Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1356 - 1308: Heaven and Earth Essence Is Rising...

"Ugh, forget it, let’s just use some privilege and head inside to take a look," Chen Xi said, glancing at the Zhang Clan and Lady Gan, feeling speechless. It’s really bold of Liu Bei to bring the Zhang Clan out.

"I was the one who wanted to come," the Zhang Clan slowly spoke, "I heard there are women participating in the military exams, so I came to see. Other exams are fine, but this military exam..."

Chen Xi was at a loss for words. In other exams, it’s a battle of wits, and women might not necessarily lose, but in the military exam, it’s more about physical strength. It’s really unfair for women to participate, even with the same level of Inner Qi cultivation, there’s a significant difference in strength.

Soon a team of escorts dispersed the crowd, and Liu Bei and others slowly entered the grounds.

"If I had known there’d be this many people, I would have built a permanent venue earlier and charged admission fees. I probably could have covered the cost of building the place. There are plenty of wealthy people in Ye City." Chen Xi shamelessly said to Liu Bei, who simply chuckled.

"Zichuan, do you really like making money that much?" the Zhang Clan asked curiously, obviously in a teasing tone. It seemed that the former Marquis Chen had a different image.

"Because I’m bored," Chen Xi replied helplessly. Facing the Zhang Clan, he decided to soften his tone. "I’ll go inform some acquaintances that we’re going in, so let’s have them come in too."

Chen Xi dispatched several Tiger Guards under Liu Bei’s command to bring those acquaintances into the drill ground. As for Liu Bei’s safety, there was Xuu Chu as an escort on the surface, plus a hidden immortal following behind.

Speaking of immortals, Chen Xi felt like a couple of them had been missing recently, "By the way, why haven’t I seen Taoist Master Zuo, Elder Zixu, or Nanhua Immortal lately?"

Chen Xi’s words made Jia Xu twitch slightly. How could he say that he sent Zixu to confirm maps, but it’s been months now, and with Zixu’s flying speed, he should have returned by now. How did he get lost?

"Achoo!" Elder Zixu squatted beside a group of penguins, staring at the pitch-black long night, with long icicles hanging from him, still pondering the current situation.

No one paid attention to Chen Xi; they were all watching the competition on the field. Being far away before, with a large crowd, even Chen Xi couldn’t distinguish everyone clearly. Now that he was inside, he quickly recognized some familiar faces.

"Yun Lu, do your best in the competition!" A loud cheer came from behind Chen Xi, where Ma Yunlu’s support group was unmistakably present.

"Aren’t you all supposed to dislike such competitions?" Chen Xi asked in confusion, looking at the group of girls waving at Ma Yunlu.

"Henghengheng, Yun Lu is really amazing!" Mi Zhen answered immediately upon hearing Chen Xi’s voice after blending into the crowd.

But before Mi Zhen could get excited, Lul Xun respectfully saluted Chen Xi, "Master!"

In an instant, the words Mi Zhen wanted to say got stuck, and she obediently bowed and followed Lul Xun in saluting Chen Xi, making Zhen Mi, who was watching from the side, feel a bit awkward.

"Hmm hmm, recently you need to restrain arrogance and impatience, and don’t frequently take your fiancée to harm Zijia Clan." Chen Xi cleared his throat twice, speaking with great masterly authority towards Lul Xun.

Lul Xun was bewildered. What happened with Lu Yu, did he take the wrong medicine? Why couldn’t he bring Mi Zhen to see Lu Yu? Usually, it’s Mi Zhen taking him anyway.

"Forget it, even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand." Chen Xi waved expansively, seeing Lul Xun’s expression, he knew Lul Xun completely didn’t understand how taking Mi Zhen would harm Lu Yu, poor Lu Yu just recently awakened.

Just as Chen Xi was about to say a few more words, a cheer erupted from the field. A figure clad in black, riding a horse, shot arrows at a target a hundred paces away. All nine arrows hit the bullseye, and the tenth arrow pierced right through the target.

"To have such a skillful individual, Zilong’s Righteous Followers could really use such an archer," Chen Xi remarked, noting the tenth arrow. A small bow managing to shoot an arrow with such strength must have been enhanced with Inner Qi.

"Zhongkang, what’s the matter?" Liu Bei noticed Xuu Chu’s serious expression while clapping and asked curiously.

"That fellow is no ordinary person," Xuu Chu said, furrowing his brows. "The last arrow of his didn’t actually use Inner Qi. It’s another very difficult technique, and this is one of the few arrow skills that can hit Inner Qi Manifestation."

Elite archers could manage to kill Inner Qi Manifestations through sheer volume of arrow rain, but one-on-one, the vast majority of elite archers couldn’t hit Inner Qi Manifestations. Xuu Chu himself had been struck by Ma Zhong’s arrow using such a technique.

Liu Bei’s eyes lit up, suggesting this spring exam could be held more frequently.

The riders following the figure in black also demonstrated mounted archery that was acceptable, but the difference was still vast compared to that earlier fellow dressed in all black.

When it was Xue Prefecture’s turn, he stubbornly negotiated with the examiner, claiming that this round didn’t necessarily require using arrows; he just needed to hit the target with a ranged weapon while riding a horse. Eventually, the examiner was persuaded.

Unable to resist such stubbornness, with Zhao Yun helping smooth things over, the chief examiner declared there was nothing unpassable, so Xue Prefecture charged at the target on horseback, wielding the sickles he’d been using for more than ten years. At about a hundred paces, he let the sickles fly...

It was entirely different from the previously arrow-struck targets; before hitting the target, Xue Prefecture’s sickles seemed to suddenly multiply, slicing the target into pieces.

The whole venue erupted in cheers; this seemed much more exhilarating than the preceding archery. As for whether it was within the rules, well, it was a battlefield better than killing, regardless of what weapon you used.

"Worthy of being an early Yellow Turban Commander," Chen Xi expressed admiration, while Li Youu and others besides him nodded in agreement. No wonder he’d been pursued for so many years as a Yellow Turban; being a Channel Commander takes exceptional skill.

Those who came up after were entirely unorthodox, until Li Tiao, the second-to-last participant, rode up, threw his long spear, and the entire target was pulverized. Then the horse galloped forward, he beckoned with his hand, and the long spear flew back into his hand.

"This must be a technique only possible for those with Inner Qi Manifestation," Chen Xi commented, turning to Xuu Chu, who also looked serious.

"No, he doesn’t have Inner Qi Manifestation. With the resurgence of Heaven and Earth Essence, some Qi Refining to Gang Peak experts can now use some Inner Qi Manifestation techniques." Xuu Chu recalled Huang Zhong’s explanation about Qi Refining to Gang purifying oneself.

Zhao Yun was overjoyed seeing this scene. Ma Yunlu’s talent was indeed extraordinary, and she absorbed the techniques he taught very well. Coupled with her own Qi Refining to Gang level, Zhao Yun worried that Li Tiao and others might not be opponents for her.

But seeing this now, Zhao Yun was completely reassured. Unlike folks like Xuu Chu, who only knew about muscle and Inner Qi development, Zhao Yun had deep insights into Martial Arts; Li Tiao had already started naturally infusing himself and his weapon with divinity.

By refining slowly in this way, given enough time, maybe a century or so, Li Tiao could completely break through to Inner Qi Manifestation. As for now, even at Qi Refining to Gang Peak, three Ma Yunlus wouldn’t be a match for one Li Tiao!