Da Xuan Martial Saint

He had always thought that military formations were just a kind of structural formation, but now it seemed that calling them a form of Martial Arts wasn't wrong either.

However, the ordinary way of Martial Arts focused primarily on the individual, pondering the Artistic Conception and even Solidifying Refinement into a Domain, all relying on one's own strength. But a military formation appeared to be a collection of everyone's strength, to jointly form a special Artistic Conception and even a "Domain"!@@novelbin@@

This was indeed something novel for Chen Mu.

"Everything between heaven and earth lies within the Qiankun. This military formation is no different. My Qiankun Artistic Conception can also evolve through variations, integrating into it, to become a part of the formation structure, a piece of the puzzle of the military formation... Isn't this also a kind of change in nature? Having grasped the Qiankun Artistic Conception, in relation to this world, I am also a piece of the puzzle."

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As Chen Mu walked deeper into the military formation with Zhao Zhenchuan and others, he grew increasingly reflective.

In fact, Chen Mu's own comprehension had never been poor, especially now as he possessed a Martial Arts will comparable to that of a Grandmaster, his heart of Martial Arts was Solidifying Refinement, unwavering in his own path, and his perception of the Artistic Conception had deepened profoundly from the second step... Plainly put, his realm, elevated by the system panel, had already surpassed his vision.

Ordinarily, Martial Artists had to train until they were around forty or fifty years old, practicing Martial Arts while walking the Martial World for decades, observing various aspects, and contemplating various experiences. Yet, Chen Mu, without ever stepping out of Yu State, had far less actual experience and knowledge than those old Martial Artists who had been traveling the Martial World for decades, and he had already reached this Martial Arts Realm. Hence, he could naturally gain insights from almost anything he encountered; these were the experiences and knowledge proper to his level.

Soon.

The group arrived at the central camp where the army was being assembled.

In the central camp were the various supplies and carriages of the Yu State army, pulled by domesticated horses with a mix of demonic lineage. At the very center was a moveable tent carried by the carriages.

Chen Mu and Zhao Zhenchuan, after verifying their identities and presenting the required seals at the side tents, passed through layer upon layer of strict inspections before they were finally allowed to enter the main tent of the central Eastern Army.

Upon ascending the tent.

They saw a burly middle-aged man in a long robe, imposing even without anger, standing inside the tent—his hair half grey, half black. He was none other than Han Liwu, the Commanding General of Yu State's Eastern Army!

As the Commanding General of the Yu State army, leading a hundred thousand army soldiers, Han Liwu's status and position were comparable to that of an Elder of Seven Profound Sect. Among the Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern Armies of Yu State, Han Liwu's Eastern Army was the strongest, capable of surrounding and killing top Grandmasters without any difficulty!

Of course, that was only if they could trap them.

"This must be Protector Chen. I have long heard of Protector Chen's name."

Han Liwu did not put on any airs with Chen Mu and Zhao Zhenchuan. He gave a hearty laugh, his demeanor bold.

Chen Mu and Zhao Zhenchuan weren't part of the Yu State army structure. Although they both held military titles, the positions were nominal, and they would not actually be involved in directing the troops. Moreover, the future logistics, supplies, and all other aspects had to rely on the Seven Profound Sect. They had to rely on Chen Mu and many other Protectors for support and protection. Although their ranks seemed to be superior and subordinate, in reality, the relationship was more akin to a cooperative one between different systems.

Especially for someone with Chen Mu's status, being a respected figure on the Wind Cloud List and having even killed the Great Protector Situ Shu of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion, displaying strength close to the top ten on the Wind Cloud List, he was comparable to some Grandmaster figures, and his status was different as well.

"General Han flatters me. My insignificant reputation isn't worth mentioning. General Han commands the Eastern Army; a hundred thousand troops at your beck and call. With the might of this military formation bearing down, even a Martial Arts Grandmaster would likely struggle to resist."

Chen Mu still maintained a certain respect for Han Liwu, not for anything else, but in recognition of the hundred thousand Eastern Army soldiers. Under his command of the military formation, anyone below the Blood Exchange Realm would have to give way three feet in fear, especially at the heart of the formation in the central camp, where he felt an increasingly powerful oppressive force, as if one were in the Domain even without it being fully activated.

