Unleashing a Massacre! A Bountiful Harvest of Merit Points!

"This mission takes place in Iron Fist Valley. After a band of Barbarians crossed the border, they colluded with certain Dry People martial artists along the frontier and slaughtered every last resident in the valley. They are now stationed within it!"

Guo Xiu Yong spoke in a deep voice.

"Dry People martial artists actually colluded with them?"

Jiang Bei's expression tightened slightly.

"Hmph, those ungrateful traitors! It would have been one thing if they simply refused to help their own people, but they actually defected to the enemy. What the hell are they after?"

Guo Xiu Yong said furiously.

"What is the approximate scale of Iron Fist Valley?"

Jiang Bei pressed.

"Counting both the Barbarians and the Dry People martial artists, there should be over a hundred of them. That is why even the Battalion Commander will personally lead the team this time. If not for this injury to my leg, I would have gone with them no matter what!"

As he spoke, Guo Xiu Yong looked at Jiang Bei and said earnestly, "Jiang Bei, you only just returned. You should have been allowed a few days to recover. But the situation at the border is tense now, especially for our Ren-Rank Camp. Every day, we are treading on thin ice."

"It is fine. Since I came here, I have long cast life and death aside."

Jiang Bei smiled calmly.

"Good brother!"

Guo Xiu Yong heavily patted his shoulder. "You must be careful in Iron Fist Valley and protect yourself. If you truly encounter danger you cannot handle..."

At that point, he glanced around and lowered his voice. "Your own safety comes first."

"Understood."

Jiang Bei nodded.

Naturally, he understood that principle.

It was true that he desperately needed to carry out missions and kill Barbarians for Merit Points, but he was not some reckless brute with courage and no strategy. If an emergency arose, he still had to preserve his life when necessary!

"What? You are going on another mission tomorrow? But husband, you only just came back... Can't you not go?"

Inside the barracks, Yu Rou's eyes immediately reddened when she heard that Jiang Bei would be heading out again tomorrow.

"This time, the Battalion Commander personally assigned me. I have no choice but to go."

Jiang Bei spoke softly.

"But I... I am worried about you."

Yu Rou pressed her face against his sturdy chest, her voice choked with sobs.

Jiang Bei gently stroked her long hair and said slowly, "Do not worry. I will protect myself. Wait for me to return to camp."

Yu Rou nodded lightly, her eyes rimmed red. Her pearly teeth bit her lower lip, while her slender fingers unconsciously traced circles across Jiang Bei's chest.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived.

Before the Ren-Rank Camp, men and horses stood in strict formation, banners fluttering proudly. The soldiers wore armor and carried weapons, standing solemnly beside their warhorses.

This time, Third Battalion had deployed seven squads, roughly eighty or ninety men.

At the front of the crowd sat Xu Qi in silver armor, along with the other seven Squad Leaders.

"Everyone, this battle at Iron Fist Valley permits victory only, never defeat! Whoever slays a Barbarian shall receive great rewards!"

Xu Qi sat upright upon his horse, his voice booming like a great bell. Then he raised an arm and shouted, "March out!"

In an instant, the troop became a roaring torrent of steel and surged forth.

Jiang Bei was among the formation as well.

He belonged to Second Squad.

"At last, I can kill again and earn Merit Points!"

Jiang Bei urged his horse forward and took a deep breath, his heart undoubtedly surging with excitement.

After so many days, it was time to nourish battle with battle once more and raise his strength.

Xie Kaiyue was like a sharp blade hanging above his head, one that could fall at any moment. The only thing he could do was keep growing stronger and prepare for a rainy day.

Or perhaps he could take it all the way—raise his strength to the point where he could kill Xie Kaiyue, strike first, and uproot the trouble once and for all!

More than half a day passed.

At last, everyone arrived outside Iron Fist Valley.

Jiang Bei sat atop his horse and looked into the distance. A colossal black valley lay quietly in the distance, its presence majestic and overwhelming.

Even from so far away, they could still feel a chill rushing toward them.

Everyone dismounted outside the valley and proceeded on foot.

