NFBE Chapter 433 Legion Commander Zhao Huang
Chapter 433 Legion Commander Zhao Huang
The night was as dark as ink, dotted with stars, and the vast sky unfolded slowly before everyone's eyes like a profound scroll. The towering pagoda pierced the clouds, its body shimmering with a deep blue light, like an ancient guardian, silently overlooking this land.
At the foot of the tower, Zhao Minghang, dressed in a blue robe, had a handsome face and his eyes gleamed with anticipation. He was not qualified to meet the legion commander; it was only through Zhao Nuo's strong recommendation that he had this opportunity, and it was only by bringing Zheng Qian to see Zhao Huang that he had the chance to meet him.
Beside him, Zheng Qian, dressed in ordinary black attire, had a calm expression and deep eyes. He was also looking forward to meeting Zhao Huang, the commander of the Radiant Legion. At the same time, he knew that it wasn't Zhao Minghang who recommended him to meet Zhao Huang, but rather Zhao Huang who wanted to see him because he had saved Zhao Mingxiu in the Twin Absolute Domain, and Zhao Mingxiu still owed him money for saving his life back then.
"Brother Zheng, today I'm introducing you to Commander Zhao Huang of the Radiant Legion. With your talent and strength, you're sure to shine on the future stage." Zhao Minghang's tone was firm, his eyes filled with admiration for Zheng Qian. Their address changed from "commander" to "brother."
Zheng Qian smiled slightly: "Brother Minghang, you flatter me too much. It is a great honor to be valued by you so much."
The two walked side by side, passing through the heavy guards of the Strategist Tower, and arrived at the Legion Commander's council hall. Inside, the hall was brightly lit by candlelight, and Zhao Nuo, Ma Yi, and several staff officers were reporting on matters related to the Radiant Legion of the Wind Rift Valley. The atmosphere was solemn.
In the main seat, Zhao Huang stood tall and straight. Despite having experienced countless battles and hardships, the over eight hundred-year-old man still maintained the appearance of a thirty-year-old. His long, silver hair, like the brightest starry sky in the night, moved without wind, each strand containing pure and unparalleled light elements, shimmering with a faint glow.
Zhao Minghang looked on with admiration, bowed his head and stepped forward, respectfully bowing: "Commander, Zheng Qian is exceptionally talented and strong. He started the gate-blocking battle in his first battle at Dawn Fortress and successfully blocked the gate for four days, bringing glory to the human race and making great contributions."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huang looked intently at Zheng Qian, a hint of curiosity and scrutiny flashing in his eyes. He slowly said, "Oh? Zheng Qian? My son Mingxiu has always said that you are invincible in your realm and that you even saved his life. Seeing you today, I can see that you are indeed a promising young man."
Zhao Mingxiu was the son of Zhao Huang, the commander of the Radiant Legion, and also Zhao Huang's youngest and most beloved son. Zheng Qian knew this after they left the Twin Absolute Domain. Back then, in the Twin Absolute Domain, Zheng Qian saved Zhao Minghang's life, and the price was that Zhao Mingxiu owed Zheng Qian a greatsword and eight pills. When Zhao Mingxiu left the Twin Absolute Domain, he loudly told Li Zun that he would come to find Zheng Qian with the owed sword and pills. Today, he came, bringing his father, the commander of the Radiant Legion, with him.
Zheng Qian stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Commander of the Legion. Although I am just a rogue cultivator, I have always admired the Radiant Legion. Young Master Zhao is a genius who is both learned and skilled in martial arts, and it was an honor for me to fight alongside him."
Zhao Huang nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Zheng Qian's composure and humility. He turned to Zhao Minghang: "Minghang, you may step aside. I want to speak with Zheng Qian alone."
Zhao Minghang acknowledged the order and withdrew, and Zhao Nuo and Ma Yi also tactfully followed suit, leaving only Zhao Huang and Zheng Qian in the hall. Zhao Huang slowly spoke, "Zheng Qian, I've heard that you are very adept at navigating social situations, a rare talent in the cultivation world. Cultivators are often obsessed with increasing their strength, neglecting the wisdom of getting along with others. Can you tell me how you achieve this?"
Zheng Qian smiled slightly and replied calmly, "Commander, you flatter me. In my opinion, social skills are not something that can be deliberately cultivated, but rather stem from an understanding and respect for human nature. Everyone has a yardstick in their heart, measuring good and evil, right and wrong. I am simply trying my best to think from other people's perspectives and to be fair and impartial. That's all."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huang's eyes flashed with admiration: "What a fine example of fairness and impartiality! This is precisely what our Radiant Legion strives for. Zheng Qian, would you like to join our legion?"
Zheng Qian's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "Commander, I have great respect for the Radiant Legion, but I am a person who is used to freedom and I am afraid that I will find it difficult to adapt to the rules of the legion."
