Breaking Army - Chapter 6

Xiao Chen had been traveling for two days. He had yet to leave the mountain forest or encounter a single soul, but he had already experienced a novel sensation: hunger.

In the past, when he and his companions drank tea, wine, or ate, it wasn’t to fill their stomachs. It was merely out of interest or to pass the time. Tasting delicious food was an enjoyment for the palate, but now that his spiritual power was low, he had to rely on eating to maintain his physical strength. Thus, by the campfire at night, Xiao Chen caught a fish from the river and roasted it over the flames. It looked quite decent.

However, it only looked decent. Once the fish entered his mouth, it was a different story entirely.

It was fishy, the skin was charred, and it was nearly impossible to swallow. Xiao Chen didn’t realize the issue lay with his own cooking skills, but he didn’t bother catching more to try again. After just one bite, he stuck the wooden skewer into the ground, unwilling to further torment his tongue. He pulled out a spiritual pill, swallowed it, and leaned against a tree trunk to rest.

The distinction between day and night in the mortal world was clear, which was a plus. At least telling the time was simple, no need for sun dials or complex finger-calculations. When the sun rose, it was day. Xiao Chen opened his eyes in the morning light, stretched lazily, extinguished the campfire, picked a direction, and continued walking.

A moment after he left, a figure appeared by the remains of the fire. The person leaned over and picked up the branch stuck in the ground, the one still holding the roasted fish. This individual didn’t seem to care at all that this was Xiao Chen’s leftover scrap. He brought it to his lips and took a slow, deliberate bite.

Well, it was burnt, unseasoned, and the fishy smell was overwhelming. The Star Sovereign clearly didn’t know how to clean a fish, the scales were still on, it hadn’t been gutted, and the internal organs were all still inside. Cooked this way, it was impossible for it to taste good.

Yet, this person finished it bite by bite. His manner of eating was incredibly elegant, but his speed wasn’t slow. In the blink of an eye, only the bones remained. After finishing, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief. As a breeze blew past, the figure vanished, as if he had never been there at all.

It was a good thing no one was around. If a mortal had seen this in the middle of a deep forest, they would have surely screamed “ghost.”

The news of Xiao Chen heading to the mortal world had long since reached the other Star Sovereigns. Xiang Zhi and Geng Xie knew as well. At the moment, the two of them were trying to find a way to pass the tests set by the two princes of the Heaven Realm. They had a clear division of labor: the Crown Prince wanted a martial guard, so Geng Xie went for that; the Second Prince wanted a literary official, so Xiang Zhi took that path.

Geng Xie won another round. He held a simple, unadorned spear. Just like Xiang Zhi’s zither, its plainness was merely a disguise; in reality, it was his true natal artifact. Geng Xie’s spear technique was sharp and fierce. Once he picked up a weapon, his usual casual demeanor vanished completely, replaced by the true aura of a warrior. If he encountered a strong foe and fought until his eyes turned red, his killing intent would surge uncontrollably, making him fight with increasing madness. Fortunately, Geng Xie felt that among those he had faced so far, not one was a worthy opponent.

He retreated to the sidelines to wait for the next round. His initial spark of interest had faded into boredom. With a single glance, he knew that none of the people present today could make him feel like fighting a truly exhilarating battle.

Therefore, when he was on stage, he intentionally held back to keep a low profile. Even so, people still came over to pat his shoulder, praising him for being impressive.

No, it’s just that you all are too weak, Geng Xie thought listlessly. The lower realm just happened to have a lot of people. Whether it was martial arts or scholarly knowledge, how many could actually surpass a Star Sovereign? They were born from the stars, presiding over luck and connecting Heaven and Earth. They were meant to be high-ranking observers, looking down upon the world and letting the mortals have their fun. Living beings were like floating duckweed; he found it all quite dull. Why did Xiao Chen want to save them?

And then there was Taibai from back then, each one sillier than the last, even sacrificing themselves for the seal. How many in the lower realm still remembered him now? The common people… what do they have to do with me?

Geng Xie gave a bored yawn, waiting idly. He glanced toward the high platform. That was supposed to be the Crown Prince’s viewing area, but it was currently empty. The competition was nearing its end, yet the Crown Prince had still not appeared.

Did the Crown Prince not actually care about this martial guard recruitment? he wondered. If so, can I still get close to him quickly to gather more information? Gou Chen and the others would surely be able to make a move on the Heaven Realm soon, he couldn’t return empty-handed and get caught without having achieved anything.

