The next morning, I set off on my journey to Longcheng. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I brought along my straw hat again—I just can't help being too handsome!
The Longshen Empire's security is far superior to that of the Orc Kingdom. After walking for five days, I hadn't encountered a single band of bandits. No wonder the Longshen Empire can rival the other two major powers—it truly has its own advantages.
The gradually warming air reminded me it was already noon, and my stomach was empty. Fortunately, there was a small restaurant by the road ahead. Since arriving in the Dragon God Empire, I've become particularly fascinated by the local cuisine—it's a world apart from what I experienced in the Orc Kingdom. As soon as I entered the small restaurant, the enticing aroma filled the air, making my mouth water. Though not luxurious, the place was very clean, and it was quite popular—the room was already about six or seven-tenths full.
I found a quiet table by the side and sat down. The waiter approached, handed me the menu, and asked, "Sir, what would you like to order?"
I flipped through the menu, picked a few dishes I hadn't tried before, and ordered one pound of steamed buns. Soon, all my dishes were served. I held the steamed buns in my left hand and picked up the chopsticks with my right hand to start eating. By then, the restaurant had become increasingly crowded, and soon there were no empty seats left.
A young samurai walked in from outside. He was about 1.8 meters tall, wearing a moon-white samurai robe, looking very sturdy, with a long sword on his back—a very spirited young man.
Upon entering, he saw that there were no empty tables left. He walked over to my table and politely said, "Sir, there's no more space. May I sit here with you?"
I was sitting at a four-person table, but I was the only one there. I nodded and continued eating with my head down.
The samurai called out, "Waiter, bring me a pound of good wine, two small dishes, and a pound of steamed buns." After ordering, he said to me, "Sir, from the look of you, you must be going on a long journey."
Although I hadn't taken off my straw hat, I had lifted my veil so I could eat. Are humans always this friendly? I looked up, gave him a cold glance, and nodded again. He saw my handsome, cold face and was startled. I continued eating my food and ignored him.
He had been rebuffed, and he gave a sheepish smile. By the time his meal arrived, I had already finished eating. I casually placed a silver coin on the table, stood up, slung my bag over my shoulder, and strode out of the restaurant.
I noticed that in the Dragon God Empire, many people were riding horses, moving quickly. I wanted to try getting a horse too; that way, I should be able to reach Dragon City sooner.
I stopped a passerby and asked, "Excuse me, where can I buy a horse?" The passerby I had stopped frowned at first, but seeing my tall stature, he dared not say anything. He pointed ahead and said, "At the next intersection, turn left and walk about two kilometers. There's a horse farm there where you can buy a horse."
I nodded at him and walked in the direction he had pointed.
The horse farm was quite large, with a central racetrack spanning about 1,000 acres, and the area on the left where horses and related accessories were sold.
I went to the horse-selling area and asked the horse dealer, "Which horses are for sale here?"
The horse dealer could tell I was an outsider who knew nothing about horses, and he sneered, "As long as you can afford it, any horse you see here is for sale." "
I hummed in response and began looking around to see if I could find a horse I liked. Suddenly, I noticed that everyone was gathering on the western side of the horse farm, and I didn't know what was going on. I quickly pulled someone aside to ask. It turned out that the owner of the farm had brought back a wild horse a few days ago with a group of people. The wild horse was naturally temperamental, and no one could tame it. They had to use blow darts dipped in sedative to capture it. Now, the owner had invited several renowned horse trainers to try to tame it.
I wanted to see such a wild horse. I followed the crowd to the western training field, which was already packed with people. Though I was standing toward the back, my tall stature allowed me to see the center of the field. There were six or seven people in the arena, all dressed neatly, surrounding a black stallion. Though I know nothing about horses, I could tell this one was magnificent. Its black coat shone like polished silk, its head held high in pride, snorting impatiently, clearly hostile toward those around it.
The sky grew overcast, with large clouds gathering overhead. Though the sunlight had faded, I did not feel any cooler; instead, the heat felt oppressive.
The people surrounding it tried to lasso it with a rope and then climb onto its back, but the black horse was extremely agile, dodging the trainers' attempts time and again.
