Strength Soars Again! A Turbulent Situation!

By the time Jiang Bei returned to Ren-Rank Camp, it was already late at night.

"L-Lord Jiang!"

The moment he entered the camp, Jiang Bei saw two burly figures approaching from ahead, both clad in the armor exclusive to battalion commanders.

Both men were bandaged, clearly having suffered injuries.

"Battalion Commander Ling, Battalion Commander Wang!"

Jiang Bei immediately cupped his fists in greeting.

He recognized them as Ling Rui and Wang Meng, battalion commanders of Ren-Rank Camp who had previously followed Jiang Qingfeng to the Eight Desolations Mountain Range to kill Barbarians.

"Sigh! Lord Jiang, you may not yet understand the situation in the Eight Desolations Mountain Range. Let me explain it to you in detail."

Ling Rui sighed before recounting what had happened in the Eight Desolations Mountain Range to Jiang Bei.

Before Jiang Bei arrived at Five Sect Mountain that day, Jiang Qingfeng had led Ling Rui and another battalion commander, Zhou Chang, into a final battle against Batu Feng.

Wang Meng, meanwhile, had gone to Five Sect Mountain to intercept Jiang Bei.

The battle had been fierce, but the final outcome was utterly unexpected. Batu Feng had broken through to Sixth Rank Lesser Training in the midst of battle, instantly turning defeat into victory. He gravely injured Jiang Qingfeng, while Ling Rui was wounded in that battle as well.

As for Zhou Chang, he died at Batu Feng's hands while covering Jiang Qingfeng and the others' retreat.

By the time Wang Meng reached the Eight Desolations Mountain Range, there was no one left in sight. Jiang Qingfeng had been secretly sent to the prefectural city, while the Barbarians had vanished without a trace.

Wang Meng immediately went searching for the others. Outside an abandoned mine shaft, he found Ling Rui and the surviving soldiers. They then encountered another group of Barbarians and fought them.

Fortunately, they escaped without further disaster. The two men led the remaining troops back to Ren-Rank Camp this evening.

Jiang Bei's brows furrowed slightly at this.

Ren-Rank Camp had truly suffered catastrophic losses and was now severely depleted!

"Lord Jiang! Lord Jiang has been sent to the prefectural city for treatment, and there is still no definite news regarding reinforcements from Qingzhou Camp. In the days ahead, we are willing to follow your lead and obey your orders!"

Ling Rui solemnly cupped his fists, his tone resolute.

After joining up with Wang Meng, he had learned from him how Jiang Bei had single-handedly wiped out Five Sect Mountain, leaving him too shocked for words.

After returning to Ren-Rank Camp, he heard Zhang Feng and the others speak of how Jiang Bei had slain dozens of Barbarians at Yellow Wind Ridge and Broken Spear Slope, including a Barbarian leader at Seventh Rank Lesser Training.

The two men were both astonished and delighted!

Though Lord Jiang had yet to return from his grave injuries, it was as though Heaven had sent Ren-Rank Camp a new pillar of support—Ren-Rank Camp was not finished yet!

They immediately decided to place Jiang Bei at their head.

"Please lead Ren-Rank Camp onward, Lord Jiang!"

Wang Meng likewise cupped his fists solemnly.

"Since you two battalion commanders have placed your trust in me, Jiang will do everything in his power and not fail your expectations!"

Jiang Bei did not refuse and returned the salute without hesitation.

He was now the strongest fighter in the camp. This burden could only be borne by him.

"Come. Let us discuss our next course of action."

With that, Jiang Bei took the lead toward a nearby tent.

"Yes!"

Wang Meng and Ling Rui followed without hesitation.

Not long after they entered the tent, another battalion commander returned.

He was Xiong Hai, the battalion commander who had previously gone to Tiger Leap Valley. Having completed his mission, he had returned to report.

Inside the tent, the three battalion commanders and several squad leaders gathered together to discuss a response.

Xiong Hai first reported on the situation at Tiger Leap Valley, after which the topic returned to the crisis currently facing Ren-Rank Camp.

"Only the strength of our Third Battalion remains in camp, and the situation is dire. What is most worrying is that Batu Feng has broken through to Sixth Rank and left the Eight Desolations Mountain Range. His whereabouts are unknown. That is the greatest threat!"

Ling Rui said in a grave voice.

