Chapter 332: Subdue the Dragon!

The next day, the training ground was packed with people.

The Zhenke.

This is a newly introduced event this year and the highlight of this year's martial examination.

"I heard His Majesty will come in person to watch—do you think it's true?"

"His Majesty?!"

Candidates murmured among themselves, glancing around, trying to spot His Majesty's presence.

Though His Majesty won't alter the results of this exam, performing well in the Zhenke could leave a favorable impression, granting major advantage in the palace examination—especially for those confident they'll enter the second rank.

This is a golden chance to challenge the top three.

Instantly, their morale surged like they'd been injected with blood.

Vice Minister Wang looked down at the fiercely motivated candidates and nodded approvingly:

"Good. This is how we showcase the martial virtue of Great Yu."

The Ministry of War oversees more than just military affairs; in truth, it holds almost no direct control over regional armies—after all, Yu has the Martial Saint Yuan Dingting.

Most of the time, the Ministry of War handles matters of the martial world.

The more martial virtue Yu possesses, the greater the Ministry's achievements.

Vice Minister Wang was naturally pleased to see more young talents emerging.

As the drumbeats sounded again,

The Zhenke officially began.

Soon, the training ground echoed with the deafening roars of demonic beasts.

Demonic energy surged into the sky.

These were all Sea-Viewing realm great demons.

Candidates below the Sea-Viewing realm all showed expressions of fear.

Many outright requested to withdraw.

Vice Minister Wang granted them all permission.

This Zhenke was meant to select outstanding individuals; those too weak had no need to compete, so he didn't force them.

All who withdrew were graded Third Class.

Receiving Third Class meant they were out of contention for the Second Rank.

Vice Minister Wang, Nie Siming, and several other fourth-rank officials sat atop the training ground's platform.

They squinted at the ferocious demonic beasts.

"Powerful demons—last year's Second Rank probably couldn't defeat one of these."

"Indeed."

A fourth-rank military officer nodded.

These demons were gifted by the Wu Kingdom's delegation; His Majesty, in high spirits, had them all enrolled in the examination—each terrifyingly strong.

Demonic beasts possess immense physical strength; martial cultivators of the same realm struggle to match them.

And these few are among the elite of the Fifth Rank.

Vice Minister Wang had little faith.

It's entirely possible no one will defeat the Nine Yin Dragon.

Nie Siming's expression remained calm.

He was invited by Vice Minister Wang because his combat strength ranks among the very top among Primordial Foundation cultivators; almost no one in the capital surpasses him, and his presence ensures no accidents occur during this examination.

That's also why he was allowed to bring his own disciple.

Li Rui and other fifth-rank officers guarded the four sides.

To prevent escaped demons from causing chaos.

Soon,

only fifty-odd candidates remained on the training ground.

Each was a skilled Sea-Viewing cultivator, qualified to challenge the Second Rank.

The Zhenke test was simple.

The Wu Kingdom sent five demonic beasts; the more beasts defeated, the higher the ranking.

The first opponent was a Fifth Rank Double-Headed Tiger-Lion.

Fierce beyond measure.

Half the candidates were defeated by the Double-Headed Tiger-Lion and withdrew in defeat.

A few who overcame the Tiger-Lion were then bested by the second beast, the Crimson Flame Lizard.

"Enough."

"It's over."

Li Rui flashed forward and rescued the youth trapped beneath the Tiger-Lion's gaping maw.

The young man, though unwilling,

knew continuing would mean death at the beast's jaws.

With a soft sigh, he bowed respectfully: "Thank you, the examiner."

This was the purpose of having so many examiners.

All were skilled Sea-Viewing cultivators.

Each stationed at the four corners, ready to intervene instantly if an accident occurred.

It wasn't that they were necessarily stronger than the candidates on the field.

They were rested, waiting for the moment the combatants were exhausted.

Then they acted, while others joined forces to restrain the demons.

This scenario had occurred many times before.

The Double-Headed Tiger-Lion had driven the youth straight toward Li Rui, so he had to act.

Finally,

a stir arose on the training ground.

"It's Xu Yan—he's entering."

"Can Xu Yan make it to the final round?"

"If even Xu Yan can't beat these demons, who can?"

Li Rui heard the candidates whispering beside him.

Their voices were low, and they were over a hundred zhang away, but Li Rui's hearing was exceptionally sharp—he heard them clearly.

As expected,

a strikingly handsome young man stepped onto the training ground.

Li Rui had heard of Xu Yan.