The crowd began to murmur, saying that this attempt would likely fail as well. Just then, a middle-aged trainer suddenly threw the lasso, and it actually caught the black horse's neck. The horse immediately became agitated, rearing up on its front legs and letting out a loud whinny. The trainer's skills were indeed impressive; he used the pulling force to climb onto the horse's back and clung tightly to its neck.
"Good job, hold on, hold on," the crowd began to cheer.
The black horse kept jumping up and down, trying to shake off the person on its back. Due to its violent movements, it forced the other horse trainers to the periphery. Now, only the horse trainer on the horse's back was left to fight alone.
After tossing around for a while, the black horse realized it couldn't shake off the horse trainer on its back and gradually calmed down, no longer bucking. It seemed that no matter how wild it was, it would be tamed. The crowd around them shouted the trainer's name. It turned out he was the owner's son, and he proudly raised his hands in triumph while still on the horse's back.
Just then, an unexpected turn of events occurred. The black horse stumbled as if it had lost its footing and suddenly collapsed, startling the trainer. He quickly jumped off the horse to check on it, as he couldn't bear to see such a fine horse injured.
As soon as he jumped off, the black horse suddenly stood up again, using its front hooves to brace itself, and its powerful hind hooves struck the middle-aged horse trainer's chest with great force. Even from this distance, I could hear the sound of his ribs shattering. He let out a long, agonizing scream and was kicked far away, clearly beyond saving.
In the blink of an eye, the crowd around them erupted into chaos. The other trainers present quickly dragged the kicked trainer to the side.
A man dressed in luxurious attire ran out from the side, shouting angrily, "Give me back my son's life! Kill this vicious horse!" It seemed to be the ranch owner, whose son's death had clouded his judgment.
Many ranch staff members rushed out, armed with various weapons, ready to kill the horse. The black horse still held its head high in the center of the arena, completely unaware of the impending fate of death.
For some reason, the moment I first saw this majestic black horse, I felt an inexplicable affection for it. It seemed that it was time for me to step in.
I shouted, "Wait!" Pushing through the crowd, I walked into the arena. All eyes turned to me. I approached the ranch owner, who was kneeling over his son's body, weeping. I first examined the boy's injuries. He was already dead, with blood flowing from his seven orifices, and his chest had collapsed. I couldn't help but shake my head.
"Give me a chance to tame this horse."
The arena master said tearfully, "No, I need its body to honor my son's spirit."
I furrowed my brows and coldly said, "What did the horse do wrong? If you hadn't overestimated your abilities and tried to tame it, this wouldn't have happened."
The ranch owner flew into a rage: "Who are you to come here and cause trouble? Guards, throw him out!"
I snorted coldly, ignored him, and turned toward the black horse. But after taking just two steps, I was surrounded by the ranch workers. I removed my hat and slung it over my back, saying coldly, "Don't force me to hurt anyone."
The workers paid no heed to my words. Upon hearing my arrogant statement, they swarmed toward me, with four or five of them grabbing hold of me at once. However, they didn't use weapons; it seemed they only wanted to beat me up to vent their anger on behalf of their boss.
Their skills were no match for mine. I exerted force with my arms and sent them all flying. As they tried to advance again, I gave a loud snort, my eyes blazing with intensity, and shouted, "Do you want to come and die?" I slammed my fist into the ground with a thunderous "boom," sending dust flying. A large pit, one meter in diameter and half a meter deep, appeared on the flat ground.
I brushed the dust off my body, ignoring the stunned crowd, and walked straight toward the black horse.
The black horse must have sensed the danger as well, staring at me with its large eyes and constantly pawing the ground with its left front hoof.
I stopped two meters away from it, gave it a contemptuous smile, and thought, "With my strength, which could tear a tiger or leopard apart, why should I fear it?" Whether it understood my smile or not, it let out a furious snort, reared up on its hind legs, and brought its front hooves down heavily toward me.
I lowered my center of gravity, raised both hands, and grabbed the hooves as they came down. The force was indeed immense, pressing my arms backward slightly, but I immediately stabilized myself with my strength. The people around me couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.
