Ma Zikang looked up, sweeping his gaze over him casually. General Pang instantly felt a chill, as if submerged in an ice grotto. Just as he was gathering his focus, he heard the mournful whinny of his steed beneath him. Its front hooves buckled, and the magnificent horse suddenly knelt!
General Pang lost his seat and tumbled from the saddle. Fortunately, his reflexes were sharp; he executed a swift somersault in mid-air, landing steadily on the ground. He was deeply shocked and shaken internally.
This warhorse of his was no ordinary breed; it had witnessed countless life-and-death struggles on the battlefield and had never once shown fear. Yet, the mere glance from this man had made it kneel?
This person was far from simple!
General Pang was no fool like Fang Dingguo. He refused to believe that someone possessing such ability would pose as a useless spy. If every agent of the Sea-Returning faction held such power, this war would have been over long ago.
“Who are you?”
His tone softened, though Feng Zikang had just thoroughly humiliated him. He paid the loss of face no mind.
Feng Zikang smiled slightly, quite pleased with the young man's composure. Instead of answering General Pang’s question, he countered, “Your surname is Pang? What relation are you to Grand Tutor Pang?”
“I am Pang Fei, and the Grand Tutor is my father.”
Hearing Feng Zikang’s somewhat condescending tone, Pang Fei became even more deferential, answering cautiously, careful not to make any error.
His father often warned him that in the cultivation world, one must never judge by appearances. Many unassuming youths often possessed extremely high seniority and profound cultivation. It was better to remain low-key and mistake a few masters than to end up like Fang Dingguo, assuming someone was weak only to lose one's life.
Feng Zikang nodded. “Then that is perfect. I trouble the Young General to lead the way. I must meet Grand Tutor Pang…”
Before Pang Fei could agree, Fang Chengliang, standing nearby, let out a cold snort filled with venomous spite, “You spy! Grand Tutor Pang is not someone you can simply demand an audience with. Young General, do not listen to his nonsense; arrest him quickly! Under interrogation, his origins will be revealed!”
Seeing Pang Fei engaging in conversation with Feng Zikang made Fang Chengliang feel as if a cat were clawing at his heart; he wished he could swallow Feng Zikang whole.
Pang Fei ignored him and cupped his hands toward Feng Zikang. “I do not know the Master’s background; please inform me so I may report to my father.”
His attitude clearly indicated that he no longer believed the accusations made by Fang Chengliang and his son. Fang Chengliang’s expression shifted, and his gaze toward Pang Fei became laced with malice.
Feng Zikang nodded. “That is only right. Then I trouble you to convey a message to Grand Tutor Pang: I am Feng Zikang, a disciple of the Little Bamboo Grove lineage of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Military School. I have been dispatched by my master’s order to take over command of the troops.”
“What?”
This time, it was not just Young General Pang Fei; even the hatred-filled Fang Chengliang gasped aloud.
“Im... impossible!” Fang Chengliang roared, “Young General, this is a spy deceiving you! Quickly find men to take him down!”
“Truth or falsehood will be evident with one look.”
Feng Zikang said mildly, reaching into his storage pouch and producing the military tally given to him by the Sect Master Yuan Buhuan, handing it to Pang Fei.
Upon seeing it, Pang Fei recognized it immediately—the Black Jade Military Tally, capable of mobilizing the armies of the realm. This object could not be forged, and in the wrong hands, it would instantly turn to dust. All doubt vanished. He immediately half-knelt, bowing respectfully.
“It is Senior Brother Feng. Please forgive this junior general; I am clad in armor and cannot offer a full salute!”
The soldiers guarding the city gate were thrown into an uproar. Even the disciplined Black Armored Cavalry were visibly moved. Although Pang Fei was young, he had served his father, Grand Tutor Pang, for a long time, commanding the Black Armored Cavalry, making him virtually second only to the supreme authority in Fei Prefecture City. Now, he actually knelt before this youth? Could what this young man said be true?
The matter of him being a spy was instantly dismissed. Pang Fei eagerly led the way, inviting Feng Zikang into the city gates.
Fang Chengliang stood frozen, utterly bewildered. He clutched his son's corpse and wailed, but no one paid him any attention. The gate guards silently returned to their posts, silenced as if by winter frost.
Especially the minor officer whose cheek had been swollen from the slap. Recalling his involvement in today’s events, he was both furious and terrified. He slapped himself hard across the face.
“That’s for being blind to who people are!”
※
Pang Fei led Feng Zikang to Grand Tutor Pang’s temporary headquarters. Someone had already announced his arrival within, and the Grand Tutor dared not delay, personally leading a welcoming party.
“Nephew Feng, you have finally arrived! We have been waiting anxiously!”
Grand Tutor Pang bowed deeply, exceedingly polite. His hair and beard were now entirely white. Standing nine feet tall, his face was steady, marked by a quiet authority. His enthusiastic welcome to Feng Zikang was the utmost show of respect he could offer.
