Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 225 The Three Trials Agreement: Martial Arts Trial to Subdue the Ape

Lan Fenghuang's ethereal yet cunning voice still faintly echoed through the valley. She gently shook the silver bell hairpin in her hand, emitting a final, clear tinkling sound before falling silent again. On the cliff face, her figure, along with those of the "Mountain Spirit Guards" and the palanquin, began to fade and blur rapidly, like an ink painting blending into the thick fog. Within a few breaths, they completely disappeared behind the white mist, as if they had never existed.

Only the mountain moon goddess totem, made of moss and white stone, on the rock wall at the valley entrance remains clear, silently proclaiming the sovereignty of this place and the impending test.

Inside and outside the valley, all was deathly silent. The rustling of the insect swarm that had just sent chills down one's spine, and the wild, scrutinizing gazes on the cliff face, all vanished abruptly with the disappearance of the blue phoenix, leaving only a thicker mist that seemed to suffocate one's breath, and an invisible, heavy pressure.

"Your Majesty, this witch..." Dian Xiong, carrying the battle axe he had just retrieved, its blade still coated with the slime of poisonous insects, surveyed the empty cliff face and the deathly silent valley. He was both anxious and furious, yet had nowhere to vent his anger. "Where is that so-called 'three thresholds' she mentioned? Is she trying to trick us?"

Lan Ke nervously observed his surroundings, especially the ground and the strange plants, and whispered, "General Dian, don't be hasty. The people of Miao territory, especially those tribes that worship the 'Mother of All Spirits,' place great importance on promises and rituals. Now that she has drawn the line, the test... has probably already begun, and it is everywhere."

Lin Wan'er walked to Chen Xing's side, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she gazed at the misty, bottomless valley. "Your Majesty," she said, "whether or not to enter the valley is still a matter for consideration. The terrain here is treacherous, the fog is thick, and the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. If we rashly enter, we may play right into their hands. Should we retreat from the valley first and reconsider our strategy? Perhaps we could have General Yang Zheng apply pressure from the outside..."

Chen Xing raised his hand, stopping her. His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, slowly swept over every visible inch of the valley—the narrow entrance, the steep, slippery cliffs, the ever-swirling thick fog within, and the eerie silence. He knew that retreat might ensure temporary safety, but it would also mean abandoning the possibility of communicating with the Baiyue Sect and opening up the southwest flank. Yang Zheng's forces would continue to be trapped, and might even be gradually weakened; if the Southern Dynasty took the opportunity to collude with the Baiyue Sect, the consequences would be dire. More importantly, the majesty of Emperor Xingqi would not allow him to retreat in these misty mountains.

"No need." Chen Xing's voice was calm and steady, with an unquestionable determination. "Since we have accepted the challenge, how can we back down in the face of battle? Didn't she want to test our 'strength,' 'intelligence,' and 'heart'? I'll show her what true strength, intelligence, and heart are!" He turned to look at the two hundred elite soldiers behind him. Although these soldiers also had tense expressions, there was no fear in their eyes, only unconditional obedience to the emperor's orders and a fierce readiness to fight to the death.

"Dianxiong, select fifty of your most skilled climbers and bravest close-combat fighters to accompany me into the valley. The rest, under your command, will remain at the valley entrance, forming a circular formation. Prepare plenty of torches and fire arrows, and be vigilant for any unusual activity. If anything changes inside the valley, or if you receive my signal, provide immediate support!"

"Your Majesty! This humble general is willing to be the vanguard!" Dian Xiong said urgently.

"Your task is to guard the retreat route; that's more important than entering the valley." Chen Xing patted his strong arm. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

He then looked at Lin Wan'er and Lan Ke: "Counselor Lin, Mr. Lan, you two also stay outside the valley. If... I am not out for a while, or if unusual news comes from inside the valley, you should discuss with General Dian whether to retreat or advance, and make a decision on the spot."

"Your Majesty..." Lin Wan'er hesitated, her eyes filled with worry.

"No need for further words." Chen Xing nodded slightly to her, his eyes conveying reassurance and trust. Then, he removed his black cloak, revealing only his close-fitting clothes, and took from his guard a specially made, slightly longer than an ordinary horizontal sword, with smooth lines and a cold, dark blue sheen. He then checked the leather pouch hanging at his waist, which contained various emergency medicines such as antidotes, stimulants, and hemostatic agents, as well as several specially made signal flares that could emit sharp, popping sounds.

