Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 255 Martial Arts

What is most important to a power?
It all comes down to the visionary leadership of the faction leader and the loyalty of its subordinates.

The former ensures the healthy development of the power, while the latter determines where the leader's orders can reach; both are the foundation of the power.

How can we improve the loyalty of our subordinates?

The leader's personal charisma, beliefs, and treatment.

The compensation package can guarantee the loyalty of the vast majority of people, while the leader's personal charisma accounts for more than half of the factors.

But people are not all the same.

No matter how good the treatment, their ambitions will gradually change over time as power erodes.

Therefore, a leader's personal charisma and abilities will become the basis for subordinates to decide whether to continue serving him.

Zhang Xian has a good personal charm.

Thanks to his conduct and style cultivated during peacetime, the people and officials under Bingzhou trusted him greatly.

His abilities are beyond question; under his leadership, Bingzhou gradually transformed from a dilapidated border region into a prosperous and thriving place.

Unfortunately, his panel never showed the ability to solidify the loyalty of others.

So how can we ensure that our civil and military officials are not recruited by outsiders and that their ambitions do not grow?

Show yourself!

They demonstrate their abilities through both martial arts and literary skills, showcasing themselves in every aspect.

Like a lion on the grasslands or a tiger in the mountains, they constantly proclaim to those under their rule who the master of Bingzhou is!

It forces those who are easily swayed and two-faced to constantly weigh the cost of betrayal!

"General! I'm sorry to offend you!"

The first to erupt was Dian Wei!

Lu Bu's boastful words and Zhang Xian's acceptance of the challenge reignited his fighting spirit! A true warrior must remain steadfast!

He kicked off with both feet, his burly body like a runaway battering ram, his single halberd tearing through the air as it slammed down towards Zhang Xian's head! No fancy moves, just a single, fatal blow!
Faced with this attack that could split mountains and shatter rocks.

Zhang Xian's movements appeared nonchalant!
The instant Dian Wei's halberd came crashing down, his figure neither retreated nor parried! By a hair's breadth, he sidestepped! He brushed past Dian Wei's imposing left side!

At the same time, gently tap the end of the spear!
Like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, it struck with perfect precision the inside of Dian Wei's elbow joint, which had been exposed by his full-force strike!
The timing, the angle—it was absolutely perfect!

Dian Wei's ferocious charge suddenly halted! His right arm felt as if it had been pierced by an invisible giant needle, and the power he had gathered instantly dissipated! A mixture of tingling, numbness, and excruciating pain shot into his shoulder blade! His downward strike, powerful enough to shatter stone tablets, was interrupted by this seemingly casual touch!
The halberd missed its mark, and the force rebounded! Dian Wei's massive body staggered forward uncontrollably!
"What?!" Dian Wei was utterly shocked!
Just as Dian Wei suffered a setback and his mind was shaken!

"Om-!"

A thick, condensed blade of light swept across Zhang Xian's right side without warning! Before the blade even arrived, the whistling wind had already made Zhang Xian's hair fly wildly!
Xu Chu! When he moves, it's like a mountain collapsing! He seized the fleeting opening created by Dian Wei! His thick-backed, ring-pommel sword, with a resolute determination to cut through everything, slashed at Zhang Xian's waist! The blade was heavy, yet its speed was lightning fast! This strike sealed off all possible escape routes for Zhang Xian!

Faced with this thunderous strike that could cleave a galloping horse in two, Zhang Xian seemed to have no way to avoid it!
He didn't take the hit head-on, nor did he try to retreat; behind him was Dian Wei's massive, unsteady body!
Using his left foot as a pivot, his body tilted to one side like a willow in the wind! He was almost parallel to the ground! The sweeping blade whistled past his upturned nose! Although the blade was fierce, it didn't even scratch a hair on his head.

This is Zhang Xian's absolute confidence.

It looked dangerous, extremely dangerous!
But for him, everything was under control. In that instant, no fewer than ten ways to deal with the situation flashed through his mind. The simplest of them was to confront it head-on, but he chose to avoid it for no other reason than that.

It's just a matter of testing and appreciating!

Just as the blade swept past, Zhang Xian's spear shaft snapped back! Using the rebound force, the spear bent like a bow, its tip tracing an arc like a gazelle's horns! But the spear blade did not strike Xu Chu; instead, it rested like a serpent on the end of Xu Chu's sword shaft, which had slightly protruded due to his full-force swing!
The "sticking" technique! Overcoming brute force with skill!
Xu Chu felt an extremely strange, viscous force coming from the end of the blade! He was instantly pulled by this sticky force, deflecting his direction! The blade involuntarily rose upwards!

Using this pulling force, Zhang Xian's backward-falling body snapped back up like a taut bowstring! He instantly returned to his original position!

