Promoted to Squad Leader

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

He did not dare slack off. Lowering his head, he answered, "Yes," then blended into the scattered, still-shaken remnants of the troops and began cleaning up the battlefield.

The air was thick with a stench of blood and gunpowder that could not be dissolved. Even drawing it into his lungs left a rusty taste in his mouth. Beneath his feet were sticky pools of blood, and every so often, he stepped on some soft, shapeless thing that made his stomach churn.

Most of the surviving Auxiliary Soldiers had hollow eyes and numb movements. They mechanically carried away the corpses of comrades and enemies alike, scavenging whatever weapons and arrows could still be used. No one spoke. There was only heavy breathing and the occasional sob that could no longer be held back.

Chen Qing remained silent as well, but his eyes kept sweeping over the field.

He specifically targeted the corpses of Northern Barbarian Soldiers. He bent down and searched them, swift and discreet. Copper coins, bits of silver, and sometimes a small piece of dried meat or a hard biscuit. These things were now the capital needed to stay alive.

More importantly, he discovered that after killing enemies, aside from the proficiency and vital energy directly granted by the system, he seemed able to draw a faint thread of Killing Intent—or perhaps lingering life essence—from their corpses. As it melted into his body, his physique, which had only just broken through to the Early Skin Refining Realm, grew subtly more solid.

[Obtained a trace of vital energy, Black Tiger Fist proficiency +1]

[Obtained a trace of vital energy, Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency +1]

Though it was far less rapid than killing enemies directly, grains of sand could pile into a tower; even a mosquito's leg was still meat.

As he tucked a handful of bloodstained copper coins into his clothes, the corner of his eye caught sight of a Northern Barbarian Officer's corpse nearby, clad in lamellar armor reinforced with iron plates. The officer had a clean hole through his chest where a spear had pierced him, but the cowhide saber sheath at his waist was still intact.

Chen Qing's heart stirred, and he quickly walked over. He had barely crouched down when a raspy voice sounded beside him. "Kid, your hands are fast enough."

Looking up, he saw three burly Auxiliary Soldiers with fleshy faces. Their leader was a scar-faced man named Wang Wu, a notorious hoodlum from the Supply Camp. Rumor had it that he knew a few crude farming martial arts, and he normally delighted in bullying newcomers.

Wang Wu greedily stared at the cowhide saber sheath Chen Qing had just removed from the officer's corpse, as well as the clearly superior Northern Barbarian curved saber in Chen Qing's hand.

"This armor and saber aren't for you to take. Hand them over, and Brother Wu will make sure you live peacefully for the next few days." Wang Wu grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. The threat needed no further explanation.

The other two men closed in as well, faintly blocking Chen Qing's retreat.

The surrounding Auxiliary Soldiers lowered their heads one after another, quickening their work and not daring to look any longer. In a military camp during chaotic times, the strong devouring the weak was nothing unusual.

Chen Qing slowly rose to his feet and tightened his grip on the curved saber. Yesterday, he might have had no choice but to swallow his anger, perhaps even be beaten half to death before his things were stolen. But now...

He felt the vital energy surging through his body, as well as the strength brought by the Initial Glimpse of the Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique.

"Scram."

One word, cold and filled with an unquestionable ferocity.

Wang Wu froze, apparently not expecting this skinny-looking youth to speak to him like that. Then he flew into a rage. "You little bastard, courting death!"

His palm, as broad as a cattail fan, lashed straight toward Chen Qing's face, whipping up a foul gust of wind.

Chen Qing's eyes sharpened. He neither dodged nor retreated. His left hand shot out like lightning, five fingers hooked like claws as they precisely clamped around Wang Wu's wrist!

Black Tiger Fist—Grappling Form!

Wang Wu felt as though his wrist had been caught in iron pincers. Blinding pain surged through him, and before he could cry out, Chen Qing's curved saber swept up in his right hand with a vicious gust, smashing flat across his cheek!

