Amidst the laughter, Xu Fang's voice suddenly turned icy: “What a Martial Star! How dare you deceive the Emperor and slander your superiors? What punishment do you deserve?”

  His voice thundered like a storm!

  The accusations of slandering the Emperor and deceiving his superiors were not charges the Martial Star could bear without consequence!

  “You insolent brat! How could I dare to deceive the Emperor or slander my superiors? Don’t spout nonsense!”

  The Martial Star quickly rebutted, knowing that his life and reputation were at stake.

  Yet Xu Fang gradually took control of the situation, sneering: “Hmph! You claimed you were unwell in the camp, but you seem quite well now. Does that not count as deceiving the Emperor?”

  “You neglect your duties, allowing yourself to become a laughingstock while you slander me. Does that not count as slandering your superior?”

  Xu Fang's words struck the Martial Star like a hammer, weighing heavily on his heart.

  Truth be told, neither of the two accusations should have been a big deal—who in the Heavenly Court had not told a lie or two?

  However, as long as everyone stayed silent about the feigned illness, no one would take it seriously.

  But now, Xu Fang had chosen to take it seriously!

  The Martial Star found himself at a loss for words.

  He had intended to use his illness as a pretext to put Xu Fang in his place, to let this newly appointed superior know who held the real power in the camp.

  What he hadn't anticipated was that Xu Fang, this brash newcomer, would completely disregard him and launch a covert attack instead!

  While the attack did not cause any substantial harm, it was profoundly humiliating!

  This humiliation ignited a fury within the Martial Star, compelling him to confront Xu Fang and settle the score.

  But before he could open his mouth, Xu Fang took the initiative!

  Yet the Martial Star, being a seasoned deity, quickly regained his composure after a flash of panic crossed his eyes. “Hmph! I’ve taken elixirs, and my ailments are cured! No need for excuses; just come at me directly!”

  “Good!”

  Xu Fang gave him a thumbs-up and laughed heartily, “If you had said that from the start, I would have respected you as a man!”

  With that, Xu Fang waved his hand, and a high platform appeared out of thin air. “Come on then, enough talk! Let’s see whose skills are superior!”

  “If you lose, you’ll stay in the camp obediently and accept your punishment. If you win, the Divine Strategy Camp will be yours to command, and I will return home at once. How about that?”

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  With this declaration, Xu Fang harbored intentions of demonstrating authority and setting an example.

  The entire Divine Strategy Camp was in disarray, and he needed to establish his credibility.

  Since the Martial Star had come to him, Xu Fang would not hold back!

  “Hmph! That’s exactly what I was waiting for!”

  The Martial Star coldly snorted, summoning a divine sword to his hand with a flash of golden light, leaping onto the high platform first.

  “Come and fight!”

  Xu Fang’s eyes flashed with determination as he leaped onto the platform, wielding the Ghost-Mourning Blade!

  “Let me see what skills you possess, you insolent brat!”

  The Martial Star’s sword glimmered fiercely as he charged at Xu Fang with a furious slash!

  “Martial Star! If you want to defeat me, show your true abilities! Such tricks will only make me underestimate you!”

  Xu Fang laughed heartily, moving forward to meet the attack!

  The Ghost-Mourning Blade howled as it clashed with the Martial Star’s divine sword!

  Clang—

  The sound of metal meeting metal rang out, and the Martial Star’s sword was suddenly cleaved in two!

  “Just relying on the advantages of a divine weapon!”

  Despite his sword being shattered, the Martial Star did not falter. He waved his hand, and the two broken sword pieces transformed into two roaring dragons, spiraling towards Xu Fang!

  “Two dragons’ strength, is it? Bring it on!”

  In response, Xu Fang summoned a massive golden hand from thin air, seizing the two dragons and violently tossing them aside!

  With a shriek, the two dragons fell to the ground, reverting to their former shapes as broken swords.

  The Martial Star’s expression instantly changed!

  As the saying goes, when a master makes a move, you know the score!

  In just one exchange, he was utterly defeated!

  “It’s impossible! I refuse to believe this!”

  The Martial Star, eyes reddened with fury, charged at Xu Fang, throwing a powerful punch right at him!

  “What?!”

  The heavenly soldiers widened their eyes in shock as they realized Xu Fang had not dodged, allowing the Martial Star’s fist to strike his chest directly!

  Boom—

  Then something astonishing happened!

  When the Martial Star’s fist hit Xu Fang, Xu Fang stood unmoving, while the Martial Star was knocked over by the force of his own attack!

  “You... you’ve actually trained your body!”

  The Martial Star scrambled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth in disbelief.

  In cultivation, mastering the physical body was deemed the most challenging feat!

  This was a consensus among all practitioners!

  But the Martial Star never imagined that Xu Fang, before him, was a master of body refinement!

  What he didn’t realize was that Xu Fang hadn’t consciously trained his body.

  His current strength stemmed entirely from the attributes gained through the system’s sign-in rewards!

  Though Xu Fang’s cultivation level was that of a Supreme Golden Immortal, his attributes could even surpass those of some Great Luo Golden Immortals!

  And this was Xu Fang’s greatest source of confidence!

  “What now? Do you wish to continue?”

  Xu Fang stood firmly on the high platform, looking down at the Martial Star.

  In this exchange, where weapons were concerned, the Martial Star was inferior to Xu Fang; when it came to physical prowess, the gap was even larger.

  Everyone knew Xu Fang had trained under Master Bodhi of Mount Fangcun; if it came to magical abilities, the Martial Star wouldn’t dare to humiliate himself further. He had no choice but to grudgingly acknowledge, “Xu Fang, your strength is incredible. I concede.”

  “Admit defeat, and stay in the Divine Strategy Camp obediently!”

  Xu Fang declared, “From now on, I appoint you to guard the camp’s entrance. Are you willing to accept this?”

  He aimed to suppress the Martial Star intentionally, something the Martial Star could clearly see.

  However, with no choice under this roof, the Martial Star had to bow his head, despite his inner resentment. “I accept.”

  “Excellent!”

  Xu Fang turned to the gathered soldiers, raising his voice: “The Martial Star has accepted defeat; what about you all?”

  His sharp gaze made the soldiers feel as if they were being pricked by needles.

  “I accept! Xu Fang, your might is unparalleled!”

  One brave heavenly general immediately knelt and proclaimed loudly.

  With this leader, the rest of the soldiers quickly followed suit, kneeling in droves: “We accept! Xu Fang, your might is unparalleled! We shall honor your commands from now on!”

  As Xu Fang surveyed the scene, full of vigor and confidence, the Martial Star felt a bitter taste in his mouth, as if he had aged in an instant.

  “Could it be that the heavens are truly changing?”