Chapter 46

General Guan Zhen's speech was very simple and brutal.

The Ten Camps Competition also didn't have too many rules.

In the martial arts field there were a total of ten Martial Arts Platforms and the central grand Martial Arts Platform.

Anyone can jump onto a Martial Arts Platform to defend the ring, and likewise anyone can act as a challenger, challenging the ring master.

Only the ten Combat Soldiers remaining at the end are qualified to ascend the final grand Martial Arts Platform.

Apart from not allowing killing on the Martial Arts Platform, the sparring has no rules at all.

"Since everyone is so modest, let me, Zhang Hai, cast a brick to attract jade!"

As General Guan Zhen's words fell, soon a Combat Soldier jumped onto a Martial Arts Platform.

Zhang Hai's appearance was like lighting the fuse that ignited the Ten Camps Competition.

The ten martial arts fields instantly became extraordinarily lively, twenty Combat Soldiers of comparable strength on the Martial Arts Platform went back and forth, refusing to yield.

The first wave to go up were mostly fourth- or fifth-stage Martial Trainees.

In this month's training, all Combat Soldiers made considerable progress.

Nowadays, in the Warrior Camp, it is extremely difficult to find a third-stage Combat Soldier!

After someone is knocked off the ring, a field medic will quickly come forward to examine the injury and treat the wounded.

The Combat Soldiers also need not worry that sparring will affect the subsequent training.

On the ten Martial Arts Platforms, as soon as someone is knocked off the ring, someone will quickly step in as a replacement.

Each ring had not a moment's rest.

Deng Li and the instructors of each camp sat together, commenting on the Combat Soldiers' performances.

"Old Deng, the recruits of your camp are not up to par."

"No matter how you say it, this is the Combat Soldier camp led by General Guan; in every Ten Camps Competition they place in the middle to lower ranks, I think you are still too lenient with the recruits."

"As long as they don't die from training, train them to death; the lives of Combat Soldiers are not so delicate."

Beside Deng Li, these instructors' words sounded like advice.

But to Deng Li's ears, that was naked mockery!

Guan Shan is after all the third younger brother of General Guan Zhen.

When assigning new recruits, even without giving Guan Shan preferential treatment, it would be impossible to assign him ineffective Combat Soldiers.

Given no innate disadvantage, if the Combat Soldiers they bring out are inferior, isn't that saying these instructors are incompetent?

Deng Li's gaze turned gloomy; he was about to lose his temper when he remembered that Gu Chen's several brothers and Yuqitian had not yet made a move, whereupon he calmly sat back down.

"Zhang Zhong, he who laughs last laughs best."

Deng Li laughed inscrutably,

"You'd better not get too happy too soon."

Zhang Zhong snorted, this Deng Li is still as usual, stubbornly saving face while suffering.

"I'd like to see what you, Camp Number Two, have to turn the tables!"

The instructors of the other camps also cast contemptuous glances.

The ranking of the camps is determined by their strength.

Originally, given Camp Number Two's current strength, it should long ago have been demoted to a rear camp.

If not relying on the connections of Guan Shan and General Guan Zhen, what right do Deng Li and his group have to occupy the position of Camp Number Two?

Already more than one camp has voiced complaints about this.

During the training period this was not yet apparent.

But once war breaks out, different camps carry out different missions.

Camp Number Two can easily obtain meritorious missions!

They know full well that the Jian Chi State might suddenly attack at any day.

By then, all the credit will belong to the First and Second Camps!

They can't surpass the First Camp, nor can they surpass the Second Camp?

As long as this time we let Camp Number Two lose in a humiliating way.

Even if General Guan Zhen wanted to show favoritism, he must let Guan Shan yield the position of Camp Number Two!

This reasoning, Guan Shan and the instructors of Camp Number Two naturally understand as well.

They watched with anguish as, on the Martial Arts Platform, the Combat Soldiers of Camp Number Two were knocked down one after another from the martial arts hall, their brows furrowed.

"If this continues, our Camp Number Two's position will likely be in danger," Guan Shan said in a low voice.

The several more hot-tempered instructors further erupted in curses,

"These fellows probably colluded long ago, joining forces to deal with our Camp Number Two!"

"As soon as one of our people wins a match, they will send out a Combat Soldier at least one minor stage stronger to challenge on the Martial Arts Platform!"

"They are simply afraid we will retain Camp Number Two's position!"

Camp Number Two's performance, as long as it can place in the top five,

General Guan Zhen would then be able to retain Camp Number Two's position, at most yielding one step to become a third-place finisher.

Therefore, Guan Shan has, over the past half month, expended enormous effort.

Distributing numerous resources to the new recruits is precisely to preserve this position.

But these people are clearly intent on being ruthless, also wanting to drive them down to the bottom position!

Although they know that their side has occupied Camp Number Two's position these years only thanks to connections,

but because there has been no war, their Camp Number Two is merely an empty title.

At this moment, war is about to break out, and they are unwilling to simply hand over Camp Number Two's position!

「Originally, as long as we spar normally, without the First Camp interfering, we could at least secure a top-five spot this time. 」

「But with these camps joining forces, the new recruits simply couldn't resist. 」

Several instructors had grim faces.

After all, the new recruits were brought up by them.

Seeing the new recruits get injured one after another while being targeted, they would be lying if they said they felt no guilt.

「The key is, no one ever stipulated that the Ten Camps Competition cannot challenge people from the same camp. 」

「These camps' actions are completely legal and compliant; they can't find any fault with them. 」

「The onlooking common folk have no idea about the grudges between the camps. 」

「They only care whether the Ten Camps Competition is exciting enough, whether it's passionate enough! 」

「Mu Shan Cheng is already on the border, and the folk customs are fierce. 」

「The common folk's strength is nothing to scoff at. 」

「Many common folk are stronger than Combat Soldiers, reaching the level of Martial Practitioner, even Martial Master! 」

「But watching these merely Martial Novice Combat Soldiers spar, they still relish it. 」

「Time is about up. 」

After a moment, Guan Shan looked toward an instructor and instructed him,

「Let Gu Lin and them go up. 」

That instructor let out a long breath, bowed his hands in farewell, and quickly went to the Second Camp's preparation area.

「Gu Lin, are you ready? 」

Gu Lin nodded, grinning,

「I've been waiting for this. 」

Under the gaze of the multitude, Gu Lin helped up a comrade who had just been knocked off the stage, then immediately charged onto the Martial Arts Platform.

The burly man on the stage, Fang Wen, gave a fierce grin,

「Another fearless fool has come up on stage? 」

Gu Lin drew his battle sword, the blade pointing straight at Fang Wen, his gaze contemptuous,

「You're so arrogant, do your parents know? 」

「Courting death! 」

Fang Wen stomped his right foot, his body shooting out like a tiger descending the mountain, and he fiercely slashed his blade at Gu Lin's throat.

He held nothing back; his very first move was a life-or-death technique!

Gu Lin's eyes turned slightly cold,

「It's just a spar, yet you strike so viciously—today I'll break your arm! 」