SBCEJM -Chapter 79 The Number One Scholar Tears Through Generals; The Emperor Personally Grants the Seal!

Feng Zexuan exhaled a murky breath, lightly tapped the ground with her toes, and her body instantly glided to the center of the arena.

Opposite her stood a young thousand-household commander with a burly frame. His ox-like eyes sized her up and down, his face full of contempt.

“A pretty boy from the Hanlin Academy? Can you even hold a brush steady? Get off the stage and stop wasting time here!”

The moment his voice fell, his fist—large as a clay pot—whistled through the air straight at Feng Zexuan’s face.

Instead of retreating, she advanced. Her body shifted slightly, and with a seemingly casual lift and press of her palm at his elbow—

Crack!

A sharp bone-breaking sound echoed across the silent training ground.

The commander’s roar cut off abruptly, replaced by a piercing scream.

He was sent flying off the platform, clutching his arm twisted at a grotesque angle, rolling on the ground in agony.

One move! Just one move!

The entire training field fell deathly silent, then erupted into a wave of sharp intakes of breath.

Although the civil and military officials had heard countless rumors about the “martial prowess” of this Number One Scholar, this was the first time they had witnessed such overwhelming force firsthand. Every jaw nearly dropped.

On the high platform, the emperor’s pupils contracted sharply, his heart skipping a beat.

Next, the arena became Feng Zexuan’s stage alone.

Her movements were ghostly and unpredictable, her footwork strange and elusive. No matter how fierce her opponents were, she could always see through the flaws in their techniques at a glance.

Sometimes, she would simply pat an opponent lightly on the chest—without much force—yet it would send the burly man’s qi and blood surging wildly, forcing him to stumble off the stage in embarrassment.

Sometimes, a single finger tapped a pressure point at the wrist, instantly disarming the opponent and numbing half their body.

In the final round, her opponent was the imperial guard’s top-ranked expert, a ducal lieutenant.

He wielded a massive ghost-headed saber, its movements fierce and thunderous. Each strike carried the killing intent forged on battlefields, pressing toward Feng Zexuan’s vital points.

But she moved through the blade light like a shadow, always evading by the smallest margin—her clothes never even brushed by the blade’s wind.

Suddenly, her figure flickered, leaving behind a faint afterimage.

In the next instant, she appeared behind him.

Two slender, fair fingers pressed gently against the back of his neck.

“Yield.”

A cold voice sounded in his ear. The lieutenant stiffened instantly, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. His saber clattered to the ground.

He tried to turn around, but realized his entire body—except for his eyes—would not move.

“I… I lose.”

He squeezed out those three words through clenched teeth.

“Good!”

Emperor Xiao Juechen stood from the dragon throne and clapped heavily, his voice echoing across the entire training ground!

“Feng Zekai! I hereby appoint you as Grand Marshal of Pacifying Rebellion, grant you the imperial seal, and place all three armies under your command. Depart immediately to campaign against the Xiongnu!”

【Oh my god! I actually became a Grand Marshal? Are you kidding me?!】

【Help! I’m a law-abiding citizen—now I’m really going to war to kill people?! Killing is illegal!!】

In Feng Zexuan’s mind, a little figure was screaming and rolling on the ground in panic.

【Don’t be afraid, Host! I’ve got you! Believe in yourself—you’re the best! The cutest star of the system!】

Xiao Juechen walked down from the command platform and personally placed a heavy golden marshal seal into her hands.

“Minister Feng, the lives of 300,000 soldiers of Great Xia, and the safety of millions at the frontier—are all in your hands.”

Feng Zexuan felt the weight of the seal in her palm—small in size, but heavier than a thousand catties.

She knelt on one knee, her voice firm with a resolve even she herself had not fully realized:

“I, your servant, will not fail Your Majesty’s trust!”