Smack!

With a crisp crack, Wang Wu spun half a circle where he stood. Half his face instantly swelled high, and he spat out two bloodied teeth as stars burst across his vision.

The other two men were startled. Just as they were about to rush forward, Chen Qing's cold gaze swept over them. The Killing Intent in that look made them forcibly halt in their tracks. Those were the eyes of someone who had truly killed!

"Provoke me again, and next time, all you'll see is blood." Chen Qing released his hand. His tone was calm, but it sent chills through all three men.

Wang Wu clutched his face and stared at Chen Qing in terror. He did not dare let out even a fart, scrambling away with his two companions in tow.

The surroundings fell silent. Every Auxiliary Soldier who had witnessed the scene now looked at Chen Qing with awe—and a thread of fear.

Chen Qing remained expressionless. He bent down, picked up the cowhide saber sheath, slid the curved saber into it, and hung it at his waist. He did not care what these people thought. In this world, strength was the only truth.

After that incident, no one dared provoke him again. Chen Qing was happy for the peace and continued his great enterprise of "looting corpses."

By evening, the setting sun was red as blood.

The Auxiliary Soldier camp was reorganized, having suffered more than half its numbers in casualties. Because of his "bravery" during the day—mainly because Squad Leader Zhang had seen the several Northern Barbarian Soldier corpses at his feet—Chen Qing was promoted to Squad Leader. He now commanded four recruits like himself, all yellow-faced, thin, and still pale with fright.

His quarters were also changed from a communal sleeping platform to a tattered tent that could at least block some of the wind.

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

[Host: Chen Qing]

[Realm: Skin Refining Realm (Early Stage)]

[Martial Art: Black Tiger Fist (Initial Glimpse, Proficiency: 87/500)]

[Martial Art: Black Tiger Saber Technique (Initial Glimpse, Proficiency: 91/500)]

His proficiency had increased considerably, but the next breakthrough remained far away. The Early Skin Refining Realm merely made his skin tougher and his strength greater. He held an advantage over ordinary soldiers, but against a true martial artist—or if trapped in an encirclement—he would still be in danger.

He needed to grow stronger, faster!

Recalling the sensations of the day's slaughter, Chen Qing began repeatedly rehearsing the Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique in his mind. Though he did not physically move, he could still gain a few scattered points of proficiency with the system's assistance.

At the same time, he carefully sensed the weak power of vital energy within his body. According to the memories of this body's original owner, the martial path in this world of high martial arts had clearly defined realms: Skin Refining, Bone Forging, Meridian Condensation, Aperture Opening... Each realm was further divided into early, middle, late, and even peak stages. The Skin Refining Realm was the foundation of tempering the body, making the skin like copper and leather, with strength enough to lift a cauldron.

The Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique, as ancestral martial arts, seemed to be more than simple methods of fighting and killing. When he rehearsed certain exquisite portions, he could vaguely sense that the paths through which his vital energy circulated were somewhat strange, as if they were trying to strike through certain blocked routes.

"An ancestor once rose to prominence... the secret of Shattering Void?"

Chen Qing recalled the information that had flashed past when the system activated, and his heart stirred. Perhaps these two seemingly crude martial arts truly concealed secrets unknown to others.

Over the next few days, the Northern Barbarians' assault did not cease. Instead, it grew ever fiercer.

Chen Qing led his four recruits onto the battlefield again and again, driven forward each time. He was no longer as flustered as during his first battle. Instead, he consciously used the battlefield environment to seek out opportunities.

He moved along the battle line like a ghost, always choosing the soft persimmons to squeeze. The Black Tiger Fist sometimes descended like a ferocious tiger coming down the mountain, hard and violent as it struck directly at vital points. The Black Tiger Saber Technique, meanwhile, was tricky and sinister, like a venomous snake flicking out its tongue, often cutting in from unexpected angles to kill with a single stroke.

