"Not bad."
This time, Captain Nie finally gave his clear approval, his gaze toward Chen Sheng filled with undisguised admiration.
To be able to lift a Black Gold Stone Lock weighing over seven hundred pounds in the early stage of Foundation Establishment—this level of strength was enough to tower over his peers.
An ordinary Martial Master in the early stage of Foundation Establishment typically possessed a strength of two to five hundred pounds. Only those who had advanced to the middle stage—the Bone Forging realm—could command a strength of five hundred to a thousand pounds.
It was a clear testament to the solidity of this young man's foundation and the depth of his reserves.
Chen Sheng remained calm and composed. He offered a respectful bow and slowly retreated to Wu Kuang's side.
Although Wu Kuang already knew Chen Sheng's strength was extraordinary, a flicker of shock still crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by immense satisfaction. Chen Sheng's performance had undoubtedly brought him great honor.
"Will anyone else step forward?"
Captain Nie's gaze swept across the crowd once more. The remaining Vice Commanders lowered their heads, avoiding his eyes. None dared to answer the call.
Those with the strength to compete had already made their attempts. The rest knew their own limits; stepping forward now would only be an exercise in humiliation, especially when measured against Chen Sheng's three-breath performance. It would only make them look pathetic.
For several long breaths, the tent remained utterly silent.
Nie Yuanliu knew the outcome was settled. His gaze lingered on Chen Sheng for a moment. After a brief period of contemplation, he waved his hand. An invisible surge of Fierce Qi billowed out, silently whisking away the black cloth that covered something behind him.
In an instant, three weapons were revealed to the crowd, resting silently on a stainless steel rack:
A longspear, jet-black and adorned with gilded patterns; a pair of massive, heavy silver hammers, bright as snow; and a long, narrow battle saber whose dark blade held a faint, inky luster.
"I said before that the winner would receive a prize."
Nie Yuanliu's voice was calm, yet his words landed like a boulder tossed into a lake. "These three are all Treasure Soldiers, spoils from my campaigns. You may choose one."
The tent erupted.
As soon as he spoke, the breathing in the large command tent seemed to stop all at once.
A fervent light erupted in the eyes of the commanders. The Vice Commanders, meanwhile, could barely contain their overwhelming envy and jealousy, their breathing growing ragged.
The burly man who had gone first and lasted only two breaths turned deathly pale. He was kicking himself. 'If only I'd known the prize was a Treasure Soldier! I would have risked internal injury just to hold on for one more breath!'
A Treasure Soldier!
This was an item far beyond the wildest dreams of any ordinary Foundation Establishment Martial Master. Not only was it priceless, but only an Innate Powerhouse capable of True Qi Emission could truly unleash its latent power.
In the hands of a Foundation Establishment Martial Master, a Treasure Soldier was still a formidable weapon, but its full potential could hardly be revealed.
Even so, it was a weapon that every Foundation Establishment Martial Master dreamed of possessing. For a martial artist at that level, having a Treasure Soldier could boost their combat strength by a significant margin.
"Your subordinate thanks the Captain for his generous gift!"
Chen Sheng suppressed the excitement in his heart and bowed deeply once more.
"Choose."
Nie Yuanliu said lightly.
To him, while a Treasure Soldier was valuable, it wasn't an irreplaceable treasure. In fact, if he hadn't ended up with only three of them among his spoils of war while having six commanders in the tent, his parting gift would have been a Treasure Soldier for each man.
Of course, the elixirs he had given them were by no means inexpensive either.
"I am accustomed to using a long saber," Chen Sheng replied without hesitation.
Nie Yuanliu waved his hand again. The ink-black saber was enveloped by an invisible Qi Force and floated steadily before Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng reached out and gripped the hilt. It was cool and heavy to the touch, and an incomparably sharp aura washed over him. He knew that he was currently far from being able to unleash the saber's full power, but even so, with this Treasure Saber in hand, his strength was bound to skyrocket.
"Thank you for the saber, Sir!"
Nie Yuanliu nodded slightly, saying no more. He raised his cup and declared:
"With the formalities concluded, gentlemen, let us drink."
"To the Captain!"
The atmosphere in the tent reached another crescendo.