“I dare not accept such praise, Martial Uncle Pang. I have long heard your esteemed name, which rings like thunder. Meeting you today, I see the reputation is well-deserved.”
Feng Zikang had finally learned a few pleasantries. While Grand Tutor Pang had not achieved Core Condensation, he had been in the Foundation Establishment stage for a long time, possessing profound cultivation worthy of such effusive praise.
Grand Tutor Pang and his son were extremely courteous to Feng Zikang, but not everyone present possessed the same level of cultivation or breeding. Upon seeing that the person sent by the Military School was such a young child, seemingly with low cultivation—perhaps not even having reached Foundation Establishment—some from the peripheral sects couldn't help but feel restless. The Grand Tutor noticed their undisguised disdain and frowned slightly but said nothing explicit.
Feng Zikang observed it all, smiling coldly inside, unconcerned.
Having just arrived in Ganzhou, Grand Tutor Pang and his son hosted a banquet that evening. After the feast, Feng Zikang was escorted back to his guest quarters to rest.
“Young Master, I see many people in this camp do not seem to obey you,” observed Ghost King Tu. Cunning and shrewd, while lacking military acumen, he possessed sharp insight into human nature.
The mortal officers serving Grand Tutor Pang were manageable, but there were also many eccentric experts from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks affiliated with him. Although they respected the reputation of the Military School and refrained from direct provocation, deep down, they did not take the young General Feng Zikang seriously. They prided themselves on their unique abilities and naturally resented serving under a mere child.
Feng Zikang smiled coldly. “No matter. I was just worrying about lacking an opportunity to establish authority. Since the Fang father and son failed to teach them a lesson, I don't mind arranging a few more examples.”
Currently, the main pillars under Grand Tutor Pang were four Foundation Establishment cultivators, as Pang Fei had explained to him in detail the previous night.
The first was Fei Tianhe, Sect Master of the Lanshan Sect of Jiugong Mountain. The Lanshan Sect was one of the three hundred and sixty Middle Sects. Fei Tianhe specialized in lightning arts and possessed a treasure called the ‘Thunder Duke’s Bombardment,’ capable of summoning ten thousand bolts of thunder, making him formidable. His temper was notoriously arrogant; even Grand Tutor Pang had to speak to him respectfully. He was the foremost among those who looked down upon Feng Zikang.
The second was Master Fang Sheng, an elder from the Foyin Temple of Qingliang Mountain. This temple belonged to the Buddhist school and was also one of the three hundred and sixty Middle Sects. Master Fang Sheng was skilled in healing and saving lives, though less suited for direct combat. However, his miraculous elixirs had treated numerous soldiers. The temperament of these masters was benevolent, and they were unlikely to oppose Feng Zikang.
The third was Wang Sihai, the chief disciple of the Xuanwu Sect of Lion Mountain. This man was the frontline powerhouse, impervious to blades and spears, serving as a vanguard when charging into hordes of demonic beasts. The Xuanwu Sect was one of the seventy-two Upper Sects, with powerful cultivation methods. It maintained close ties with the Military School. Although Wang Sihai was hot-tempered and slightly insubordinate toward Feng Zikang, he was unlikely to cause major trouble.
The fourth was Liu Bushi, an elder of the Fuwei Sect from Yandang Mountain. This man mastered the arts of Qi Men Dun Jia and was skilled in setting up formations. He possessed two banner gates, red for life and black for death, which were highly effective in battlefield formations for assassinating generals or dueling opponents. This man also had a poor temper, but his nature was gloomy, suggesting he would not initiate conflict.
Grand Tutor Pang’s wide network had brought these many experts from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks together, but unfortunately, none respected the others, leading to widespread fragmentation of morale and fatigue in their overall combat strength. While they were useful, they could not decisively defeat the enemy, which greatly troubled the Grand Tutor. This was a major reason he sought aid from the Military School.
If not for figures from the Three Teachings and Nine Streams, who could suppress these unruly characters?
However, contrary to the Grand Tutor’s expectations, the Military School had not sent a second-generation disciple of equal standing, but merely a third-generation one. This left the Grand Tutor hesitant and uncertain.
The figures from the Three Teachings and Nine Streams held roughly equivalent seniority. Even if one were to meticulously calculate, the seniority of the Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist schools was slightly higher, but not significantly so. Since General Lu’s rise, most second-generation disciples from the Three Teachings had benefited from him and generally treated each other as peers.
Grand Tutor Pang was a second-generation disciple; although his own cultivation was modest and he enjoyed worldly wealth, his status remained high, granting him considerable influence. The cultivators he invited did not dare to treat him disrespectfully.
The seniority of cultivators from other sects descended in stages, generally placing them about half a generation below those from the Three Teachings and Nine Streams. For instance, these sect masters and elders were calculated to be half a generation below the Grand Tutor, but they were half a generation above Feng Zikang, which explained their condescending attitudes.
“Father, do you think Senior Brother Feng can properly manage these people?”
