Chapter 347: 356 Discussion

"Hmm?"

Hearing Huang Ping's hint, Li Yijian was quite surprised; he first subconsciously looked toward the Phantom Bonsai.

At this moment, the phantom was demonstrating Luo Nian fighting against a Fierce Beast according to Ouyang Zhou's strategy. The surrounding background had already become somewhat blurred, much like the dizziness one feels after staring for too long. That was one thing, but the battle between the person and the beast in the center was exceptionally intense and clear.

The tiny figure and the Fierce Beast in the phantom were fighting each other, sparks flying everywhere, the sounds of their clashes ringing out incessantly.

Li Yijian had originally just been watching for the spectacle, but prompted by Huang Ping, he looked carefully at the point of contact between the two combatants and could not help but grow more shocked the longer he watched.

This was a real fight!

What "real fight" meant was that although the tiny figure and the Fierce Beast were both phantom projections, the power of their attacks was real, the collision of their forces was real, and even the amplification from the Art Tool held by the tiny figure was real. The effect of the attacks was by no means a special effect, but rather caused by true collisions of power.

If someone were to reach into the battle, they would certainly feel the impact; an ordinary person or even a weaker Martial Artist would be wounded by that tiny light-shadow figure!

Although this bonsai and this tiny figure were false, at least this battle had arrived in the real Human World!

He thought of this and could not help but click his tongue—this Dharma Artifact was truly marvelous; it was no ordinary phantom environment.

Any phantom environment capable of interfering with reality is a powerful one.

It was just that... it seemed useless?

Everyone watching a phantom environment does not care whether the attacks are real or not, as long as the displayed effect is realistic enough. Could one really manipulate the tiny figures in the phantom to fight enemies? Unless one were a fool, no one would think to try their hand inside a bonsai.

If the battle were magnified and the people restored to normal size, it could perhaps serve as a virtual partner...

Was it a bit redundant?

Unless it was a battle in a restricted area, it had some use, but where would one use this in a general fight?

Immediately after, he glanced at Huang Ping.

He discovered that this unassuming "older" Colonel was not simple; at least his eye for detail was truly good. Not only had he himself not noticed the anomaly through the transparent window, but the young people in the classroom had almost all leaned in to look, and none of them had noticed either.

Moreover, Huang Ping was not a Sword Guest; he had only accumulated his position through seniority, high merit, and knowing how to handle people, and had always served as his assistant.

He kept this matter in his heart and did not say much more.

The lesson in the classroom was still continuing, with Tang Zhao using Luo Nian as an example to vividly describe this canyon phantom environment he called a "Copy." After more than a month of teaching, his eloquence had greatly improved, and since the course was already brilliant, his lecturing was extremely engaging.

Although the course no longer held any reference value for someone at Li Yijian's level, he still listened in unconsciously from behind the transparent wall.

After a while, a battle had just finished being explained. Tang Zhao clapped his hands and said, "That's all for today. Everyone is tired; let's disperse early and go back to rest."

The group of youths responded with a roar, some showing expressions of being unsatisfied and wanting more.

Li Yijian almost showed such an expression himself, but fortunately, he quickly controlled himself and stood in place as if nothing had happened.

Once the students had all left, Gui Ye said, "Xiao Tang, that just now wasn't..."

Tang Zhao stopped it and said, "Wait a moment, a guest has arrived."

Then someone said, "Instructor Tang is very sharp. It is indeed Li Yijian of the Governor's Middle Army who has arrived."

Tang Zhao looked with interest at this visitor who had only notified him of the visit yesterday; it was his first time seeing someone from the military.

In this day and age, the military does not guard frontiers in the ordinary sense, but rather the "Qianxian" that towers above the mortal world, which is almost in another world. Therefore, although Yunzhou claims to have one hundred thousand armored troops, the number of troops truly on Yunzhou soil is limited, and Tang Zhao had almost never dealt with them before.

But having said that, among these troops, only the Governor's Middle Army seems to be stationed in the mortal realm. It should be the only army that ordinary Yunzhou people can see. At the time when the Turtle Bandits surrounded Xun City, Mai Shiyu had wanted to ask for reinforcements from the Middle Army stationed nearby.

Later, this great chaos was suppressed by the Land Inspection Division itself. The Commander was very satisfied and gave Xun City extra credit—the Land Inspection Division has always believed that since it carries the word "Land," then matters underground should all be managed by the Land Inspection Division.

As the saying goes, wherever there are people, there is a Jianghu. The Land Inspection Division does not like the Middle Army interfering with the ground, and the Middle Army, including the entire military, looks down on any other government office. Whether it is the Land Inspection Division or the Prison Suppression Division, they have never held them in their eyes. If not for the political significance of this dual-track merger between the Gaoyuan Marquis's shogunate and the Dudu Mansion, the Middle Army would never have deigned to organize any exams jointly with the Three Offices.

This joint exam was held under various subtle relationships.

Of course, everyone is a decent person; since they had met, the courtesies still had to be observed.

Tang Zhao and Li Yijian exchanged greetings, and Tang Zhao said, "I am truly sorry; today happened to be a mock exam, otherwise I should have gone to welcome the General."

Li Yijian withdrew some of his arrogance and said, "What of it? Official business should have been the priority anyway." As he sat down, he looked toward the bonsai phantom that had not yet been put away.

Tang Zhao had no intention of introducing it and signaled for Gui Ye to put away the Youxian Pillow; the phantom environment disappeared naturally. Returning to a normal classroom, he asked, "Shall we go to the office, or..."

Li Yijian's expression calmed down; he pulled up a chair and sat, saying, "Let's just do it here. It's only a few words, nothing complicated."

Since he had sat down, the others naturally sat down as well, and Huang Ping retreated a step and sat upright.