As soon as Chen Sheng returned to his seat, Wu Kuang leaned in and whispered, "This saber is called 'Shehan.' It is incomparably sharp. Captain Nie obtained it two months ago when he cut down the rebel leader 'Chaos River Dragon.' Do not tarnish its name."
"Sir," Chen Sheng began, having noticed the flicker of longing in Wu Kuang's eyes. Though he doubted his commander would actually demand the weapon, he knew he had to make the offer. "In my hands, I fear this saber is a treasure wasted. Only someone of your cultivation level could truly unleash its power..."
Upon hearing this, a wry smile touched the corners of Wu Kuang's lips.
"Enough. Don't play such petty games with me. Captain Nie bestowed that Treasure Saber himself. Who in this camp would dare covet it? Besides, I'm not proficient with sabers. Just take good care of it."
"Yes, sir!"
Only then did Chen Sheng feel completely at ease. He ran a hand over the cool, flat side of the blade, cherishing it.
Nearby, Huang Ren watched this exchange with a storm of emotions churning inside him—envy, jealousy, and indignation all tangled together.
.....
The next day, just as Captain Nie had said, the transfer orders from high command arrived on schedule. The barracks filled with the shouts of men and the neighing of horses as the divisions began to mobilize in an orderly fashion. One by one, the units marched out of the stockade to rendezvous with troops from the surrounding garrisons.
Chen Sheng noticed that as they were saying their farewells, Wu Kuang and Captain Nie seemed to be discussing something in low voices. The two men slowly strolled toward the Martial Arts Arena. As they approached, Chen Sheng immediately ceased his Pile Skill practice and offered a respectful bow.
Captain Nie clearly had a strong impression of him and asked with a smile,
"Chen Sheng, the Pile Skill you practice... it originates from the Buddhist Sect, doesn't it?"
"Your insight is sharp, Sir." Chen Sheng's heart skipped a beat.
"Buddhist Cultivation Techniques are indeed remarkable for Body Refining, and their traits are quite distinct. However, they are not without their drawbacks."
Nie Yuanliu's tone was casual, but his words carried a clear intention to guide him. "Once you reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, you should avoid delving deeper into Buddhist Cultivation Techniques unless it is absolutely necessary."
"May I ask why, Sir?"
Chen Sheng asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Buddhist Cultivation Techniques can easily cloud the mind. In the Jianghu, there are countless examples of those who arduously trained in Buddhist Secret Techniques, only to undergo a drastic change in temperament, some even converting to the Buddhist Sect entirely." Nie Yuanliu offered this brief explanation before continuing on his way with Wu Kuang.
Chen Sheng was left standing alone, a thoughtful expression on his face.
...
「Three days later.」
The main force of the Mountain Camp had already departed for the border.
Captain Nie had also left the day before, and Wu Kuang's transfer orders were finally official. He immediately commanded Chen Sheng to assemble his sixty retainers and prepare to depart from the camp at a moment's notice.
Outside the camp gates, sixty hand-picked, formidable soldiers stood in solemn formation, clad in full armor.
Chen Sheng, too, was finally mounted on a tall steed, a clear distinction from the common soldiers.
At that moment, however, his attention was not on the troops under his command. Instead, it was fixed on the Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil, which had once again materialized before his eyes.
This time, the two words for "Avoiding Evil" were blazing with an eerie light, the color of fresh blood.
My name is Chen Sheng. By the time you read this, I'm already dead... On the day of our transfer, I knew Wu Kuang would promote me after he became the County Captain of Changshan. Eager to prove myself, I volunteered to lead the vanguard and clear the path.
However, shortly after leaving camp, we were ambushed by elite rebel forces. It was only then that I learned the truth: Captain Nie hadn't actually left. He had received a tip-off beforehand and was secretly hiding in Wu Kuang's carriage, lying in wait for the ambush!
Unfortunately, as the point man for the vanguard, my conspicuous armor made me their primary target. An arrow imbued with Innate True Qi shot through the air. It was too fast. I had no time to react... It pierced straight through my chest.
Even Captain Nie couldn't save me in time. In the end, I died... You never know what will come first, tomorrow or a fatal accident. If I had known, I would never have volunteered to lead the vanguard...