Under the canopy of a low, wide tree that would take three or four people to encircle, five Centurions were gathered.

“Brother Qingshan, the Commander gave you ten days, and you cracked the secret in less than half that time. The Commander likely won't have any excuse to trouble you further,” Wan Fanxiang said with a smile. Du Hong, beside him, whispered, “Brother Wan, keep your voice down. If the Commander overhears you, you’ll be in deep trouble.”

Wan Fanxiang immediately glanced around, then chuckled, “What are you afraid of? No matter how powerful the Commander is, he’s only a Houtian master. From this distance, he can’t hear us. Speaking of which, now that Bai Qi is crippled, who do you think will be the new Battalion Commander for our camp?”

“The new Battalion Commander?” The others exchanged glances.

Teng Qingshan’s heart also stirred.

“The new Battalion Commander will likely be chosen from among us five!” Tian Dan said. “In terms of strength, Brother Qingshan is the most formidable! In terms of seniority and experience, Old Du is the highest. However, the selection of a Battalion Commander is determined by the Sect. They will choose the one whose loyalty gives them the most peace of mind.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“Could they transfer a Centurion from another camp to be our Commander?” Liu He whispered.

“Nonsense!” Wan Fanxiang cursed. “If they’re choosing a new Commander, they should pick from within our camp! Are those from other camps going to swoop in and steal the position? I’ll be the first to object!”

“I object too!” Tian Dan added.

Teng Qingshan smiled faintly, “Don’t worry. The Sect won’t act rashly; they need to ensure we accept the choice.”

“All five of us passed the initial entry assessment to join the Black Armored Army,” Du Hong said coldly. “Within the Sect, for positions like Battalion Commander or Commander, they usually favor core disciples! Still, they generally select from the Centurions already in the camp! Let’s hope the Sect doesn't leave us disheartened!”

Teng Qingshan also sensed that there were underlying tensions within the Black Armored Army.

Those like him, who joined via the external assessment, naturally banded together, harboring a slight sense of opposition toward the core disciples of the Sect. Meanwhile, the core disciples acted superior, looking down on outsiders. This was because, historically, spies from hostile sects to the Guiyuan Sect had infiltrated the Black Armored Army before.

“If they choose one of us five to be Commander, that’s manageable. If they just arbitrarily appoint some inexperienced core disciple, and he turns out to be incompetent as well, I’ll secretly ensure he’s finished,” Wan Fanxiang sneered.

“Don’t say things so plainly,” Liu He also lowered his voice and sneered.

Who among them, having reached the rank of Centurion, was truly a pushover?

Tian Dan glanced into the distance, suddenly startled, and whispered, “The Commander is coming!”

Teng Qingshan also looked far off. In the distance, Commander Ji Hong was striding toward them. Immediately, the five Centurions fell silent, ceasing their conversation.

“Commander!” The five bowed.

Ji Hong swept his gaze over the five, a rare smile appearing on his face, “Excellent! Teng Qingshan, you did remarkably well this time, discovering several loopholes in the supervision and guarding of the purple crystal mining area! Now that matters here are mostly settled, I should be leaving. Before I go, there is one matter I must finalize.”

The hearts of the five, including Teng Qingshan, skipped a beat.

“Bai Qi’s limbs are crippled; he will definitely have to leave the Black Armored Army from now on! Therefore, your battalion must also select a new Battalion Commander!” Ji Hong stated.

The five Centurions felt a surge of excitement.

There were only twelve Battalion Commanders in the entire Black Armored Army. One must remember how difficult it was to contend for the four Commander positions. For instance, the current four Commanders—whether it was the First Commander, Ji Hong, the Second Commander, Pang Shan, or the other two—were all Inner Sect disciples of the Guiyuan Sect.

Ji Hong, for example, was the Second Senior Uncle of the Sect Master, ‘Zhuge Yuanhong,’ holding an extremely high seniority. He had served as the First Commander for decades.

Pang Shan was Zhuge Yuanhong’s junior martial brother and had been a Commander for over a decade.

As for the Third Commander, Zang Feng, and the Fourth Commander, Guan Lü, they were direct disciples of Zhuge Yuanhong.

Commander positions were nearly unattainable!

Battalion Commander offered a sliver of hope.

