Improving Squad Leader

Squad Leader Zhang's gaze was meaningful, like an invisible thorn, pricking Chen Qing's back.

He didn't dare to delay, lowered his head, and responded with a "Yes." Then, he blended into the sparse, shaken remnants of the soldiers and began to clear the battlefield.

The air was thick with the heavy, unyielding scent of blood and gunpowder, so much so that inhaling it tasted of rust. Beneath his feet lay sticky pools of blood, and occasionally, he'd step on something soft and shapeless, churning his stomach.

The surviving auxiliary soldiers mostly had vacant eyes and moved numbly, mechanically hauling the corpses of comrades or enemies, scavenging for usable weapons and arrows. No one spoke, only heavy breaths and the occasional suppressed sob could be heard.

Chen Qing was also silent, but his eyes were scanning.

He specifically targeted the Northern Barbarian soldiers' corpses. Bending down, fumbling, his movements were swift and stealthy. Copper coins, silver fragments, and sometimes he could find a small piece of dried meat or a hard biscuit. These things were now the capital for survival.

More importantly, he discovered that after killing enemies, besides the proficiency and vital energy directly granted by the system, he seemed to be able to draw a trace of extremely faint, almost imperceptible malevolent energy or residual life essence from these corpses. This aura integrated into his body, making his body, which had just broken through to the Early Skin Tempering Realm, subtly solidify further.

[Gained meager vital energy, Black Tiger Fist proficiency +1]

[Gained meager vital energy, Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency +1]

Although far less potent than direct kills, every little bit counted.

As he was stuffing a blood-stained copper coin into his pocket, his peripheral vision caught the corpse of a Northern Barbarian officer in lamellar armor not far away. The officer had a clear hole through his chest, pierced by a spear, but the leather saber sheath at his waist was intact.

Chen Qing's heart stirred, and he quickly walked over. Just as he squatted down, a rough voice came from beside him, "Kid, you're quick with your hands."

Looking up, he saw three auxiliary soldiers with rough faces. The leader was a scarred man named Wang Wu, a notorious ruffian in the Supply Camp. It was said he had some skill with his hands and usually bullied newcomers.

Wang Wu greedily eyed the leather saber sheath Chen Qing had just taken from the officer's corpse, as well as the obviously decent Northern Barbarian curved saber in Chen Qing's hand.

"This armor and saber aren't for you. Hand them over, and I, Fifth Brother, will guarantee your safety for the next few days," Wang Wu grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth, the threat implicit.

The other two also closed in, subtly blocking Chen Qing's escape route.

Seeing this, the surrounding auxiliary soldiers lowered their heads and sped up their work, not daring to look. In a chaotic military camp, the strong preyed on the weak; it was perfectly normal.

Chen Qing slowly stood up, gripping the curved saber in his hand. If it were yesterday, he might have had to endure it, or even be beaten half to death and have his things taken. But now...

He felt the vital energy surging within him, and the sense of power brought by his beginner Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique.

"Scram."

A single word, cold, with an undeniable ferocity.

Wang Wu froze, seemingly not expecting the seemingly thin youth to speak to him like this, then he became enraged: "You little bastard, you're asking for death!"

His palm, like a fan, swung directly at Chen Qing's face, carrying a foul wind.

Chen Qing's eyes sharpened. Without dodging, his left hand shot out like lightning, his five fingers like hooks, precisely clamping onto Wang Wu's wrist!

Black Tiger Fist—Grappling Style!

Wang Wu felt as if his wrist was caught in an iron clamp, a sharp pain shooting through it. Before he could even cry out, Chen Qing's right hand, wielding the curved saber, swept through the air with a foul wind, striking his cheek!

Slap!

A crisp sound. Wang Wu spun halfway around from the blow, half his face instantly swelling up, spitting out two bloody teeth, stars swimming before his eyes.

The other two were startled and were about to step forward, but Chen Qing's cold gaze swept over them. The killing intent contained within that gaze made them freeze in their tracks. It was the look of someone who had truly killed before!

"If you bother me again, the next thing you'll see is blood," Chen Qing released his grip, his tone calm, yet it sent a chill down Wang Wu's and his companions' spines.

Wang Wu clutched his face, looking at Chen Qing in fear. He didn't dare utter another word, scrambling away with his two companions.

Silence fell over the surroundings. All the auxiliary soldiers who witnessed the scene now looked at Chen Qing with awe and a hint of fear.

Chen Qing's expression was blank. He bent down, picked up the leather saber sheath, and sheathed the curved saber, hanging it at his waist. He didn't care about their opinions; in this world, strength was the only truth.

After this incident, no one dared to provoke him again. Chen Qing enjoyed the peace and continued his "corpse-looting" endeavor.

Evening, the setting sun was like blood.

The auxiliary soldier camp was reorganized, with over half casualties. Chen Qing, due to his "brave" performance during the day (mainly because Squad Leader Zhang saw the Northern Barbarian corpses at his feet), was promoted to Squad Leader, commanding four new recruits like himself, all pale and shaken.

His accommodation also changed from a large dormitory to a broken tent that offered some shelter from the wind.

Inside the tent, Chen Qing sat cross-legged on a straw mat, his consciousness sinking into the system interface.

[Host: Chen Qing]
[Realm: Skin Tempering Realm (Early)]
[Martial Arts: Black Tiger Fist (Beginner, Proficiency: 87/500)]
[Martial Arts: Black Tiger Saber Technique (Beginner, Proficiency: 91/500)]

His proficiency had increased considerably, but it was still far from the next breakthrough. The Early Skin Tempering Realm only made his skin tougher and his strength greater, giving him an advantage against ordinary soldiers. However, if he encountered a true martial artist or was surrounded, he would still be in danger.