The fifty selected elite soldiers quickly gathered their equipment, abandoning most of their baggage and carrying only weapons, shields, bows and crossbows, tinderboxes, ropes, and a small amount of emergency rations and medicine. Each of them wore an almost fanatical expression of determination to die.

"Let's go!" Chen Xing no longer hesitated, gripping his steel knife, and took the lead, stepping into the gourd-shaped valley filled with thick fog and the unknown.

The valley was dimly lit, the fog so thick it seemed tangible, clinging to the skin with a cool, damp sensation. Underfoot lay slippery rocks and a thick layer of humus, accumulated over countless years, soft and yielding with an unsettling creak. The cliffs on either side, shrouded in mist, were rugged and steep, covered in slippery moss and twisted vines. The earlier sound of flowing water seemed to be nearby, but the fog obscured its exact location and distance.

The column advanced slowly in a wedge formation, with several scouts at the front, armed with short spears, cautiously probing the path, watching their footing and flanks. Chen Xing positioned himself in the middle, his eyes sharp as lightning, his ears alert to everything around him. The "Ghost Tooth Vine," which Lan Ke had previously warned about, was more common here, lurking in the darkness like poisonous snakes. The sweet, pungent smell in the air grew stronger, making one slightly dizzy.

After venturing about a hundred feet deeper, the scout leading the way suddenly stopped and whispered a warning: "Your Majesty! There's no path ahead! It's a precipice, and we can hear water below. The fog is too thick to see the other side or the depth of the cliff!"

Chen Xing strode forward, and sure enough, the road abruptly ended there. Beneath his feet lay a bottomless void shrouded in thick fog, with only the rumbling of water echoing from below, sounding hollow and terrifying. On the opposite bank, through the churning fog, the outline of a cliff face could be vaguely seen, about five zhang away. For ordinary people, this was an insurmountable chasm.

"The first hurdle, 'strength'..." Chen Xing stared at the cliff and the opposite bank, understanding dawning on him. This test was not merely of simple courage, but of real, superhuman physical strength and skill. Five zhang was the limit for an ordinary martial artist, even with a running start and jump. Moreover, the ground was slippery, the fog obscured visibility and judgment, and the situation below was unknown. A fall would have unimaginable consequences.

"Your Majesty, could we use ropes? Or perhaps we could find another way around?" a captain suggested.

Chen Xing shook his head: "Since it's a test of 'strength,' taking shortcuts won't count as passing. The ropes..." He looked at the slippery cliff face, which offered almost no foothold, "and they're difficult to secure." He carefully observed the edge of the cliff and the terrain on the opposite bank, calculating rapidly in his mind.

Just then, from the depths of the thick fog below the cliff came a low, violent roar, clearly not that of an ordinary beast! The roar was like thunder, causing rocks to fall from the cliff face and the fog to churn violently! Immediately afterward, the thick fog on the opposite bank was stirred up by a tremendous force, and a huge black shadow, gripping hanging vines, swung out from a cave in the opposite cliff face like a moving mountain, crashing down on the edge of the precipice and blocking the only "path" to the other side!

It was a giant ape! But its size far exceeded that of ordinary apes, standing upright probably nearly ten feet tall. Its entire body was covered in long, dark brown fur like steel needles, and its muscles were bulging like piled-up rocks. Its eyes were bloodshot, its fangs protruded from its mouth, and saliva dripped from its chin, hissing white smoke as it corroded the ground. Most terrifying of all, around its neck was a rough collar woven from animal bones and some kind of black vine, engraved with simplified patterns similar to the Mountain Moon Saintess totem, which was now emitting a faint, ominous dark red light. The giant ape pounded its thick chest with its fists, making muffled thuds, and its bloodshot eyes were fixed on Chen Xing and his group on the other side of the cliff, filled with a ferocious and destructive desire.

