Outside the Nine Palace Eight Diagram Formation.
No matter what was happening in the core of the formation, the Selected Spear Generals at the forefront could neither see nor hear it; they only knew that the sandalwood incense was burning incessantly and was about to burn out.
Zhao Kang and others looked on from a distance, even more anxious than if they were the ones being assessed.
"An anomaly indicates the presence of demons."
Xu Wencai, flicking his feather fan, said, "I and Mr. Chen have already thoroughly studied the Nine Palace Eight Diagram Formation. By calculation, it should have ended by now. The fact that he hasn't come out yet means there's definitely an accident—let's wait and see."
"Why hasn't General Chen come out yet?"
Bai Thingzhi wanted to climb higher to see what was happening inside but was blocked by weapons.
"Please abide by the rules, General, or your qualification will be revoked."
Tang Yingke sat on a stone pier, drawing with his sword on the ground.
Bai Thingzhi came over, "Last time I saw you murmuring a bunch to General Chen, do you know something? Share with me."
Tang Yingke avoided the question, "Mr. Chen is capable. He won't die."
Even Bai Thingzhi, as simple-minded as he was, could tell something was off.
Normally, one wouldn't die in the formation trial.
To say so meant there was a problem!
Yin Hanwen looked at the nearly burnt-out first stick of sandalwood incense, "Even I can break the Nine Palace Eight Diagram Formation. I thought this kid was something special, but he fell at the second hurdle."
Wen Qiushi followed up, "He still couldn't escape the palm of the Princely Heir."
Cao Fan said nothing, merely waiting silently for the result to be announced.
Class B? That wasn't enough!
He hoped, if not death, then at least crippling, so the man would stop being an eyesore, flitting about before his eyes.
Moreover, today's arrangement was foolproof, as he had a Martial Saint helping him with a greater scheme in store regarding the layout of the Eight Camps.
Suddenly, a sound of heavy weapons cleaving the air resounded beside them.
Cao Fan's eyebrows knitted together as he picked up his Azure Dragon Crescent blade.
He saw Bai Thingzhi raising his broadsword and coming at them, "What Princely Heir? I'll slaughter you!"
"Truly a well-biting hound!"
Cao Fan had heard his father say.
There were loyal ministers in the world who could be unimaginably faithful to their masters, and securing such talented generals was indeed a great fortune.
It seemed there really were such people.
Unfortunately, they were not his.
"What are you doing?"
Cao Fan said gravely, "Attacking the Princely Heir for no reason, do you want to have your entire clan executed?"
Bai Thingzhi stated bluntly, "Tell me, was it you who sabotaged the formation?"
Cao Fan scoffed, "Chen's own incompetence at breaking out of the formation has nothing to do with me. Why are you biting me without reason?"
He didn't need to lift a finger himself; Bai Thingzhi was already blocked at every turn.
Knowing he could not get close, Bai Thingzhi shouted to Thousand Captain Li at the side, "My lord, there's definitely something wrong with the formation!"
He was not just speculating without cause.
That Tang Yingke was clearly aware of the inside story; he just hadn't revealed it.
"Without evidence, you dare to create a disturbance?"
Thousand Captain Li frowned, "If there truly is a problem, the chief examiners will deal with it justly. There's no need for you to shout and scream here! Seize him, and after the examination is over, decide whether to revoke his Selected Spear qualification!"
Several Generals who had attained Refining Internal Organs Perfection, responsible for maintaining order in the examination field, stepped forward and pinned Bai Thingzhi firmly to the ground.
Thousand Captain Li turned to look at the sandalwood incense on the table, sighed inwardly, and estimated it was also Class B, noting that the Nine Palace Eight Diagram Formation devised by General Fang really was difficult to break.
"The assessment is over!"
"Chen Sansi, Class A!"
A loud voice rang out alongside the gong.
At the same time, the incense on the table coincidentally extinguished.
The previously eliminated Selected Spear Generals, who had received a Class B, all showed an incredulous expression.
Generals like Cui Yongping and Xie Sishu even thought that Class B was the highest grade attainable in this assessment.
Because the Nine Palace Eight Diagram Formation was just too difficult!
It's easy to theorize about strategies on paper; they all knew how the formation worked, but when they genuinely entered the vast formation of forty thousand men, they immediately became headless flies. With concepts like the Nine Palace, the Six Gates, the Six Instruments, and the Three Oddities, although clear in their minds, they became confused, unable to discern anything on the field.
That rural general, whose skills were even inferior to theirs, somehow scored Class A, showing his profound understanding of military tactics and his extraordinary adaptability on the spot.
The moment before, those like Yin Hanwen who had been reveling in another's misfortune were suddenly petrified.
Especially Cao Fan, who wasn't even fully confident about securing Class A himself, let alone considering the obstacles he had set up inside the formation, even tampering with the weapons.
'Truly capable indeed...'
He had a measure of respect in his heart. If this person wasn't so intent on competing for the title of Champion Leader and wasn't unwilling to ally with him, he indeed would have been a talent to utilize.
'You may have passed the hurdle, but your dog won't!'
He approached the soldiers maintaining order: "Thousand Captain Li, you've seen it. Mr. Chen passed smoothly. There's nothing unfair about this examination. This clearly shows he's deliberately disrupting order. Why not revoke his Selected Spear qualification promptly and then take him away for questioning?"
A bloody severed head fell from the sky, landing in front of everyone.
Chen Sansi appeared empty-handed, "Thousand Captain Li, Bai Thingzhi was not talking nonsense. Someone indeed tampered with the formation. Please do not punish him."
"Thousand Captain, we can testify, General Chen speaks the truth,"
The soldiers who witnessed the entire process also came over, speaking in unison, "The people at the Du Gate were replaced, including several Refining Internals, and they were aiming to kill. Bring them here!"