Martial Cultivator

These words were too straightforward, leaving no room for any leeway. The cultivators by the lake were very surprised and found it hard to react. Everyone was stunned for a moment before looking at Zuo Qing.

If say that earlier, it was just making it hard for this young cultivator to step off the stage, now it was like dismantling the stage altogether.

Who could have imagined that under the watchful eyes of everyone, this young martial artist would show no mercy. He did not seem to have any fear towards the foreign cultivators.

"It's also not like I haven't killed foreign cultivators before."

Chen Chao said in a low voice, but everyone present could hear it clearly.

It was only now that they realized that this young man before them had indeed killed foreign cultivators before.

Chen Chao looked at Zuo Qing and said with a sneer, "If you're scared, you can leave now. I'll slowly settle the score with you during the martial exam!"

Zuo Qing's expression turned ugly. How could he tolerate being provoked by Chen Chao like this? With a rush of hot-bloodedness, he was about to accept Chen Chao's challenge. However, before he could speak, a hand patted his shoulder.

A tall and broad-shouldered young man appeared, saying, "Junior Brother Zuo, you're no match for him. Don't do anything stupid."

Upon seeing the young man, the cultivators by the lake saluted one after another. Some even called out, "Senior Brother Chen."

Zuo Qing realized what was happening and also respectfully said, "I pay respects to Senior Brother Chen."

Qingshan Sect which Zuo Qing belonged to was actually a sect of the Longevity Dao lineage. This tall young man before them was named Chen Y. He came from the Heavenly Water Daoist Temple, which was precisely a major sect of the Longevity Dao lineage. Naturally, all disciples of the Longevity Dao lineage could address him as senior brother.

As for why the others showed him respect, it was naturally because Chen Yi was a powerhouse on the Latent Dragon List. His ranking was even higher than He Yi; a contender with real potential to win in the martial exam.

Chen Yi looked at Chen Chao and said calmly, "What's the point of a Divine Trove martial artist like you bullying a cultivator whose cultivation is inferior to yours?"

He appeared here as the backbone of these foreign cultivators, providing them with great support.

Chen Chao smiled and replied, "What's the point of him bullying a young girl who has just started cultivating not long ago?"

Chen Yi was unperturbed when he heard this and asked, "He questioned whether there was a problem with the literary exam's top scorer. What's the issue with that?"

Chen Chao sneered, "What proof is there? Or do you think your suspicions are sharper than the eyes of those big shots? "Since there is no evidence and it's baseless, isn't it slander? Since it's a baseless slander, what's wrong with me speaking up?"

He confronted Chen Yi without the slightest intention of backing down.

"It was just a verbal dispute, yet you nearly took his life. It was a bit overboard," He looked at Chen Chao very seriously.

"He can choose to accept it or reject it, but if you want to defend him, I don't mind having a fight with you right here. It will similarly be a life-and-death battle. I'd also like to how you're different from him."

Chen Chao stared at Chen Yi, his eyes filled with coldness.

The cultivators by the lakeside were rather surprised. They knew that Chen Chao had once defeated He Yi at the imperial banquet, but how could they have imagined that he was already reckless to the extent of even disregarding Chen Yi who was long already famous.

"Aren't you afraid of death?" Chen Yi looked at him, seemingly somewhat surprised.

Considered one of the top contenders for victory in this trial, although Chen Yi had yet to step out of Divine Trove, he had already reached the pinnacle. How could he fear Chen Chao?

"There have been many times when I thought I would die, but I didn't."

Chen Chao looked at Chen Yi and said, "I don't think you can kill me."

Chen Yi looked at him and said indifferently, "The martial exam is approaching, why would I waste time here with you? If I encounter you during the martial exam, I'll show you what disparity is. Foreign cultivators cannot be humiliated by you as you please."

Chen Chao's mouth curled and he said indifferently, "In the end, you still don't dare to fight me. Since that's the case, what's the point of spouting nonsense here?"

Chen Yi gave a cold laugh, said nothing more, and turned around to leave without hesitation.

Chen Chao watched his figure depart and then shifted his gaze back to the cultivators who had not left yet. He asked, "What about you guys? Do you want to give it a try?"

Hearing these words, a wave of cursing suddenly erupted from the lakeside.

But Chen Chao paid no attention to it.

Sure enough, the cursing quickly subsided, and the cultivators began to leave one after another. No one was willing to engage in a life-or-death battle with Chen Chao here.

Watching everyone leave, Chen Chao patted Weng Quan on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Thanks."

Weng Quan looked at him with admiration and said, "Deputy Commander, you're really incredible!"

Chen Chao smiled. He was just thinking of saying something, but upon remembering this guy's tendency to talk too much, he promptly found an excuse to dismiss him.

Chen Chao turned to Xie Nandu. The latter had been standing there for a long time and did not speak the entire time.

"It's fine now."

Chen Chao smiled, some heartache in his eyes.

Xie Nandu asked, "Were you really prepared to kill him here just now?"

Chen Chao thought about it and said, "Maybe, if he really accepted that life-and-death battle."

Xie Nandu said, "Then have you thought about the consequences?"

