Chapter 18: The Fundamental of Survival and Peril

In the battles for the top eight, Qian Ye easily won his match because his opponent, after witnessing the defeat of Song Zian, was evidently dispirited and lacked the will to fight.

Song Zining, however, faced the guest warrior who had been by Song Zian’s side. Due to the previous day’s battle, both sides were at odds, and the guest warrior immediately went for lethal moves, even at the cost of his own wounds, clearly aiming to end Song Zining’s life.

However, in this battle, Song Zining finally displayed his astonishing combat prowess. He utilized the Song Clan’s secret technique: Fire Torch Inheritance Spear, a gun technique suitable for large-scale battles on the battlefield. In his hands, it already possessed the might of a devastating army, and without much struggle, he directly killed the guest warrior on the spot.

This was the first fatal battle in this martial examination, but the four grandstands were silent, with no one raising objections. With another key member down, Song Zian suffered a heavy loss.

The final four were thus determined, with Qian Ye set to face Song Zi Qi, and Song Zining’s opponent would be Song Zi Cheng.

Song Zi Qi had just crossed the threshold to become a Warlord, still somewhat weaker than Song Zian. After consuming the Heavenly Wind Jade Dew Wine, Qian Ye had ascended to level nine. This battle was no contest, and Qian Ye did not even need to use his eye technique: Control. A flurry of chaotic sword strikes was enough to break through Song Zi Qi’s defenses and wound him.

Had it not been for Song Tu’s watchful gaze, Qian Ye would have considered leaving Song Zi Qi with some lasting disabilities. As it was, Song Zi Qi would be bedridden for three to five days.

Meanwhile, Song Zining and Song Zi Cheng engaged in a fierce battle.

As the eldest grandson of the clan leader, Song Zi Cheng had long held the top position in the line of succession, with far more resources than Song Zining. Originally, he should have had a comprehensive advantage in origin power, combat techniques, and equipment. However, upon their entrance, everyone noticed that Song Zining had changed his gear, all of which were now at level six.

Even in the wealthy Song Clan, such a sight caused everyone to stir. Song Zian only had a level six weapon, and Song Zi Cheng had only two pieces of level six armor. Before the start of the examinations, in full view of everyone, the wife of the Marquis of An had given Song Zining a level six disposable defensive ring, intended to ensure his survival on the arena.

Everyone knew that Song Zining’s paternal and maternal lines were not prominent, and his future in-laws were just commoners, with no significant resources. Given his current rank in the succession, the resources and benefits he could obtain were not enough to acquire a complete set of level six equipment. Having a full set of level four armor and a level five weapon was already quite impressive.

Of course, the elders knew that Song Zining had a private property called the Ningyuan Group, but how many adult members of the Song Clan did not have a few factories or workshops? If this equipment came from that private property, it indicated that its scale was truly substantial. How many years had he been in charge independently?

In an instant, many elders felt a strange sensation.

The wife of the Marquis of An suddenly asked, “Zhong Nian, Zining is also from your branch. Where did those small gadgets on him come from?”

Clan Leader Song Zhong Nian also observed Song Zining, pondering for a moment before saying, “From my perspective, these weapons are likely a combination of his accumulated private property and those acquired through connections.”

“Borrowing” was akin to taking a loan, but the elders of the Song Clan all nodded. Being able to borrow money was also a skill.

“Zining, this child, is becoming increasingly commendable,” said the old patriarch, and the smiles of several elders immediately stiffened.

In this battle, Song Zining’s style was completely different from his previous decisive one. Facing Song Zi Cheng’s well-balanced “Embroidered Clothing Blade Technique,” he immediately opened the domain of the “Three Thousand Drifting Leaves Technique.”

At this moment, within a ten-zhang radius, leaves fluttered, mixed with a hint of rain, evoking the feeling of late autumn. Countless fine strands of origin power appeared in the air, weaving into a tight net for defense, and then sensing an external attack, they transformed into wind blades, swirling back to counter-attack.

Few of the Song Clan’s disciples watching the battle had ever seen this secret technique, which no one had mastered in centuries. The elders, however, had some understanding, so their expressions varied. But this time, they seemed preoccupied, and even conversations were scarce, with silence reigning on the high platform.

Like many other high-grade secret techniques, the “Three Thousand Drifting Leaves Technique” was divided into three stages and nine realms. Generally, most people would stop at the middle stage, while the high stage required insight and opportunity, with no shortcuts. Any high-grade secret technique, once reaching the high stage, would clear the way to the final few levels of a Warlord and potentially the Divine General rank.

The “Three Thousand Drifting Leaves Technique” that Song Zining was using had reached the realm of “Autumn Mountain Journey,” which was the fifth middle stage! In terms of the secret technique’s level, Song Zining was now the first among the young generation of the Song Clan, and the others would find it impossible to catch up for several years.

Song Zi Cheng’s only advantage was in origin power, and his combat skills were not weak, about to break through the middle stage. However, Song Zining leveled the playing field with his superior equipment. Both sides had strong defenses but lacked offensive power, leading to a protracted battle.

This battle lasted for a full two hours, and Song Zining ultimately lost when his origin power was depleted.

Although Song Zi Cheng could still assist Song Zining, he himself was as pale as paper when he left the arena, his steps unsteady, nearly failing to cross the edge of the arena. If Song Zining had held out for ten more minutes, Song Zi Cheng would have fallen first.

In the afternoon, the final battle would take place between Song Zi Cheng and Qian Ye.