"What incredible strength! He actually managed to block the horse's charge."
"Look at the huge crater he just created. He must be a high-ranking warrior."
"Is he even human? How could a human possess such immense strength?"
Sorry, but I can't exactly be considered human—at least not in terms of strength.
I exerted force from my waist, flinging the black horse outward. It tumbled on the ground, let out a pained whinny, struggled a few times, then stood back up. I walked back to its front, locked eyes with it, and coldly said, "Surrender? With your strength, you can't possibly match me."
It seemed to understand my words, nodding its head and looking at me with its large, pitiful eyes. It slowly walked up to me and rubbed its head against my chest. I gently patted its head, a rare smile spreading across my face.
"From now on, you'll be my best companion. May I call you Black Dragon?" The black horse let out a joyful neigh, seeming to approve of the name I had given it.
I turned my head and shouted, "Master of the Arena, I'm sorry, but I'll take this horse." Without waiting for their reaction, I pulled out a bag of gold coins from my pocket—about fifty of them—and tossed it over. Then I leaped onto the horse. Only after mounting did I realize that I had never ridden a horse before (after all, orcs are beasts themselves; how could they ride horses?). Never mind, I thought. I clamped my legs tightly around its belly and gripped its long brown mane. Black Dragon didn't need any prompting; it galloped off swiftly. At the railing, I swung my palm out, shattering the top two bars. It leaped high into the air, clearing the railing, and carried its inexperienced rider away at full speed.
A light, steady rain began to fall from the sky. Though my clothes grew damp, the cool sensation felt refreshingly comfortable. On my first horseback ride, I was initially nervous, but soon that feeling vanished. Sitting on the black dragon's back was smooth, with only a slight jolting sensation. The scenery whizzed past on both sides at lightning speed. I leaned my body against the black dragon, and gradually, I noticed that whenever I leaned to the left, it turned left, and when I leaned to the right, it turned right. It was so much fun. After all, I was only sixteen years old, and I was so engrossed in playing that I forgot the direction I was heading. It wasn't until it was almost dark that I realized I was lost. The area was surrounded by dense forests. Fortunately, it was a small path; otherwise, I wouldn't have known which way to go. Well, I'll just keep going in this direction and ask for directions once I find a house.
So, I rode Black Dragon along the path for another two hours before reaching a town. I pulled back on the reins, and Black Dragon gradually slowed down. Entering the town, I jumped off its back and found my pants soaked through with Black Dragon's sweat. I patted its large head affectionately and walked inside.
The town was quite large, with various shops lining the streets, giving the town a lively atmosphere. Black Dragon followed closely behind me. I found an inn, and the attendant at the door rushed over, smiling apologetically and said, "Sir, please stay with us. We have complete facilities, reasonable prices, and excellent service…" I impatiently raised my hand to stop him from continuing.
"Find me a place to stable my horse."
The clerk looked at the black dragon behind me and said sincerely, "What a fine horse you have! But why doesn't it have a saddle?"
"A saddle? What's that?" I thought to myself, but didn't ask. I said, "Do you have one here? I was just about to put it on."
"We don't have any here. Look, there's a shop over there that specializes in saddles and bridles. You should go there. They have good quality and reasonable prices."
"Take me there. I want the whole set."
The waiter looked troubled and said, "But I'm still working here. What do you think..."
I scoffed and tossed him a silver coin, saying, "Are you free now?"
The waiter took the coin with a smile and said, "No problem, no problem. Please wait a moment." He ran back into the store to greet the other waiters, then hurried over and led me into the saddle shop.
I spent ten gold coins to outfit Black Dragon with the best saddle, bridle, and horseshoes, but I didn't ask for a whip because I felt it wasn't necessary. With this gear, Black Dragon looked even more majestic. The shop assistants kept praising it. It's worth mentioning that, besides me, the black dragon wouldn't let anyone else approach it. I had to hold its head to get the shop assistants to help it put on the equipment.
I followed the inn's servant to take Black Dragon to their stable, personally brushed him down, fed him some high-quality hay, and then returned to the inn to rest.
