That Possesses a Soul!

Xiong Kuohai was frustrated. As the overall commander of this Qiongwu Preliminary Trial, one of the senior chiefs of the Tyrant Sea Military Department, he'd never expected that in the very first year of the nation's International Military Martial Exchange Plan, those few powerful alliance nations would send over such a batch of exceptional talents. Past 60 now, he stared at the screen showing those three foreign martial artists. And sighed. Dragon Nation had over a dozen provinces.

This was just one regional site for the Qiongwu Preliminary Trial. Of all places, these three had to participate here. When it came time to report to headquarters in the Upper Capital after the preliminary trial, he was going to lose serious face. No other region had reported foreign martial artists overwhelming their homegrown military warriors in the Qiongwu Preliminary Trial.

"Can't really blame Chu Xiao and these kids who just joined the military..."

"They have outstanding potential. They just haven't been properly trained yet..."

"Besides, these three foreign martial artists' talents are exceptionally suited for this Qiongwu Preliminary Trial..." Xiong Kuohai searched for excuses. No matter how many he found, the frustration remained. Then a soldier reported over comms:"Chief, there's a martial artist here with a Crimson Dragon War Token who wants to participate in the Qiongwu Preliminary Trial."

"We verified it. The token holder does have preliminary trial qualifications." Xiong Kuohai frowned.

"Then why ask me? Just arrange it!"

"It's just... this martial artist is only Third Realm. Participating in the trial could be life-threatening."

"?"

"Third Realm?" Xiong Kuohai froze. Which region was bold enough to issue preliminary trial qualifications to a Third Realm martial artist? Wait. How did a Third Realm martial artist get a Crimson Dragon War Token?

"What's his name? Let me see."

"Wang Xian. According to the records, he's a student at Tiandu University." Xiong Kuohai immediately had someone in the command room pull up the information. He looked at the screen. Rows of classified text appeared. One glance, and his breathing stopped. His gloomy eyes lit up instantly.

"Interesting."

"His qualifications are fine. Since he wants to participate, arrange it!"

"Understood. I'll arrange it." — The staff member left with the war token to verify it. Wang Xian wasn't in a hurry. Verification would take a minute or two at most. He turned to his elder sister, who stood dazed.

"Sis, you're doing better now. I'm going to participate in the Qiongwu Preliminary Trial."

"Ah? Oh!... Wait!" Elder Sister Wang Shu snapped out of it, shocked.

"You're participating in what? How did you get that Crimson Dragon War Token? No, Xiao Xian, you're only Third Realm. How can you participate?"

"I checked. The Qiongwu Preliminary Trial isn't primarily about testing strength," Wang Xian said.

"That may be true, but..." But those three trials. If your strength was too low, there was no point participating. Just the first trial, Thousand Jun Cliff. If a Third Realm martial artist went up, even with talent awakened, even with three gene locks unlocked, reaching the middle section would be questionable. What was there to gain... Not to mention the later trials. The spatial targets that even Fourth Realm martial artists struggled to perceive. The most troublesome Battle Soul Field willpower test.

Elder Sister was about to speak. Chu Xiao beside her pulled her back.

"A Crimson Dragon War Token isn't something ordinary people can obtain. For your brother to get this token, he must have passed the military's tests. His martial will is probably no weaker than ours."

"Let him try." The two were schoolmates. Elder Sister fell silent for a moment, then said to Wang Xian:"Be careful. Don't push yourself. If you can't hold on, give up." Wang Xian nodded. The staff member in military uniform walked over, gave a standard military salute, then said:"Please follow me." Wang Xian followed. As he passed the three foreign martial artists, the blond man clapped.

"Although your Dragon Nation martial artists' will still needs strengthening..."

"Your courage is truly admirable."

"Your life aura won't exceed Fourth Realm."

"Daring to participate in the Qiongwu Preliminary Trial at Third Realm, there's life-threatening danger."

"May the Lord bless you..." He smiled, eyes narrowed.

"To return alive." Wang Xian just smiled. The other two martial artists from Eastern Sakura, especially Chiba Ryuzaki, slightly sheathed his katana, glanced at Wang Xian, and said nothing. Clearly, he didn't feel the need to waste words. The white-haired woman beside him looked up at Wang Xian with a strange expression, then lowered her eyes in thought. After Wang Xian left, Chiba Ryuzaki asked, "Little sister, what's wrong?"

"That Dragon Nation person, strange." The white-haired woman shook her head.

"I can't perceive talent type." Her Dragon Nation language was halting.

"You can't perceive it?" Chiba Ryuzaki was taken aback.

"Doesn't that mean he has no martial talent?" This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. The surrounding military martial artists' expressions changed. Chu Xiao looked at Elder Sister, stunned.

"Your brother has no martial talent?"

"No..." Elder Sister shook her head.

