The soldiers gradually arrived at the training ground, forming neat lines without any disorder. The entire training ground was filled only with the sound of footsteps and the rustling of armor.
Lin Feng's gaze swept across the soldiers in the training ground, his heart slightly chilled.
As far as the eye could see, the soldiers were divided into three major camps, forming three huge square formations, perfectly aligned without any tilt. The sunlight fell on the three-colored armors, reflecting dazzling light that pierced the eyes.
The three ranks of soldiers were Bronze Armored Soldiers, Silver Armored Soldiers, and Gold Armored Soldiers.
The Gold Armored Soldiers were in the front, while the Bronze Armored Soldiers were in the rear, their ranks clear at a glance.
The general's armor draped over Duan Tianlang was a dark black, captivating and full of a chilling and solemn aura, intimidating those who looked upon it.
"Ssh, ssh, ssh!"
Footsteps sounded one after another. A row of Bronze Armored Soldiers carried war drums, heading towards the front of the generals and soldiers. These war drums were as tall as a person and very heavy, requiring four Bronze Armored Soldiers to lift them.
"Boom."
A heavy sound reverberated as the Bronze Armored Soldiers raised the war drums and placed them in front of the generals and soldiers. Behind them, more Bronze Armored Soldiers continuously carried out more war drums, placing them on the ground. The booming sounds continued to echo, causing the earth to tremble slightly.
Five rows, each with nine war drums, were arranged from front to back, resembling five straight lines, each line equipped with nine war drums.
"What's this for?"
Lin Feng's gaze flickered as he watched the Bronze Armored Soldiers carry out the war drums. He didn't know the purpose behind it, but many others seemed indifferent, as if it were a common occurrence. Their eyes were even filled with excitement, eager to try it themselves.
"Today, it's rare for the two major academies and other young talents to come to the battlefield. Let the war drums be beaten by you all. In addition, I have an announcement to make. The Wolf Prince will be the commander-in-chief of this expedition, and the deputy commander will be my sister, Duan Xinye. She is also here today and will go to the battlefield with everyone. Today, whoever beats the war drums the most will be responsible for guarding Xinye."
Duan Wuyan said indifferently, then from behind the central army tent, a beautiful figure walked out. Even though she was wearing armor, her beauty couldn't be concealed. She was Princess Duan Xinye.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on her. Princess Duan Xinye as the deputy commander? Why was that?
However, no matter the reason, the eyes of many young talents were filled with excitement. Whoever beat the war drums the most would become the personal guard of the princess. This kind of opportunity was too rare.
Lin Feng's eyes flickered. Duan Tianlang was the commander-in-chief?
Lin Feng couldn't figure out the relationship between Duan Wuyan and Duan Tianlang. Furthermore, why did he appoint Duan Xinye as the deputy commander?
"Who will come first?"
Duan Tianlang shouted, and immediately, someone's figure flickered, directly arriving in front of the war drums. He said, "I'll go first."
In just a moment, people stood in front of each set of war drums.
The bodies of the five people moved simultaneously, emitting a powerful aura, extremely chilling.
"Boom!"
A fist struck a war drum, making it hum, but it remained unmoved. There was even a hint of rebound, causing him to take a step back, grunting.
Immediately, the man's face turned particularly ugly, red with embarrassment. He lowered his head and quietly returned to his seat, having not beaten a single war drum.
The second person's eyes narrowed slightly, showing a hint of seriousness. With a domineering punch, a war drum burst open with a buzzing sound. His eyes also showed excitement. Without any pause, he struck again, and the second war drum burst open, resounding and inspiring.
Beating the war drum was not simply about striking it but about making it burst open. Only the humming of a burst drum could inspire morale.
Beating the war drum, also known as recruiting, was only eligible for soldiers with a certain status. This was also a time for soldiers to show their power. The more war drums beaten, the more awe-inspiring and reassuring it was for the soldiers.
However, when this person beat the third war drum, he did not break it. His face also showed a moment of despair.
Afterward, the third person beat three war drums, the fourth person beat two war drums, and the fifth person only beat three war drums.
When they returned to their seats, Bronze Armored Soldiers immediately came forward to repair the war drums, still five rows, each with nine war drums.
