The news of the battle at Eagle Beak Ravine was like a massive boulder dropped simultaneously into the Northern Frontier and the Imperial Capital.
Within the Northern Mang royal camp, Left Virtuous King Wuwei stared at the secret report in his hand concerning the total annihilation of the Blood Wolf Guard squad. His face was so dark it seemed capable of dripping water. His five fingers suddenly tightened, and the hard jade wine cup instantly crumbled to powder.
"Chen! Qing!" He practically squeezed the name out through clenched teeth, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent and a trace of... apprehension. The Blood Wolf Guard were his elder brother, the Blood Wolf King's personal guards, and one of Northern Mang's symbols. Yet they had been destroyed by an obscure Great Yan frontier general. It was simply an unpardonable humiliation!
"Marshal, this boy has become a grave threat. We cannot allow him to keep growing!" A strategist bowed and said, "Should we summon the 'Shaman Sorcerers' under the National Preceptor, or... ask the royal court to dispatch the Azure Wolf Death Warriors?"
Wuwei's gaze flickered, but he ultimately shook his head slowly. "The National Preceptor is in seclusion, attempting to break into a higher realm. He must not be disturbed. The Azure Wolf Death Warriors are the royal court's foundation; they cannot be deployed lightly unless it is a war to destroy a nation."
He rose and walked to the enormous map of the Northern Frontier, heavily pressing a finger onto Chen Qing's defensive sector. "Pass orders to all divisions: suspend frontal assaults for now. Draw in our forces and focus on harassment by roaming cavalry. Also... raise Chen Qing's bounty to fifty thousand taels of gold, along with a hundred li of fiefdom! I want to see whether the desperadoes of this world can wear this Fierce Tiger to death!"
"Yes!"
* * *
Imperial Capital, Marquis Zhenbei's Manor.
Han Wenyuan once again stood in that quiet study, presenting the latest Northern Frontier battle report.
Marquis Zhenbei looked at the words on the report: "Chen Qing led his troops at Eagle Beak Ravine and wiped out a Northern Mang Blood Wolf Guard squad, personally slaying a late-stage Meridian Condensing Realm leader." He remained silent for a long while. His fingers tapped unconsciously against the desk, producing soft knocking sounds.
"The Blood Wolf Guard... were defeated as well." He murmured softly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "That boy's rate of growth has exceeded all expectations."
Han Wenyuan said in a low voice, "My lord, according to reports from our agents in Northern Mang, Wuwei has raised his bounty to fifty thousand gold and a hundred li of fiefdom. Furthermore, here in the Imperial Capital, there seem to be people... growing restless as well."
He gently placed a secret report on the desk. It recorded traces of certain factions secretly colluding with Northern Mang, as well as the possible instigators behind the ambushes in Soul Severing Valley and Eagle Beak Ravine.
Marquis Zhenbei swept it a glance, his eyes turning slightly cold. "Clowns leaping about on a stage, not worth worrying over. This Chen Qing, though... what is his reputation in the army now?"
"Like the sun at high noon." Han Wenyuan was succinct. "The name 'Fierce Tiger' has nearly become legend throughout the Northern Frontier. The Black Tiger Camp has been hailed as an army of tigers and wolves, and many hardened frontier soldiers take pride in joining it. I have heard that even the commander's headquarters has begun paying attention to him."
"A tree that rises above the forest..." Marquis Zhenbei sighed. His gaze turned north once more, carrying a trace of complex, unreadable meaning. "Send word to our people in the Northern Frontier. When necessary... they may offer him some conveniences. But remember: do not expose their identities."
A trace of surprise flashed through Han Wenyuan's eyes before he bowed. "This subordinate understands."
* * *
Black Tiger Camp garrison.
Chen Qing paid no attention to the storms gathering beyond his sight. He was wholly focused on digesting the gains from the battle at Eagle Beak Ravine.
The five Blood Wolf Guard members, especially the late-stage Meridian Condensing Realm leader, had provided far more pure vitality and Killing Intent than ordinary enemies. The proficiency of Fierce Tiger Iron Body had surged, and he was already not far from the realm of "mastery." What delighted him even more was the newly comprehended killing move—"Fierce Tiger Roar."