Geng Xie was deep in thought when someone nearby shouted excitedly, “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here!”

Geng Xie turned his head back toward the high platform, and his gaze froze.

The Crown Prince, Ci Shu, was dressed in a pale yellow robe, elegant and noble. His black hair fell like a waterfall, held in place by a single jade hairpin. He stood tall and graceful, appearing as if he had stepped off a cloud. Beside him were two celestial cranes that transformed into two adorable young children upon landing. Ci Shu stood between them, a warm smile on his face.

He was the first person Geng Xie had seen in the Heaven Realm who truly fit the image of an “immortal.”

The soldiers erupted in cheers, shouting, “We are willing to serve His Royal Highness!”

Geng Xie snapped out of it, clicking his tongue. He thought to himself, is there really a need to be this hyped?

Then, it was his turn to take the stage. This was the final match of the competition, where he would fight his opponent for the top spot.

Geng Xie planted his spear on the ground. Ci Shu’s gaze drifted between the two men on the stage, and his eyes involuntarily lingered on Geng Xie for a few extra moments: his temperament was truly outstanding.

What happened next exceeded everyone’s expectations. They had expected a thrilling, balanced battle, but no one anticipated that in an instant, before many could even see how Geng Xie moved, he sent his opponent flying off the arena with a single strike. The people who had been warming up to cheer were suddenly silenced. Ci Shu was also stunned, and for a moment, there was a deathly hush.

Ah, Geng Xie realized belatedly, I slipped up and forgot to hold back.

The judge swallowed hard, and after a long while, he managed to say dryly, “Xiao… Xiao Geng Xie wins, taking first place…”

Geng Xie looked at the expressions of those around him. Most people were still dazed, while others looked indignant after coming to their senses, likely thinking Geng Xie had hidden his strength only to show off once the Prince arrived, suspecting him of ulterior motives.

Geng Xie curled the corners of his mouth. Interesting. Well, why not make it even more interesting?

He jumped down from the arena and, with a few quick steps, arrived right in front of Ci Shu. Amidst the gasps of the crowd and shouts of “Impudent!”, he stood before the Prince’s seat. The Prince was sitting while he stood. He leaned forward slightly, bringing his eyes level with the Prince’s.

“Your Highness, I see that you are as graceful as a jade tree, and you must surely possess an eye for talent. This humble one has a bit of skill and is willing to serve you. I wonder if I have caught your eye?”

Geng Xie wore an eye patch, so Ci Shu could only see one of his eyes, but that eye sparkled with an incredible light. It seemed as if by agreeing, one would be joined by billions of stars.

Spirited, heroic, and dashing, he was exactly what a young hero should be.

It took a moment for Ci Shu to find his voice, and when he did, he smiled. “Very well.”

On the other side, Xiang Zhi had no idea that Geng Xie had already stolen the spotlight. He was sitting at a desk, looking at the papers before him, feeling a bit conflicted.

He had thought that because the Second Prince wanted a literary official, the test would involve essays or poetry. To his surprise, the scrolls were filled with riddles and criminal cases that required sharp, flexible thinking. It wasn’t that it was difficult, but rather he wasn’t sure what level of competence he should display. He peeked at the people around him; many were already frowning, trapped in anxiety.

Xiang Zhi thought for a moment and finally came to a decision. Since he wanted to get close to the Prince, it was better to be noticed, right? They were already keeping their identities low-profile, but if they were too mediocre in every aspect, how would they ever investigate anything from the big players of the Heaven Realm?

Thus, without any psychological burden, his pen flew across the paper as he quickly finished the exam.

In a way, he and Geng Xie were the same at their core. Even if Xiao Chen hadn’t raised them together, they probably would have ended up as a pair anyway. As for their personalities, Xiao Chen maintained that the Star Sovereigns’ temperaments were innate; they were born as adults, and he was absolutely not taking the blame for how they turned out.

Xiang Zhi had his plan. The Crown Prince was in charge of investigating Xiao Chen’s poisoning, and the Second Prince was assisting. Looking at these exam questions, it was clear the Second Prince wasn’t looking for a simple clerk, but rather someone to help handle cases. Confidently, Xiang Zhi handed in his paper.

