Chapter 705: Shang Honghua, Trial, One Technique To Stupefy Everyone
In the command headquarters of Stronghold Seventeen.
Chu Kuangren had learned about the commodore junior during his Emperor Thought conversations with the other Emperors.
Apparently, the commodore junior was once the youngest Emperor of the stronghold. She was one of the very few who possessed the Superb-grade Emperor Core, and she had spent the least amount of time in qualifying herself at the battle leaderboard...
In short, the commodore junior was a reputable figure in the stronghold, and many cultivators held her with the highest regards.
At this moment, Chu Kuangren felt the presence of two distinctive auras approaching his room.
He immediately disconnected his Emperor Thought and went to the door.
Two red-robed ladies with a dark sword strapped to their waists were outside his room. They looked valiant in their poise.
"Brother Chu, the commodore junior wishes to invite you to the main hall."
The ladies were in awe when they first saw Chu Kuangren.
Fortunately, they managed to quickly retain their composure and relay their messages with a straight face.
Chu Kuangren nodded. "Let's go, then."
In the main hall of the command headquarters.
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade was speaking to a red-clothed lady. Her features were delicate, and her demeanor elegant. Although she seemed like a gentle lady on the surface, one could vaguely pick up on the ferociousness lingering within her aura, like a thorny rose.
She was the commodore junior of the command headquarters, Shang Honghua!
"Hua'er, behave yourself when you meet Chu Kuangren later. Don't make a fool of yourself, alright?" Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade reminded.
"Yes, Forefather. Don't worry, I know what to do."
Shang Honghua replied calmly.
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade did not speak any further.
Soon.
Chu Kuangren and the female bodyguards arrived at the hall.
"Greetings, commodore, commodore junior."
Chu Kuangren greeted the duo politely with a fist salute.
At one side, Shang Honghua took a peek at Chu Kuangren. Although her countless years on the battlefield had made her resistant to most forms of temptation, she was still moved when she saw Chu Kuangren for the first time. "He does look incredibly charming."
The female bodyguards behind her were whispering to each other as well.
"D*mn, this man's way too handsome."
"I know! Look at his posture, and look at his face! If he weren't the commodore's guest, I would've kidnapped him to my room."
"Whew, how I wish to have played around with him."
"Ahem..."
Heavenly Imperial Ghostblade coughed lightly.
The female bodyguards immediately fell silent.
Shang Honghua scoffed. "How embarrassing."
She then looked at Chu Kuangren and said, "Brother Chu, I've always been curious to find out if you live up to your reputation. Now that I've finally seen you, you truly are extraordinary."
"Commodore junior, you're too kind."
Chu Kuangren glanced at Shang Honghua.
It was all he needed to obtain every crucial information about her.
Her reputation preceded her.
In fact, Shang Honghua was more impressive than her reputation suggested. Not only had she attained the Perfected Emperor Realm, but she was a Rank Nine Initial Emperor close to ascending into the Heavenly Imperial Realm.
Chu Kuangren spent some time chatting with Shang Honghua.
"Brother Chu, I'll be heading to the barracks soon. Would you care to join me?" Shang Honghua asked.
"Sure." Chu Kuangren did not decline her offer.
The group proceeded into the military barracks.
The soldiers had long heard about Shang Honghua's return and had been ramping up their training regime.
"The commodore junior is here!" The thin Emperor who sat on top of the wall announced.
"Soldiers, fall in!" the bearded commander yelled.
Soon, Shang Honghua, Chu Kuangren, and a few others entered the barracks as the soldiers stood in a straight line.
"Li Youdao, step out!"
Shang Honghua commanded.
The thin Emperor died a little inside. With all his might, he straightened his back and stepped out of formation. "Present!"
"Attack me!" Shang Honghua said.
The thin Emperor did not find her request surprising and immediately launched a palm technique towards Shang Honghua.
