134: Martial Arts Test (Part 3)

It was exactly the Hour of the Sheep, and the sun was leaning slightly to the west.

On the north side of the Drill Ground, ten simple models of "mountain passes" had quietly been erected in the previously empty space.

Each pass was built of thick wood, about two zhang high and fifteen zhang long, with a wall wide enough for three people to walk abreast. In front of the passes was an open area twenty zhang wide, at the end of which stood dozens of dark mechanical launchers and over ten iron cages—the silhouettes of low-level Yao Beasts could be faintly seen inside, restlessly clawing at the ground.

"The second round of the martial examination: Pass Offense and Defense!" Judge Li's voice rang out again. "All candidates will draw lots again and be divided into ten-man squads to defend a pass against three waves of attacks. There will be a fifteen-minute interval between rounds to adjust deployments."

"Scoring criteria: teamwork, command and adaptation, defensive efficiency, and personnel 'casualties.' Note—in this round of testing, everyone will have a 'Life Talisman' tied to their waist. If you suffer an attack sufficient to be fatal, the Life Talisman will shatter, you will be judged 'killed in action,' and you must withdraw immediately. Minor injuries will be recorded as point deductions."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the field immediately became solemn.

This was no longer a simple competition of individual martial prowess, but a simulation of a real small-scale siege battle!

"Draw lots!"

The candidates lined up once more. Chen Linsheng drew the "Shu" lot and was grouped with nine others into a squad.

He quickly scanned his teammates: two Senior Brothers from the Yang Wei Martial Arts Hall Branch, an unfamiliar young swordsman, a stocky shield-bearer, a female Martial Artist wielding dual short swords, and... two Disciples wearing the attire of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall.

One was tall and the other short; the tall one was named Liu Meng, in the Late-stage Flesh Tempering Realm, and the short one was Sun Qian, in the Middle Stage of the Flesh Refining Realm. When their eyes met Chen Linsheng's, a clear flash of resentment and hostility appeared—Chen Linsheng's repelling of Yan Chen at the Hidden Dragon Banquet was viewed as a disgrace by everyone at the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall, and these two clearly held a grudge.

The remaining two were Zhou Yuan from the small "Zhou Family," who was in the Middle Stage of the Flesh Refining Realm and wielded a long spear with a nervous expression, and finally, a taciturn archer with a longbow on his back and a steady aura.

"Shu Squad, proceed to the Shu Pass immediately!" the proctor urged.

The ten people hurried to the fifth pass on the north side of the Drill Ground.

Stepping onto the wooden wall, Chen Linsheng quickly observed the terrain.

The front of the pass was open, with two movable Chevaux-de-frise on each side. A few Logs and Rolling Stones were piled on the wall, along with ten bundles of "arrows" tied with straw rope—the arrowheads were wrapped in cotton cloth and dipped in lime, which would leave a mark upon impact to simulate an arrow wound.

"Everyone, time is of the essence." Chen Linsheng turned around, his gaze sweeping over the nine people, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable authority. "My name is Chen Linsheng, and I have some experience in defense. If you trust me, you can follow my directions for now to get through the three waves. If anyone has a better strategy, feel free to propose it for discussion."

The shield-bearer said in a booming voice, "Senior Brother Chen showed his might at the Hidden Dragon Banquet, I'll listen to you!" The two Senior Brothers from Yang Wei Martial Arts Hall naturally supported him.

The young swordsman and the woman with dual short swords exchanged a look and nodded.

The archer nodded silently.

Zhou Yuan quickly said, "I... I'll listen to Young Hero Chen."

Liu Meng and Sun Qian, however, gave a cold snort. Liu Meng squinted and said, "Chen Linsheng, you're only in the Flesh Refining Realm, by what right do you command us? Our Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall's Blazing Sun Art is peerlessly fierce; I should be the one leading the offensive!"

Sun Qian chimed in, "Exactly! Defending a city is about dealing damage; the best defense is a good offense!"

Chen Linsheng's eyes were like deep pools as he looked at the two. "In that case, Brother Liu, what brilliant ideas do you have?"

Liu Meng froze; he didn't actually have a complete strategy, so he could only force himself to say, "Naturally, Sun Qian and I will take the lead in attacking, and the rest of you just support us!"

“May I ask, Brother Liu,” Chen Linsheng’s tone remained calm, “there are three waves of Yao Beasts and mechanical attacks, and the characteristics of each wave are unknown. If the first wave consists of agile Yao Beasts quickly scaling the walls, can your Blazing Sun Art cover the entire defensive line in an instant? If the second round is a volley from long-range mechanisms, how will you protect your comrades on the wall? If the third round is heavy-armored Yao Beasts ramming the gate, are you willing to be the first to jump down the wall for melee combat?”

Three questions, each striking at the heart of the matter.