"But he was last year's Martial Exam top scorer." As graduates, they paid little attention to each year's Martial Exam.

"......"

"Let's watch from the observation room outside," Chu Xiao said, pulling Elder Sister toward the exit. The other martial artists, spirits somewhat recovered, followed. The three foreign martial artists seemed interested and followed as well... — Wang Xian followed the staff member through a long metal corridor to its end.

"Open this door. After the identity scan outside, you'll see the first trial." The military-clad martial artist explained, "However, if you expend too much primal energy in the first trial, the second trial's Illusory Void Chamber will detect your condition is unsuitable for subsequent tests and end early." Wang Xian nodded and pushed open the door. On dusky yellow earth, not far ahead stood a pitch-black mountain that radiated intense oppression just by sight. Thousand Jun Cliff.

For a martial artist, 1, 000 meters was close. The peak was visible at a glance. Even a flag imprinted with a dragon shape could be seen fluttering. Wang Xian closed the door. His entire body was swept by a beam of light. Information appeared in the air.

"Qiongwu Preliminary Trial Participant No. 1003."

"Non-headquarters martial artist."

"Crimson Dragon War Token holder, affiliated member: Wang Feng."

"Identity authentication passed."

"Life force detection: 3, 600."

"Please wear the real-time monitoring equipment, then proceed to Thousand Jun Cliff and choose any climbing point." Wang Xian put on a wristband flickering with blue light and headed directly to Thousand Jun Cliff. First trial. Wang Xian planned to finish fast. Thousand Jun Cliff was a sheer precipice 1, 000 meters high. Tools were almost useless. Up close, its surface gleamed with metallic luster. The only way was to adhere primal energy to your palms, stick to the cliff face, and climb. Wang Xian glanced at it.

Standing at the cliff's foot, he didn't reach out his hand. Instead, he extended his foot, stabbing it straight into the cliff face. Carving a depression. Without using his hands. Next second, WHOOSH, he kicked off several meters high. Before the upward momentum faded, his other foot alternated, stabbing directly into the cliff face again. What kind of terrifying strength. He carved another depression into the cliff face, then kicked off, shooting up several more meters. Completely without hands. Purely feet.

Others climbed. He kicked his way up. — In the observation room, HISS, Chu Xiao and the other martial artists stared at the holographic viewing screen Elder Sister had pulled up. Their eyes went wide.

"Thousand Jun Cliff is hard as alloy. This kid can kick a mark into it with one foot?"

"I just reached Fourth Realm. I couldn't do that."

"My talent is Black Iron Bones. I could barely kick a footprint... but not this effortlessly."

"Also, no visible talent fluctuation..."

"Purely physical body?"

"Is this a body forged through Old Martial Arts bone-and-sinew tempering? Isn't this too exaggerated?" In just those few exchanges, Wang Xian had already climbed nearly 200 meters. Astonishingly fast. The three foreign martial artists' expressions froze. From Wang Xian's first kick, the blond man's face had changed. In that instant, he'd sensed something was off.

"Kellen, this person's climbing speed is faster than yours," Chiba Ryuzaki said with interest.

"How would you feel being surpassed by a Third Realm martial artist?" The blond man's expression remained unchanged, confident.

"Just Third Realm."

"Impressive as it may be, Third Realm primal energy is insufficient. Dragon Nation's Old Martial Arts produce strong bodies, but without talent power boost, he'll reach the second section at 600 meters at most. After that, every meter of the third section will be physical and mental torture."

"The first section is nothing. Gravity fluctuations aren't large."

"I climbed to 900 meters, the top of the third section."

"At that stage, gravity multiplier reaches 70 times. That's not something a Third Realm martial artist can endure. With constant pull and release, he can't even adapt to the top of the second section."

"However, his method of kicking up the mountain is impressive... carving a depression into this cliff face using only feet..." Just as they finished speaking, Wang Xian had already climbed to the first section's peak. And entered the second section. Gravity fluctuations began changing. But Wang Xian's speed didn't stop. He still used his feet to stab into the cliff wall, kicking upward, without using hands. Only his speed slowed slightly. Kellen sighed in relief and smiled.

"See, he's slowed as expected."

"If nothing unexpected happens, he'll get slower and slower. By the time he reaches the second section's top, he'll be completely unable to climb." On screen, Wang Xian's speed only dropped slightly. It didn't get slower and slower. Instead, it gradually stabilized at a steady pace.

"Under gravity fluctuations, the foot star bones' integration with the body is rapidly increasing..."

"As expected, star bone cultivation still needs alien battlefields." Wang Xian sighed inwardly. The star bones he'd cultivated on alien battlefields in his past life adapted much faster. Neither hurried nor slow, he kicked through the second section. Then reached the third section, the 600-meter starting point. Upon entering this section, gravity fluctuations explosively intensified. This powerful gravity change would instantly make a martial artist who'd just finished the second section dizzy.

