Across the expansive training ground, eight figures stood firm against the wind! Like eight perfectly straight javelins, each countenance was severe as they faced Jidu.

Four Demon Warriors, two Celestial Venerable Daoists, and two Celestial Rainbow Sorcerers—these were the elite champions of the Black Flag Legion.

These eight included Chi Hao and Chi Ming, and they were the recipients of the four sets of God-Slaying Demon Armor, two Cloaks of the Sorcerer God, and two Robes of the Celestial Venerable that I had seized in the Demon Sealing Empire.

For those newly clad in heavy armor, today was a memorable day. It was also a momentous day for the Black Flag Legion, because from this moment forward, the identities of the eight Black Flag Generals had been officially decided.

They were!

Chi Hao, from the Blood Wolf Tribe, Celestial Rainbow Sorcerer God. The Sorcerer God Cloak on him originally belonged to Teng Xuan.

Chi Ming, from the Blood Wolf Tribe, Celestial Rainbow Sorcerer God. The Sorcerer God Cloak on him originally belonged to Teng Jiao.

Chi Peng, from the Blood Wolf Tribe, Demon Warrior. The God-Slaying Demon Armor on him originally belonged to Mo Luo Zhan Xiong.

Bai Chuan, from the Raging Dragon Tribe, Demon Warrior. The God-Slaying Demon Armor on him originally belonged to Mo Luo Ao Tian.

Bai Yan, from the Raging Dragon Tribe, Celestial Venerable Daoist. The Robe of the Celestial Venerable on him originally belonged to Xuan Yi.

Yin Hu, from the Byron Tribe, Demon Warrior. The God-Slaying Demon Armor on him originally belonged to Mo Luo Zhan Long.

Yin Tao, from the Byron Tribe, Demon Warrior. The God-Slaying Demon Armor on him originally belonged to Mo Luo Zhan Kong.

Yin Hong, from the Byron Tribe, Celestial Venerable Daoist. The Robe of the Celestial Venerable on him originally belonged to Xuan Zhi.

Now, these eight selected supreme masters were finally wearing the long-coveted Six-Layered Set of Armor and Scarlet Moon equipment, and a wave of excitement surged through them.

Yes, they had waited too long for this moment.

And I, along with Yin Shuang, Chi Long, and over three hundred other representatives from the three great tribes, stood quietly outside the perimeter.

Everyone present was well aware that simply donning the Six-Layered Set (comprising the God-Slaying Demon Armor, Sacred War Treasure Armor, Sorcerer God Cloak, Neon Feather Robe, Robe of the Celestial Venerable, and Grandmaster’s Robe—six pieces in total—which, when combined with the respective gear for Warriors, Mages, or Daoists, formed the Six-Layered Set, and those wearing it were often called Heavy Armor Generals) did not automatically qualify one as a competent Heavy Armor General. The crucial factor was how to master and command this surge of power.

In this regard, Jidu undoubtedly possessed vast experience. Therefore, these Heavy Armor Generals, newly fitted into their heavy gear, would all undergo Jidu's rigorous training to acclimate to this novel strength.

“I believe you are all quite clear on the attributes and functions of the Six-Layered Set,” Jidu stated in a deep voice. “So I will not waste time introducing those basics. What I must teach you is how to wield and control this power.”

“We await the General’s guidance,” the eight replied in unison.

“The key to utilizing heavy armor is actually quite simple: slowly control the intensity of your Dou Qi, magic, or Dao arts, ensuring it remains constantly within your controllable range. Only when you achieve a state of perfect command, where you can unleash or restrain it at will, should you gradually increase the intensity of your power until the armor, equipment, and your own inherent energies fully integrate, allowing you absolute dominion. Only then have you truly mastered the strength of the Six-Layered Set. Of course, while this sounds simple in theory, achieving it demands relentless experimentation, constant practice, and meticulous exploration to gradually adapt...”

Jidu’s experience shone through, and under his instruction, Bai Chuan and the others quickly grasped the core principles. Naturally, their innate cultivation levels were already astonishing, making their comprehension far surpass that of ordinary people.

Next came the practical combat drills, with Jidu serving as their sparring partner without question.

Although these combat drills lacked the heart-stopping tension of life-or-death scenarios on a true battlefield, they were no less intense and fiercely competitive. It was only at this point that I truly witnessed the terrifying depth of Jidu’s capabilities.

Facing eight Heavy Armor Generals of the same rank, even if their application of the heavy armor's power was still somewhat clumsy, Jidu fighting against the eight of them single-handedly was utterly breathtaking.