[Killed Northern Barbarian Infantry, obtained vital energy, Black Tiger Fist proficiency +10]

[Killed Northern Barbarian Archer, obtained vital energy, Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency +12]

[Killed Northern Barbarian Decurion, obtained substantial vital energy, Black Tiger Fist proficiency +25!]

The system notifications rang out without pause. His proficiency steadily rose, and his vital energy continued to accumulate.

The four recruits under him went from being terrified burdens who held him back to gradually being won over by his ruthless fierceness and his ability to always bring them back alive. They began learning to cooperate. Though still immature, they were no longer pure deadweight.

Chen Qing's fearsome name gradually spread through the Auxiliary Soldier camp and even among some regular soldiers. Everyone knew that the Supply Camp had produced a ruthless madman who feared death, whose fist technique was fierce, whose saber technique was cunning, and who killed people as though cutting grass.

That day, the Northern Barbarians committed even more troops, among them several Centurions with obviously powerful auras and finely crafted iron armor.

The battlefield instantly became even more brutal.

Chen Qing had just used a Black Tiger Heart Pluck to cave in a Northern Barbarian Infantryman's breastbone when a sharp whistling sound tore through the air beside his ear!

A Northern Barbarian Centurion wielding a spiked mace charged at him like a wild bull, targeting him directly! The centurion's eyes were savage, his aura deep and powerful. He was at least a Mid Skin Refining Realm expert, perhaps even at the late stage!

The spiked mace crashed down on a vicious gust of wind, moving so quickly that it sealed off Chen Qing's space to dodge left or right.

There was nowhere to evade!

Chen Qing's pupils contracted sharply. The vital energy throughout his body instantly boiled, and the intent of the Initial Glimpse Black Tiger Fist merged with the essence of the saber technique at that very moment. Rather than retreat, he advanced. With a twist of his waist, he lunged like a ravenous tiger pouncing on prey, barely slipping past the edge of the spiked mace and darting into the opponent's centerline!

At the same time, the curved saber at his waist left its sheath. He did not slash or chop. Like a poisonous dragon emerging from its lair, he thrust straight at the weak gap where the enemy's iron armor joined beneath his arm!

Black Tiger Fist Intent—Life-Risking Pounce!

Black Tiger Saber Technique—Devious Thrust!

Squelch!

The curved saber pierced precisely into the armpit, plunging in to the hilt!

The Northern Barbarian Centurion's forward charge came to an abrupt halt. His eyes bulged round as he stared in disbelief at the saber hilt buried in his body, then at Chen Qing's cold face only inches away.

Chen Qing viciously twisted the hilt, shredding the man's heart meridians. Then he kicked the centurion in the abdomen and used the force to leap backward.

[Killed Northern Barbarian Centurion, obtained a massive amount of vital energy, Black Tiger Fist proficiency +50! Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency +50!]

[Black Tiger Fist proficiency has reached 500/500. Realm increased: Slight Accomplishment (0/2000)!]

[Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency has reached 500/500. Realm increased: Slight Accomplishment (0/2000)!]

Boom!

His mind roared once more. Insights into the Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique surged in like a tide, deeper and more profound than before. He even felt his bones let out a series of faint crackles. His vital energy flowed faster, while his strength, reactions, and senses all improved across the board!

Bone Forging Realm! Driven by the killing of a powerful enemy and the dual breakthrough of his martial arts, he had leaped into the Mid Skin Refining Realm in one stroke and begun touching the Threshold of Bone Forging!

"Squad Leader! Watch out!" came the cry of one of his recruits.

Chen Qing suddenly turned around. His gaze was sharp as a hawk's, and a far more vicious aura than before radiated from his body. He looked toward several Northern Barbarian Soldiers in the distance, drawn by the commotion here and now itching to make a move. A cold curve lifted at the corner of his mouth.

The curved saber pointed diagonally at the ground, blood droplets sliding down its blade.

"Come!"