Lin Feng's gaze flickered as he stared at the war drums. He found that there seemed to be a pattern in beating the drums. Generally speaking, a practitioner at the second level of the Spiritual Martial Realm could beat two war drums, while one at the third level could beat three. The nine war drums seemed to correspond to the nine levels of the Spiritual Martial Realm.
Of course, this was not absolute. For example, the practitioner at the third level of the Spiritual Martial Realm just now only beat two war drums, and the first person, at the first level of the Spiritual Martial Realm, did not beat a single war drum.
"Who's next?"
Duan Wuyan smiled faintly at the crowd and said again.
"I'll go." Yuan Shan stood up beside Lin Feng and walked towards the war drum.
"Brother Yuan, I'll go with you." Duan Feng stepped forward, following Yuan Shan.
In just a moment, five people gathered in front of the war drum.
Again, there were buzzing sounds of war drums. The strongest among the five was at the fourth level of the Spiritual Martial Realm, beating four war drums and leaving with a smile.
Yuan Shan, at the third level of the Spiritual Martial Realm, beat three war drums, while Duan Feng, at the second level of the Spiritual Martial Realm, astonishingly also beat three war drums, earning the admiration of many.
The crowd changed several times, but no one could beat five war drums.
Just then, a figure stood up and said to the crowd from the Tianyi Academy, "I am the Butcher of the Holy Institute. Anyone from the Tianyi Academy willing to compete?"
"The Butcher!"
Lin Feng looked at the burly man in front of him, his eyes slightly narrowed. Before, the Butcher, like him, was a disciple of the Cloud Sea Sect. Now, however, he stood among the ranks of the Snow Moon Holy Institute.
The eyes of the Tianyi Academy and Snow Moon Holy Institute's crowd were filled with a glint of determination. The Snow Moon Holy Institute had begun provoking.
"Is everyone from the Tianyi Academy cowards?"
Seeing no response from the Tianyi Academy, the Butcher couldn't help but sneer.
"Shameless traitor, dare to speak of bravery."
Lin Feng said coldly, causing the Butcher to stare at him, then his gaze fell on Lin Feng.
"Victors thrive, losers perish.
The law of the jungle, the martial arts rule. When the Wolf King destroyed the Cloud Sea Sect, the sect was weak. It's only natural for me to follow the trend and join the winning side. This is called knowing the times and acting accordingly, for the sake of greatness."
The Butcher said coldly, staring at Lin Feng. "Lin Feng, if you are willing to join the Snow Moon, I and the Wolf King will plead for you. Perhaps, the prince will be willing to take you in."
"Even traitors can be so righteous."
Lin Feng looked at the Butcher, his tone indifferent. Then his gaze shifted to a figure wearing a bronze mask. "You go."
"Okay." The man with the bronze mask nodded slightly, stepping forward, glancing indifferently at the Butcher, and said, "I'll go."
With that, he walked straight to the war drum.
The Butcher's gaze slightly darkened, taking a step forward to the war drum as well, asking, "Who goes first?"
"You go first." The man with the bronze mask said indifferently. The Butcher nodded slightly, his body bowing, then stepping forward.
"Boom!"
A booming sound shook the crowd's eardrums. The first war drum shattered into pieces.
The Butcher didn't stop, his domineering fist striking forward. The second and third war drums burst open instantly, the explosive sound resounding and inspiring.
"Drink!"
The Butcher used all his strength, yelling loudly. His fist struck again, and the fourth war drum shattered.
"Crack."
The Butcher's footsteps stomped heavily on the ground, both fists striking out. The fifth war drum, which no one had moved, shattered again.
Then, the Butcher seemed to still have some strength left. His footsteps twisted slightly, his body spinning out, and he collided with the sixth war drum.
"Buzz, buzz!"
The war drum trembled incessantly, a ripple of space appearing. The powerful rebound force sent the Butcher's body flying back a hundred meters. However, the war drum also had cracks.
"At the fifth level of the Spiritual Martial Realm, almost beat the sixth war drum. Not bad for a former genius of the Cloud Sea Sect, but unfortunately, he's a traitor."
Lin Feng looked at the cracked war drum, whispering, but he didn't care. Now, at the fifth level of the Spiritual Martial Realm, in his eyes, anything was possible. The Wolf Blade would give the Butcher a profound lesson.