"Hundred-Household Wang," Chen Sanshi asked, "earlier you mentioned that the quality of qi and blood differs from person to person. What level would mine count as?"
Wang Zhi chuckled and explained patiently. "Qi and blood cultivated through a lower-grade breathing method usually form a single '大' character within the body. The thicker that character's lines, the stronger the qi and blood.
"With the Haoran Breathing Method, the qi and blood are already twice as powerful as those from ordinary methods. Beyond that, it depends on talent. If the qi and blood can circulate through the entire body, that's naturally the best."
He paused and raised an eyebrow. "Wait—you're not saying that you…"
Wang Zhi pressed a palm lightly against Chen Sanshi's shoulder. "Channel your qi and blood. Let me see."
Chen Sanshi did as told.
At once, Wang Zhi's eyes widened. "This is top-grade—no, supreme-grade qi and blood!"
He let out a low whistle of amazement. "Just like mine back in the day—circulating through the whole body. But you reached it in a fraction of the time. Remarkable! Even if the Grand Commander himself came, he'd take you as a disciple."
"Supreme-grade?" Chen Sanshi asked tentatively. "Is there anything even rarer than that?"
"Yes—one in ten thousand."
Wang Zhi nodded, his tone turning more serious. "Those are the ones born with innate martial constitutions. Their bodies are different from ordinary people's. When they practice the same techniques, they progress faster and achieve better results."
"For example, there's the Tiger Fiend Body, or the Golden Python Body—those with such physiques are destined to walk far on the martial path. But don't lose heart. Your bones are more than good enough; you'll reach great heights too."
Chen Sanshi nodded quietly, thinking to himself.
So there really were 'special bodies,' but all of them were innate.
His "Dragon and Elephant Blood" was acquired later—not even a body type, just a mutation of qi and blood.
It seemed similar to how his Archery skill had evolved. The proficiency system slowly transformed his body to suit his cultivation path.
"Time to pick a new technique," Wang Zhi said, already prepared. He pulled three manuals from his robe. "Once you've reached major achievement in tempering blood, you start the tempering bone stage. These three are follow-up techniques to the Basic Spearsmanship for Infantry, each focusing on a different aspect."
Chen Sanshi's eyes swept over the titles:
"Flying Serpent Sweeps the Wind Spear", "Mad Python Breaks the Formation Spear", and "Undying Golden Serpent Spear".
"These are exclusive to me," Wang Zhi explained. "The rest in the Thousand-Household Division can only learn the 'Advanced Spear Technique.'
"These three correspond to different strengths: speed, power, and endurance.
"My suggestion? Choose the Mad Python Breaks the Formation Spear. It's fierce and unstoppable on the battlefield. When the Grand Commander was young, that was the one he practiced.
"Next, the Flying Serpent Spear—swift as the wind. Within twenty steps, you can strike before your opponent even reacts. Among all martial arts, speed is invincible.
"As for the Undying Golden Serpent Spear, it's often dismissed in the Eight Garrisons as 'ordinary.' It's slower and less fierce than the other two. The only advantage is that it consumes less qi and blood during prolonged combat. But even that varies by person."
Before Wang Zhi even finished, Chen Sanshi had already picked up the Undying Golden Serpent manual. "I'll take this one."
"You sure?" Wang Zhi asked, serious now. "This isn't something to take lightly. Think carefully."
"I'm sure."
Chen Sanshi's tone was firm—he had thought it through.
For long-range strikes, he had Archery.
For speed and power, his existing techniques—and the "Dragon and Elephant Blood"—already covered those areas.
In his view, the only true path to survival on the battlefield was endurance.
He still remembered his first spar with Xu Bin.
He'd won that match against someone of higher cultivation by sheer stamina.
And back at Golden Bell Temple, the Witch God Sect cultists had been fierce and wild—but what good had that done? Their bursts of strength drained their qi and blood quickly. In the end, they'd been hacked to death by a handful of formation grunts.
Wang Zhi laughed. "So you've learned the value of endurance from the Haoran Breathing Method, huh? Can't fault you for that."
He grabbed a wine jar and waved it. "Everyone's got their own path. I won't nag. Care to join me for a drink to celebrate your promotion?"
"No, I've got something to take care of first."
Chen Sanshi had promised to lend grain to Zhao Qiao and the others—best not to delay it.
"Congratulations, Sub-Flag Officer Chen!"
The moment he stepped out, many soldiers came up to offer their congratulations.
But no one was happier than the men under his command.
With their leader's breakthrough, they too received rewards.