Of course, this situation did not persist long. As the eight gradually adapted to the power of the Six-Layered Set, their movements became more agile and fluid, their strength increasing continuously. Soon, Jidu began to show strain.

The training process was long and arduous, yet no one was willing to waste a single moment.

The other assembled representatives, seeing the generals gradually becoming accustomed to the Six-Layered Set, felt a measure of relief and dispersed to their respective duties.

The establishment of the new legion was in its nascent stages, meaning countless tasks required immediate attention: troop deployment and assignment, logistics supply tabulation, and more—everything demanded concerted effort to resolve.

In contrast, I appeared relatively idle, though perhaps there was little that required my direct oversight. Every post was handled by specialized personnel, and my role was primarily to guide the general direction in major, pivotal decisions. Consequently, during many idle moments, I gravitated toward the edge of the training ground, observing the movements of these Heavy Armor Generals intently, trying to discern anything useful for myself.

Gradually, I began to master the nuances of their martial arts, magic, and Dao techniques.

Among the eight, Bai Chuan possessed the greatest raw strength. Not only was his power formidable, but his speed was also exceptional. He was the archetype of an all-rounder: comprehensive in technique, outstanding in strength, and quick enough in movement—a trait remarkably similar to Jidu’s. I believed that with accumulating real combat experience, he would surely become an outstanding Heavy Armor General.

The fastest was Yin Hu, this warrior from the Byron Tribe, a natural-born cold-blooded assassin whose specialty could be summarized in one word: speed!

Utterly lethal, his attacks were decisive—strike once and kill. His swordsmanship followed a path of perilous, sharp twists, a style that mirrored my own to a significant degree. Because of this similarity, Jidu paid close attention to him, engaging him in combat the most frequently. In terms of martial arts attainment, neither Bai Chuan nor Yin Hu was inferior to my master, Jian Li. The only advantage I possessed over them was the experience accumulated through long periods of actual combat, coupled with a set of swordsmanship, movement techniques, and footwork I had developed—which, when stripped down, were merely the practiced execution of certain skills! This hardly compared to the profound, accumulated cultivation of Yin Hu, who had honed his craft over years. I was certain that with time, his strength would only grow greater; at the very least, I sensed his current power level was already on par with mine.

Next were Yin Tao and Chi Peng, both masters of the blade, wielding thick Jing Zhong Yue (Moon in the Well) blades as their weapons. Yin Tao’s blade work was heavy and steady, a style of broad, sweeping offense and defense.

Chi Peng’s blade technique, however, was sharp and intensely fierce, possessing extremely high offensive power but slightly weaker defense. This bore some resemblance to my Hundred Battles Saber Art.

As for Chi Ming and Chi Hao, they excelled at long-range attacks. Furthermore, this pair of twin brothers was a rarity among Mages: dual-elemental specialists. Beyond the standard elemental magics—lightning, fire, and water—they displayed an astonishing aptitude for Spatial Magic. As a result, their Shun Xi Yi Dong (Instantaneous Movement) was utilized with supernatural perfection; they could vanish and reappear a hundred meters away in the blink of an eye! Coupled with their ghost-like movement speed and rapid spell casting, their overall strength made Chi Ming and Chi Hao the strongest pair among the eight. Even Jidu found them difficult to handle.

Consider facing an opponent whose footwork is ethereal and unpredictable, whose speed is unmatched, who can suddenly vanish and reappear at will, and whose magical attacks are equally devastating—what entity in this world could truly stand against them?

Perhaps only I, due to my Demon Devourer Physique, could maintain an unyielding defense against them.

Admittedly, if they were intent on fleeing, I believe no one in this world could stop them, at least not among the masters at the Demon Warrior level.

However, despite being twins, their magical focus differed. Chi Ming specialized in lightning magic. He could execute powerful offensive spells like Lightning Bolt, Laser Beam, and Hellish Lightning Ray almost instantaneously, without needing incantations.

Chi Hao, conversely, excelled at fire magic. His signature move was the Great Fireball, Hellfire, and Exploding Flame. His Exploding Flame, in particular, was a masterpiece. This was no ordinary exploding fire; his Celestial Rainbow Sorcerer God cultivation, combined with his terrifying control over fire magic, imbued his Exploding Flames with incredibly destructive power. A single Exploding Fireball strike unleashed explosive force comparable to a heavy bomb. If caught in the blast radius during a group battle, the consequences would undoubtedly be catastrophic.

Bai Yan and Yin Hong’s Daoist cultivation levels were evenly matched. Perhaps due to their past habit of coordinating with the Holy Word Divine Beast, they were momentarily struggling to adapt to partnering with the Sacred Beast White Tiger.