He needed to become stronger, faster!

Recalling the feeling of fighting during the day, Chen Qing began to mentally rehearse the Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique over and over. Although he wasn't physically practicing, with the system's assistance, he could still gain a few points of proficiency.

At the same time, he carefully felt the faint vital energy within his body. According to the memories of the original owner of this body, this high-martial world had distinct martial arts realms: Skin Tempering, Bone Forging, Meridian Condensing, Aperture Opening... Each realm was further divided into Early, Mid, Late, and even Peak stages. The Skin Tempering Realm was about tempering the body's foundation, making the skin as tough as bronze and the strength capable of lifting a tripod.

And the Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique, as ancestral martial arts, seemed to be more than just simple combat skills. When practicing certain intricate points, he could vaguely sense strange trajectories of vital energy circulation, as if trying to break through certain blocked pathways.

"My ancestors produced remarkable individuals... the secret of shattering the void?"

Chen Qing recalled the fleeting information when the system activated, his heart stirring. Perhaps these two seemingly crude martial arts truly held unknown secrets.

In the following days, the Northern Mang's offensive did not cease; instead, it became even more ferocious.

Chen Qing led his four new recruits, repeatedly driven onto the battlefield. He was no longer as panicked as he was the first time. Instead, he consciously used the battlefield environment to find opportunities.

He moved like a ghost along the front lines, picking off the weakest targets. His Black Tiger Fist was sometimes like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, powerful and ferocious, striking vital points; his Black Tiger Saber Technique was cunning and tricky, like a viper flicking its tongue, often attacking from unexpected angles for a fatal blow.

[Killed Northern Barbarian Infantry, gained Vitality, Black Tiger Fist Proficiency +10]

[Killed Northern Barbarian Archer, gained Vitality, Black Tiger Saber Technique Proficiency +12]

[Killed Northern Barbarian Decurion, gained significant Vitality, Black Tiger Fist Proficiency +25!]

The system's prompts rang out continuously, proficiency steadily increasing, and Vitality accumulating.

His four new recruits, from their initial fear and being a liability, gradually became impressed by his ferocity and his ability to always lead them to survival. They began to learn to cooperate, though still green, they were at least no longer pure dead weight.

Chen Qing's fearsome reputation also began to spread within the Auxiliary Soldier camp and even among some regular soldiers. Everyone knew that the Supply Camp had produced a desperate character who fought with a fierce fist style and a tricky saber technique, killing like mowing down grass.

One day, the Northern Mang committed more forces, including some officers whose auras were clearly stronger and who wore fine iron armor - Centurions.

The battlefield instantly became more brutal.

Just as Chen Qing used a "Black Tiger Heart Pluck" to cave in the chest bone of a Northern Barbarian Infantryman, a sharp whistling sound came from his ear!

A Northern Barbarian Centurion, wielding a spiked club, charged like a wild bull, directly targeting him! The Centurion's eyes were ferocious, his aura robust; he was at least a Mid Skin Tempering Realm expert, possibly even Late!

The spiked club swung down with a fierce wind, incredibly fast, sealing off any space for him to dodge left or right.

No escape!

Chen Qing's pupils contracted sharply. His Vitality surged instantly, the beginner's intent of his Black Tiger Fist and Saber Technique merging at this moment. Instead of retreating, he advanced. Twisting his waist, he became like a predator tiger, narrowly slipping past the edge of the spiked club into the opponent's center!

At the same time, his saber was drawn from his waist. It wasn't a slash or a chop, but like a poisonous dragon emerging from its lair, it stabbed directly at the weak point where the iron armor connected under the opponent's armpit!

Black Tiger Fist Intent - Sacrificial Pounce!

Black Tiger Saber Technique - Cunning Stab!

"Puchi!"

The saber accurately pierced the armpit, all the way to the hilt!

The Northern Barbarian Centurion's charging momentum halted abruptly. His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the hilt buried in his body, then at Chen Qing's cold face, so close.

Chen Qing violently twisted the saber's hilt, shredding the Centurion's heart meridians, then kicked him in the abdomen, using the force to leap backward.

[Killed Northern Barbarian Centurion, gained a large amount of Vitality, Black Tiger Fist Proficiency +50! Black Tiger Saber Technique Proficiency +50!]

[Black Tiger Fist Proficiency Reached 500/500, Realm Advancement: Slight Accomplishment (0/2000)!]

[Black Tiger Saber Technique Proficiency Reached 500/500, Realm Advancement: Slight Accomplishment (0/2000)!]

Boom!

His mind roared again. Insights into the Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique flooded him like a tide, becoming more profound and mysterious. He could even feel a faint cracking sound from his bones. His Vitality flowed faster, and his strength, reaction, and perception all improved comprehensively!

Bone Forging Realm! Driven by the killing of a powerful enemy and the dual martial arts breakthroughs, he had actually entered the Mid Skin Tempering Realm and begun to touch the threshold of Bone Forging!

"Squad Leader! Be careful!" The startled cry of his subordinate recruit came.

Chen Qing turned his head sharply, his eyes as sharp as a falcon's, exuding an aura far more ferocious than before. He looked at the Northern Barbarian soldiers not far away who had been drawn by the commotion and were stirring restlessly. A cold arc formed on his lips.

His saber pointed diagonally at the ground, blood dripping down the blade.

"Come!"