"No one can stand against Batu Feng now that he has broken through to Sixth Rank Lesser Training. Moreover, once news spreads that Lord Jiang has been gravely wounded and sent to the prefectural city, it may unsettle people's hearts and even draw the covetous eyes of outside enemies."

Xiong Hai looked around at the others, his face troubled.

"You're worried that those forces will become even more brazen while Lord Jiang is away?"

Jiang Bei asked.

"Precisely! Take forces like Five Sect Mountain, for instance. But most frightening of all are those Barbarian tribes beyond the border, as well as other forces outside the border! It is not as though they have never crossed the pass before, but with Lord Jiang, a Seventh Rank Great Training expert, here, they dared not act recklessly. Now that Lord Jiang is seriously wounded, they may believe they have nothing to fear and could very well cross the pass in force to invade Ren-Rank Camp's defense zone!"

Xiong Hai nodded.

"They shouldn't have the nerve, should they? As far as I know, Qingzhou Camp has dedicated experts keeping watch on the movements of every force beyond the border that has ever crossed the pass. If they dare to enter, someone will certainly come warn us, and those experts will definitely take action."

Wang Meng said.

"No possibility can be ruled out." Jiang Bei's expression was grave as he immediately gave the order. "Send out additional scouts at once. Set up more sentry posts along the main routes between the two prefectures. The moment any suspicious trace is discovered, report back immediately!"

"Yes!"

The three Battalion Commanders accepted the order in unison and rose solemnly to their feet.

After the meeting ended.

Jiang Bei returned to his barracks. Though it was already late at night, Yu Rou was still waiting for him, reheating his meal every half hour.

After eating, Jiang Bei first carried Yu Rou to the bed and soothed her to sleep.

He had no mind to sleep himself. Instead, he went to the meditation room and opened the panel.

You killed the utterly evil Qin Yang. Merit Points +80

You killed Liu Yun. Merit Points +70

You killed... Merit Points +20

Martial Arts: Xing Tian Gong (Perfected), Blood Wolf Saber Technique (Fifth Layer), Cloud Shadow Steps (Third Layer+), Dragon Subduing Demon Quelling Technique (Third Layer), Mysterious Iron Dragon Scale Body (Second Layer), Blazing Sun Skill (Not Yet Initiated+)

Realm: Sixth Rank Lesser Training

Merit Points: 180

Talent: Thousand Illusions True Eye

Cloud Shadow Steps detected. Can be upgraded. Requires 80 Merit Points. Upgrade?

Blazing Sun Skill detected. Can be upgraded. Requires 25 Merit Points. Upgrade?

"Qin Yang and Liu Yun really did every evil imaginable! They actually gave so many Merit Points!"

A chill flashed through Jiang Bei's eyes as he looked at the panel.

Then his gaze fell upon the Blazing Sun Skill.

It was said that internal arts were powerful. Once one became a martial artist who cultivated both internally and externally, defeating opponents of the same realm would be effortless.

He wanted to see whether the rumors were true!

"Upgrade the Blazing Sun Skill!"

Jiang Bei immediately spent 25 Merit Points to raise the Blazing Sun Skill to the Initiated level.

There was no obvious change in his body. He only felt his dantian expand slightly, while faint currents of energy moved along the edges of his five viscera and six bowels.

Then, he spent another 50 Merit Points to raise the Blazing Sun Skill to the first layer. Immediately afterward, he spent another 100 Merit Points, directly raising it to the second layer!

Boom—

This time, his body finally underwent a significant transformation.

Jiang Bei clearly felt his five viscera and six bowels trembling violently. Strands of crimson energy were then refined from within them, all pouring into his dantian and forming an energy vortex that spun at high speed!

At Jiang Bei's mental command, the crimson energy surged out from his dantian, coursed through his entire body, then traveled along the meridians in his arm and gathered in his palm.

"So this is Blazing Sun True Qi?"

A glimmer of excitement flashed through Jiang Bei's eyes as he looked at the Blazing Sun True Qi in his palm.

He clenched his five fingers into a fist, wrapping it in Blazing Sun True Qi, and threw a punch!

BOOM!!

A thunderous blast erupted through the entire meditation room, followed by ceaseless howls of wind splitting through the air.

If not for the fact that he was inside the meditation room, the entire camp would likely have heard that tremendous boom!