The terrain within Iron Fist Valley was complex. Not only was it unsuitable for horses to gallop through, but it would also be easy to cause too great a disturbance, the very opposite of Xu Qi's plan to catch them by surprise.

Upon reaching the entrance to Iron Fist Valley, everyone rested briefly with their backs against a massive cliff face.

Xu Qi turned to face the seven Squad Leaders and solemnly ordered, "Follow the original deployment. First Squad through Fourth Squad will follow me in a direct assault on the Abandoned Mine at the valley floor. Fifth Squad, Sixth Squad, and Seventh Squad will split up and attack the other three Barbarian strongholds in the valley. Wipe out the enemy completely. Do not let a single one escape!"

"Yes!"

The Squad Leaders answered in unison.

Just then, a middle-aged man stepped forward and volunteered, "Battalion Commander, leave Li Star Cave to me and Second Squad. Isn't Crimson Night Cat Lord there? I have a way to counter the bizarre arts of his Spirit Cat."

"Oh? Why did I not hear you mention this during yesterday's discussion?"

Xu Qi's expression shifted slightly before he nodded. "Very well. Li Star Cave is yours. Sixth Squad will accompany me to the Abandoned Mine!"

"Yes!"

"..."

With the orders given, the troops swiftly entered Iron Fist Valley.

The moment they entered the valley, each squad immediately split up and advanced separately.

"Follow me. Our target is Li Star Cave!"

A middle-aged man came before Jiang Bei and the others, speaking in a deep voice.

This middle-aged man was named Liu Kui, the Squad Leader of their Second Squad.

"Squad Leader, weren't we supposed to go to the mine? Why are we suddenly heading to Li Star Cave?"

One of the soldiers asked in confusion.

"Crimson Night Cat Lord is in Li Star Cave. I happen to have a means of dealing with him, so the mission was adjusted at the last moment." Liu Kui explained, "Keep up. Stay concealed and remain quiet."

While they marched, Liu Kui noticed Jiang Bei at his side and smiled faintly. "Jiang Bei, not bad, kid. You returned from the Death Squad Camp so quickly."

"You flatter me, Squad Leader. By the way, what exactly is the background of this Crimson Night Cat Lord you mentioned?"

Jiang Bei took the opportunity to ask.

"Crimson Night Cat Lord is a Rogue Cultivator martial artist active along the frontier. No one knows when he began colluding with the Barbarians. He has a Spirit Cat at his side. Remember this when fighting him: never meet that cat's eyes, or your life may be in danger."

Liu Kui gave the warning solemnly.

"I see. Understood!"

Jiang Bei nodded and committed the information to memory.

As they advanced toward Li Star Cave, they cautiously observed their surroundings, fearing that they might encounter a Barbarian ambush.

Gradually, the sky darkened as well.

Before long.

Under the cover of night and jagged rocks, Liu Kui, Jiang Bei, and the others silently crept toward Li Star Cave.

More than ten men hid in the grass, their gazes fixed ahead.

Jiang Bei's pupils contracted slightly.

In the distance stood an enormous cave.

Outside the cave were two well-equipped Barbarian sentries with vicious eyes.

Within the cave, lights blazed brightly. Loud laughter and the scent of wine drifted from inside.

"According to the intelligence, Li Star Cave has an outer and an inner level. What we are seeing now should be the outer level. Crimson Night Cat Lord and Kliegjin, the leader of this Li Star Cave stronghold, are most likely in the inner level."

Liu Kui spoke softly.

"Squad Leader, how strong exactly are Crimson Night Cat Lord and Kliegjin?"

A soldier beside him asked.

"Crimson Night Cat Lord is nothing to fear. He is merely an ordinary Ninth Rank Minor Training martial artist, though that Spirit Cat is troublesome. As for Kliegjin... rumor says he has already reached Eighth Rank Minor Training. Leave him to me!"

Liu Kui said.

"Liu Kui is also at Eighth Rank Minor Training. Dealing with Kliegjin should not be difficult."

Jiang Bei pondered silently.

By the look of it, this Li Star Cave would be relatively easy to handle.

But they still could not let down their guard.

Anything could happen!