“The new Battalion Commander for your camp is personally appointed by the Sect Master. I am here to relay the message,” Ji Hong said coldly. The five Centurions awaited in silent anticipation: Personally appointed by Sect Master Zhuge Yuanhong? Who would it be?

“Starting today, the Battalion Commander for the Third Camp of the First Division of my Black Armored Army shall be…”

Ji Hong’s gaze swept over the five, and he proclaimed in a resonant voice, “Teng Qingshan!”

Teng Qingshan’s eyes brightened! The other four trembled internally, feeling a mix of helplessness and resentment. However, this feeling quickly subsided into resignation. According to the Guiyuan Sect’s rules for promotion, they generally favored younger individuals when abilities were comparable. They only needed to look at the Third Commander, Zang Feng, and the Fourth Commander, Guan Lü, as examples.

After all, younger people held greater potential.

Teng Qingshan had also joined through the external assessment, just like them. Furthermore, they had gotten along well these past few months, and Teng Qingshan’s strength was beyond question. Everyone readily accepted the decision.

“Teng Qingshan,” Ji Hong looked toward him.

“Sir,” Teng Qingshan bowed.

“From today onward, you are the new Battalion Commander!” Ji Hong looked directly at Teng Qingshan. “This is a personal appointment by the Sect Master. Although I don’t understand why the Sect Master would appoint a mere lad who has been in the Black Armored Army for less than half a year to such an important position, the Sect Master’s order must be obeyed! Moreover, your handling of the purple crystal theft case was quite satisfactory. I am relatively pleased… Do not disappoint me under my command in the future. If you perform poorly, I will still dismiss you!”

“Qingshan will remember,” Teng Qingshan bowed.

Ji Hong’s sternness was notorious throughout the Black Armored Army; even the Third and Fourth Commanders had been reprimanded by him, let alone Teng Qingshan.

“Good,” Ji Hong nodded. “The Battalion Commander’s warhorse, heavy armor, and other equipment will be provided to you upon your return to the Sect! For now, you all continue your garrison duties here until the three-month term is complete before returning. I must take Bai Qi back to Jiangning County City ahead of schedule. You don’t need to mobilize the entire unit to see me off.”

By tradition, sending off a Commander required the entire battalion to line up in solemn farewell.

However, this time, only Teng Qingshan and the other four, leading a small contingent of Black Armored soldiers, escorted Commander Ji Hong to the foot of the mountain. They watched as Commander Ji Hong, leading a dozen elite guards and Bai Qi, rode off into the distance.

Teng Qingshan and the others watched the dozen riders disappear at the end of the official road, kicking up a cloud of dust.

“Although Bai Qi is crippled, he still possesses internal strength. Otherwise, how could he sit steady on a galloping horse like that!” Wan Fanxiang joked.

Bai Qi had a broken leg, so to ensure he could withstand the speed of the gallop, they had directly fixed his body onto the saddle. After all, Bai Qi was a peak Houtian master and could hold his seat steady.

“Alright, everyone, let’s head back up the mountain,” Teng Qingshan said.

“We haven’t congratulated Qingshan on becoming Battalion Commander yet,” Tian Dan remarked. As soon as he spoke—

“Your subordinate pays respects to Battalion Commander!” Liu He suddenly bowed to Teng Qingshan.

Tian Dan also bowed and smiled, “Your subordinate pays respects to Battalion Commander.” The other two followed suit.

“You fellows,” Teng Qingshan laughed heartily. “There are no outsiders here, just call me Qingshan. Let’s not be bound by these ridiculous formalities.” Teng Qingshan understood etiquette; in formal settings, calling him Battalion Commander was mandatory.

“Privately, we are brothers, but the title of Battalion Commander must still be called. This rule cannot be broken,” Du Hong chuckled beside him. “Brother Qingshan, at your young age, you’ve reached the eighth level of the Savage Bull Strength Manual and possess peerless spear skills. Your future in the Black Armored Army is boundless!”

Tian Dan nodded in agreement, “I think, if Brother Qingshan works hard for a few more years, he might even become a Commander!”

“Becoming a Commander would be great! Currently, all four Commanders are core disciples. This rule needs to change,” Wan Fanxiang, eager to stir up trouble, chimed in.