Dian Wei's charge and Xu Chu's slash were effortlessly neutralized by Zhang Xian's exquisite footwork and skill, with the slightest difference in precision!

"Bravo!" Xiahou Lan couldn't help but cheer from the viewing platform!

"Roar!"

Dian Wei's fighting spirit surged! His arm, which had been numb, eased slightly, and he no longer cared about the moves. His massive body, like a savage elephant, lowered its head, held its single halberd in front of it, and slammed into Zhang Xian, who had just gotten up!
Xu Chu's sword momentum was deflected, and his expression grew even more serious, but his combat instincts remained sharp! The instant his sword rose, he didn't forcefully pull back; instead, he smoothly raised his thick-backed ring-pommel sword high above his head, concentrating all his power in his arms, his muscles bulging! He unleashed a devastating strike!

A collision! A slash! A pincer attack from above and below! Completely locking down Zhang Xian's room to dodge!
Just as Xu Chu raised his giant blade high, his power concentrated to its peak, about to strike! Just as Dian Wei lowered his head and charged forward, blocking Zhang Xian's view!

A figure as agile as a cheetah had silently circled around to Zhang Xian's side and rear blind spot! Gan Ning! He moved! At the perfect moment when Dian and Xu were drawing all attention, he launched a fatal attack!
Like the most cunning water snake, he crouched low, darting along the edge of the ring. His sharp knife moved without a sound, like the fangs of a venomous snake, aimed straight at Zhang Xian's lower back and the back of his knee! The angle was tricky and ruthless, and the timing was perfect!

Surrounded on three sides! There's no way to get to heaven or hell!

Zhang Xian seemed completely unaware of the deadly sneak attack from behind! His gaze didn't even glance at the giant blade about to fall from above his head or the massive man charging towards him!
A barely perceptible curve seemed to appear at the corner of his mouth.

Just as the three of them surrounded and hit Zhang Xian!
He moved!
Zhang Xian's movements were still swift! But this time, his speed carried a sense of composure, as if he understood everything and was in complete control!
Faced with Dian Wei's savage charge, Zhang Xian neither met it head-on nor completely dodged it.

His left foot touched a piece of concrete shell that had been loosened by the previous battle with remarkable precision!
"Crack!" The slight cracking sound was drowned out by the whistling of the massive weapon!
The loosened ground suddenly collapsed slightly under the force! This insignificant collapse caused Dian Wei's unstoppable charge to suddenly slip!
The trajectory and force of the collision deviated fatally in an instant! His elephant-like body grazed past Zhang Xian's side, the violent force creating a gust of wind that made Zhang Xian's robes flutter, but ultimately he missed by a hair's breadth!

At the same time, Zhang Xian used the reaction force of stepping on the loose fragment with his left foot to slide back half a step to the right rear with great skill!
This half-step not only dodged Dian Wei's collision caused by his slipping foot, but also created a crucial distance between him and the giant blade overhead that was about to split Mount Hua!

More importantly, this half-step retreat exposed Gan Ning to Zhang Xian's peripheral vision!

Gan Ning felt a sudden surge of alarm! He never expected that Zhang Xian's seemingly evasive and attack-inducing sliding step would actually accurately predict and break through what he thought was a perfect angle for a sneak attack!
His sure-fire strike missed its mark instantly!

Just as Gan Ning's move was outdated and his new strength had not yet been generated, his body leaned slightly forward due to the missed thrust!

Zhang Xian's right hand, which had just finished sliding back and seemed to be unsteady, moved!
Using the momentum of his body spinning and sliding backward, the spear swept towards Gan Ning's lower body with a powerful and fierce force, like a dragon swinging its tail!

Seizing the opportunity, cunning and ruthless! It was precisely at the moment when Gan Ning's old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet arisen, when his body was most unstable!
Gan Ning's expression changed drastically! His sneak attack missed, and he lost his balance, having no time to dodge the sweeping attack!
"Bang!" A muffled sound!
The spear shaft, with just the right amount of force, swept across the outside of Gan Ning's knees!
Gan Ning felt as if his legs had been hit by iron rods. Although there was no excruciating pain as he had expected, it was accompanied by a strong tingling and numb sensation.

A tingling, numb sensation swept through his lower body! He felt his blood surging and his vision going black! He groaned, unable to maintain his balance any longer, and tumbled away like a rolling gourd!

In the blink of an eye, it's as swift as a rabbit leaping and as fast as a falcon swooping!
He single-handedly fought against the top three in the tournament, not only unscathed but also knocked one of them down!
The entire venue was deathly silent! Only Dian Wei's roar as he staggered to his feet, Xu Chu's muffled groan as he clutched his arm, and Gan Ning's suppressed moan could be heard!

Everyone was stunned by this incredible battle!

