Chapter 871 - 405: Appointed as Tiqi, Thunder Drum Duel, Astounding Feat, Overawing the Clans! (Part 3)

Chapter 871: Chapter 405: Appointed as Tiqi, Thunder Drum Duel, Astounding Feat, Overawing the Clans! (Part 3)

Li Jian said, "Strange, strange, Brother Li, do you not feel chest drum pain?"

By this time, the class had concluded. The three who had just formed the formation seized the moment to find a place to rest and chat.

Li Xian opened his water bag, took a sip, and thought, "Forming the array just now, with tremors every few breaths, although frequent, my body could completely endure it; truly, there was no unusual feeling. If it’s just like this, persisting longer might not necessarily cause chest pain." He humbly smiled and said, "A little bit."

Shen Langyang said, "Brother Li, your physique is truly enviable, perhaps nearly catching up with Lei Chong, General Lei."

Li Jian nodded and said, "You are new here, yet you can persist for such a long time. It seems that although you took a different path to become part of the Gold Appraisal Guard, you truly possess real skills."

Li Xian glanced into the distance and said, "I just heard that General Lei’s physique is extraordinary. Being new here, I’m quite curious. Would you two care to explain?"

Li Jian looked up at the command platform where Lei Chong was standing upright, imposing, and said, "We of common birth should take General Lei as our example."

Shen Langyang said, "General Lei’s physique is naturally special, with extraordinary chest endurance. It is said his Chest Drum Thunder Sound is not only loud but also deep. In an instant, it can beat seven times, in one breath, it can resonate ninety-seven beats."

Li Jian said, "I have tested my limits; one breath can vibrate fifty-one beats before the chest feels stuffy and painful. Clenching my teeth to vibrate ten more times, I couldn’t go on anymore. Forcibly resonating the Thunder Sound would injure internal organs and cause bleeding."

Li Xian asked, "What is the principle behind such continuous and frequent suppression of Chest Drum Thunder Sound? What purpose does it serve?"

Shen Langyang said, "The principle is significant. Just talking about the Thunder Drum God-Slaying Array. The three-person small array might not show much, only needing some practice to lead the array. But in the nine-person mid-array, it’s entirely different."

"The ’Gathering Thunder Power’ of the nine-person mid-array requires a leader with extremely strong chest endurance. Then, the team’s Chest Drum Thunder Sound, through resonance, acts on the leader’s chest. The stronger the endurance of the Chest Drum Thunder Sound, the more capable one is to lead the nine-person mid-array."

Li Jian said, "The Thunder Drum God-Slaying Array is quite important, a major formation for frontal assaults. The small array leaders typically rotate, today I lead, tomorrow you lead. This way, it can help us become familiar with the principles of formations. But the mid-array leader remains constant."

"Even though the mid-array leader is like us, just common guards, they possess command authority and hold a higher position. Competing for the position of the clay idol in the future would be more assured."

Li Xian asked, "And the leader of the large array?" Shen Langyang replied, "Don’t underestimate the leader of the large array; they only command twenty-one people. Their capability is already quite significant, only a step away from the Golden Head. Among the outstanding ones, they already hold the position of the clay idol."

Li Jian said, "Although envious, I am not jealous. Among us of the Gold Appraisal Guard, even though many come from aristocratic families, ultimately it is about Martial Arts, strength, and capability."

"I have been serving as a Gold Appraisal Guard for seven years. Though I appear young, I am actually over thirty years old. Once, during a surprise attack, the mid-array leader was severely injured and temporarily appointed me to lead the mid-array."

"At that time, I thought my chance to shine had arrived, and I was determined to seize this opportunity. I arranged my subordinates to confront the enemy and finally unleashed the ’Gathering Thunder Power’ technique. At that moment, the team’s Thunder Sound was fully upon me. I felt an intense heat throughout, chest pounding. Within a breath, the Chest Drum Thunder Sound reverberated seven times inside me!"

"Though I indeed felt power filling my body, it was truly unprecedented. However, it only lasted five breaths before I succumbed, bleeding and defeated. Truly unbearable. At that moment, if I could endure for twenty-four breaths, I might have become another General Lei. But the gap was indeed vast; only then did I realize how formidable General Lei was!"

Li Jian couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret as he spoke.

Shen Langyang suddenly became interested and said, "Speaking of which, my interest has been piqued. Brother Li, new as you are, why not test your own limits?"

Li Xian curiously asked, "Own limits?"

Shen Langyang said, "We of the Gold Appraisal Guard have an unwritten rule, called ’Thunder Drum Contest’, where one’s Chest Drum Thunder Sound endurance is compared with others. You only need to shout, inform everyone, and then hold one breath, resonating the Chest Drum Thunder Sound. As fast and as much as you can. Others will naturally help you keep count."

"This is also a way to establish prestige within the army. Back when Lei Chong, General Lei, joined the Gold Appraisal Guard, he began the Thunder Drum Contest, resonating seven beats in a moment, a total of ninety-seven consecutive beats. It was really impressive. After that, he never fully displayed his power, and we don’t know to what extent his Chest Drum Thunder Sound could reach. But there is a risk; if not achieving above-average results, one will surely be ridiculed and despised."

Li Xian became interested. Just at this moment, Li Jian said, "Someone has already started the drum contest. Brother Li, shall we not join in?"

A Gold Appraisal Guard, Song Jia, cupped his hands toward the crowd and said, "Everyone, listen to my Thunder Drum. Forgive my inadequacy!"

His feet spread apart, body pressing down. This is the "Water Dragon Martial Hall" technique called Water Dragon Breath, a Martial Arts breathing technique. Song Jia is from a martial hall, quite prominent in Jade City. Nearly thirty years old, his cultivation is nearing the Second Realm and already possesses the feature of ’Ethereal Immortal Sound.’

This level of skill is quite remarkable, so he took today’s opportunity with Lei Chong present to begin the Thunder Drum Contest. The Thunder Drum Contest emphasizes resonating the ’Chest Drum Thunder Sound’ in one breath. Therefore, Martial Arts of ’breathing’ is of utmost importance.

With this long breath, Song Jia’s face turned red and blue. This is the mysterious aspect of Water Dragon Breath. Then his whole body trembled, chest bursting with a Thunder Sound resonance. A "rumbling" sound, indistinguishable from thunder.

The Gold Appraisal Guard members gathered around to watch and cheer. Lei Chong also walked toward them.

Although the Chest Drum Thunder Sound is not as vast and profound as ’Ethereal Immortal Sound,’ it is not insignificant, having connections with the mystical thunder of heaven and earth. Many arrays and Martial Arts...related to this path. Its ’Thunder Sound’, ’Thunder Momentum’, and ’Thunder Rhythm’ vary from person to person.