Xiao Juechen turned to the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Chu Heng, his tone grave:

“Chu Aiqing, military supplies and grain are the lifeline of the army! You shall swear a military oath—anything needed at the front must not be delayed even for a moment!”

“I obey your decree!”

Chu Heng bowed deeply, solemn and serious.

【System, isn’t this too fast?! We leave tomorrow? I haven’t prepared anything! I haven’t even had a last meal!】

【Host, don’t panic! The system shop is available 24/7! You can exchange “melon points” for military supplies—modern firearms, high-explosive bombs, field medical kits… all cheap and reliable!】

【How much for a handgun?】

【10,000 melon points per pistol, with 15 bullets included. New user special!】

【What about a submachine gun?】

【50,000 melon points, with 30 bullets.】

【So expensive?! And bullets are limited?! Are you robbing me?! You scammer!】

System: 【……】

Feng Zexuan suppressed her complaints and cupped her hands toward Xiao Juechen:

“Your Majesty, I request one day to hand over affairs at the Hanlin Academy and bid farewell to my family.”

【Heh, ‘farewell’ is fake. The real plan is going home for a good feast!】

“Granted! Tomorrow at this hour, I will personally see you off along with the court officials!”

After court was dismissed, Feng Zexuan slowly returned to the Feng residence.

Inside, she saw her elder brother Feng Zekai sitting in a wheelchair, while their parents stood behind him, all three faces filled with worry and reluctance.

“Little sister, I already know.”

Feng Zekai held her hand, his palm warm and strong.

“It’s already decided. Thinking too much won’t help. Tell me what you need, I’ll prepare everything for you.”

Feng Zexuan forced a smile.

“Brother, didn’t you forget? We can ‘see’ each other anytime. Just prepare more food—when I crave it, I’ll come ask you for it.”

Feng Zekai immediately understood, and nodded firmly, secretly deciding to fill the entire kitchen into his storage space so his sister would never go hungry at the front.

“Yan’er…”

Li Yunluo’s eyes were red as she pulled her daughter into a tight embrace, her voice breaking.

“On the battlefield… swords and spears don’t have eyes… you… you must promise mother you’ll come back in one piece!”

The usually silent Feng Huai’an stepped forward, patted her shoulder heavily, his eyes red.

“Remember this: once you’re on the battlefield, showing mercy to those Xiongnu bastards is stabbing our own people in the back! Hit them hard—and take care of yourself!”

That night, Feng Zexuan returned to her small apartment to inventory supplies.

【System, I’m about to risk my life on the battlefield, rookie mode and all… don’t I get some starter gift pack or something?】

【Ding! Detected host entering new campaign. “New Marshal Starter Pack” issued! Includes: The Art of War (annotated edition), Modern Special Forces Tactics, Real-time Battlefield Analysis Sandbox. Instantly uplifts you to peak strategy level!】

“Perfect! Install everything—directly into my brain!”

A flood of information surged into her mind and was instantly absorbed.

【Hahaha, system, I love you! Muah!】

Next morning, Ten-Li Pavilion outside the capital.

The army stood in full formation—armor gleaming, banners covering the sky, killing intent rising to the heavens.

Feng Zexuan wore silver armor, riding a jet-black warhorse. Morning light reflected off her, cold and dazzling.

Emperor Xiao Juechen personally poured her a cup of farewell wine and handed it to her.

“Minister Feng, the road ahead is long and dangerous. I await your triumphant return!”

“I will not fail Your Majesty!”

She drank the wine in one gulp, then smashed the cup to the ground!

Crash!

The crisp shattering sound rang out like a horn of war.

She pulled the reins sharply; the warhorse reared and neighed.

Feng Zexuan turned back one last time, looking at her family in the distance and the towering capital. When she turned forward again, all warmth had vanished from her face—replaced by cold calm.

“Depart!”

At the command, ten thousand horses surged forward, dust rising like a storm that swallowed the sky.

The capital faded behind her into a small ink dot.

Ahead lay unknown blood and fire.