Upon entering the arena, Song Zi Cheng straightforwardly declared, “I concede!”

He and Song Zining had overexerted themselves in their previous battle, and even with the best potions, his origin power depletion had not fully recovered. Qian Ye, on the other hand, had easily defeated Song Zi Qi and was almost fully recovered, making this battle a non-contest.

When Song Tu announced the result, the faces of the elders on the high platform were oddly strained. Song Zhong Xing, in particular, let out a cold, grating laugh. The martial examination, designed to select the heir and favor the Song Clan’s members, had instead been won by an outsider, a situation that, if made public, would damage the Song Clan’s reputation.

However, the elders’ opinions on Song Zi Cheng’s concession were mixed. This was characteristic of the Song Clan, a family that focused on commerce. When faced with insurmountable odds, they preferred to retreat and seek other paths.

The wife of the Marquis of An then said, “Call the child and Zining up. I have a few words for them.”

Moments later, Qian Ye and Song Zining ascended the high platform, standing before the wife of the Marquis of An. Only now did Qian Ye get the chance to closely observe this legendary matriarch of the Song Clan. He took a glance and quickly lowered his head.

Though the wife of the Marquis of An had hair as white as snow, her face was not as aged as one might imagine. Dyeing her hair black might make her appear as a middle-aged noblewoman, but her eyes, filled with the weight of the years, quietly revealed the secrets of her age.

When she looked at Qian Ye, she merely observed him without using her perception to probe his origin power or body. This small detail made Qian Ye feel a bit more at ease.

After a brief look, the wife of the Marquis of An said, “Good, both children are good. Zining is fortunate to have you as a friend.”

Friend? Qian Ye felt a slight stir in his heart but simply replied, “Thank you, Madam, for your praise.”

The wife of the Marquis of An smiled at the attendants, “This child has excellent talent and is very eloquent. I like him. Bring me that box.”

A servant brought a nanmu box inlaid with silver, which was opened in front of everyone, revealing three origin power bullets inside.

These origin power bullets were entirely silver, not as shiny as mithril, but with a deep, heavy, and somewhat obscure luster. The bullet’s unique pattern suggested a multi-layered structure, similar in design to the works of the master from Dog Claw Town, but with even finer craftsmanship.

At the wife of the Marquis of An’s gesture, Qian Ye took the box from the servant. Upon holding it, he was surprised; the origin power fluctuations emitted by the bullets were even stronger than those of mithril magic-piercing bullets.

The wife of the Marquis of An said gently, “These are our Song Clan’s self-produced Silver Sun Bullets, slightly different from those in the market. As a token of your victory, I have nothing else to offer, so I give you these trinkets for protection.”

The elders managed to keep their composure, but the younger members of the Song Clan, not so disciplined, showed a mix of envy and pain, making for a colorful display.

The Silver Sun Bullet was a formidable weapon, comparable to the Black Titanium Annihilation Bullet. The Song Clan’s self-produced version had undergone significant improvements. Each bullet required dozens of skilled artisans to work for months. The “slight difference” mentioned by the wife of the Marquis of An was, in fact, a world apart by normal standards.

These Silver Sun Bullets, produced by the Song Clan, could instantly kill a Dark Viscount even when used with a low-level origin power gun. They were usually reserved for the Imperial Guard, and whenever a few leaked out, they would cause a frenzy among the strong. Even Song Zi Cheng and Song Zian had only two as a last resort, and Song Zining, with his previous status, had never obtained one.

Now, as an outsider, Qian Ye received three at once, causing the Song Clan’s members to be envious and resentful.

After Qian Ye accepted the box, the wife of the Marquis of An looked around and said, “Our greatest enemy remains the dark races. Therefore, the fundamental issue of our survival lies in the battles against the dark races. The Song Clan thrives on commerce, but in reality, it is to support the frontlines. You may think I am too generous, but in this child’s hands, these bullets can take the lives of three Dark Viscounts. If they were in your hands, they would likely be exchanged for business capital or become part of a high-ranking family’s private armory, right?”

Her words hit close to home, and the cold sweat of many present broke out.

She sighed, “Martial arts serve to protect us from foreign threats and are the foundation of our clan. The purpose of this ten-year examination is to reverse the decline of our Song Clan, but there are still those who do not understand this. Accustomed to scheming in daily life, you cannot change your ways even in a real-life situation. How can you still have any fighting spirit left? Can we rely on you in a matter of life and death?”

“The term ‘clan’ is not set in stone. A thousand years ago, there were seven founding clans, and within two hundred years, they were reduced to three. During the renaissance of the Empire, there were nine clans, a period of great prosperity. But since the Zhu Clan was demoted, the four clans have stood for over three hundred years…”

Qian Ye listened in rapt attention, learning for the first time about the history of the clans. Such details of the upper echelons of the Empire were not accessible in military-dominated places like the Yellow Springs and Red Scorpion.

Qian Ye glanced at Song Zining, who, like the others, was bowing his head and listening, still appearing gentle and harmless, no different from usual.

But Qian Ye knew that Song Zining was deeply troubled and did not seem to feel much joy from his performance in the martial examination. It seemed that his mood had been low since the battle between Qian Ye and Song Zian.

Thinking of the events of the past few days, Qian Ye sighed inwardly, perhaps it was time to have a talk with Song Zining. But the Song Clan and he were intrinsically connected, and no matter what decision he made, it would be especially difficult, even for someone as resolute as Song Zining.