Their body might show rejection reactions. Their face would twist in pain. But Wang Xian paused. He didn't immediately continue climbing. Instead, he revealed a smile of enjoyment. Nostalgia. So nostalgic. Exactly this feeling. The watching martial artists were stunned.

"Is he... smiling?"

"What's going on? Can't take it, having a final burst before death?"

"How is he smiling? When I first got to the third section, the pain nearly ground my teeth to dust..."

"Is his body not feeling discomfort?"

"......" Elder Sister was silent.

"This brother of yours..." Chu Xiao looked at her.

"Does he have masochistic tendencies..."

"Get lost." Elder Sister frowned. She didn't understand either. She felt like she was getting to know this little brother she'd watched grow up all over again.

"Almost there." The foreign martial artist Kellen's gaze focused.

"And now he's smiling. Putting that aside, his expression control is on point!" However, just as his words fell, Wang Xian shot upward like an arrow released from a bowstring, accelerating again. The martial artists exclaimed, mouths gaping. Come on, what do you mean you can still accelerate? The three foreign martial artists, especially the blond man, watched with reddening faces. Dazed.

"Awesome!" The faster the speed, the fiercer the gravity fluctuations. Feeling his body nearly cracking apart, yet not quite cracking. The foot star bones almost completely fused with his body. At this speed, he climbed to the third section's peak, 900 meters. Only 100 meters remained to the summit. However, this final 100 meters was practically an insurmountable true mountain for all present martial artists. The closer to the summit, the closer to 100 times gravity.

And this was the relatively standard gravity multiplier for normal alien battlefield regions. Gravity fluctuations above 100 times, for Fourth Realm martial artists, without more than half a year of gradual adaptation, don't even think about climbing one more meter with ease. Here, Wang Xian paused briefly. Then slowly activated his divine meridians. Under the Zhoutian Divine Meridian system, when divine meridians activated now, his body showed no abnormalities. Undetectable.

Even standing right in front of him, one could only feel an instantaneous life force surge. Torrential spirit malevolence circulated through his entire body via divine meridians. With the rapid climb just now, plus current spirit malevolence circulation, and unified performance of his entire body's divine meridians, combined with even higher-intensity gravity fluctuation pressure, Wang Xian felt the foot star bones becoming smoother and smoother. No obstructive adaptation period feeling.

This meant he was probably only one or two steps from perfect fusion between foot star bones and body. He needed pure life energy to soak them, letting the two perfectly merge. Thus, smiling with exhilaration, Wang Xian spared no effort and directly climbed these final 100 meters. Until he reached the summit. Wang Xian saw the dragon flag. He walked over, plucked it directly, and waved it gently.

'A 1, 000-meter cliff consumed five divine meridians' spirit malevolence...'

'Not much consumption...'

'For other martial artists, even Fourth Realm strength would consume at least half their primal energy climbing to the summit.' As for himself, only because his adaptability was too strong, plus the newly cultivated foot star bones were formidable. While simultaneously using the environment for cultivation, achieving low-consumption climbing. That he could reach the summit relatively easily. Not bad. However, in the observation room, dead silent.

More and more martial artists emerged from the waiting room, swallowing hard as they watched the figure on the summit slowly pick up that dragon flag... Their gazes were dreamlike, yet fervent.

"Damn! Brother Wang Xian!" Xia Qing, who'd been supporting his elder sister out, happened to see this from the side. Instantly excited, he let go and ran to the center. His elder sister, still mentally weak, staggered and nearly fell.

"You little brat..." Elder Sister Xia Yu pointed at Xia Qing weakly.

"You..."

"Elder sister, come quick! Brother Wang Xian broke the record!"

"Haha, that foreign blondie's record is broken!" Xia Yu instantly perked up. Like a zombie, she hobbled through the crowd and looked at the screen. And that 'foreign blondie,' his face was beet red. His originally blue-green eyes were bloodshot. He looked at this scene with utter disbelief.

"The record I just set..."

"This... gone just like that..."

"How is this possible?" Beside him, Chiba Ryuzaki didn't ask how he felt. Instead, he stared at that young face on the summit with a grave expression. Silent for a long time. On the summit, Wang Xian raised his arm and waved the flag. On screen, the red dragon within the flag, dancing with the wind, seemed to gain a soul, as if about to fly out of the screen. Fangs and claws bared, awe-inspiring in all directions. The martial artists, originally listless and gloomy, saw this scene.

Instantly, they felt their entire bodies filled with strength. One by one, spirits revived, they straightened their spines. This was the true dragon flag. A dragon flag with a soul. And in that instant, all present martial artists understood the dragon flag's meaning. The true dragon flag wasn't on the mountain summit. It was within every person's straightened spine. ➤ Next: This is a Trial, and You're Actually Training in Here?