Two servings of Blood-Replenishing Soup each—worth sixty taels of silver if bought on the open market.
"Following Shitou really paid off," one of them laughed. "All the silver we spent training? Just earned it back in one go!"
Zhu Tong was grinning from ear to ear.
Xu Wencai, who had managed to earn two taels of silver, was just as happy.
He followed behind Chen Sanshi, saying, "Sir, are you heading out of camp? Perfect timing—I was planning to go home too. Let's go together!"
Chen Sanshi turned to him. "Didn't your house get burned down? What are you going back for?"
"To set up a gravestone."
Xu Wencai blinked hard, forcing back a bit of emotion. "My mother's grave still only has a wooden marker. Thanks to the reward money, I can finally afford to get a proper stone made."
"Let's go."
Chen Sanshi slung his bow and spear over his back out of habit.
He loaded two sacks of rice onto the White Swan horse, and the two of them strolled leisurely down the road.
There was no need to tug the reins—the White Swan followed obediently behind, step for step.
"Sir, you're incredible," Xu Wencai said, patting the horse admiringly. "You can even tame a wild stallion like this. You're destined for greatness!"
"…"
Chen Sanshi didn't know how to respond to such clumsy flattery.
Xu Wencai coughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. "Sir, would you like me to write something up for you—to help recruit some men?"
"Recruit?" Chen Sanshi raised an eyebrow. "You mean to fill the open spots under my command?"
"Exactly!" Xu Wencai said earnestly. "To be honest, I know a little about reading people's faces. After spending some time together, I'm convinced, sir—you're no ordinary man. You're bound for great things in the future!"
"Stop, stop right there."
Chen Sanshi's scalp tingled with secondhand embarrassment. "We can talk about recruiting later. No rush."
"Sir, you're wrong about that!" Xu Wencai waved his hands animatedly. "You mustn't delay! Think about it—back in the last dynasty, the founding emperor was being escorted to exile when he and his fellow villagers rebelled and killed the local officers. Many of those men later became founding generals!
"And look at our own Great Sheng Dynasty's Taizu Emperor! The sworn brothers he made back when he was still a house servant—those very men became the pillars of the empire.
"The lesson is clear—if you want to achieve great things, you must start building your team early!"
"Great things?"
Chen Sanshi narrowed his eyes. "What exactly are you plotting?"
"Cough, cough, nothing like that, sir," Xu Wencai said hastily. "Spring is almost here, and there's bound to be war. Having a few more men under you can only help your chances, right?"
"Fine. Write it then."
As they walked, Chen Sanshi glanced around.
Many of the villagers were still wearing thin, tattered clothes. Joining the army at least meant food in their bellies and warmth on their backs—even if it also meant risking their lives on the battlefield.
If anyone was willing to enlist, he'd take it as fate.
"Got it!" Xu Wencai said excitedly. "Just wait, sir—you'll see my masterpiece!"
"…"
Chen Sanshi started to wonder what this man had been doing every day instead of training.
They chatted idly as they reached the entrance to Swallow-Edge Village.
"Shitou! You still have the nerve to come back? You've brought nothing but trouble to the whole village!"
The familiar sharp, bitter voice cut through the air.
Chen Sanshi didn't get angry. "Uncle Lai, what now? How did I bring trouble to the villagers?"
"You ruined Zhao Qiao's family!"
"Uncle Zhao?" Chen Sanshi frowned. "What happened to him? I told him a few days ago not to go up the mountain."
"Who said it happened in the mountains?"
Baldy Lai jutted his chin toward the village. "A bunch of martial hall disciples came and surrounded Zhao Qiao's house! Must be someone you offended, huh?"
"Was it Tailei Martial Hall?" Chen Sanshi asked sharply. "Who was there?"
"There was that guy who tricked Zhang Shun into working on the canal last time—and another one with one ear missing. They called him Senior Brother!"
As Baldy Lai spoke, Chen Sanshi had already swung into the saddle. The older man called after him, "You're really going? There's a whole gang of them! Aren't you afraid of getting yourself killed?"
"Hyah!"
Chen Sanshi didn't answer. He spurred the White Swan horse straight into the village.
Get killed?
We'll see who dies first.
In a blink, the White Swan was gone, leaving Xu Wencai coughing in the cloud of dust behind.
He covered his mouth with his sleeve and asked the villager, "How many are there?"
"More than thirty!" Baldy Lai exclaimed. "All armed with swords—scary bunch!"
Hearing that, Xu Wencai didn't follow into the village. Instead, he turned and sprinted back toward the Thousand-Household Division for help.