The Creation of the Heavens and All Realms

Chapter 14: Establishing Authority Through a Bloody Battle on the Platform

“Captain Zhou, your squad’s training doesn’t look all that impressive.” Zhou Tianci had intended to wait quietly until it was time to leave, but reality had other plans. When trouble came knocking, no matter how low a profile he kept, it was always difficult to avoid the provocations of certain people. Zhou Tianci looked in the direction of the voice and saw Second Squadron Commander Lu Yuan approaching alongside Third Squadron Commander Zhang Fang and Fourth Squadron Commander Qin Huwu. Zhou Tianci’s expression turned cold: “I wonder what advice Captain Lu has to offer?” “I wouldn’t dare call it ‘advice,’” Lu Yuan replied with a smile—a smile that made his face look like a tiger’s. “Battalion training is different from squad training. We all understand that Captain Zhou lacks experience. It was one thing when we didn’t know each other before, but now that we’re comrades-in-arms in the same corps, if your First Battalion doesn’t perform well, aren’t you just holding us back and hurting us all?” Zhang Fang chimed in, “Commander Lu is absolutely right. The Commander has ordered us to integrate as quickly as possible and become combat-ready. If progress is delayed because of the First Battalion, wouldn’t that be hurting everyone?” Zhou Tianci replied calmly, “So, according to the two of you, what should we do?” Lu Yuan said, “In my opinion, Captain Zhou, you should take the initiative to tender your resignation to the Commander and replace the First Battalion’s captain with someone experienced and capable. That would be best for everyone.” “I agree,” Zhang Fang chimed in. Zhou Tianci sneered, “Captain Qin hasn’t said anything yet. I wonder if you feel the same way?” Qin Huwu stepped in to smooth things over. “Captain Zhou, please don’t take offense. Brother Lu and Brother Zhang’s words are a bit blunt and may not sound very pleasant. However, in my opinion, this is indeed a viable solution. Military training is no trivial matter; it’s of the utmost importance. Captain Zhou lacks experience leading a battalion, and with the Blood Battle Legion currently undergoing reconstruction and time running short, you really should consider stepping down to make way for someone more qualified. Once you’ve gained the necessary experience, you can return to your position as battalion captain—I’m sure no one will object.” Zhou Tianci’s gaze swept over the three men, and he sighed inwardly, realizing he had once again been drawn into the vortex of power struggles within the Northwest Legion. However, far from dampening his confidence, their criticism only served to ignite his fighting spirit. “If even a small unit like the Blood Battle Legion is rife with such strife, what about the Northwest Legion? What about the City of Tears and Blood? What about the Great State of Yu? What about the entire realm? The path of cultivation is by no means smooth sailing; trials of all kinds come one after another. Retreating is certainly not the way of the strong.” With his resolve set, Zhou Tianci looked at the three men and laughed heartily: “I, Zhou, cannot accept your kindness. As for whether I am qualified for the position of squadron leader, that is for the Commander to decide. If you want to take my place, you’re not qualified yet!” “Don’t push your luck!” Lu Yuan threatened. Zhou Tianci replied, “In the military, we don’t talk about ‘accepting the wine or facing the punishment’—we only talk about strength! Since the three of you are so concerned about me, I ought to return the favor. As it happens, I’ve made a small breakthrough today and am itching to test my skills. Why don’t we all spar a bit?” “You want to spar with us?” Zhang Fang could hardly believe it. Although a high rank in the military didn’t necessarily mean high cultivation, those who held such positions inevitably possessed remarkable strength—otherwise, how could they command the respect of their soldiers? “That’s right.” Lu Yuan chuckled darkly. “Captain Zhou is kind enough to offer, and we certainly won’t refuse. Why don’t we head to the Battle Arena? Let the entire legion’s officers and soldiers witness Captain Zhou’s prowess.” “I’d be more than