However, I could see their progress was remarkably swift. Within a few days, they found the knack, and their coordinated attacks with the other six grew increasingly harmonious. Now, Jidu dared not easily attempt to face all eight at once; let alone eight, even a combined assault from Chi Hao and Chi Ming gave him considerable headaches.

This forced me to marvel at the speed of their improvement and filled my heart with joy.

After watching them extensively, Jidu and I managed to formulate a set of tactical doctrine suitable for the Black Flag Legion. Perhaps due to the extended time spent together, the members of the three tribes grew more familiar with me.

Occasionally, they would share a lighthearted joke. This eased both Jidu’s and my tension considerably; frankly, maintaining a permanently stern facade would have driven me mad.

Among the eight, Chi Ming and Chi Hao shared the closest rapport with me. After all, they hailed from the Blood Wolf Tribe, the very first group to interact with me and the first cohort to wear the Six-Layered Set. Having fought side-by-side previously had forged an even deeper bond between us.

Jidu, taking my Demon Devourer Physique into account, devised a special formation: I, as the Demon Warrior, would form an independent combat unit with Chi Hao and Chi Ming. I would handle the close-quarters combat, allowing Chi Ming to provide broad-area support with his Exploding Flames from the flank, while Chi Hao would use his phantom-like speed and Instantaneous Movement to deliver the final, killing blow.

Theoretically, this tactic should be flawless.

Yes, against a Demon Warrior, with me engaging in melee while Chi Ming and Chi Hao provided ranged support, my Demon Devourer Physique meant I need not fear magical attacks. This allowed Chi Ming and Chi Hao to unleash the full potential of their magical power without worrying about friendly fire.

Moreover, both possessed extraordinary speed and exquisite mastery of spatial magic. They required no defensive cover from me, allowing me to concentrate fully on maneuvering against my opponent.

Even if the adversary included a Celestial Venerable Daoist supported by the Sacred Beast White Tiger, Chi Hao and Chi Ming’s Holy Word Incantations were no mere decoration. Therefore, our combination should theoretically have no weakness.

The three of us could unleash our signature skills without reservation, without the fear of friendly fire due to poor coordination. Wasn't flawless coordination precisely the goal? And we could achieve this effortlessly, without excessive forcing.

The tactic devised by Jidu greatly energized me, Chi Ming, and Chi Hao. Bai Chuan and the others were impatient to witness the might of our trio’s combination.

And so, the first full-scale melee among the Heavy Armor Generals—since the formation of the Black Flag Legion—erupted.

My unit of myself, Chi Ming, and Chi Hao would face Jidu leading the other six Heavy Armor Generals.

The edge of the training ground quickly filled with warriors from the Blood Wolf Legion, all craning their necks and watching the unfolding scene with intense focus.

“Hmph, three against six.” Lan Da asked Chi Long nervously, “Can the Marshal, Chi Hao, and Chi Ming win?”

“That’s hard to say,” Chi Long hesitated. “General Jidu is known as the most terrifying Demon Warrior, and Chief Bai Chuan and the others are formidable in their own right.”

“I believe the Marshal’s side will win,” Yin Shuang stated calmly.

“On what basis?” Lan Ka couldn't help but ask.

“Group battles rely most heavily on coordination. While General Jidu and Chief Bai Chuan are skilled, their coordination is far behind. After all, they are only a temporary assembly,” Yin Shuang analyzed.

“But haven't the Marshal, Chi Hao, and Chi Ming never coordinated before either?” Bai Zhan of the Raging Dragon Tribe objected slightly.

“The Marshal, Chi Hao, and Chi Ming don't need to coordinate with each other,” Yin Shuang replied. “They fight according to their own rhythm. Although the three are completely independent entities, when assembled, they form a seamless whole. Such a combination is the most formidable.”

“Is it really that exaggerated?” Bai Zhan looked toward the arena with some worry, though he was beginning to be swayed by Yin Shuang’s analysis.

“We shall see soon enough,” Yin Shuang concluded calmly.

On the field!

Chi Ming and Chi Hao stood roughly twenty meters behind me, separated slightly, but I trusted their offensive magic would manifest in the precise locations needed at the earliest moment.

Twenty meters opposite them stood Jidu and his group, their expressions grave.

Although this was a simulation, everyone understood that this exercise would demonstrate the true strength of the Black Flag Legion's Heavy Armor Generals. No one wished to lose this contest; only by giving their absolute all could they display the fruits of their recent training.

Thus, the atmosphere on the field was one of exceptional solemnity.

All eyes were fixed on the expected outcome of this final combat scenario.