Zheng Qian would never agree to join the Radiant Legion. He was Yun Youzi's disciple, a member of the Heavenly Vein Sect. Yun Youzi was also the honorary vice leader of the Strategic Alliance, and Zheng Qian was the honorary vice advisor. From any perspective, it was impossible for him to join the Radiant Legion.
Similarly, Zhao Huang was just saying it casually. The Radiant Legion is full of geniuses and strongmen. As a legion commander, he wouldn't shamelessly invite a young man in the Dragon Shaping Realm to join the legion. Even if he thinks Zheng Qian has unlimited potential, he only spoke up today because Zheng Qian saved Zhao Mingxiu, nothing more.
Zhao Huang laughed heartily: "No problem, no problem. Our Radiant Legion has always been eager to recruit talented people. If you are willing, you can join us at any time. If you are not willing, we can still be friends."
Zheng Qian nodded in agreement, secretly admiring Zhao Huang's magnanimity and open-mindedness, while showering him with compliments without hesitation.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. The newcomer was a young man dressed in splendid clothes. He had a handsome face, but there was a hint of arrogance between his brows. He was Zhao Huang's youngest son, Zhao Mingxiu.
As soon as Zhao Mingxiu entered, he went straight to Zheng Qian, holding a chilling greatsword and a small pill bottle in his hand, his face beaming with excitement: "Zheng Qian, I've come to return your greatsword and pills. Haha, I didn't expect that you would start a gate-blocking battle as soon as you arrived at Youfeng Rift Valley, and obtain the Starry Sky Medal of Wisdom and Courage of the Strategic Alliance and the Radiant Legion's Radiant Proof Medal. You're really amazing! Show them to me, I've never seen them before."
Zheng Qian glanced at the greatsword and pill bottle in Zhao Mingxiu's hand, a slight thought flickering in his heart. The greatsword was exceptionally sharp, with a faint aura of spiritual light flowing through it; it was at least a fourth-grade magic weapon. The eight pills were equally valuable, a considerable fortune for Zhao Mingxiu. However, he was well aware that Zhao Huang held a high position and wielded great power; accepting this generous gift would likely invite unnecessary trouble.
So he smiled and shook his head: "Brother Mingxiu, you're too kind. You should keep this greatsword and the pills. It was just a joke back then, don't take it seriously."
At the same time, Zheng Qian took out the Starry Sky Wise and Courage Medal and the Radiant Proof Medal from his spatial ring and handed them to Zhao Mingxiu. The Radiant Proof Medal was very rare, but the four words "Guardian God of War" on the back of the Radiant Proof Medal were even rarer, not to mention that Zheng Qian's name was also engraved on it.
Aside from formal occasions, everyone prefers to call the Radiant Proof Medal the Guardian God of War Medal. So, in conversations with Zheng Qian, everyone referred to him as the recipient of the Guardian God of War Medal.
There's no way around it; the words "Guardian God of War" are far more imposing than "Proof of Glory."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Mingxiu's face flashed with surprise and embarrassment. He hadn't expected Zheng Qian to refuse his gift. He glanced at his father, Zhao Huang, who nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
So Zhao Mingxiu spoke again: "Zheng Qian, just accept it. This is what I promised you in the Twin Absolute Domain. If you don't accept it, wouldn't that make me and my father break our promise?"
Zheng Qian smiled helplessly, inwardly admiring Zhao Mingxiu's persistence. He glanced at Zhao Huang, who was also looking at him with a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
So he had no choice but to nod and accept: "Alright, since the Legion Commander and Brother Mingxiu insist, I will respectfully comply."
Seeing this, Zhao Mingxiu smiled with relief: "Great, Zheng Qian, you finally accepted it. Now we can go to the Ghost Wind Rift Valley for training together."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Qian's heart stirred slightly: "Brother Mingxiu is going to undergo trials in the Youfeng Rift Valley?"
"My father will be inspecting the Ghost Wind Rift Valley for at least half a month. During this time, I'll train with you here, earn military merits, and get medals just like you." Zhao Mingxiu's eyes were full of anticipation. He had two purposes for coming to the Ghost Wind Rift Valley. First, to fulfill his promise and return Zheng Qian's greatsword and elixirs. After all, he was born into a prominent family and knew that the power of cause and effect could not be defied. Second, he wanted to come here to fulfill his dream as a man and make a name for himself.
Zheng Qian instantly understood that he had to praise Zhao Mingxiu at this moment, making him as happy as possible. The officialdom was like a battlefield, and with the corps commander here, he had to make them happy.
Zheng Qian smiled sincerely and continued, "We have all witnessed Brother Mingxiu's abilities. Not only does he possess extraordinary talent in cultivation, but more importantly, he has a deep sense of loyalty to his friends. It is truly my great fortune to be able to fight alongside Brother Mingxiu and train in such a challenging place as the Youfeng Rift Valley. I believe that with Brother Mingxiu's talent and courage, he will surely shine brightly in the trials, not only adding luster to the Legion Commander's inspection tour but also quickly accumulating military merits, making those medals shine even brighter."