Pang Fei also harbored concerns. He had learned the details of the incident at the city gate and understood that Feng Zikang possessed some skill. However, since these experts from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks were difficult to handle, and Feng Zikang was so young, he worried if he could easily command them.
“Hmm…”
Grand Tutor Pang fell silent in contemplation, then finally spoke, “Fei’er, you are preoccupied with military affairs and do not grasp the intricacies of the cultivation world well. According to the message received from Martial Brother Lin, this Nephew Feng has risen rapidly in fame and holds high prestige among the cultivators. Many seniors speak highly of him, even naming him the foremost of the third-generation disciples of the Righteous Path.”
He looked at his son and sighed. “Moreover, not only is his cultivation profound—he successfully completed the Divine-Grade Foundation Establishment Merit Task—but it is rumored that the changing tides of the world are also connected to him.”
“Oh?” Pang Fei was keenly curious. “Father, what exactly is going on? Tell me.”
Grand Tutor Pang chuckled lightly. “These matters are not relevant to you, and telling you would be useless. However, I share your worry. Although Feng Zikang’s reputation precedes him, his youth remains a factor in whether he can truly control those unruly experts from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks. We must wait and see.”
The father and son discussed their anxieties late into the night, finally retiring around two or three in the morning.
※
The next day, during the council meeting in the tent, Grand Tutor Pang displayed the Black Jade Military Tally and announced that command over Ganzhou’s three hundred thousand troops and the experts from the Three Mountains and Five Peaks was entirely transferred to Feng Zikang.
“Hold on!”
Fei Tianhe was the first to jump up in protest. “Grand Tutor Pang, I came to Cang Province to help because of your reputation. Now you intend to hand military authority to this boy? Doesn't that mean I must serve under him? Absolutely not! If the Grand Tutor insists on this, then I shall have no choice but to take my leave!”
He forced his small, bean-like eyes wide open, his pupils darting constantly. His face was dark; he was clearly dissatisfied with the decision.
Feng Zikang sneered at his coarse speech.
Fei Tianhe was a sect master, but the Lanshan Sect of Jiugong Mountain was merely one of the three hundred and sixty Middle Sects. This sect master appeared crude and simple. Even if his cultivation were high, he was not of much use.
Grand Tutor Pang hurried to placate him. “Master Fei, how can you say such a thing? We are uniting now to fight the demonic invasion from the Southwest. My own abilities are limited, so it is natural to step down and yield command to the capable so that we may crush the demons and restore peace to the Great Tang’s subjects!”
He pointed at Feng Zikang. “Although Martial Nephew Feng is young, he is an outstanding figure among the third-generation disciples of the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Military School. He is highly skilled and adept at military strategy. Sect Master Yuan specifically instructed me, saying Martial Nephew Feng possesses great advantages. Master Fei, please remain calm and let us discuss the great matters at hand!”
In truth, Yuan Buhuan had told him nothing of the sort. To the Military School, this was just an ordinary merit task. Yuan Buhuan wished to cultivate Feng Zikang, which was why he was sent. However, to retain Fei Tianhe, the Grand Tutor had no choice but to exaggerate wildly, even shamelessly praising Feng Zikang while secretly breaking into a cold sweat. Martial Nephew Feng! You must live up to my flattery! If you slip up, you won't be the only one losing face!
Fei Tianhe snorted. “How high can the cultivation of this youth possibly be? I suspect there is too much empty posturing. Perhaps he should return to his sect to train for a few days before discussing serious matters!”
He had always been arrogant, and seeing Feng Zikang’s foundation seemingly incomplete, he held him in greater contempt. After all, in the cultivation world, strength speaks the loudest; without proven cultivation, all talk is meaningless.
Feng Zikang chuckled, suddenly interjecting, “Hearing you say that, Sect Master Fei, are you perhaps very confident in your own cultivation?”
His sudden interruption, delivered in an unfriendly tone, stunned the others.
Fei Tianhe, however, threw his head back and smiled coldly. “Naturally!”
Ignoring the reactions of others, Feng Zikang continued, “I heard that Sect Master Fei possesses a Thunder Duke’s Bombardment, capable of summoning ten thousand bolts of lightning to strike simultaneously. Its power is boundless; the target is guaranteed to be reduced to ash. Is this true?”
Fei Tianhe snorted, clearly smug. “When this item is used, no one below the Core Condensation stage dares to directly withstand its might!”
This Thunder Duke’s Bombardment was the sect-protecting artifact of the Lanshan Sect. It stored a hundred thousand bolts of heavenly lightning, capable of releasing ten thousand at once. Nothing could withstand it; everything was certain to turn to powder.
Feng Zikang laughed loudly. “What if I say I can stand in the path, allow you to bombard me with the Thunder Duke’s Bombardment as many times as you like, and remain completely unharmed? What do you think of a cultivation level like that, Sect Master Fei?”
“What?”
Fei Tianhe’s rage ignited, his beady eyes widening to perfect circles. “You are courting death!” If you wish to know what happens next, please log in to Xin Xiong, for more chapters, support the author, and enjoy genuine reading!