After resting for the night, I inquired about the direction to Dragon City, located my position on the map, and set off again. Fortunately, I wasn't heading in the opposite direction; though I had veered off course slightly, after correcting my path, I quickly returned to the correct route.
With the saddle and bridle, riding the black dragon was much more comfortable. I loosened the reins, adjusted the direction, and let the black dragon gallop freely. When there were no people around, it maintained a moderate speed, but as soon as it spotted another dragon, it would immediately accelerate, determined to overtake it. I never expected horses to have such a strong competitive spirit.
With the black dragon, my speed increased exponentially. The 3,000-kilometer journey took only about ten days, though I did slow down out of concern for it.
Finally arriving at Dragon City, though it didn't appear as grand as our Orc Imperial City, it was still extremely majestic. The city walls stood 8 zhang tall, constructed entirely of thick granite, adorned with intricately carved dragons of various forms. The Dragon God Empire's national flag flew high above the walls. Perhaps because this was an inland region, security was lax, and I entered the city without any checks. Longcheng is truly vast, several times larger than our orc imperial capital. It took me three days just to get a general sense of its layout.
The Tiandu Academy is very famous here; a quick inquiry revealed its location. I first registered at the Tiandu Academy, only to learn that the exams wouldn't begin for over a month. Since there was plenty of time, I decided to stay for a while. There are several inns around the Tiandu Academy, and I chose one that was relatively clean.
Every morning, I practiced the Heavenly Thunder Armor-Shattering Technique for a while. In the afternoon, I took the Black Dragon out for a stroll. Sometimes I took it out of the city for a walk; otherwise, it would get fat from just eating and sleeping all day. In the evenings, I intensified my practice of the Heavenly Demon Technique. In this enemy territory, it was better to quickly reach the strength of a Two-Winged Fallen Angel. Even if my identity was exposed, I would still have some fighting power.
Over a month passed like this. Though I worked hard, my Tianmo Gong remained stuck at the late stage of the second layer, far from transformation. Since transformation requires completing the third layer, it seems rushing won't help. I'll have to discuss it further at Tiandu Academy later.
After more than a month of living here, I've noticed that there are a lot of samurai and mages in Longcheng. Although I haven't fought any mages yet, I've encountered a few wearing robes, and I can sense their power. The samurai also seem to be highly skilled. It's no wonder this is such a powerful country. I was confident at first, but after observing for a while, I've started to feel a little nervous.
In the Dragon God Empire, samurai are divided into ten ranks: Apprentice Samurai, Junior Samurai, Intermediate Samurai, Senior Samurai, Swordmaster, Grand Swordmaster, Earth Knight, Light Knight, Sword Saint, and War God. From Swordmaster onwards, each rank is further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower tiers. Mages are divided into ten ranks: Apprentice Mage, Junior Mage, Intermediate Mage, Senior Mage, Grand Mage, Mage Master, Grand Mage Master, Mage Grandmaster, Grand Mage Grandmaster, and Holy Mage Grandmaster. Similarly, from Grand Mage onwards, they are further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower tiers. I roughly estimated that, based on my current strength as a human, I would be a lower-tier Sword Master. However, with my powerful physique and exceptional defensive capabilities, I should at least qualify as a lower-tier Great Sword Master. The most ordinary Dragon Knight should be a Middle-tier Light Knight (excluding the dragon), while the most ordinary Fallen Angel should also be a Lower-tier Light Knight and a Middle-tier Dark Mage. Combined with their Dark Magic and the Light Knight riding a dragon, they can hold their own against them. Currently, my strength is equivalent to that of an ordinary Behemoth (without going berserk), which is only on par with a Lower-tier Grand Swordmaster. The gap between us is simply too vast. No wonder we need over 2,000 Behemoth warriors plus over 30 fallen angels to match those over 100 dragon warriors.
The exam starts tomorrow. I wonder if I can successfully enter the Tiandu Academy. I must keep strengthening my abilities; otherwise, our orc tribe will have no future. With a nervous heart, I began my final Tianmo Gong cultivation before the exam.