"It's the 'Guardian Mountain Demon'!" Lan Ke's voice, tinged with fear, faintly came from behind. "A ferocious beast, tamed by the Mountain Demon tribe using secret methods to guard the gates of the sacred mountain! It possesses immense strength, its hide is like iron, and it's ferocious and bloodthirsty! Your Majesty, be careful!"

Clearly, this giant ape is the first gatekeeper to test one's strength. Either subdue it by force or bypass it to reach the other side, or... become a victim of its claws.

"Prepare the crossbows!" the commanding captain shouted, and the soldiers raised their crossbows, aiming at the giant beast.

However, Chen Xing waved his hand: "Crossbow bolts are unlikely to harm its vitals; instead, they might completely enrage it." He stared at the giant ape that kept growling and pounding its chest in a show of defiance, his eyes showing no fear, but rather a burning desire for battle. His body, enhanced by the system, had already surpassed the limits of mortals and needed a whetstone of sufficient weight to test it.

"You all stand here in formation and be on guard. Without my order, you are not to fire arrows or advance." Chen Xing untied several leather pouches from his waist that might hinder his movement and handed them to his personal guards, only gripping the hundred-refined steel sword in his hand. In the dim light, the blade gleamed with a restrained, cold light.

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!" The captain and several guards were shocked and tried to stop them.

Chen Xing had already taken a few steps forward, and spoke loudly to the giant ape on the opposite bank, which was eyeing him menacingly, and also to the blue phoenix observing from somewhere hidden in the mist: "The first test is strength. Let me see just how much this mountain-guarding beast is worth!"

Before he finished speaking, he took a deep breath and pushed off the slippery rocks with his feet! Without a running start, relying solely on the terrifying power that burst forth from his legs, he shot off like an arrow or a black lightning bolt tearing through the thick fog, leaping straight towards the five-zhang-wide abyss!

"Your Majesty—!" From the direction of the valley entrance, Lin Wan'er's startled cry could be faintly heard.

The hearts of the fifty elite soldiers who had been sent into battle jumped into their throats!

Even the ferocious giant ape seemed to be stunned for a moment by this human's sudden, almost suicidal leap.

In the next instant, Chen Xing's figure had already soared halfway across the precipice. Just as his momentum was about to wane and he began to fall, he swung his steel blade out, not with a slash, but with the back of the blade, precisely striking a thick, old vine hanging down from the middle of the precipice! Using the force of the swing, his figure rose again, in an arc far beyond what ordinary people could imagine, like an eagle soaring through the air, landing steadily on the edge of the opposite precipice, no more than ten steps away from the giant ape!

The entire movement was executed in one smooth motion, as fast as lightning, yet with effortless ease, demonstrating an ultimate mastery of physical strength, timing, and balance.

The giant ape seemed utterly enraged. This tiny human had not only trespassed into its territory but also appeared before it in such an "arrogant" manner. It roared to the sky, a foul stench filling the air. Its massive body, exuding an overwhelming aura, swung its fist, as large as a water vat, and slammed it down fiercely towards Chen Xing, who had just landed! Even before the fist arrived, the intense wind pressure made Chen Xing's clothes flutter wildly, and the pebbles beneath his feet tumbled.

Chen Xing's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Without dodging or avoiding, he also lowered his waist and sat down, exhaled and shouted, throwing a punch to meet the giant ape's fist, which was bigger than his head!

Two fists of completely disproportionate size collided violently in mid-air!

"Bang--!!!"

A deafening roar, deep and muffled, exploded in the valley, like two small mountains colliding! The shockwave spread outwards from the point where the fists struck, temporarily dispersing the thick fog within several meters and creating a clear cavity! The rocks beneath their feet groaned under the weight, cracking with fine lines.

The giant ape's unstoppable punch was actually blocked! Chen Xing's body swayed slightly, the rocks beneath his feet cracked and sank a little, but his back remained straight as a pine tree, and he did not retreat an inch! The giant ape let out a roar mixed with pain and astonishment, and its huge body was actually shaken back half a step!

In a pure contest of strength, Chen Xing seemed to be holding his own!

This scene not only left the elite soldiers on the opposite bank dumbfounded and their blood boiling, but also caused Lan Fenghuang, who was hidden deep in the mist in a perfect observation position, to reveal for the first time an undisguised shock and intense curiosity in her clear and ethereal eyes.