Even after the punch landed, a scorching aura still lingered in the air!

"Too strong!"

Jiang Bei could not help but exclaim in amazement.

With Blazing Sun True Qi, he was now a martial artist who cultivated both internally and externally. His strength had soared, and he was far stronger than ordinary Sixth Rank Lesser Training martial artists!

The next day.

Early in the morning, people continuously returned to camp to report that Barbarians and many suspicious individuals had appeared throughout the two prefectures.

The three Battalion Commanders and Jiang Bei each led their men to those locations, eliminating all the Barbarians and ill-intentioned enemies.

By noon.

Jiang Bei was the first to return to camp. With his current strength, dealing with such small fry was effortless and took almost no time at all.

However, not long after returning to camp, another report arrived. Two mountain strongholds had supposedly joined forces and colluded with the Barbarians to capture civilians for them and refine human pills.

Jiang Bei did not hesitate and immediately rode out.

He was not particularly surprised by this situation.

By now, those people all knew that the Ren-Rank Camp no longer had Jiang Qingfeng, a Seventh Rank Great Training martial artist, overseeing it. It was only natural for them to act without restraint.

These next few days would be difficult. Once reinforcements arrived, things should improve considerably.

Two hours later.

Xuanyang Prefecture, before a magnificent mountain stronghold atop a massive peak.

Rip!

The crisp sound of flesh tearing rang out.

Jiang Bei slowly sheathed his blade. Before him lay the corpses of the stronghold's members, including quite a few Barbarians.

After arriving at the stronghold, he had begun a massacre. In just a few exchanges, he had wiped them all out.

"Clean this place up, then go free the commoners imprisoned in the stronghold," Jiang Bei ordered.

"Yes!"

The soldiers behind him immediately snapped out of their daze at the command, responding in unison before swiftly getting to work.

In that brief moment, Jiang Bei had cut down dozens of people with thunderous force, sending waves of shock through everyone present.

Some of these soldiers had personally witnessed Jiang Bei's skills at Broken Spear Slope, while others were seeing him fight for the first time.

But whether they had seen it before or not, every one of them was stunned.

Those who had witnessed his battle before were secretly alarmed. After only a single day, Lord Jiang Bei's strength seemed even greater than it had been at Broken Spear Slope!

Those seeing him fight for the first time could not help but feel horrified. This seemingly young Lord Jiang was perhaps even stronger than the Commandant!

"Lord Jiang!"

Just then—

A rider galloped toward them from outside the stronghold, his expression frantic.

Jiang Bei looked up and saw that it was Squad Leader Song Hua.

"My lord, something terrible has happened!" Song Hua leaped from his horse and said urgently. "The force that appeared in Kaihua County of Pingyang Prefecture isn't an ordinary one at all! It's the Myriad Souls Cult from beyond the border. There are several seventh-rank experts among them! Battalion Commander Li and the others are in grave danger!"

The Myriad Souls Cult from beyond the border?

Jiang Bei's expression changed sharply upon hearing that.

During the military discussion with Li Rui, Wang Meng, and the others yesterday, he had heard them mention this force. It was said to be a demonic cult from beyond the border that cultivated evil arts by harvesting living souls. They had once attempted to enter the passes, but Jiang Qingfeng had driven them back.

Now that they had returned, they had likely learned that Jiang Qingfeng had suffered severe injuries and gone to the provincial city for treatment. They were taking advantage of his absence to invade once more, ravaging the borderlands and seizing living souls!

Several seventh-rank experts... Li Rui and the others could not possibly handle that!

"Let's go!"

Without hesitation, Jiang Bei mounted his horse and sped directly toward Kaihua County in Pingyang Prefecture.

His mount was a "thousand-li horse" from the Ren-Rank Camp, incredibly swift. Kaihua County was not far from here, and at full speed, he would arrive soon enough.

But one thing deeply puzzled him.

Logically speaking, forces from beyond the border like the Myriad Souls Cult—forces that had entered the passes before—should have been watched daily by Qingzhou Camp's experts.

The moment they entered the passes, Qingzhou Camp should have sent word to the Ren-Rank Camp, warning them to stay alert.

So how had several seventh-rank experts suddenly crossed in without a single scrap of information leaking out?

"Hyah!"

Jiang Bei furrowed his brow, his unease mounting as he pushed his speed to the limit.