What I didn't know was that the Dragon God Empire also had its own concerns. While dragon knights are powerful, they don't possess the innate strength of Bimons. With proper training, they can participate in battles once they grow up. However, training a dragon knight is extremely difficult. The Dragon God Empire has spent countless resources and effort just to maintain a force of around 100 dragon knights. This was also why he dared not launch a reckless attack on the Demon and Beast nations. If all his Dragon Knights were wiped out, he would have no advantage left and would inevitably be defeated by the Demon-Beast Alliance.
I awoke from my training, changed into a brand-new samurai outfit, had a hearty meal, and arrived at my destination—the Tiandu Academy.
As soon as I arrived at the academy gates, I was stunned. There were so many people—thousands of them, packed tightly together. But I had heard from the admissions office that only 300 students would be admitted, meaning roughly one in ten would be selected.
I held the admission ticket I received when I registered—a wooden plaque with "No. 1" engraved on the front (of course it was No. 1 since I registered over a month ago) and the words "Tiandu Academy" engraved on the back. As I entered the academy, the courtyard was spacious enough to accommodate all the candidates with plenty of open space. The exam hadn't started yet, and the candidates were gathered in small groups, presumably discussing the exam questions.
A clear voice rang out: "Attention all candidates taking the exam, please quiet down and line up from east to west according to your numbers, with 50 people per row."
I hurriedly looked around for the speaker. What a loud voice! Who had such powerful magic? Later, I learned that it was a magical broadcast created using an amplification magic stone, which could amplify the voice dozens or even hundreds of times.
After searching for a while without finding anyone, I gave up and decided to line up first. I was number 1, so I should be the first in the first row, right?
The same voice came again, repeating the same instructions: "Attention all examinees: please quiet down and line up in order from east to west according to your ticket numbers, with 50 people per row."
After repeating this three times, the queue was finally in order. I roughly counted over 60 rows, totaling over 3,000 people. It's truly a 1-in-10 selection. Tian Du Academy is indeed very famous; even the entrance exam is so difficult. (Almost all the generals of the Dragon God Empire are graduates of the Four Great Academies, especially the Dragon Knights. Dragon Knights are no longer merely symbols of strength; they also symbolize honor and power. In the Dragon God Empire, Dragon Knights hold immense power, with the lowest title being Viscount. The three Grand Marshals, being the pillars of the empire, hold the title of Duke. For a commoner to become nobility, training to become a Dragon Knight is the best choice, and the Four Great Academies are the most solid stepping stones.)
"Alright, everyone, spread out a bit front, back, left, and right. Keep a distance of about 1.5 meters between each other." "Soon, all the candidates on the field had lined up according to the instructions.
At that moment, over 20 people arrived, apparently all examiners, and no one knew what they were testing.
"From now on, all candidates must remain stationary, maintain a standing posture, and not move at all until they can no longer sustain it. The final 1,000 candidates will advance to the next round." As soon as these words were spoken, the entire field erupted into chaos, with all the candidates beginning to discuss the matter.
"What kind of exam is this? It's just a punishment for standing!"
"Damn it, I've never heard of an exam that tests standing before."
"What kind of school is this? I should have known better than to come all this way."
I also thought to myself, "This is too easy. What's so difficult about just standing? Well, fine, I'll just stand then."
"Candidates, please be quiet. Standing is a test of physical strength and willpower. Whether you're learning combat skills or magic, you can't succeed without good physical strength and a strong will. If any candidates are dissatisfied with the academy's exam methods, you may withdraw at any time."
That's impressive. No wonder it's a prestigious academy. Let's stand. Although there had been a lot of commotion earlier, after hearing those words, no one was willing to give up. After all, it would be too embarrassing to withdraw before even showing their abilities.
At first, everyone felt relatively relaxed. Though it was summer, the morning was still quite cool. However, as time passed, the sun climbed to its zenith, and the temperature on the field rose sharply.
Sweat trickled down my face. Though it wasn't overly uncomfortable, the oppressive heat made me feel quite miserable. Fortunately, I was wearing light-colored samurai attire today; otherwise, it would have been even worse. I glanced at the other candidates. Their discipline was truly impressive. From morning until now, over two hours had passed, yet not a single person had withdrawn.