happy to!” Zhou Tianci said calmly. Soon, news that Zhou Tianci, Lu Yuan, and their companions were to spar on the Blood Battle Platform spread throughout the Blood Battle Legion—even Commander Cao Ming heard about it. Far from intervening, Cao Ming ordered training to be suspended so the entire legion could witness the contest. The commotion far exceeded the expectations of Zhou Tianci, Lu Yuan, and the others, though both sides were secretly delighted. Lu Yuan and his group hoped to use this opportunity to humiliate Zhou Tianci and force him to resign as Commander of the First Battalion, while Zhou Tianci was equally eager to seize the chance to establish his authority. Thus, this duel became the first major event in the Blood Battle Legion since its reestablishment. The Blood Battle Arena, located right in the center of the drill ground, was used by the Blood Battle Legion for martial contests. In the military, it was common for soldiers to spar and exchange blows, and private brawls were not uncommon either. However, in private brawls, causing death was strictly prohibited—otherwise, it constituted a violation of military law—but battles on the Blood Battle Arena were exempt from this rule. There is a military regulation: once you step onto the Blood Battle Arena, life and death are left to fate! As noon approached, a solemn silence fell over the Blood Battle Legion’s drill ground. Five thousand soldiers surrounded the Blood Battle Arena from the east, west, and north, while Cao Ming and his companions sat in the stands on the south side. “General, is this really a good idea?” Captain Dong Qicheng looked a bit uneasy; after all, Zhou Tianci, Lu Yuan, and the others were all under his command. “With four battalion commanders stepping onto the Blood Battle Platform, if someone were to lose their life, it wouldn’t be a trivial matter.” Cao Ming waved his hand dismissively. “The army has its own rules. As long as no rules are broken, anyone can step onto the Blood Battle Arena.” “The General is right,” teased Captain Zheng Kaiyuan of the Second Army. “Captain Dong, our Blood Battle Legion is newly formed, and now is precisely the time to ignite our fighting spirit. There’s no better way to do that than by stepping onto the Blood Battle Platform. In my opinion, your four subordinates have good intentions.” Dong Qicheng remained silent, his face dark with displeasure. “Why don’t we all take a guess at who will win?” Zheng Kaiyuan continued. “General, as a先天-level powerhouse, your discernment far surpasses that of us后天 martial artists. I wonder who you think will come out on top?” Cao Ming also seemed to take an interest: “Logically speaking, Zhou Shi is a newly promoted squad leader who has only recently broken through to the late Post-Heaven realm, whereas Lu Yuan, Zhang Fang, and Qin Huwu have served as squad leaders for five or six years and broke through to the late Post-Heaven realm long ago. Zhou Shi doesn’t stand much of a chance. However, I’m inclined to believe that Zhou Shi will be the one to win.” “Where’s Captain Dong?” Zheng Kaiyuan asked. Dong Qicheng snorted coldly. “The Blood Battle Legion has only just been formed. The death or injury of any battalion commander is a loss. I certainly don’t share Captain Zheng’s enthusiasm.” Zheng Kaiyuan paid no heed to Dong Qicheng’s words and said with a smile, “Then let me share my own opinion. The General says Zhou Shi will win—he must have his reasons, and I’m quite convinced myself. But since this is a wager, we can’t all bet on one side. Since the General is betting on Zhou Shi, I’ll bet on Lu Yuan and his two companions.” The northwest wind made the battle flags flutter loudly, and many on the training ground were thrilled—after all, a Blood Battle Arena contest between battalion commanders was a rare sight. Within the Blood Battle Legion, mid-level officers like battalion commanders rarely settled their disputes on the Blood Battle Arena; even if they were willing, the Commander and the Captain would intervene to stop them. However, the Blood Battle Legion was an exception. Under the gaze of over 5,000 onlookers, Zhou Tianci slowly walked onto the Blood Battle Arena. He removed his battle armor, leaving only a light blue tunic. “Which of you three