So, during breakfast, Prince of Shicheng Hua Tianxiong sent soldiers to summon Wu Tian, Zhuge Zhan, and Gongsun Shang. Naturally, Hua Tianxiong did not disclose to the three men any secrets regarding the Body Tempering Pill or the Star Domain Cauldron. Instead, he told them he intended to establish a secret guard to ensure his own safety. He then tasked Wu Tian, Zhuge Zhan, and Gongsun Shang with screening the existing 1,800-plus soldiers to form the initial members of this unit. The four men communicated and discussed the specific criteria for this selection, and once they were finalized, they began screening the soldiers currently stationed in Shicheng. The specific requirements were as follows:
1. Members of the secret guard must be absolutely loyal to Prince of Shicheng Hua Tianxiong and pledge to follow him until death.
2. As the private guard of Prince of Shicheng Hua Tianxiong, the unit would only take orders from him and would not participate in any routine operations.
3. Members must be under 16 years of age and possess a cultivation level of at least Fifth-Rank Martial Disciple. In the Great Qin Empire, most martial practitioners under 16 who reach this level are considered talented, serving as a basic test of their innate potential.
4. For the sake of the Prince's personal safety and secrecy, it was preferred that the members be orphans, as this would ensure they had no excessive outside burdens or suspicious hidden allegiances.
5. Priority was to be given to the …
Chapter 29