When the dust on the arena settled and the scene came into view, the entire G Camp training grounds fell deathly silent.

Over a hundred pairs of eyes locked onto Chen Sheng, their faces a swirling mixture of shock, horror, trepidation, and utter disbelief.

The previous looks of doubt, of detached observation, of schadenfreude—all had vanished, replaced by a deep and genuine awe.

Peacekeeper Envoy Lu Cheng involuntarily took a sharp breath, trying to calm his violently pounding heart. His expression was graver than ever before, tinged with a hint of lingering fear.

In truth, from the moment Zhan Fusheng had exhausted every trick up his sleeve yet failed to breach Chen Sheng’s Protective True Qi, Lu Cheng had considered the possibility of Chen Sheng’s victory. But he had never imagined it would be such a one-sided, utterly crushing defeat.

A fierce warrior like Zhan Fusheng had been as helpless as an infant before Chen Sheng. Such power was beyond Lu Cheng’s comprehension, shaking him to his core and leaving him struggling to maintain his composure.

In stark contrast, Zhao Changqiu’s face was filled with unrestrained ecstasy. If the occasion weren’t so formal, he would have clapped his hands and roared with laughter.

Though he too was staggered by the terrifying power Chen Sheng had displayed, his shock was overshadowed by the relief and excitement of having backed the right horse. The stronger Captain Chen was, the brighter his own future would be.

As for the other Jing’an Guards of G Camp, they could only stare at one another in stunned silence. Many swallowed hard, unable to utter a single word.

All their previous disdain and criticism for this "parachuted-in" Captain now seemed utterly ridiculous and hollow in the face of such absolute power.

The Jingwu Bureau was, after all, a place where strength commanded respect. Today, Chen Sheng had demonstrated the meaning of ’strength’ in the most direct and domineering way possible. The image of him standing atop the Golden Bell, looking down on them all, was now seared into their very souls.

Atop the Bluestone Arena.

Chen Sheng looked down at Zhan Fusheng, who was now barely breathing, his head bowed in complete submission. He secretly circulated his True Qi, forcefully suppressing the roiling of his vital energy and the faint, stinging pain in his Meridians—the backlash from the Vitality Pill.

His expression, however, remained as stoic as a mountain, his gaze placid. He slowly shifted his attention from Zhan Fusheng, his eyes sweeping over the silent crowd below.

"Greetings, Captain Chen!"

Zhao Changqiu was the first to react. He strode forward and bowed deeply, his voice resonant and filled with undisguised reverence.

A complicated look flickered in Lu Cheng’s eyes. He sighed inwardly, knowing that from this moment forward, the power structure of G Camp had irrevocably changed.

’If even Zhan Fusheng was no match for Chen Sheng, what chance did I stand?’

He hesitated no longer. Following right after Zhao Changqiu, he stepped forward and also gave a deep bow.

"Greetings, Captain Chen."

Though his voice lacked Zhao Changqiu’s impassioned excitement, it was clear and audible, a clear statement of his submission.

’Circumstances are stronger than men. I have no choice.’

The two Peacekeeper Envoys taking the lead was like a stone tossed into a still pond, its ripples spreading in an instant.

With their leaders’ example, the hundred-odd Jing’an Guards of G Camp hesitated no more. Like a field of wheat bending before the wind, they bowed in unison. Their black uniforms described perfect arcs as their powerful, resonant voices merged into a torrential roar that shot toward the heavens, echoing for miles around:

"Greetings, Captain Chen!"

"Greetings, Captain Chen!"

"Greetings, Captain Chen!"

The sound washed over the training grounds in tidal waves, echoing again and again, a declaration of his indisputable authority.

Gazing at the forest of black-robed figures and the sound that shook the very earth, Chen Sheng’s eyes were as deep and still as an ancient well. And yet, the corner of his mouth curved into a subtle, almost imperceptible arc.

’This was exactly the effect I was aiming for!’

’Today’s public display of power had come at a considerable cost—I even used an Elixir and will suffer damage to my Primordial Qi as a result. But to subdue G Camp in a single stroke and seize complete control, any price was worth paying.’

’From this day forward, G Camp is mine to command.’

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Sheng descended from the now-dilapidated Bluestone Arena with steady steps.

The crowd of Jingwu Guards before him swiftly parted, creating a wide path. With every step Chen Sheng took, the Jing’an Guards on either side bowed their heads, their posture one of utter humility.

Even after his figure had completely vanished at the far end of the training grounds, the formless pressure he left behind seemed to linger. The men of G Camp remained rooted to the spot for a long time before they slowly began to recover from their profound shock, exchanging speechless glances.

But the terrified reverence in their eyes was impossible to conceal.

...

「Far from the training grounds」, atop the corner eaves of an inconspicuous pavilion, Nie Xuanfeng, Governor of the Ning’an Prefecture Jingwu Bureau, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He stared in the direction of Chen Sheng’s departure with a look of faint surprise, a flicker of imperceptible admiration in his eyes.

He had been drawn here by the sound of the bell and had quietly observed the entire confrontation from beginning to end.

He knew of Chen Sheng’s feat in Changshan County—killing an Innate Martial Master from the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance. He had surmised that Chen Sheng’s foundation must be impressive and that he should be able to hold his own against Zhan Fusheng. Coupled with his satisfaction at Chen Sheng’s earlier performance, he had been willing to give him a chance, pushing past all opposition to promote him to Deputy Captain of G Camp.

However, in his original estimation, it would have been an impressive feat for Chen Sheng to merely hold his ground, let alone gain a slight advantage. After all, Zhan Fusheng’s Cultivation was at the peak of the Chaoyuan Realm. He was a man of immense combat experience and by no means an easy opponent.

The final result, however, had far exceeded his expectations.

It hadn’t been a stalemate, nor a hard-fought victory. It was, from start to finish, an absolute rout!

The power Chen Sheng had displayed, his grasp of tactical opportunities, and that astonishingly resilient Buddhist Cultivation Technique—all were far beyond what one would expect from someone who had just reached the Innate Realm.

’It seems I’ve underestimated you...’