In the midst of this deathly silence, Zhang Xian's calm voice rang out once more.

"What are you doing standing still?"

The spear in his hand was pointing diagonally at the ground.

"Let's go together."

"Don't keep me waiting too long."

Lu Bu made a move! He knew Zhang Xian was terrifying and dared not test him in the slightest!

A crimson figure surged forward like a burning flame! The twin halberds tore through the air with a piercing shriek, a straight thrust as powerful as lightning aimed directly at Zhang Xian's throat! This thrust was swift, precise, and ruthless! It contained the full power of Lü Bu at his peak!
This time, when facing Zhang Xian, he had no other emotions and maintained his best state of mind!
Almost at the same instant that Lü Bu made his move, the other seven also moved!

Pei Yuanshao's spear shot out like a dragon, a single cold glint striking first after it was launched, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, piercing straight into Zhang Xian's back!
Hu Luo, wielding a heavy axe, roared as he swung his giant axe, bringing with it the wind pressure to split mountains and shatter rocks, sweeping across Zhang Xian's waist and abdomen!
Zhou Cang's figure swiftly approached, his ring-pommel sword transforming into a silvery light curtain, slicing towards Zhang Xian's lower body!
Huang Si, wielding a sword and shield, roared and charged forward, attempting to limit Zhang Xian's space to dodge!

In an instant! Deadly attacks from all directions almost completely blocked Zhang Xian's escape routes!

The violent gust of wind stirred up dust on the arena! This was a truly decisive battle! The combined attack of eight top masters was enough to kill any famous general in the world on the spot!
On the high platform, Xun Yu and the others were pale-faced, their palms covered in cold sweat.

Xiahou Lan gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Faced with this devastating attack, Zhang Xian made his move.

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Xian, like a butterfly flitting among flowers or a fish swimming against the current, narrowly and skillfully dodged through the deadly gap formed by the eight violent attacks!

There was no head-on collision, no parrying, only the most precise and agile dodging!

Lu Bu's thrust missed its mark; his old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet been generated. A warning bell rang in his mind! He knew Zhang Xian all too well; this seemingly effortless dodge was bound to be followed by a thunderous counterattack! And indeed it was!

In the instant Zhang Xian spun around to dodge, the ordinary spear in his hand moved!

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a streak of dark light so fast it surpassed the limits of visual perception! Like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, or a sudden clap of thunder!
"Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Four crisp, heart-stopping explosions erupted almost simultaneously!

Lu Bu felt an irresistible force slam into the middle of the shaft of his double-toothed halberd!

He felt a sharp pain in his hand, his arms were numb and sore, and he almost dropped his halberd! The force of the blow made him stagger backward involuntarily!
At the same time, Pei Yuanshao also felt a violent jolt in his wrist, as if he had been struck by an invisible hammer! The spear in his hand swung upwards uncontrollably, leaving his defenses wide open!

Hu Luo and Huang Si were both forced to retreat repeatedly, their blood and qi churning!

Just one spear! Four clicks, done with effortless ease!
So fast that the trajectory was impossible to see! Yet with unparalleled precision, they simultaneously struck Lu Bu's halberd shaft, Pei Yuanshao's spear tip, Hu Luo's axe blade side, and Huang Si's shield edge!

With a single blow, the four men's offensive was completely shattered, and their formation was instantly disrupted!

This unbelievable scene shocked the other experts who were attacking!

But the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released! Zhou Cang's light barrier missed its target, and he immediately changed his move, his ring-pommel sword sweeping towards Zhang Xian like a storm!
Xu Heng and the others also filled in the gaps in the attack!

Zhang Xian's eyes were calm and unwavering, as if the violent attacks around him were merely a gentle breeze.

He moved his feet again! This time it wasn't a simple dodge, but an active counterattack!

With a blur, he appeared beside Zhou Cang as fast as a ghost! Zhou Cang only felt a blur before his eyes, and the target disappeared. A chill instantly shot from his tailbone to the top of his head!

He instinctively drew his knife to protect himself, but it was too late!

The spear in Zhang Xian's hand seemed to come alive, its tip flicking like a snake's tongue, and it gently touched the ground again!
"Ding! Ding!" Two soft sounds!
Zhou Cang felt as if his wrists had been stung by poisonous bees, the pain was excruciating, and he could no longer hold onto his ring-pommel sword.

With a clatter, it fell to the ground! He himself was pushed back several steps by a gentle force, and fell to the ground with a thud, his face full of horror!

Xu Heng and his group's attack arrived! But Zhang Xian didn't even look at it. He slightly turned his right wrist, which was holding the spear, and the spearhead seemed to have eyes as it snapped backward!
"clang!"

Xu Heng's weapon also fell to the ground with a clatter.