As the Emperor qi converged in his hands and Daoist runes manifested around his body, Li Youdao launched a fury of energies that accumulated layers of power in its projectile towards Shang Honghua.
Soon, Shang Honghua parried with a fist technique as well.
In an instant, Li Youdao's Emperor qi, Daoist runes, and his fury of energies dissipated into thin air!
The thin Emperor was blasted a hundred meters away as his body smashed against the gate.
"Just like the last time, you're defeated in one move again. Li Youdao, have you actually been training?"
"Yes, ma'am!" The thin Emperor scurried onto his feet and responded.
"Hmph, make sure you double your training from here onwards!"
Shang Honghua scoffed and continued, "Fei Xue, step out!"
"Present!"
Empress Fei Xue stepped out of formation, feeling a little uneasy.
Then, Shang Honghua struck a fist technique at Empress Fei Xue, which required the latter to use all her strengths to parry the commodore junior's attack.
"Fei Xue, the Redshirt Army still lacks a Deputy Commander. If you're keen, we'll always welcome you," said Shang Honghua.
"Thank you for the opportunity, commodore junior. I'll think about it."
Empress Fei Xue had spent a considerable amount of time in the barracks and had made many friendships over the years. Leaving her troops would not be an easy decision for her.
Shang Honghua continued to test a dozen more candidates.
All of them were soldiers in the Emperor Realm.
Finally, the process began to wear her out. "I'm starting to feel exhausted."
The remaining soldiers who had not been tested heaved a sigh of relief.
'Freedom, at last!'
Shang Honghua then looked towards Chu Kuangren and said, "Brother Chu, if you don't mind, take care of the rest for me."
Chu Kuangren was stunned.
No wonder she was keen on dragging him here.
Shang Honghua was waiting for this moment.
She wanted to test him out!
"Well, isn't that inappropriate?" Chu Kuangren hesitated.
"Nope, it's all good. These maggots will slack off the second they've got the chance to. Just test them however you like. It'll be a great opportunity for you to understand where Stronghold Seventeen stands in terms of power anyway," said Shang Honghua.
"Xie Feng, step out!"
"Present!"
"Show Chu Kuangren what you got."
"Understood."
Xie Feng stepped out of formation and was eager to fight Chu Kuangren. "Brother Chu, it's an honor."
"Brother Chu, be careful of him. Xie Feng is not only a centurion of the army but also an expert who qualifies in the battle leaderboard. Even though his rank isn't too high, don't underestimate him."
Empress Fei Xue reminded Chu Kuangren kindly.
The battle leaderboard was a list that existed in the Extraterritorial Battlefield.
It was a leaderboard that honored not combat strength but combat merits!
The greater one's combat merit, the higher one would soar in the leaderboard!
Typically, combat strength and combat merits would go hand-in-hand. Those who appeared in the leaderboard were rarely weak cultivators.
"After you!" Chu Kuangren said.
Xie Feng attacked.
The moment he unleashed his technique, a cluster of dark typhoons manifested around the field and swarmed towards Chu Kuangren.
Xie Feng was a Rank Seven Initial Emperor!
He was in the Perfected Emperor Realm.
Chu Kuangren summoned a circle of sword qi at his fingertip and effortlessly tore through the dark typhoons around him!
His sword qi circled the battlefield and stopped right before Xie Feng's throat. Xie Feng gulped his fear as his Emperor qi and battle poise instantly dwindled.
He looked at Chu Kuangren in terror.
Xie Feng could observe each of Chu Kuangren's movements clearly.
From the moment he lifted his finger until he unleashed his sword qi.
His sword qi movement even left a clear and straightforward trail behind.
Yet, Xie Feng found it impossible to dodge his attack!
Xie Feng's technique was not the only thing that lost to Chu Kuangren.
In fact, Chu Kuangren had overpowered him in every single aspect!
The rest of the soldiers stared at Chu Kuangren in shock as they struggled to take in the moment. Their gaze was solemn.
One technique was all it took to stupefy everyone!