"Take out the sentries first, then charge into the outer level and catch them off guard. Get ready—"

Liu Kui pressed down with one hand, signaling everyone to prepare to pounce. Then his eyes narrowed, and he suddenly swung his arm. "Move!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!

In an instant, everyone in the grass sprang forward like arrows loosed from the bow.

They rushed first toward the two sentries at the cave entrance!

Hearing the commotion, the two sentries abruptly looked over.

Their eyes widened larger than an ox's as they prepared to cry out in alarm.

But Jiang Bei's Horizontal Saber had already flashed from its sheath!

Sshhk!!

Two heads flew into the air at once, blood spraying everywhere.

"What a fast blade!"

The other soldiers were all startled by the sight.

Even Liu Kui, who had just been about to act, was taken aback. "Jiang Bei, have you entered Ninth Rank Great Training?"

"Yes."

Jiang Bei nodded.

At a time like this, strength merely at the entry rank was certainly not enough. He had to reveal part of his true strength first.

"Good lad!"

A sharp gleam burst from Liu Kui's eyes. He nodded heavily, then led the others into Li Star Cave.

Within the outer level of Li Star Cave.

More than ten people sat at tables, drinking wine and eating meat. There were Barbarians among them, as well as Dry People martial artists.

Upon hearing the disturbance at the entrance, they all sharply turned their heads, immediately rising and drawing their blades.

"The Dry People have come to kill us!"

"Move! Slaughter them!!"

Battle erupted at the slightest touch.

The ringing clash of blades echoed without end, reverberating through the entire cave.

Dozens of people instantly fell into a chaotic melee. Blood sprayed ceaselessly, severed limbs flew through the air, and heads rolled across the ground before long!

And now that it was time to harvest Merit Points.

Jiang Bei naturally showed no mercy. Gripping his Horizontal Saber tightly, he charged into the crowd like a tiger among sheep and began a wholesale slaughter!

Splat! Splat! Splat!

The sounds of flesh being torn apart rang out continuously.

In only a brief moment, he killed four people in succession!

At the same time, notifications continually popped up before his eyes.

You killed a Barbarian. Merit Points +10

You killed a Ninth Rank Minor Training martial artist. Merit Points +12

You killed... Merit Points +7

You killed... Merit Points +6

His Merit Points skyrocketed!

"Wonderful!"

At the sight, Jiang Bei's battle intent surged and his killing intent boiled over.

In just a short while, he had gained more than thirty Merit Points.

When had he ever experienced anything like this in the Death Squad Camp?

In an instant, it was worth several years of another person's bitter cultivation!

But it was not enough, nowhere near enough!

He wanted more Merit Points!

With that thought, Jiang Bei's gaze locked onto another Dry People martial artist.

"Y-you... Don't come any closer!"

That Dry People martial artist had watched Jiang Bei kill four people in a row. His face turned deathly pale as he staggered backward.

Yet Jiang Bei's saber had already become a streak of cold light sweeping toward him.

He hurriedly raised his weapon to block, slashing out with his own blade as well!

Splat!!

Yet his slash had not even fallen.

His head had already changed addresses.

A headless corpse crashed to the ground!

Boom!

The soldiers of Second Squad around them were utterly shocked by the scene.

"How did Jiang Bei become so powerful after making a trip to the Death Squad Camp?"

Back then, Jiang Bei had only been a green youngster following behind them to finish off wounded enemies.

Who would have thought that after just over a month...

They had already changed beyond recognition, their strength far surpassing theirs!

"Well done!"

Seeing this, Liu Kui was thrilled. He immediately ordered, "Chen Shi, Zhao Li, you two deal with the Barbarians here! Jiang Bei, follow me into the inner depths. Don't let Crimson Night Cat Lord and Kliegjin react in time!"

"Alright!"

Jiang Bei nodded and charged toward the depths of Li Star Cave with Liu Kui.

Just killing these Barbarians had already earned a martial artist so many Merit Points.

He was also very curious.

If they killed Kliegjin, an eighth-rank warrior, how many Merit Points would that earn?

Just thinking about it was exciting!