Li Feng, the only one in the arena wielding a long whip, was pinned to the tip of the whip by Zhang Xian's single foot! At the same time, Zhang Xian pressed down with his spear!
"Snapped!"

As the sturdy whip was pressed down, Li Feng felt an irresistible force coming from it, causing him to fall forward!
In the blink of an eye, three more people lost their weapons!

The remaining experts, including Lü Bu who had just regained his footing, and Dian Wei and Xu Chu who took a short break before returning to the arena, all felt a chill run down their spines!

This wasn't a fight! This was a complete annihilation!

Lu Bu transformed his shock into boundless fighting spirit, and his double halberds once again became a crimson beam that tore through space, sweeping out horizontally! The other three also exerted all their strength, unleashing their swords and halberds to attack Zhang Xian.

Faced with a combined attack from several people once again, Zhang Xian finally got serious!

The ordinary spear in his hand had no complicated moves, only the simplest and most direct sweeping attack!
But with this sweep, speed and power were condensed to the extreme! The trajectory was mysterious and unpredictable!

"Clang! Clang! Clang! Puff! Puff! Puff!"

A series of impacts and muffled thuds, so numerous they were impossible to distinguish, suddenly rang out!

Lu Bu felt as if his all-out sweeping attack, which he could use to split mountains and stop rivers, had crashed into a mountain!

An unparalleled force surged from the double-fanged halberd, causing his arms to ache terribly once more. His tiger's mouth split open instantly, and blood stained the halberd shaft! The double-fanged halberd, which Zhang Xian had given him when he was still a lieutenant general, let out a mournful cry, and a clear crack appeared between the blade and the shaft!

He was struck head-on by a galloping horse, his feet leaving the ground as he flew backward!

Dian Wei and Xu Chu were also blasted away this time.

The weapons of the others were either knocked out of their hands or cracked open by the immense force the moment they came into contact with the dark halberd shadow. Their weapons fell to the ground, and the people were shaken to the side by the powerful force!
One spear!
A single spear sweeps across!
Those who were besieging him were like fallen leaves swept by the autumn wind, flying backwards in a radial pattern centered on Zhang Xian!

Lu Bu crashed heavily onto the arena several feet away, rolling several times before barely managing to steady himself. His double-fanged halberds slipped from his hands and landed not far away, the cracks on the blades clearly visible, indicating they were almost broken. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his arms trembled.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Zhang Xian was filled with fervor, shock, and... an even deeper sense of awe!

Dian Wei clutched his throbbing right wrist, knelt on one knee, and gasped for breath. His once fierce eyes, like copper bells, were now filled with deep horror.

Xu Chu leaned against the edge of the arena, his face pale. Looking at his trembling hands and the gaping wound on his hands, he shook his head with a bitter smile.

The others were in even worse shape, their weapons scattered on the ground, some sitting, some lying down, all unable to fight anymore.

The entire Jinyang City drill ground fell into a deathly silence.

Tens of thousands of spectators remained completely silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed and gaped, as if an invisible hand had gripped their throats, and they even forgot to breathe.

Zhang Xian remained standing in the same spot, holding the ordinary spear in one hand.

The spear was completely intact, without even the slightest dent.

His robes were only slightly disheveled from the activity, his hair was almost completely intact, and there wasn't a single drop of sweat on his face.

It was as if the battle just now was nothing more than casually brushing away a few fallen leaves for him.

His gaze calmly swept over the challengers who were slumped around the arena, finally settling on Lü Bu, who was struggling to get up.

"Fengxian." Zhang Xian's voice broke the silence, still calm, with a hint of a smile: "Are you satisfied with this closing ceremony?"

Lu Bu struggled to kneel on one knee, looking at his cracked and bleeding tiger's mouth, and at the double-fanged halberd that had developed cracks.

The defiant flame in his heart was utterly crushed in the face of absolute power, leaving only the purest awe and submission from the depths of his soul.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the churning blood and the excruciating pain in his arms, raised his head, and knelt down on one knee.

"My lord's divine might... I am utterly convinced!"

"We are utterly convinced of the General's divine might!"

The top ten finalists also stood up, knelt down on one knee, and bowed with their hands clasped in greeting.

Zhang Xian smiled lightly, turned around, and walked off the stage: "In that case, this tournament has come to a successful conclusion!"

"Wenruo! Confer the gift!"

"promise!"

"Divine Might."

"Former General"

"The former general's divine might!!"

"The former general is mighty!!!"

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! To witness this battle is enough to make dying without regrets!"

"."

As Zhang Xian walked step by step off the stage, he returned the spear to the guard and patted him on the shoulder.

The entire venue erupted in a roar like a landslide or a tsunami!
(The martial arts tournament has ended.)
(End of this chapter)