“Qingshan, now that you are the Battalion Commander, how will you select the Centurion for your own squad? Commander told you to decide this,” Tian Dan asked. “Qingshan, why not let your cousin, Teng Qinghu, take the position?”

As Tian Dan finished speaking, the brows of the other three furrowed slightly.

“The rules must not be broken!” Teng Qingshan commanded. “Starting tomorrow, the fifty Sergeants in my battalion will begin a competition. The final winner will become the Centurion!”

To directly appoint his cousin as Centurion?

Teng Qingshan had the authority, but he knew the Black Armored Army recruited new members every six months, and weaker Centurions would still be eliminated and demoted back to Sergeants. Therefore, even if he promoted his cousin now, it was useless. Everything depended on his cousin’s own effort!

“With my cousin’s strength, he should be close to a first-rate martial artist,” Teng Qingshan mused internally.

...

In the following days, in the Iron Chain Mountain mining area outside Huafeng City, the fifty Sergeants began their trials.

This competition relied entirely on true ability; it was a single-elimination match—lose once, and the chance was gone.

Teng Qinghu shone spectacularly during the competition. After all, he was already quite capable during the Sect entry assessment, having practiced the ‘Great Spear Stake’ and excelling at listening to force. His spear technique was formidable! After joining the Black Armored Army, he had also been practicing the Savage Bull Strength Manual. It must be noted that Teng Qinghu had practiced Tiger Fist for many years.

Tiger Fist was the ‘Tiger Form Fist’ from the Twelve Forms of Xingyi Quan.

Having practiced this Tiger Fist for six or seven years, Teng Qinghu had already opened two of his Extraordinary Vessels and Eight Channels. When Teng Qinghu began practicing the Savage Bull Strength Manual, he reached the third level that very day and began practicing the fourth. Now, after several months, Teng Qinghu had opened three channels and was starting on the fourth!

Opening all eight of the Extraordinary Vessels and Eight Channels signified the great completion of the ninth layer.

Teng Qinghu having opened three meant the fourth layer was complete, and he was beginning to practice the fifth.

Teng Qingshan understood: “My cousin is now practicing the fifth layer. His instantaneous explosive internal strength, combined with his physical power, is approaching ten thousand jin! However, the impurities in the other channels of my cousin’s Extraordinary Vessels and Eight Channels were sparse. By pushing them out so aggressively according to the Savage Bull Strength Manual method, future breakthroughs will become increasingly difficult!”

But Teng Qingshan couldn't do anything about it.

If he didn't let his cousin practice the Savage Bull Strength Manual, reaching the ‘Grandmaster Realm’ in internal martial arts might take Teng Qinghu twenty years and still not be guaranteed. That Grandmaster Realm was too difficult.

Since there was no alternative, Teng Qingshan did not stop his cousin from practicing the Savage Bull Strength Manual.

...

In the competition, Teng Qinghu’s explosive power, nearly that of a first-rate martial artist, combined with his sharp and direct spear technique, led him to a continuous winning streak, until he reached the final match. His opponent in this decisive battle was a first-rate martial artist. In this fight, relying on his subtle control over his muscle groups and his fierce spear technique, Teng Qinghu managed to defeat his opponent.

Finally, Teng Qinghu became the new Centurion!

“Under my guidance, my cousin’s spear technique is simple yet effective, relying on the method of listening to force, its power is not small. It is not surprising he became a Centurion. However… the next recruitment cycle is approaching quickly,” Teng Qingshan pondered. “With my cousin’s current strength, he is likely to end up as one of the eight weakest Centurions, and if challenged again, he might be eliminated and become a Centurion once more! Hmm, starting tomorrow, I will teach my cousin the Five Fiery Styles!”

The Five Fiery Styles, created by Teng Qingshan, were the five moves resulting from the fusion of the Blazing Fire Spear Art.

These five moves surpassed even Bai Qi’s Rising Sun Nine Spears in power.

Especially the strongest move, ‘When the Fire Dies, the Kindling Passes On’ (Huo Jin Xin Chuan), whose power was astonishing.

If his cousin Teng Qinghu mastered even two or three tenths of the Five Fiery Styles, it would be enough to secure his position as Centurion. If he achieved great mastery and learned all five moves, his strength would not be inferior to Bai Qi’s!

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