The results of the written exam weren’t announced immediately, as the officials had to review them. Xiang Zhi returned to the residence the Heaven Realm had arranged for them and found that Geng Xie was already back, surrounded by a crowd. The people living here were all those who had ascended from the mortal world. Many hadn’t been assigned good jobs yet, so they stayed here. As Xiang Zhi listened, he realized they were all offering congratulations.

“Brother, you have such skill! To be promoted directly to the Crown Prince’s guard, please look after us in the future!”

“Congratulations! You truly are a dragon among men, bound for great things!”

Geng Xie nodded politely. In truth, he didn’t want to deal with them, but Xiang Zhi was right: to gather information, they couldn’t act like unapproachable loners. They had to blend into the Heaven Realm quickly. So, from the martial arena all the way back here, he responded to the congratulations. As for the sarcasm or provocations, he simply ignored them.

My temper is really getting better, Geng Xie thought. To have someone provoke me and not immediately beat them into the dirt, I am truly being magnanimous.

Seeing Xiang Zhi return, Geng Xie politely asked the others to leave. He and Xiang Zhi shared a room, and everyone knew they happened to share the surname Xiao and had ascended together. Knowing they had things to discuss, the others tactfully left.

Xiang Zhi waved his hand to set up a barrier in the room. “It seems you succeeded.”

The room wasn’t large. Geng Xie sat on the bed, one leg hooked up and his arm resting on his knee. He held a flask of wine, shaking it casually. “Just hitting people, I’m used to it, and they couldn’t take a hit anyway. There are some decent fighters among the Crown Prince’s guards, though. I’d like to hit… I mean, spar with them if I get the chance.”

Xiang Zhi sat at the table, propping up his head. “I have to wait for the examiners to finish. I knew all the answers. If there aren’t any other tests, I’ll be fine.”

Xiang Zhi explained his thoughts on the Second Prince’s recruitment. Geng Xie said, “They probably still need to investigate the poisoning. After all, a Star Sovereign will definitely come to the Heaven Realm for this. We just don’t know if they’re just going through the motions or if they truly want to investigate.”

“The people under the two princes who have handled cases might have information,” Xiang Zhi noted. “I’ll give you a compliment: you actually have some decent social skills.”

Geng Xie took another swig of wine. “They’re just being fake, and I’m just playing along. As long as we get the info we want.”

Xiang Zhi sniffed the air. “What wine is that? I’ve never smelled that scent before.”

Geng Xie replied, “I don’t know, it was a gift from the Crown Prince.”

Xiang Zhi’s eyes widened slightly. “You dare drink something given to you by someone from the Heaven Realm?”

“It’s not poisoned, and it tastes pretty good. Besides, my current identity is just a nobody. Why would a Crown Prince poison me?”

Geng Xie shook the flask. It was empty. With a flick of his wrist, the flask vanished, tucked away. The flask was jade, carved with an orchid. The fine wine inside should have been savored, but Geng Xie had gulped it down like a cow eating peonies. Since it was a gift from the Prince, Geng Xie had enjoyed the taste even more while being watched by the envious and jealous eyes of others.

Geng Xie hopped off the bed. “The martial guards have different quarters, so I won’t be staying here anymore. But if we need to talk, we should come back to the ‘Mortal Dust Abode.’ People from the Heaven Realm rarely come here, so it’s quiet.”

The Mortal Dust Abode was the residence for those who had ascended from the mortal world. Those with talent eventually moved out, and those who remained weren’t highly regarded. Although the official in charge of their assignments was from the Heaven Realm, his cultivation was low and he didn’t seem particularly bright, so he wasn’t a threat. Aside from passing on messages, others rarely set foot here.

As for passing on messages, Geng Xie’s words were practically prophetic. No sooner had he spoken than a celestial official arrived with a scroll. “Is Xiao Xiang Zhi here?”

Xiang Zhi and Geng Xie exchanged a look. They dropped the barrier and walked out the door. Xiang Zhi bowed to the official. “I am Xiao Xiang Zhi. What are your orders, sir?”

The celestial official was very polite. “We will be colleagues from now on, no need for such formalities. The Second Prince is quite impressed with you and wishes to see you. Come with me. You’ll be assigned new quarters, so if you have anything to pack, do it now. There won’t be a need to return.”

Xiang Zhi and Geng Xie shared an imperceptible glance. He said respectfully, “Thank you. I have nothing worth taking. Please lead the way, we shall go now.”

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