The Method of Thousand Refinement Force

Beacon Tower Town was still more than twenty li away from the real military camp.

There was no talk along the way, only the whistling of the northern wind and the sound of heavy footsteps. Squad Leader Scarface and the few old soldiers seemed to have no interest in interacting with the new recruits, just trudging ahead silently.

The new recruits had just left their homes, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. Intimidated by the officers' stern demeanor, none dared to speak.

The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy.

Wei Zhe followed in the ranks, silently observing everything around him.

The scenery of the Northern Frontier was desolate and magnificent. The gray-yellow land stretched to the horizon, with only sparse camel thorns and no other greenery. The Great Wall in the distance became clearer in his vision, its majestic outline bringing a silent shock and sense of pressure.

After walking for nearly two hours, a huge military fortress finally appeared before them.

The fortress was built against the Great Wall, constructed from massive rammed earth and logs. The walls were lined with watchtowers and sentries, flags fluttered, and the defenses were strict. In front of the fortress gate, Elite Warriors holding long glaives had eyes like lightning, and a palpable aura of iron blood and killing intent washed over them, causing all the new recruits to unconsciously hold their breath.

"Holy crap, is this the Northern Frontier Camp? Just looking at it makes my legs go weak."

"We're going to stay here from now on?"

Suppressed exclamations and discussions arose from the ranks.

Squad Leader Scarface walked to the fortress gate and presented the documents to the gate guard. A moment later, the heavy fortress gate slowly opened, revealing the scene inside the camp.

The camp was filled with training grounds and continuous tents, with soldiers in armor coming and going everywhere. The clanging of weapons colliding and the shouts of training were incessant, forming a powerful and fierce symphony.

"Stay close, if anyone gets lost and is mistaken for a spy and beheaded, don't blame me for not warning you!"

Squad Leader Scarface yelled back, leading the group through several training grounds to a relatively secluded camp area.

This was the New Recruit Camp.

Dozens of drab cowhide tents were neatly arranged. A burly man with a scarred face, as strong as an iron tower, stood with his hands on his hips at the entrance of the camp. He wore only a short jacket, his knotted muscles radiating heat in the cold wind.

"Boss, I've brought the people," Squad Leader Scarface said, appearing somewhat respectful before the man.

"Hmm, I see. You can go back." The iron tower man nodded, his gaze sweeping over all the new recruits like a falcon, making everyone feel a chill.

"My name is Shi Meng. I am your instructor for this batch of new recruits, and I will be your nightmare for the next three months!"

Shi Meng's voice was like a thunderous bell, making their eardrums buzz.

"From now on, you must forget your old names! You only have one designation, and that is 'New Recruit'! Here, my word is the military order. Anyone who dares to disobey will be dealt with by military law!"

He pointed at the tents. "Ten men to a tent, find your own spots! Gather outside the tents in half an hour! Dismissed!"

With a single command, the new recruits felt as if they had been granted amnesty and rushed chaotically towards the tents.

Wei Zhe didn't rush to grab a spot. He noticed that the burly young man named Hu Lei, relying on his strength, had directly pushed aside two people and rushed into a tent that looked the sturdiest.

Wei Zhe calmly walked to a slightly worn tent nearby, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

The tent was not large. Dry grass was spread on the ground, and ten bunks were tightly packed together. Some of the faster-moving youths were already inside arranging their belongings.

Wei Zhe found a spot near the back and put away his uniform and glaive.

Soon, all ten people had arrived.

Besides Wei Zhe and Hu Lei, the remaining eight youths were from nearby villages. They all looked timid and didn't dare to speak to each other.

Hu Lei threw his belongings in the middle, occupying the largest area. He then sat cross-legged, looking at Wei Zhe provocatively, clearly still holding a grudge about the recruitment office incident.

Wei Zhe couldn't be bothered to respond. He simply closed his eyes to rest, silently familiarizing himself with the system.

"Beep--!"

Outside the tent, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded.

"Gather! Everyone, gather outside the tent immediately!" Shi Meng's roar followed.

The new recruits scrambled out of the tents and stood in crooked rows on the open ground.

Shi Meng paced in front of them with his hands behind his back, a cold smile on his face.

"Look at this mess you're standing in! Slouching, like spineless shrimps! Is this the army of Great Qin?"

"From today on, the first lesson is standing at attention!"

"Everyone, chest out! Abdomen in! Head up! Hands flat against your sides! For two hours, whoever dares to move will not get dinner!"

Shi Meng's voice was irrefutable.

The new recruits dared not disobey and could only stand as required.

The evening wind in the Northern Frontier was bone-chilling. After standing for less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, many of the weaker youths began to shiver, their faces turning pale.

Wei Zhe straightened his back, like a javelin.

His body, having been enlightened by the system, had a physique far beyond that of ordinary people. This level of punishment was nothing to him. He could even spare some attention to circulate the methods of Thousand Refinement Force, allowing the faint stream of energy in his dantian to flow slowly within his body, resisting the cold.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Two hours felt as long as a century.

When Shi Meng finally shouted "Dismissed," more than half of the new recruits collapsed directly onto the ground.

"Hmph, a bunch of trash!" Shi Meng snorted disdainfully. "Dinner!"

Dinner was simple: one dark-looking wheat cake per person and a bowl of soup so thin you could see the bottom.

The new recruits, having gone hungry all day, didn't bother to be picky and wolfed down their food.

Wei Zhe noticed that the veteran soldiers were eating white flour wheat cakes, and their soup contained chunks of meat. This was the rule of the barracks, a stark display of hierarchical differences.

Hu Lei, relying on his strong physique, pushed his way to the front and snatched two of the largest wheat cakes, drawing a barrage of glares, but he paid them no mind.

After dinner, it was completely dark.

The new recruits dragged their exhausted bodies back to the tents and fell asleep almost immediately, their snores soon rising in a chorus.

Wei Zhe lay on his bunk but didn't fall asleep right away.

He was thinking.

Today's standing drill was just the beginning. What followed would inevitably be even harsher training, along with various overt and covert "welcome gifts" from the veteran soldiers.

He didn't want trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either.

To establish a foothold here, mere forbearance wouldn't suffice. He had to reveal enough strength at the right moment to earn respect.

"A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier..."

He recalled that saying.

Since he had come here, he had no intention of remaining an unknown grunt.

He focused his will into the system and opened his personal status panel.

[Character: Wei Zhe]
[Realm: Mortal (Unranked)]
[Strength: 20]
[Agility: 12]
[Constitution: 15]
[Tempering Points: 0]
[Skills Mastered:]
[Forging]: Hundred Battle Saber (Novice 1/100)
[Martial Skill]: Thousand Refinement Force (Novice 1/100)
[Inventory Space: 1 cubic meter]

"Everything has to start with gaining Tempering Points."

Wei Zhe's gaze deepened.

Just then, his ears twitched slightly.

Outside the tent, he heard the sound of extremely faint, deliberately hushed footsteps approaching their tent.

Here they come.

A cold smile curved Wei Zhe's lips.