Saving People on the Battlefield

"Come!"

A low shout, mixed with the smell of blood, crashed onto the chaotic battlefield.

The Northern Barbarian Soldiers Chen Qing had locked onto instinctively paused. The youth before them, though drenched in blood and clad in tattered clothes, possessed eyes that shone with a terrifying intensity. The aura radiating from him sent a chilling dread through these veteran soldiers, men who had seen countless battles.

This wasn't the panic of a raw recruit; it was the ferocity of a predator eyeing its prey.

"Playing tricks!" a fierce Northern Barbarian Soldier spat, charging forward with his saber.

Chen Qing moved.

Having stepped across the threshold of the Bone Forging realm, his body felt as if an invisible shackle had been removed. With a stomp of his foot, the ground trembled slightly. His figure shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, overtaking his opponent despite starting later!

He didn't use his saber.

His left hand darted out like lightning, fingers splayed wide. A subtle crackling sound emanated from his bones as he precisely seized the opponent's saber-wielding wrist. The Northern Barbarian Soldier felt a searing pain in his wrist, as if caught in an iron vice, his strength instantly dissipating.

Then, Chen Qing threw a punch with his right!

It was still the Black Tiger Heart Pluck, but its speed, power, and angle were worlds apart from when he had only gained an Initial Glimpse! His fist cut through the air, carrying a dull roar like that of a tiger!

Bang!

His fist landed squarely on the opponent's chest.

The Northern Barbarian Soldier's body arched violently, his eyeballs bulging. The leather armor on his back let out a muffled "puff," and a fist-shaped indentation could be faintly seen! Without even a grunt, he slumped to the ground, his life extinguished.

[Killed a fierce Northern Barbarian soldier, gained Vitality, Black Tiger Fist proficiency +18!]

The other two Northern Barbarian Soldiers' faces contorted in horror, and they turned to flee.

Would Chen Qing let them escape? He exerted force with his feet, his figure ghosting after them. His saber slashed out, carving two chilling arcs of light.

Black Tiger Saber Technique—Double Tail Sweep!

The saber flashed, and two heads flew into the sky, blood erupting like fountains.

[Killed Northern Barbarian Infantry...]

[Killed...]

Clean and swift, three lives extinguished in an instant!

The soldiers on both sides, locked in combat nearby, were stunned by this sudden, brutal display and instinctively retreated from the area.

Chen Qing took a deep breath, feeling the surging vitality within him and the increased proficiency. His gaze swept towards the more distant, fiercely contested battle. There, a Squad Leader of the Great Yan Dynasty was being surrounded and attacked by three Northern Barbarian Soldiers, struggling to defend himself, his situation perilous.

The Squad Leader wore a semi-worn iron armor, and his movements were skillful, clearly indicating he had received proper training. However, even the most skilled fighter could not fend off multiple opponents indefinitely; defeat was only a matter of time.

Chen Qing's eyes flickered. Save him, or not?

In times of chaos, self-preservation was the norm. But... if he could forge a good connection, it might prove useful later. Moreover, the martial arts style of that Squad Leader seemed worth observing.

His thoughts raced, and he made his decision.

He pushed off the ground, charging forward, shouting, "Sir, do not panic!"

Before his voice had faded, he had already cut into the fray. He didn't directly attack the three Northern Barbarian Soldiers. Instead, he lowered his body, like a tiger crawling on the ground, and swung his saber towards the ankle of the Northern Barbarian Soldier on the left!

This move was unexpected, swift, and vicious!

The Northern Barbarian Soldier, his attention focused on the Squad Leader, was caught completely off guard. His ankle was sliced by the saber's edge, and he let out a scream as he fell to the ground.

The battle instantly reversed!

The Squad Leader's pressure eased significantly. His spirit lifted, and he forcefully parried his opponent's weapon with his spear. Seizing the opportunity, he thrust his spear through the throat of the Northern Barbarian Soldier on the right.

Chen Qing, like a persistent shadow, engaged the last remaining Northern Barbarian Soldier, who was in a state of panic. Within three moves, using a "Fierce Tiger Tail Sweep," he severed the enemy's head.

The battle was over.

The Squad Leader leaned on his spear, breathing heavily. He looked at Chen Qing with surprise and gratitude. "Young brother, what skill! Thank you for your help! Which camp are you from?"

He could tell that Chen Qing was young, still wearing the tattered leather armor of an Auxiliary Soldier. Yet, his earlier actions were ruthless and decisive, his footwork swift. He was definitely a skilled practitioner in the Skin Refining Realm, possibly even having touched the Threshold of Bone Forging! How could someone like this be merely an Auxiliary Soldier?

"Supply Camp, Chen Qing," Chen Qing replied, cupping his fist, his tone calm.

"Supply Camp?" The Squad Leader was even more surprised, then his eyes widened in understanding. "No wonder you look unfamiliar. My name is Zhao Tie, Squad Leader of the Vanguard Camp. Brother Chen, with your abilities, staying in the Supply Camp is a waste!"

Chen Qing offered no comment, merely saying, "Squad Leader Zhao is too kind; it was just a coincidence."