Han Liwu cracked a grin and said, "Protector Chen is the foremost among the younger generation in the Cold North Path in a hundred years. If you had not pursued Martial Arts but chosen the path of military formations, you might also be commanding an army by now... Speaking of which, I've heard that Protector Chen had some trouble with his cultivation. As someone who cultivates the Qiankun Artistic Conception, adapting to a military formation shouldn't be hard for you, and if you wish to command an army in the future, you may well shake the four directions."

With these words spoken.

Zhao Zhenchuan couldn't help but glance at Chen Mu.

What Han Liwu was referring to was Chen Mu's encounter with Demonic Qi, which hindered his Martial Arts path. If in the future, he could not achieve the Grandmaster Realm, with Chen Mu's comprehension and talent, he might consider transitioning to the path of military formations. If he could train to Han Liwu's level, commanding an army, he would be able to shake the Cold North and make even top Grandmasters retreat.

Of course.

Even if Chen Mu were willing to try switching to the practice of military formations, it couldn't be now. At the very least, he would have to wait until he had slowly purified and eradicated the Demonic Qi, eliminating this hidden threat before he could be stationed in the Yu State army to learn military formations. Thus, when Han Liwu spoke, he used the term "future" rather than speaking of the present.

"Thank you, Commanding General Han, for your guidance. However, I have grown accustomed to the freedom of practicing Martial Arts on my own and am not fond of the restrictions of military life... but I do have some understanding of the methods of military formations. I wonder if I could accompany the camp to observe for a few days."

Chen Mu said to Han Liwu with cupped hands.

He naturally had no interest in switching to the military formations practice. In fact, the Qiankun Artistic Conception encompassed all things. As long as he grasped a fraction of the mystery of the military formations and practiced them a bit, the Qiankun could directly evolve into the art of military formations. Although he was unlikely to be interested in commanding troops in the future, gaining some insight from the military formations could lead to an understanding of the profound mysteries of the world, providing him with a lot of experience.

The efficiency of the experience he had obtained along the way was already comparable to his contemplation of Nature at Yunni Sky Peak. If he were to observe the army for a few days, it was highly likely that he would reap significant benefits. Currently, he was only three to four thousand experiences away from his next deduction.

"Protector Chen, as the Yu State army's pacification envoy, you may come and go in the camp as you please."

Han Liwu said with a composed expression.

He didn't mind Chen Mu's polite refusal; after all, Chen Mu was still very young. In a decade or two, if Chen Mu still hadn't reached the Grandmaster Realm through Marrow Cleansing, it wouldn't be too late for him to change his mind and learn the art of military formations then.

After all, Chen Mu's foundation was the Qiankun Artistic Conception, different from any other conception. He could evolve the military formations through analogous reasoning without starting from scratch, so he could begin at any time.

As these words fell,

Han Liwu drew a Command Flag from behind him.

Command Flags like these were common in military formations, but the one in Han Liwu's hand was different. As soon as he took it in his hand, Chen Mu immediately felt that the entire military formation's momentum seemed to change along with this Command Flag.

"Spirit Weapon..."

Chen Mu's gaze fixed on the Command Flag.

As the Commanding General of the eastern army, even if Han Liwu had perfected the "Three Talents Domain," it was impossible for him to incorporate a hundred thousand army soldiers into the military formation as part of a single, vast formation through his strength alone. To achieve this, he also had to rely on a Spirit Weapon.

The Command Flag in his hand was no longer a Spirit Weapon used for killing like the Cold Soul Spirit Blade or the Evil-Breaking Thunder Spear. It was a "special class" that could connect auras, direct formations, extend domains, and other functions.

"Protector Chen, Protector Zhao, please extend your Qi onto the Command Flag."

Han Liwu said to Chen Mu and Zhao Zhenchuan.

Zhao Zhenchuan showed no hesitation and immediately stepped forward, squeezing out a drop of fresh blood that contained his own Qi-Blood and Inner Breath from his fingertips, dropping it onto the Command Flag, which was swallowed up as if by a fabled creature.

Chen Mu followed suit, and after he had done so, he immediately felt the military formation's rejection of him greatly reduced, the previously oppressive feeling disappearing.

"All right, for the next three months, you two Protectors will not be obstructed in the military formation."

Han Liwu put the Command Flag away.

"Thank you for your trouble, General."

Zhao Zhenchuan thanked Han Liwu with cupped hands. The main reason he and Chen Mu had come was for this—to extend their Qi in the military formation with a temporary imprint so that they could enter and leave freely without being suppressed or hindered.

Han Liwu nodded calmly and then saw Chen Mu and Zhao Zhenchuan off.