Liu Meng's face turned red, and he was left speechless.

Chen Linsheng stopped looking at him and increased his speaking speed: "Time is short, I'll deploy us briefly: The shield-bearer and Zhou Yuan will guard the left section, the lady with dual swords and the swordsman will guard the right section, and my two Senior Brothers will stay in the middle to provide support. The archer will take the high point on the wall tower to prioritize picking off the targets that pose the greatest threat to us. Brother Liu, Brother Sun—"

He looked at the two of them with a sharp gaze: "Since your techniques are fierce, please guard the front of the gate. If Yao Beasts rush to the gate, I'll need you two to block them with all your might. Is that acceptable?"

This arrangement gave them a position for frontal combat while also placing them in the most dangerous spot—if they defended well, they would get the top credit; if they failed, the responsibility would be clear.

The expressions of Liu Meng and Sun Qian shifted, but they eventually gritted their teeth and agreed: "Fine!"

"Everyone, remember," Chen Linsheng said solemnly, "the ten of us are now defending one wall together; we share the glory and the loss. Put aside personal grudges for now. If the defensive line collapses because someone neglects their duty for private reasons, the proctor won't care whose fault it was."

These words were meant for Liu Meng and Sun Qian, but also for everyone else.

Everyone's expression turned stern as they shouted their assent in unison.

At that very moment—

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

Three war drums thundered, echoing across the Drill Ground.

"First wave, begin!"

“Kaka kaka...”

The distant mechanical launchers rotated in unison, and dozens of black dots whistled through the air! They were actually fist-sized iron pellets, launched by spring force at extreme speeds, blanketing the ten passes!

"Raise shields! Evade the pellets!" Chen Linsheng shouted.

The shield-bearer had already raised his great shield to protect the left section; Chen Linsheng grabbed a wooden board from the wall and moved like a flash, blocking several iron pellets for the right section; the two Senior Brothers also used their own methods to defend.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The iron pellets smashed into the wooden walls, shields, and boards with dull thuds. A stray pellet hit Zhou Yuan's shoulder; he groaned in pain as lime powder splattered—leaving a mark of a "minor injury."

"Don't panic!" Chen Linsheng's voice steadied everyone. "This is just a probing long-range suppression; the real attack is coming!"

Before he could finish, over twenty dark shadows lunged out of the iron cages, rushing toward the various passes!

They were low-level Yao Beasts called "Iron-Claw Hedgehogs." They looked like hedgehogs but were as large as dogs, covered in iron-like short quills with four sharp claws. They were skilled at Climbing and extremely fast!

"They're wall-Climbing Yao Beasts!" the woman with dual short swords cried out.

"Archer, pick off the ones getting closest! Shield-bearer, hold steady! Zhou Yuan, use your spear to stab the enemies Climbing the wall! Right section, prepare for close quarters!" Chen Linsheng's words flew out, and at the same time, he grabbed a Log, aimed at three Iron-Claw Hedgehogs lunging toward the left section, and threw it with all his might!

The Log whistled and accurately hit two of them, sending them rolling down with wails. The third had already scaled the wall but was knocked back by the shield-bearer's shield; Zhou Yuan took the opportunity to stab it in the belly with his spear, and lime powder exploded—"killed."

On the right section, the swordsman and the woman with dual swords coordinated perfectly, their blades weaving to slay two more. The two Senior Brothers in the center also each finished one off.

Liu Meng and Sun Qian were guarding the front of the gate. Facing four lunging Iron-Claw Hedgehogs, they roared and unleashed their Blazing Sun Art, heat waves surging from their fists and palms to blast the beasts back. However, one was extremely cunning and circled to the side to ambush Sun Qian's lower leg!

"Watch out!" Chen Linsheng had noticed long ago; a pebble flicked from his fingertip and hit the Iron-Claw Hedgehog right in the face, sending it tumbling away. Sun Qian broke into a cold sweat and looked back at Chen Linsheng with a complicated expression.

The first wave ended after a brief but intense clash.

At the Shu Pass, no one was "killed," only Zhou Yuan had one minor injury, and Liu Meng's shoulder had been grazed; the defense was intact.

The proctor recorded: "Shu Squad, first round: no deaths, two minor injuries, defensive efficiency: superior."

At other passes, two locations already had people "killed" and withdrawn—all due to coordination failures that allowed Iron-Claw Hedgehogs to break through the defensive lines.

A fifteen-minute rest period followed.

Chen Linsheng quickly adjusted the plan: "Iron-Claw Hedgehogs are agile but have weak defense. The next round might bring stronger Yao Beasts. Brother Archer, please prepare more arrows and focus on the flanks. Brother Liu, Brother Sun, the pressure at the gate might increase; you can step back three paces and fight using the Chevaux-de-frise as cover to avoid being surrounded."

Liu Meng did not argue this time and nodded silently.