Zhao Mingxiu was overjoyed by Zheng Qian's words, and his smile widened. He patted Zheng Qian on the shoulder and said, "Haha, Zheng Qian, you're right. I believe this trial will definitely become an unforgettable and precious experience in my life."
The two smiled at each other, their friendship deepening at that moment. Then, Zhao Mingxiu took out an exquisite map from his pocket and slowly unfurled it: "This is a topographical map of the Youfeng Rift Valley that my father had someone carefully draw. It marks some known dangerous areas and safe camps. We can plan our route based on this map, which will not only effectively avoid unnecessary trouble but also ensure the efficiency of the trial."
Zheng Qian took the map and examined it carefully, his eyes gleaming with thoughtfulness: "This map is a real lifesaver. With it, we can better plan our daily tasks."
Zhao Mingxiu felt as if he had found a kindred spirit. The more he looked at Zheng Qian, the more pleasing he became, and he couldn't wait to start a fight. Zhao Huang smiled, his eyes filled with doting affection as he looked at Zhao Mingxiu.
Having a son late in life, and with Zhao Mingxiu's exceptional talent in cultivation, he couldn't help but like him.
"Alright, young people should adventure together." Zhao Huang looked at Zhao Mingxiu and said, "There are many prodigies among the three races, so you still need to be careful in battle."
"Father, rest assured, apart from Zheng Qian, no one in the Dragon Shaping Realm is my match." Zhao Mingxiu had reason to be proud. He was invincible in the same realm in the Radiant Legion. If he hadn't met Zheng Qian, he dared to say that he was invincible in the Dragon Shaping Realm among humans.
"Haha, my son is exceptionally talented and unparalleled in combat. Of course, I believe you." Zhao Huang's love for Zhao Mingxiu ran deep in his bones. He continued, "Go and undergo the trial. I'll see how you perform."
"Yes, Father." Zhao Mingxiu was very happy and turned to walk outside: "Let's go, Zheng Qian, let's go kill the demons and earn military merits."
Zheng Qian bowed to Zhao Huang, then followed Zhao Mingxiu outside. After greeting Zhao Nuo and the others at the door, Zheng Qian walked alongside Zhao Mingxiu, while Zhao Minghang, the strongest cultivator, lagged behind, lowering his position.
Zhao Nuo strode into the spacious, bright hall with steady steps, each step exuding undeniable authority and determination. At the same time, the smile on Zhao Huang's face seemed to vanish in the winter wind, replaced by an icy chill, as if a storm was about to break out. He spoke calmly, his voice devoid of warmth: "The kid you're talking about, you mean Zhao Minghang?"
Zhao Nuo nodded, his tone firm: "Yes, Uncle. When I first met him by chance, he introduced himself as Zhao Minghang. Seeing his exceptional talent and his yearning for martial arts, I took it upon myself to bring him into the Radiant Legion, imparting all my knowledge to him. I not only taught him the essence of martial arts techniques but also meticulously guided him in cultivation methods. He is indeed a rare genius and works exceptionally hard. He lived up to expectations, breaking through to the mid-stage of the True Core Realm at the young age of thirty-one in just a few years. Even among his peers, few could rival his achievements."
At this point, Zhao Nuo paused, gazing intently at Zhao Huang, seemingly awaiting a reaction. Zhao Huang's expression grew even more complex and unreadable, his heart churning with untold emotions. He had never expected that a past affair from many years ago would be revealed in this way today.
Zhao Minghang, the son whose existence he knew nothing about, had grown into one of the best in the Radiant Legion.
“Zhao Minghang…” Zhao Huang’s eyes were cold. He could no longer remember what the woman he had met looked like, or even her name. He never expected that she would leave him with a child.
He had no idea how many hardships and challenges Zhao Minghang had experienced during his growth, nor did he know that Zhao Minghang was only vaguely aware of his own background, and that he always cherished his longing and respect for his father, working and cultivating with all his might, hoping to go to the Divine Court to find his biological father.
Zhao Minghang always knew that his father was a big shot in the Radiant Legion, but he did not know that his father was the biggest figure in the Radiant Legion.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall became unusually heavy, as if even the air itself had frozen. Zhao Huang's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, each tap seemingly weighing the weight of this sudden truth, his eyes remaining icy. Over eight hundred years old, with three thousand wives and concubines and no fewer than a hundred children, the sudden appearance of Zhao Minghang left him completely unmoved.
"If he reaches the Pseudo-God Realm, send him to the Divine Court; if he doesn't, leave him in the Ghost Wind Rift Valley."
Zhao Nuo sighed inwardly. He had promised Zhao Minghang that he would be sent to the Divine Court if Zhao Minghang made significant military contributions, but Zhao Huang's arrival had dashed Zhao Minghang's hopes of joining the Radiant Legion ahead of schedule. At the same time, Zhao Nuo also felt guilty. He had seen Zhao Huang in a good mood today and revealed Zhao Minghang's background, but he hadn't expected that he wouldn't receive any news from the Divine Court until he reached the Pseudo-God Realm.