Seeing that Chen Qing didn't wish to elaborate, Zhao Tie didn't press further. His gaze swept over the corpse of the fierce Northern Barbarian soldier Chen Qing had killed with a single punch, and the two beheaded bodies. He felt a sense of awe. This young man was too ruthless; he was no ordinary person.

"Regardless, thank you today! If you have free time in the future, feel free to visit me at the Vanguard Camp for a drink!" Zhao Tie was a straightforward man and acknowledged the favor.

"I will," Chen Qing nodded.

Just then, the horn signaling the Northern Barbarian retreat sounded again. Like the previous times, the black tide began to recede.

The battlefield was once again left in disarray.

Chen Qing didn't linger. He turned back towards the area he was responsible for and began his routine "corpse looting." This time, his gains were richer than in the previous days, especially from the Northern Barbarian Centurion and several fierce soldiers he had killed. He found quite a bit of silver, and even a small bottle of pungent, unknown medicinal ointment.

[Gained meager Vitality, Black Tiger Fist proficiency +1]

[Gained meager Vitality...]

Proficiency increased slowly but steadily.

Inside the tattered tent at night.

The oil lamp was like a bean, casting a dim yellow light.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged, his consciousness completely immersed in the system's light screen and the circulation of qi and blood within his body.

[Host: Chen Qing]
[Realm: Skin Refining Realm (Mid-stage)]
[Martial Art: Black Tiger Fist (Slight Accomplishment, Proficiency: 188/2000)]
[Martial Art: Black Tiger Saber Technique (Slight Accomplishment, Proficiency: 175/2000)]

The Slight Accomplishment in Black Tiger Fist and Black Tiger Saber Technique allowed him to understand these two ancestral martial arts on a deeper level. It wasn't just about mastering the moves more smoothly; more importantly, he was beginning to touch upon the "intent" contained within them.

Black Tiger Fist wasn't just about brute force; it also contained the intent of cunning, pouncing, and endurance.

Black Tiger Saber Technique wasn't solely about trickery; it also possessed the dominance and ferocity of a king of beasts.

He attempted to guide the increasingly robust qi and blood within his body, channeling it along a mysterious route to strike the skin, fascia, and even the deeper bones of his limbs and torso. Each impact brought a subtle itchiness and sting, but upon completion, he could feel his body's defense and strength increase by a sliver.

Is this how one cultivates the Bone Forging realm?

He recalled Squad Leader Zhao Tie's spear techniques from earlier that day – fierce and direct, with lethal intent. They were quite different from the style of Black Tiger Fist and Saber, but perhaps... he could learn from them?

Subconsciously, he brought his fingers together like a blade and imitated the way Zhao Tie had exerted force when thrusting his spear, stabbing forward.

The movement was clumsy and lacked any power.

But the moment this thrust was executed, the qi and blood circulation route of Black Tiger Fist within him actually fluctuated slightly, as if drawn by this external "intent" of the thrust, causing an extremely subtle adjustment.

[Black Tiger Fist Proficiency +1]

The prompt that popped up on the light screen made Chen Qing freeze in surprise.

Imitating someone else's martial arts stance can also increase Black Tiger Fist proficiency?

He tried again, this time with more focus. He didn't just imitate the form; he concentrated on understanding the "thrusting" intent of moving forward without reservation, while simultaneously maintaining the core qi and blood circulation of Black Tiger Fist.

[Black Tiger Fist Proficiency +1]

Another point!

A look of surprise and joy erupted in Chen Qing's eyes. He understood! The "proficiency" judged by the system wasn't rigidly tied to him strictly practicing the fixed routines of Black Tiger Fist. Any practice or combat that deepened his understanding of "power application" and the "essence of combat" could be reflected in these two foundational ancestral martial arts!

Absorb the strengths of others and integrate them into oneself!

This undoubtedly broadened his avenues for improving his strength!

He no longer confined himself to simple drills and combat. He began to recall the various martial techniques he had witnessed on the battlefield, even if they were just incomplete moves or fragments. He tried to understand them, imitate them, and integrate them with the "intent" of Black Tiger Fist.

Inside the tent, his figure would sometimes resemble a crouching tiger, sometimes a lunging spear, and at other times, cunning like a snake... His movements were strange, yet they exuded a subtle aura of smooth integration and natural flow.

Proficiency began to tick up at a faster pace.

[Black Tiger Fist Proficiency +2] [Black Tiger Saber Technique Proficiency +2]

When the oil lamp burned out and darkness enveloped the tent, Chen Qing slowly concluded his movements, exhaling a long breath of stale air.

On the light screen, his proficiency had increased by another small increment.

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking crisply, feeling the increasingly solid strength within him.

Outside, the night wind howled, mixed with the heavy footsteps of patrolling soldiers and the distant cries of unknown beasts.

This world of high martial arts, fraught with danger, was also full of opportunities.

Chen Qing's gaze pierced through the hole in the tent, looking up at the dark night sky.

His path was still long.

But with the system, and this ever-evolving Black Tiger legacy, perhaps he could indeed reach for the stars.

The next step was to find a way to encounter more diverse martial arts and experience a broader world.