Li Yijian said, "Instructor Tang, this mock exam you've organized is quite novel, and I have also had my eyes opened. But if you will forgive my bluntness, I fear this mock exam is insufficient for simulation."

Tang Zhao asked, "How so?"

Li Yijian said, "Because the exam we are organizing this time is completely different from the past."

Tang Zhao sighed helplessly—really... he seemed to always encounter such things.

It was the same when he went to participate in the Talisman Assembly; it was a huge change from how many sessions it had been, the Host had changed, and the organizers were also ambitious great powers.

Mogan Mountain had held so many Talisman Assemblies without a single incident, yet it just had to change to Longyuan when he arrived.

As soon as Longyuan came up, they put on a posture of wanting to do something big, wishing they could hold an unprecedented grand event, but the result... all kinds of accidents emerged one after another, the turtles were infighting, the Turtle Bandits were causing trouble outside, the Zhu Yang they invited had ill intentions, and private feuds and national hatreds all came at once; it was livelier than watching a grand opera.

And it's happening again this time?

Although this time it was all "our own people" and there were fewer internal variables, looking at this General's demeanor, it didn't look like the "seek no merit, but seek no fault" style. Could it be that they were going to stir up trouble again?

Then he heard Li Yijian say, "We went to the Jing'an Division earlier and heard the instructors there introduce last year's exam. Although they said there was danger, it was ultimately fake danger. As far as I know, only one student died last year, and the number of those seriously injured didn't even reach the count of five fingers..."

Dong Xingyu raised an eyebrow and said, "What? I have only heard of those who take pride in killing many enemies and preserving themselves. Could it be that there are those who take pride in the death of their own people? Is this how your army earns military merit?"

Li Yijian raised his brows, and Huang Ping had already stood up, saying, "What is this woman saying?"

Tang Zhao stood up. Actually, he had wanted to say similar words, but Dong Cheng had spoken first, and even more sharply, so he could only play the "good cop," saying, "Calm down, calm down, everyone be rational. Instructor Dong has a kind heart and has always prioritized benevolence. She doesn't understand military matters well; in fact, I don't either—how can an exam be compared by how many people die? I hope the General can enlighten us."

Li Yijian said coldly, "Simply put, you are still playing games. This is absolutely not okay. When the army goes on an expedition, it is of course based on killing the enemy and preserving oneself, but the usual assessments must never be child's play. It is precisely to experience the feeling of being on the line between life and death during normal times so that one will not be afraid when on the battlefield and will know what to do. Never mind the assessment, our training death rate is at three per thousand, and it will only be higher during assessments. I will say it straight: it would not be strange at all if three or five students died in this exam, and even one-tenth would be within the acceptable range."

Tang Zhao and Dong Xingyu changed color at the same time. Dong Xingyu said, "You have people die like this in your regular training? Forgive my poor Arithmetic, but while the main force might be fine, wouldn't those elite squads fighting on the Qianxian be gone after a few times?"

Li Yijian was not angry this time; instead, he said, "No, because elites are elites. What is a death rate for ordinary people is, for elites, merely training that is a bit more arduous."

Dong Cheng and Tang Zhao both heard it; his implication was that the students of the Land Inspection Division were "ordinary people." It was not that this couldn't be retorted, but bickering back and forth was meaningless.

Dong Cheng kept a wooden face and said nothing. Tang Zhao said, "Could it be that you really intend to drag the students to the Qianxian?"

Li Yijian said calmly, "If you call it the Qianxian, it is the Qianxian, but it is the safe zone of the Qianxian. Otherwise, it would truly be sending them to their deaths. I came here today specifically to bring the map to show the instructors." As he spoke, Huang Ping took out the map and spread it flat on the table.

Tang Zhao knew that these two had no intention of coming to discuss, but only to notify them. Theoretically, the organizers of the annual exam do not need to discuss, but whoever comes each session usually still makes a gesture, showing an attitude of humbly listening to opinions. This session had skipped this bit of fake courtesy.

As expected of the military, straightforward and direct, not even bothering to put on an act.

Li Yijian immediately spread out the map and told him the content of the examination in a hurried, perfunctory manner. He had no intention of repeating or explaining, so Tang Zhao memorized it word by word in his heart.

Li Yijian finished speaking, rolled up the map, and said, "Do you have any other questions?"

Tang Zhao said, "I still hope to provide each student with an Insurance Technique Tool. Our young people should not be wasted in the rear."

Li Yijian said, "This was decided long ago; once you learn to swim, the rope should be cut. If you have objections, go find your Commander and have the Commander speak to our General."

Tang Zhao said, "I will."

Li Yijian pursed his lips, glanced at the Youmeng Pillow, and said, "Your teaching Dharma Artifact is quite good."

Tang Zhao said, "If you want to purchase one, I can give you the address."

The address of Longyuan.

White Jade Grand Assembly cannot sell the Dream-Wandering Pillow.

Li Yijian snorted and said, "So, are you certain that this Instructor Tang will lead the students? You are a new Sword Guest, right? Have you been to the Qianxian?"

Tang Zhao said, "Not yet."

Li Yijian said, "You will go sooner or later. All new Sword Guests must serve at the Qianxian; they aren't calling you now only because you have been a Sword Guest for too short a time and haven't formed combat effectiveness. In a year or half a year at most, or a few months at least, someone will summon you. If you are assigned under me then, I can look after you."

Tang Zhao said politely, "Many thanks."

Li Yijian said, "Having never been to the Qianxian, being unfamiliar with the environment there, and being a novice, I advise you to change the person. Of course, this is your business; I am merely suggesting. If any mistakes occur, it has nothing to do with us. Rest assured, there is no death quota for Sword Guests in one assessment. This Instructor will likely be safe. Farewell."