Rumor had it he was the eldest son of a once-prosperous clan from Haizhou, with exceptional innate talent, who had once trained under the sect master of Haizhou's greatest sect—among the most formidable in the Sea-Viewing realm.

His name was the loudest among those calling for him to be Top Graduate.

Xu Yan entered.

In just over a dozen moves, he effortlessly defeated the Double-Headed Tiger-Lion and now battled the Crimson Flame Lizard.

Li Rui watched with keen interest.

Indeed, reputation is never undeserved—Xu Yan was truly formidable. The Crimson Flame Lizard, which had dominated the field, was now pinned down by Xu Yan's three-foot sword, his victory inevitable.

As expected,

Xu Yan slew four beasts, and finally, the Nine Yin Dragon was released.

Seeing the Nine Yin Dragon, three zhang tall, emerge from its cage, everyone tensed.

Truly extraordinary!

Dragons are descendants of the Dragon, and among demons, they are among the fiercest.

The Nine Yin Dragon is one of the most exceptional among them.

As soon as it appeared, demonic energy surged skyward—even from a hundred zhang away, its aura stunned all who watched.

Xu Yan's gaze grew more serious than ever before.

Not a single word, thought, or detail escaped his notice!

His battle aura surged.

If he defeated this Nine Yin Dragon, the Top Graduate title was certain.

He would gain fame across the land, crowned as Top Graduate.

How could he not feel triumphant?

In time, he might even become one of Yu's foremost martial leaders.

His future shone brightly.

He lunged forward with his sword, a flash of cold light—within an instant, his blade struck the dragon's scales, sparks flying.

Dust swirled across the training ground.

Man and demon fought in wild frenzy.

On the platform,

Vice Minister Wang of the Ministry of War smiled and said, "Brother Nie, this young Xu has some talent—but defeating this demon is still difficult. What do you think are his chances?"

Although he was a third-rank Vice Minister, his rank overshadowed Nie Siming.

But his realm was the same as Nie Siming's—both were Primordial Martialists.

There are so few third-rank officials in the world; not all of them can be Earthly Immortals.

Nie Siming spoke coldly, expressionless: "No chance of victory."

Upon hearing this.

Vice Minister Wang fell silent.

"Brother Nie is so certain?"

Nie Siming nodded.

Before his words had even faded.

The situation on the training ground shifted abruptly: the human and the demon, once evenly matched, now saw Xu Yan flung high into the air by a single sweep of the Nine Yin Dragon's tail—he was utterly doomed.

A sly gleam flashed in the Nine Yin Dragon's eyes.

It had been concealing its true strength all along.

All to annihilate this human before it.

Since the human race wanted to use it as a whetstone, it would shatter the blade outright!

A thunderous roar echoed.

Xu Yan was blasted by the dragon's breath, blood trickling from his lips.

Though wounded, his face remained stubborn.

"Today, I shall defeat this dragon!"

Xu Yan roared inwardly.

He raised his sword and charged forward again.

His expression fearless.

He came to the capital solely for the Top Graduate title; any other rank meant nothing to him.

It was the hope of his family's revival.

Only the title of Top Graduate could prevent his family from being swallowed by rival powers.

"Come!"

Xu Yan roared, leaping into the air.

A streak of silver light slashed through the air.

Ding!

A deafening crash.

But the outcome stunned everyone: Xu Yan's strike failed utterly—he was flung back by the dragon, on the verge of being devoured.

"Worse! The dragon concealed its strength!"

A cry of alarm rang out.

'Is this how it ends?'

Xu Yan sighed softly in his heart.

After decades of sword training, he ended up like this.

Truly tragic.

Yet just before he closed his eyes.

A weathered figure appeared like a ghost before him.

Two massive hands descended like mountains upon the Nine Yin Dragon's head.

The dragon's once unstoppable assault halted instantly.

The Nine Yin Dragon's eyes, the size of a human head, betrayed rare shock.

This man had blocked its full-power strike with one hand.

How was this possible?!

Li Rui's massive hand pressed downward.

One zhang.

Two zhang.

Ten zhang!

Boom.

Li Rui crushed the Nine Yin Dragon straight into the training ground, splitting open a deep trench.

"This—"

Everyone on the training ground stared, jaws slack with shock.

Outside the training ground.

On the top of Dengyun Tower.

The Holy Emperor rose in alarm.

He exclaimed joyfully: "One palm subdued a dragon—truly a hero! Tell me his name at once!"

The old eunuch beside him squinted:

"This man is Li Rui of Yunzhou."

(End of Chapter)