Chen Chao scratched his head and said rather annoyedly. "Everyone says I'm level-headed, but in that kind of situation just now, how could I remain so calm? If we really fought, not being able to stop is also something that can't be helped."

"What about Chen Yi? Are you confident?"

Xie Nandu was quite curious.

Chen Chao smiled slightly and said, "His cultivation realm isn't higher than mine. In a life-and-death battle, I can naturally kill him."

Someone like Chen Yi was really not terrifying to Chen Chao. In the battle by the lakeside, he had an 80% chance of killing him without suffering serious injuries. If that was not taken into consideration, he was confident in killing him with a tenfold assurance.

But the truly remarkable individuals in the martial exam were not him.

Chen Chao had seen the name list of the Left Guard and knew that the truly formidable few were those above Divine Trove.

If he encountered them during the martial exam, those would be the truly troublesome existences.

Such individuals naturally would not be so bored as to cause trouble by the lakeside. In fact, no matter how eye-catching the literary exam was, one could not catch a glimpse of them too.

They should be quietly cultivating somewhere at this moment, waiting for the martial exam to start.

Xie Nandu walked forward and said, "If you encounter him in the martial exam?"

Chen Chao replied seriously, "Who are you referring to, Chen Yi or Zuo Qing?"

"Both."

Chen Chao smiled and said, "If it's Zuo Qing, I'll naturally beat him up and teach him the warmheartedness of a Liang person. As for Chen Yi, I'll try to avoid him."

In a microcosm, Chen Chao believed he would have an easier time defeating the guy named Chen Yi. However, if he really encountered him, he would never rush to determine life and death because the most important thing in the martial exam was still killing demons.

"Do you still want to take first place?"

Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao and said, "In the past, I didn't think that you were so eager to win."

Chen Chao sighed and said, "Since you're already the champion, how can I fall behind?"

……

……

This year's martial exam reform had changed to determine the top rankings based on the number of demons killed. This saved a lot of time, so the martial exam did not take place immediately after the literary exam ended.

The originally planned three-day break in-between became five days.

The gambling houses were seeing more and more customers. Although Xie Nandu's victory in the literary exam had made all eyes in the Divine Capital fall on Chen Chao, the fact remained that the martial exam was different from the literary exam. Even though Chen Chao has caused a sensation in the past few days, not many people believe that this Deputy Commander of the Left Guard could win first place.

After experiencing that day's dangers, Chen Chao solemnly vowed never to gamble again. Therefore, he was simply hiding in that small courtyard these days, tempering his bones and ligaments.

He did not care about these things at all.

However, in the largest gambling house in the southern city, a tall and slender man walked in during the afternoon, quickly attracting the attention of the gambling house boss.

The gambling house boss was a plump middle-aged man who was considered a big shot in the southern city. He did not fear ordinary so-called big shots. But after he saw that man walking in, he immediately changed his demeanor and greeted him obsequiously, asking, "Lord Commander, if there's something that I can assist you with, just send someone to inform me. There was no need for you to come in person."

The visitor was none other than Song Lian, the Commander of the Left Guard. On the surface, he was one of the commanders of the two guard divisions responsible for the security of the entire Divine Capital. But in reality, the ones most afraid of him were the bosses of the gambling houses and brothels. Once they offended this "King of Hell," things would not be so simple anymore.

"I want to place a bet. Don't I need to come personally?"

Song Lian looked at the gambling house boss with an unfriendly expression.

The gambling house owner forced a smile and said, "Of course, Commander, it's just that I don't know whom you came personally to bet on. Shall I give you some suggestions?"

"Give me a break! Your Father is the Commander of the Left Guard. Naturally, I'll support my own people. I'll bet on Chen Chao!"

Song Lian took out a magical artifact and threw it to the gambling house boss, sneering, "Hurry up and calculate, give me a ticket!"

The gambling house boss was taken aback but did not dare to say much. Chen Chao was not a top contender for the championship. No matter how high the odds, it was almost impossible for him to win. So, when Song Lian placed a bet on Chen Chao's victory, the gambling house boss had nothing to object to.

After quickly counting the money, the gambling house boss had his assistant issue a betting ticket to Song Lian.

After he sweated profusely and finally finished writing the ticket. When he passed it to Song Lian, another person entered from outside.

The person who arrived surveyed the surroundings. The gambling house boss took one look and his expression changed again. He went up to greet him, "Steward Liu, why have you come in person?"

The man who showed up at this moment was none other than the steward from the Second Prince's manor, Steward Liu.

Steward Liu saw Song Lian. After he finished greeting this Commander of the Left Guard, he said, "I'm representing the Second Prince's manor to place a bet on Chen Chao!"

The gambling house boss' heart thumped and he said somewhat uncertainly, "Second Prince wants to bet on that Commander Chen too?"

Steward Liu gave a cold laugh.

The gambling house boss was taken aback, but he still called his assistant to come and count the money for this important guest.

But soon, another person entered the shop again.

The gambling house boss recognized this person too, he was a steward from the Xie Residence.

With a brave face, the gambling house boss approached him and asked, "Are you also here to bet on Commander Chen?"

That steward nodded and smile, "How did you know?"

The gambling house boss widened his eyes, a bit puzzled as he asked, "Why do all of you think that Commander Chen can win first place?"