Chapter Thirty-Six: The Conflict on the Mountainside (Part One)

“You possess the power of the Tianyuan Intermediate Realm. That may suffice when dealing with ordinary people, but most who enter the Hundred Battles Training Ground hail from noble families; each is a master of unique skills, far from mere mortals. These individuals are the finest elites from their clans. To have risen above so many, do you think they are easily overcome? Moreover, from what I’ve gathered these past days, many have been kept hidden by their families, reserved for this event, so they might achieve high ranks in the final trials and thus expand their influence within the army.”

Li Fu’s words left Yang Zixu speechless. He hadn’t expected Li Fu to have investigated the backgrounds of the training ground’s candidates so thoroughly in such a short time.

Had these words come from Yang Ning or Li Yuanhua, Yang Zixu wouldn’t have found them unusual; after all, those two had extensive connections and informants throughout the Eastern Capital. But Li Fu had only just entered Tiance Manor, less than a month ago, and already understood the situation so clearly—this was remarkable.

“This year’s Hundred Battles Training Ground indeed sees many new faces from powerful families, ones who never participated in previous years. But they must all be eyeing the vacancies in the Feathered Spirit Army at year’s end.” Yang Zixu was surprised, not having considered so much.

“Perhaps not only the Feathered Spirit Army. There may be other posts as well. Isn’t Zhang Chou Jianqiong, the Grand Protector of Sword South, already on his way to the Eastern Capital?” Li Fu replied quietly, offering no further explanation.

Though they had reached the mountain’s base, the training ground lay some distance ahead. Yang Zixu now noticed many unfamiliar faces among the candidates heading up the mountain.

Li Fu’s remarks were candid; if Yang Zixu couldn’t decipher the meaning, he’d be a fool indeed.

“One more thing: once we’re on the mountain, beware the Shangguan clan. Away from the city, they will certainly seize this opportunity to trouble us.” Li Fu suddenly remembered, his expression turning grave.

The Hundred Battles Training Ground was established jointly by the Ministry of War, the Imperial Family, the Grand Temple, and the four Grand Protectorates. Its routines resembled real battlefields, and some disciplines were even harsher. Each year, the court permitted a certain number of fatalities, a public secret, and death tolls rarely exceeded the allowed quota.

“The Shangguan clan? Understood.” Seeing Li Fu so serious, Yang Zixu’s expression grew solemn as well; since the flag-slashing incident, the two had developed a silent understanding.

Hooves thundered, dust billowed, and the group pressed onwards to the training ground.

At the mountain foot, several enormous tents stood tall. Military banners fluttered above, each emblazoned with ‘Hundred Battles’, evoking the air of a true encampment.

Li Fu, Yang Zixu, and the four students from Shanglin Academy presented their qualification tokens, then began their ascent.

The training ground occupied the largest mountain range surrounding the Eastern Capital. After generations of expansion, it now spanned most of the mountains. Tents stretched from base to summit, scattered like stars, many guarded by the Dragon Martial Guard.

“Strange, why are the Dragon Martial Guards here?” Li Fu frowned at the formidable guards.

Normally, only special units assigned to the training ground would guard the area. Why bring in Dragon Martial Guards from the capital? And on closer inspection, their numbers were considerable—Li Fu even spotted four Golden Guards from the palace.

This puzzled him greatly.

“Master, haven’t you heard?” asked a student from Shanglin Academy, who had been following Li Fu.

“What?” Li Fu asked, surprised. Had the rules changed this year?

“The First, Third, and Fifth Princes have arrived!”

“What?!” Wang Chong exclaimed. Princes occasionally participated, but never before had three attended at once; it was unprecedented since the founding of Great Tang.

“Master, don’t you know? It’s all because of you!” said Chu Ming, another student.

“Me? What does it have to do with me?” Wang Chong was baffled.

“Master, you’re a celebrity now. Just arrived and already named Tiance Manor’s successor. Do you think the princes would sit idly in the palace?” Jiang Xiaolong grinned at Li Fu. “Exactly! Who in the Eastern Capital doesn’t know you’re the next Lord of Tiance Manor? The succession is chosen by the previous lord—no imperial interference, a privilege granted by Emperor Taizong. Moreover, your participation in the training ground is no secret; some princes are bound to seek your favor, and the training ground is the ideal venue.”

Chu Ming spoke with pride.

“So, they’re here for my status as Tiance Manor’s heir.” Li Fu fell silent, realizing that his distinguished title, though prestigious, was like a beacon in the night—drawing the attention of every major power in the capital.

“Huh, odd—there are girls here?” After several hundred meters, Yang Zixu suddenly exclaimed with excitement.

“What’s so strange about that? Doesn’t Tiger Roar Battalion in Tiance have female officers? Isn’t General Cao Xueyang a woman too?” Li Fu scoffed. The Tang Dynasty was open-minded, especially since the Emperor’s ascension; there were now a handful of female officers, nothing novel anymore. Why the surprise? But as he watched Yang Zixu’s expression, he understood.

“Where are you going?” Li Fu heard movement beside him. Turning, he saw Yang Zixu leave their group, speeding up to chase the girls halfway up the mountain.

“Beast!” Li Fu cursed inwardly at Yang Zixu’s antics. Forsaking comrades for beauty! Couldn’t he read the room? This was no place for flirtation—the training ground was practically a military camp. Even if he wanted to talk to them, could he not see that each girl radiated the aura of the Tianyuan Upper Realm? If he angered them, he’d be in trouble; yet he eagerly rushed after them.

Li Fu shook his head, feeling a pang of sympathy for the Divine Feather General—no wonder it was rumored in the capital that he couldn’t control his son.

…………

Boom!

Suddenly, a muffled shout and a thunderous crash echoed from halfway up the mountain, making the whole peak tremble as smoke and dust shot skyward.

The commotion instantly drew everyone’s attention. Eyes turned from all directions.

Li Fu looked up sharply. On the mountainside, a tall figure, eyes cold as frost, stared down at him with an intense warning.

As the dust settled, another figure appeared opposite—clothes in disarray, his purple gold crown knocked to the ground, black hair falling over half his face.

“Zixu! The Shangguan clan!” Li Fu’s face changed as he recognized the disheveled figure as Yang Zixu, who had just abandoned his group to approach the girls.

And the tall figure confronting him was the very person from the Shangguan clan they’d seen earlier at the city gate.