This was not a mere physical attack. It combined Black Tiger True Intent with highly compressed Killing Intent and unleashed it through a special vibration method, directly striking at the enemy's mind and soul. Its power was astounding and impossible to guard against.
He tried practicing it in an empty valley outside the camp.
Choosing a huge boulder several men tall, Chen Qing calmed his mind. The Killing Intent and Black Tiger True Intent within him rapidly gathered according to the circulation route of Fierce Tiger Roar, compressing at his throat.
The next instant, he suddenly opened his mouth!
"Roar—!"
There was no deafening boom, only an invisible, formless dark-red sound wave carrying destructive ripples. It spread outward like ripples in water, sweeping across the enormous boulder in an instant!
Crack... crack-crack...
Countless fine fissures first appeared across the boulder's surface. Then, amid a teeth-grinding screech, it collapsed with a boom and turned into powder scattered across the ground! Nor was that all. Wherever the sound wave passed, the weeds on the ground instantly withered and blackened, as though every shred of life had been drained from them!
[Practiced killing move 'Fierce Tiger Roar', Black Tiger True Intent proficiency +50, mental power consumption 15%]
Its power was terrifying! But its consumption was just as immense! With his current early-stage Meridian Condensing Realm cultivation and soul strength, even at full force, he could probably only unleash two or three strikes.
"A decent trump card." Chen Qing nodded in satisfaction. At a critical moment, this Fierce Tiger Roar would be enough to turn the tide of battle.
Aside from the killing move, his control over the Fierce Tiger Domain had also become increasingly exquisite. Its range could now be steadily maintained at around fifteen feet, and he could adjust the domain's suppressive force and Killing Intent density at will. He could even crudely simulate a few simple illusions to interfere with an opponent's perception.
He felt that he had seemingly touched the threshold of the middle stage of the Meridian Condensing Realm. All he needed was an opportunity, or... more "resources."
Yet over the following half month, Northern Mang's offensive strangely eased. Large-scale attacks ceased, replaced by endless harassment from small bands of roaming cavalry. Like buzzing flies, they were not deadly, but they were endlessly irritating.
Chen Qing led the Black Tiger Camp out several times and eliminated several bands of Northern Mang cavalry, but the Killing Intent and vitality he gained were simply a drop in the bucket compared to before.
He knew Northern Mang had changed its strategy. They wanted to use a dull knife to slice flesh, wearing away Great Yan's morale and patience.
"General, this can't go on." Old Niu scratched his head irritably. "Those Northern Mang brats have gotten smarter. They won't clash with us head-on at all. There's no thrill in killing them, and we can't earn much merit either!"
Sun Quezi said sinisterly, "They're waiting. Waiting for us to let our guard down, or... waiting for us to reveal a flaw."
Chen Qing stood atop the camp's watchtower, gazing at the dust raised by Northern Mang roaming cavalry in the distance, his eyes cold.
Naturally, he understood Northern Mang's intentions. But he understood even more clearly that he could not afford to wait. The system's existence meant he had to grow rapidly through slaughter. To him, this stalemate was slow suicide.
He had to break this deadlock!
His gaze swept over the hardened soldiers under his command, who appeared somewhat restless from having nothing to do, then turned farther north, toward the direction where the Northern Mang army was stationed.
A bold and frenzied thought gradually took shape in his heart.
Rather than wait passively, it was better to... strike first!
The target: Northern Mang's vital grain depot—the Wild Wolf Plains!
If they succeeded, they would not only deal Northern Mang a crushing blow and obtain immense resources, but also thoroughly shatter the current deadlock!
Risk? Naturally, it was a nine-in-ten chance of death. But fortune was found amid danger, and the path of martial arts had always been a defiance of heaven!
He turned and descended the watchtower, saying in a grave voice to Old Niu and Sun Quezi, who followed close behind:
"Pass the order. The entire Black Tiger Camp is to travel light, carry five days' rations, and fully stock their bows and crossbows."
The two men froze. "General, are we...?"
A dark-red glint flashed through Chen Qing's eyes.
"We're going to raid Northern Mang's lair."
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