Chapter 58: The new official sent by the Prefectural Government to the Black Ice Platform in Luyang Prefecture has arrived

The atmosphere inside the carriage was frozen.

If he weren't so thick-skinned, Young Master Tao would have jumped off the carriage right then and there.

Fortunately, Zhang Yuan did not press him on the matter of the Buddha Maiden's Dance.

"These Buddha Maidens come from Yuzhao Temple in the Liangyuan Domain, seeking the Sarira," Zhang Yuan's voice rang out.

"It is that very Sarira."

"I only wonder who brought that Sarira to Great Qin, and to whom they intend to present it."

In truth, he knew it was impossible for Young Master Tao to have actually seen the Buddha Maiden's Dance.

With the cultivation level of those Yuzhao Temple maidens, they only needed to slightly circulate a soul-confusing technique to make Young Master Tao believe he had seen it.

"Ahem, we don't need to involve ourselves too deeply in the matter of the Sarira."

"Half a month is enough time for the Black Cavalry to familiarize themselves with the terrain and for their training and integration to be completed."

"As you suggested, we can have Qingshan Village send the pulleys, and let them see how you deal with slaughter."

Young Master Tao hurriedly changed the subject, not even asking how Zhang Yuan had managed to extract information from the Buddha Maiden.

Zhang Yuan nodded and began discussing with Young Master Tao how to exterminate the Kong family.

Per Young Master Tao's request, it would be a "cash on delivery" transaction.

Given the importance of the pulleys and iron chains, the spies of the Northern Yan Northern Army would certainly be lurking nearby during the exchange.

"In addition to the three hundred taels of silver, I also want those two Buddha Maidens. Only then will Kong Baitang remain unsuspecting."

Young Master Tao did not dare look at Zhang Yuan as he spoke.

"Oh," Zhang Yuan replied, turning his gaze out the window.

He was afraid Young Master Tao would see him smiling.

...

By the time they returned to the courtyard in Ding Family Alley, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

Zhang Yuan stood in the courtyard, a faint golden light shimmering around him.

A golden light screen flickered into existence within his mind.

【Zhang Yuan】

Identity: 8th-rank Bailiff of Luyang Prefecture, Great Qin; Black Tiger, Black Armored Officer of the Black Ice Platform; Black Tiger, Bounty Hunter; Red Fox, Leader of the Red Fox Caravan; Zhang Erhe, Lord of the Eighteen Fortresses of Qingshan

Cultivation: Late Stage of the Innate Realm. Requirements for leveling up: 840 Blood Essence Beads, 353 True Yuan Beads, Grandmaster Tribulation, Heavenly Dao Opportunity.

Martial Arts Cultivation: Great Perfection of Mountain and River Movement, Minor Success in Golden Body Art (Requires 5 Buddha Essence Beads and 3 Insight Beads to upgrade)

Battle Formations: Great Perfection of the Azure Wolf Formation, Great Perfection of the Tiger Striding Formation

Chaos Space: 3,650 Blood Essence Beads, 805 Insight Beads, 587 True Yuan Beads, 221 Demon Qi Beads, 36 Buddha Essence Beads

Chaos Combat Support: Not Unlocked

This banquet at the Kong family's residence had made Zhang Yuan realize the utility of the Golden Body Art.

This technique could not only resist soul-confusing methods but could also directly neutralize any drugs hidden in tea.

Zhang Yuan felt a sense of anticipation; he wondered if, once this technique reached Great Perfection, he would truly become invulnerable to blades and spears and immune to all poisons.

——————————————

Outside Luyang City, the Black Cavalry camp.

Dressed in black armor, Zhang Yuan led a squad of ten mounted warriors, standing several hundred yards away from the opposing cavalry led by Chang Ning.

Chen Wu, Huang Sanliang, and seven or eight students from the Academy stood on the hillside. Beside them, Li Changwei led several Black Cavalrymen, watching the training with anticipation.

Over the past few days, Zhang Yuan had guided Li Changwei in the Iron Armor Fist, finally helping him reach the stage of Great Success.

Reaching Great Success in a fist technique was not just about increased strength, but about the refinement of movement and the control of power.

It was only after reaching this stage that Li Changwei understood why Zhang Yuan said his martial arts cultivation lacked depth.

Once the technique reached Great Success, the composure in every movement and the fluidity of power were incomparable to before.

"Commander Chang Ning's Tiger Striding Formation is highly proficient; his squad's strength cannot be underestimated," Li Changwei said with a smile as he watched the two opposing cavalry squads.

Since Zhang Yuan had helped him master his fist technique, he naturally wanted to repay him.

Chen Wu and Huang Sanliang had nothing to criticize regarding their cultivation or strength; they only lacked combat experience and seasoned insight.

The academy disciples were slightly weaker, but they were young; once trained, they would be no different from Chen Wu and the others.

