Chapter 412
Chapter 412
Wang Ye looked at Lu Sheng with envy. “Almost every grand competition births a Master or two. If I weren’t a civil officer and liked fighting, I’d join too …”
Lu Sheng nodded, understanding why the military had so many Masters. The battlefield tempered the body, the constant fights honed the mind, and the grand atmosphere made it easier to break through the Martial Master threshold than for those who trained at home.
The sturdy man, having won the officer group competition and become a Master, was appointed Star General by the Marshal. Standing in the arena, trembling with excitement, it was undoubtedly the highlight of his life. His defeated opponents looked at him with envy, admiring both his glory and his martial progress.
With the officer group competition over, it was time for the Star General group. Many Star Generals were eager, some even polishing their weapons. Star Generals were allowed to carry weapons in their competition.
Traditionally, they would now draw lots for their matches. But before Xu Xuan could announce this, He Dingjun stood up from the highest platform, his gaze sweeping the arena before locking onto Lu Sheng.
In a tone both directed at Lu Sheng and as an announcement, He Dingjun said, “This year’s Star General group competition will be different. By order of the Marshal, all Star Generals will join forces to attack Lieutenant General Lu Sheng. Until the last one of you falls, or … Lieutenant General Lu Sheng falls.”
He Dingjun’s words dropped like a bombshell, causing an uproar among everyone present. Faces were filled with shock and disbelief. All Star Generals teaming up against Lu Sheng? This meant Lu Sheng would be … a one-man army against all!
***
In ancient times, Martial Masters could take the heads of enemy generals as easily as taking something from their own pockets. Armies would scatter before them, and tens of thousands couldn’t stand in their way. But that was an era when martial arts weren’t prominent.
Now, in an age where martial arts flourished, a Level 7 Master was ten or even dozens of times stronger than the Martial Masters of old. Their vital energy burned like a furnace, their essence energy rose like a wolf smoke, and their force field was manifest, making them impervious to blades and bullets. Even a well-equipped modern army might not be able to stop a fully-powered Level 7 Master, let alone a Level 7 Star General who had been through life-and-death battles on the battlefield.
A Level 7 Star General could easily be equivalent to five or six thousand men. The Eastern Military Region had twelve war zones, each with varying numbers of Star Generals, ranging from dozens to over a hundred, depending on the level of the rift in the cavern they guarded. The oldest and strongest first war zone had over a hundred Star Generals. For this grand competition, over eighty percent of the Star Generals from each zone had arrived, making for over four hundred participants. If one Level 7 Master could be equivalent to five thousand soldiers, then over four hundred Star Generals were the equivalent of two million troops.
Moreover, a single Level 7 Master was different from a cluster of Level 7 Masters. Among these four hundred Star Generals, there were even a few Level 8 Grandmasters, further increasing their combined strength. If General He Dingjun’s words were to be believed, Lu Sheng would be facing the equivalent of a million soldiers alone.
Everyone was stunned, almost thinking they had misheard. More than ninety percent of the people in the martial arts arena stood up simultaneously, causing a commotion. Meanwhile, officers and soldiers in various camps and war zones watching the broadcast also stood up, creating a clamor.
Such a scenario had never occurred in the history of the Eastern Military Region or even the entire Dragon Kingdom’s military. To have over four hundred Master-level Star Generals besiege one person? That was madness! Even a top Grandmasters would be drowned in such a sea of people.
In a new recruit camp, a tall, lean young man with dark skin stood up abruptly, staring blankly at the large screen. Dong Qingxue and Lin Wanwan, sitting at the edge of the martial arts arena, also stood up, looking first at He Dingjun and then quickly turning towards Lu Sheng. Even Dong Shengyi, who had been sitting quietly with a calm demeanor, raised his head, a look of astonishment in his eyes.
On the highest platform, He Dingjun’s expression remained calm despite the uproar below. His gaze swept over the numerous Star Generals before he spoke again. “This is an order.”
The commotion gradually subsided, and everyone displayed complex expressions as they turned their gaze to a figure at the edge of the martial arts arena.
“Lieutenant General Lu Sheng, do you have any objections?” He Dingjun asked, looking at Lu Sheng with a piercing gaze.
This was the grand stage He Dingjun had fought hard to set up for Lu Sheng. It was up to Lu Sheng to decide whether he dared to accept and whether he could handle it. If he could … it would be a straight path to glory, soaring to the heavens. Years later, the Eastern Military Region would still be recounting the name of Lu Sheng, remembering this unprecedented and historic grand martial arts performance. A vast momentum! If he couldn’t … then it would all be nothing but idle talk.
At this moment, countless eyes were on Lu Sheng. He slowly stood up amidst the attention, his face calm and unruffled. “I have no objections,” Lu Sheng replied, looking at He Dingjun with eyes that seemed to light up, as if something had ignited within him.
“I find the competition rather dull. Your arrangement, General He, is just to my liking.”
A brilliant light flashed in He Dingjun’s eyes, and a broad smile spread across his face as he laughed heartily, “Good, very good!”
Whether at the scene or in front of the broadcast, everyone watching had mixed expressions. They hadn’t expected Lu Sheng to actually accept. Regardless of the outcome, his name was already memorable enough.
The generals, commanders, and the Eastern Region Marshal on the highest platform also looked at Lu Sheng with admiration. Facing over four hundred martial arts Grandmasters and a force equivalent to a million soldiers, he still spoke lightly of his willingness. Such magnanimity, courage, and perspective were unparalleled.
“Then let’s get started,” He Dingjun ordered, “All Star Generals, enter the arena!”
Military orders were absolute, and even Star Generals had to comply. Over four hundred Star Generals entered the arena, each with complex expressions. They never imagined they would join forces with over four hundred peers to fight a single person. A siege of a Martial Sage? It was an incredible scenario, yet it was happening for real.
Most of the Star Generals carried cold weapons as they stepped into the arena and found suitable spots to stand. Lu Sheng also prepared to enter the arena. An observant onlooker noticed Lu Sheng’s empty hands and exclaimed, “Is Lu Sheng entering the arena unarmed?”
He Dingjun also noticed this and couldn’t help but command, “Who will fetch weapons for Lieutenant General Lu?”
Wang Ye immediately volunteered, “I’ll go!”
“No need …” Lu Sheng interrupted, causing the crowd to look at him in surprise. He calmly said, “If I use weapons, few people here will survive. I’ll go unarmed.”
At his words, the bustling arena fell silent. The Star Generals who were still entering paused and turned to look at Lu Sheng. The onlookers were also stunned. “If I use weapons, few people here will survive …” Such audacity! Such a murderous aura! Ordinary people would have been laughed at for saying such words, but coming from Lu Sheng, it seemed only natural.
Even so, many Star Generals were incensed, their fighting spirit ignited, eager to challenge him. “This kid is something …” an elderly general on the highest platform said with a smile, “I’m beginning to look forward to this.”