The proctors were divided into two groups, each monitoring for about an hour before switching and taking a break. At that moment, a female candidate moved slightly, and was immediately noticed by a middle-aged proctor. Pointing at her, he said, "You're out." It was truly strict—even the slightest movement was not allowed.
Another two hours passed, and the temperature gradually dropped as the sun set. However, after going without food or water for an entire day while enduring the scorching heat, my stomach was already growling uncontrollably. The sound of "growl, growl" echoed across the field. Not eating was bearable, but sweating all day without drinking water was making me feel quite uncomfortable. By now, over 200 candidates had already withdrawn, not even reaching one-tenth of the total. How much longer would this go on?
Time was moving so slowly. Finally, evening arrived, and a gentle breeze brought some relief. Practicing the Heavenly Demon Technique every night had become a habit. Since I was standing anyway, I might as well cultivate. I glanced to the left and right; almost all the candidates were closing their eyes and struggling against their own bodies.
I closed my eyes and quietly began to circulate the dark energy within my body. The first stage of the Heavenly Demon Technique does not emit energy outward during cultivation, so I wasn't worried about anyone noticing from the outside. I felt the dark elements around me constantly gathering toward me, A cool sensation gradually spread from my skin into my meridians, then slowly circulated along my qi channels. It felt so comfortable, as if all the fatigue of the day had vanished. My cravings for food and water also diminished. It seemed the Tianmo Gong had this benefit as well. I continued to circulate the Tianmo Gong along its fixed path, my mind gradually focusing until I entered a state of meditation.
When I awoke from meditation, it was already morning. Aside from some hunger and thirst, my body felt fine. I looked around at the others. Though not many had withdrawn, all the candidates looked on the verge of collapse, their faces pale. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
It was noon again, and the weather was still good. The sun hung high in the sky, but for us candidates, this was not a good thing.
With the experience from last night, I quickly summoned the Dark Force. Although practicing the Heavenly Demon Technique during the day was much less effective, it gave me a cool sensation, making it much easier to cope with the heat than yesterday.
By the afternoon, the candidates began to leave in batches, and most of them were carried out. The sun gradually set, and the clouds on the horizon glowed beautifully in the evening light.
"Candidates, you have worked hard. The first round of exams is now over. Please take your ID cards to the proctors to register, then go back to rest. The second round of exams will be held in two days."
Only 1,000 candidates remained after the elimination round. All the candidates sighed in relief and sat down on the ground. I was no exception. Although my physical condition was better than theirs, my limbs had been stiff from not moving for two days and one night. I sat on the ground and gently moved my stiff body.
"Candidates, please note that the proctors will now come to you one by one to register. Please cooperate." Sure enough, about ten proctors began to register the remaining candidates. I was the first, so I handed over my number tag and said, "I'm number 1." The proctor looked at me and smiled, "You're a sturdy young man." I just smiled and didn't respond.
At that moment, a group of people dressed in chef uniforms appeared from somewhere, carrying trays covered with cloth, as well as large buckets, bowls, and plates. Were they bringing us food?
Sure enough, the clear voice announced, "This is the porridge and steamed buns prepared by the academy for you. Please eat them and return to rest as soon as possible." It was indeed food. I took advantage of my position at the front and rushed forward first, grabbing a large bowl and scooping out a bowl of congee from the barrel, slurping it down. It felt so good, so good. I had never felt that congee could be so delicious. Before everyone else had fully gathered around, I drank three more bowls, then filled another bowl and took three steamed buns to enjoy them on the side.
With my stomach full and my strength restored, I remembered—it had been two days since I'd fed Black Dragon. I had to hurry back; he must be upset with me. Upon returning to the inn, I quickly grabbed some hay and rushed to the stable. Black Dragon let out a joyful whinny and licked my face with his big tongue. "You've been through a lot. Eat up; it's all top-quality hay."
After tending to Black Dragon, I was so exhausted I collapsed onto the haystack in the stable and fell asleep.