Li Changwei spoke up, whispering the formation mantras and sharing some combat insights regarding the Tiger Striding Formation.

This kind of experience was what kept one alive on the battlefield.

"They are charging," a Black Cavalry soldier in black armor whispered beside Li Changwei. Everyone fell silent.

On the slope, Zhang Yuan held a wooden saber, guiding his mount as he galloped forward.

Ten riders followed closely behind him; though their formation was loose, they were connected by their shared momentum.

The Tiger Striding Formation was like a tiger patrolling the mountains—possessing immense power even in its relaxed state.

Opposite them, Chang Ning's cavalry also formed up for a charge.

The movements of both formations were similar, and the momentum they generated was nearly equal.

The cavalry galloped, covering over a hundred yards in an instant.

Zhang Yuan, who had been crouching low on his horse, suddenly straightened his body. He raised his wooden saber and let out a loud shout: "Fire—!"

The riders behind him roared in unison: "Fire—!"

"Fire—!"

"Fire—!"

The Great Qin formation was as swift as the wind and as fierce as fire!

With three roars, their battle intent condensed. Beyond the formation, the phantom of a black tiger seemed to emerge, roaring at the sky.

Zhang Yuan pointed his saber forward, let out a cry, and charged straight into the fray.

From a distance, Li Changwei and the others could see clearly that while the two cavalry squads were evenly matched in strength, their battle intent and combat power differed vastly during the charge.

Zhang Yuan's squad tore through Chang Ning's formation with a single charge.

As the two squads collided and passed each other, only two men remained by Chang Ning's side when they turned back.

In contrast, not a single man was lost from Zhang Yuan's side; they were all still mounted.

Zhang Yuan turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings, and said deeply, "In battle, you must condense battle intent and killing intent. Led by a commanding officer, this can become a Martial Soul War Beast."

"Once a Martial Soul War Beast is condensed, the power of the cavalry can be doubled."

"Knowing when to ignite the blood courage of your comrades and how to choose the optimal moment to charge are essential skills for any commander."

"The brothers have placed their lives in your hands; you must be responsible for every single one of them."

"Because behind them, they have families, parents, wives, and children."

"We soldiers can die, but the weight of a life must be as heavy as a mountain."

Zhang Yuan's voice echoed through the valley. The Black Cavalrymen who had been knocked from their horses, the riders behind Zhang Yuan, and Li Changwei and the others watching nearby all listened with solemn expressions.

"Again!" Zhang Yuan swung his wooden saber and shouted loudly.

The soldiers beside Chang Ning climbed back onto their horses, their blood essence surging and their battle intent agitated.

For every one of them, this kind of training was a rare opportunity!

After three rounds of charging, the cavalrymen's legs were trembling from exhaustion.

Zhang Yuan beckoned to Chen Wu and the others.

Chen Wu hurriedly led the academy students forward, delivering crossbows equipped with eight pulleys each.

Except for the sentries, all Black Cavalrymen mounted up, gripping their crossbows tightly.

"The crossbows of our Great Qin are among the finest in the five nations and three domains."

"Mounted archery is our specialty."

"However, these crossbows are different; they are powerful, and it is not easy to maintain accuracy while firing in rapid succession."

"If you cannot achieve a seventy percent accuracy rate during mounted firing drills tonight, there will be no dinner."

With Zhang Yuan's command, the cavalry galloped out, raising their crossbows and aiming at the wooden targets ahead.

*Bang—!*

Twenty yards away, the bolts shot out like lightning, whistling through the air and pinning themselves directly into the center of the wooden targets.

The black bolts pierced straight through the center of the one-foot-square targets.

That single shot carried at least five hundred pounds of force!

This crossbow was comparable to a full draw from a mid-stage Heaven Realm martial artist.

As the cavalry galloped, the bolts flew like rain.

Ten bolts.

From the first bolt at twenty yards, to the third at seven yards, to the sixth at thirty yards, and the tenth at fifty yards.

The cavalry rode on, and not a single bolt missed.

Ten two-foot iron bolts pierced through every single time.

The cavalry rode past.

*CRASH—!*

The one-foot-thick wooden targets shattered completely.

What level of precision and control was required for such crossbow skill?

Li Changwei and Chang Ning looked at each other, shouted, and spurred their horses toward their respective targets.

The whistling of arrows and the thundering of hooves filled the valley.

...

As the sun set, the exhausted Black Cavalrymen slowly returned to camp.

Half of those trailing behind had their heads hanging low; they certainly wouldn't be eating tonight.

In front of the camp, Tao Hong approached Zhang Yuan and lowered his voice, "Brother Yuan, the new official from the Luyang Prefecture Black Ice Platform has arrived."

"She has requested to meet you and the two commanders of the Black Cavalry."

(End of Chapter)