would like to take the stage first and teach me a lesson?” Zhou Tianci said in a resonant voice. Lu Yuan shed his battle armor and leaped onto the platform: “This one, Lu, will be the first to test your skills!” There were no referees for the duels on the Blood Battle Platform, and neither side exchanged many words. This was war—a battle for the pride of martial artists. Here, there was no concept of victory or defeat; as long as both combatants remained on the platform, the fight would not stop. One more thing: weapons were forbidden on the Blood Battle Platform; both sides fought unarmed. Zhou Tianci fixed his gaze intently on Lu Yuan across from him, not daring to let his guard down for even a moment. He had absolute confidence in his own strength—after all, he had effectively set one foot into the Xiantian realm—but he dared not underestimate a seasoned squad leader like Lu Yuan. On the Blood Battle Platform, Zhou Tianci’s mind grew increasingly clear. “I’ll make the first move!” Seeing Zhou Tianci’s unhurried demeanor, Lu Yuan roared and lunged toward him. The two were no more than ten zhang apart; with Lu Yuan’s speed, he would be upon Zhou Tianci in the blink of an eye. Facing Lu Yuan’s tiger-like charge, Zhou Tianci remained completely unflustered. He took two quick steps forward, snatching out with his right hand to block Lu Yuan’s fist, while simultaneously unleashing a fierce left punch that tore through the air with a piercing whistle! “Here we go!” Zheng Kaiyuan, sitting in the South Stand, leaned forward slightly. Upon seeing Zhou Tianci’s reaction, he snorted derisively, “He really doesn’t know his own limits. Even I would have to step back if faced with Lu Yuan’s full-force strike—and yet this Zhou Shi actually thinks he can block him with just one hand…” To Zheng Kaiyuan’s embarrassment, before he could even finish his sentence, Zhou Tianci on the Blood Battle Stage had already grabbed Zhou Shi. “Huh?” Cao Ming couldn’t help but exclaim, while Dong Qicheng and the others were also stunned. However, the most astonished of all was Lu Yuan himself—the very man Zhou Tianci had just seized. “How is this possible! I’ve reached the peak of the Posthuman Realm—my bone marrow is as pure as jade, my bones as hard as refined steel, and my strength exceeds ten thousand jin. Combined with the Tiger Demon Fist, who could possibly stop me—except for a Pre-Human Realm powerhouse!” Lu Yuan watched as Zhou Tianci’s right hand blocked his lunge and effortlessly neutralized his force, his mind filled with bewilderment. Zhou Tianci remained expressionless; although Lu Yuan’s attack was powerful, it wasn’t strong enough to force him to retreat. “Peak Postnatal strength with a single arm capable of 10,000 jin of force, and Lu Yuan’s fist technique is no slouch either—this lunge carries over 30,000 jin of force. An ordinary Postnatal martial artist would likely struggle to withstand it. If this had happened yesterday, I certainly would have had to dodge, but now… it’s still not quite enough!” Zhou Tianci had absolute confidence in his strength. After absorbing the energy of nearly 90 ferocious beasts, he had undergone a complete transformation—not only had he completed the “Marrow Cultivation” in just one night, but his physical constitution had also been enhanced to an unimaginable degree. Although he hadn’t tested it, Zhou Tianci was confident that his strength far exceeded that of a peak Post-Heaven martial artist. If it were merely a matter of brute strength, Zhou Tianci wouldn’t have blocked Lu Yuan’s punch so directly. He had another asset: the power of his Primordial Spirit. With his Primordial Spirit strengthened, Zhou Tianci could not only perfectly control his own strength but also accurately sense Lu Yuan’s attacks. It was precisely because of this that he was able to effortlessly parry Lu Yuan’s lunge. Lu Yuan was so startled by Zhou Tianci that he momentarily lost his focus in the midst of the battle. Zhou Tianci didn’t let this opportunity slip by; his left fist followed immediately, striking Lu Yuan’s chest with a “thud.” Lu Yuan, who stood nearly 2 meters tall, was instantly sent flying backward, utterly powerless to resist. “Thud…” Lu Yuan landed five or six zhang away, barely clinging to life.