Fame Shakes the World

The sky-high flames of Wild Wolf Plains became the most shocking scenery in the Northern Frontier for the next few days, and also a sharp dagger plunged into the heart of Wuwei, the Left Virtuous King of Northern Mang.

With nearly half of their grain and fodder burned, the army's supplies became tight, and their originally aggressive offensive had to completely halt. Wuwei was furious, executing several logistics officers, but it couldn't change the reality of plummeting morale on the front lines and being forced into a defensive posture.

Meanwhile, the deeds of "Fierce Tiger" Chen Qing, who led five hundred elite soldiers from the Black Tiger Camp deep into enemy territory, burned Wild Wolf Plains, severely wounded the High Priest of Northern Mang Wugutuo, and retreated unharmed, spread like wildfire throughout the Northern Frontier, back to the Imperial Capital, and even towards the heartland of the Great Yan Dynasty.

"Did you hear? Someone from our side took down Northern Mang's grain and fodder base!"

"It was General Fierce Tiger! He dared to charge in with only five hundred men and burned it all to the ground!"

"He even injured the High Priest of Northern Mang! My heavens, that's a peak Meridian Condensing Realm expert!"

"Black Tiger Camp! This is the true army of tigers and wolves!"

The morale on the Northern Frontier defense line, which had been somewhat low due to the long-term standoff and the harassment of Northern Mang's cavalry, instantly ignited to its peak! Chen Qing and the Black Tiger Camp became the idols and spiritual pillars of all border troops.

Even Captain Zhou Han, who had always had complex feelings towards Chen Qing, was silent for a long time after receiving the confirmed battle report, finally sighing, "This young man is no longer content to remain in a mere pond."

He immediately submitted a report to the command tent, requesting commendations for Chen Qing and the Black Tiger Camp, his words earnest, exaggerating Chen Qing's achievements by thirty percent. He knew very well that after this battle, Chen Qing's rise was unstoppable, and it was better to go with the flow than to oppose him.

Imperial Capital, Yujing City.

This time, it wasn't a ripple of undercurrents, but an open uproar.

During the morning court, the Minister of War personally reported the great victory in the Northern Frontier, emphasizing the immense contribution of "General Yangwei Chen Qing." In the Golden Palace, civil and military officials discussed animatedly, with exclamations of amazement, praise, and many with flickering eyes and varied thoughts.

The Great Yan Emperor, seated on the dragon throne, around forty years old, with a stern face, listened to the Minister of War's report, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He was naturally pleased to have such a fierce general emerge in the Northern Frontier, especially since this battle had significantly eased the pressure there.

"General Yangwei Chen Qing, loyal and brave, with outstanding military achievements, enhancing our nation's prestige! Promoted to General Zhenbei (a fourth-rank miscellaneous title, higher in status), granted the title of Marquis of Guannei, rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and a thousand spirit jades, and permitted to expand the Black Tiger Camp to three thousand men!"

The Emperor's decree was so generous that it made all the civil and military officials present look on with astonishment.

General Zhenbei! Marquis of Guannei!

Although both were miscellaneous honorary titles without actual fiefs, the honor and status far surpassed those of the vast majority of border generals! Not to mention the permission to expand to three thousand men, which meant Chen Qing would possess a considerable private army that obeyed him completely!

The imperial decree was sent to the Northern Frontier via express courier.

At the same time, impeachment memorials accusing Chen Qing of cultivating evil techniques and radiating malevolent energy also flew to the Emperor's imperial desk like snowflakes. Most were vague, only emphasizing the strangeness of his cultivation method, fearing it was not righteous and might cause disaster in the long run.

The Emperor looked at these memorials and merely smiled noncommittally, placing them aside. In a chaotic world, he needed capable generals. As long as Chen Qing could win battles and guard the nation's borders, he didn't care about minor "flaws." Moreover, how could he not know the ulterior motives of those impeaching him?

Marquis Zhenbei's Manor.

Han Wenyuan once again stood in the study, reporting the court's movements and the Emperor's rewards to Marquis Zhenbei.

After listening, Marquis Zhenbei remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "General Zhenbei, Marquis of Guannei... His Majesty is putting him on the spot."

Han Wenyuan said in a low voice, "My Lord, this young man's prestige is at its zenith now, and with such generous rewards from His Majesty, I fear... he will be even harder to control. Moreover, the matter of the Black Tiger Sect..."

"Black Tiger Sect..." Marquis Zhenbei rubbed his temples, a trace of fatigue and reminiscence flashing in his eyes. "Whether it's a blessing or a curse remains to be seen. Continue to monitor him, and for now... do not make an enemy of him."

"Yes."

* * *

Northern Frontier, Black Tiger Camp's encampment.

When the Emperor's imperial decree and the official documents from the Ministry of War arrived, the entire Black Tiger Camp erupted!

General Zhenbei! Marquis of Guannei! Expansion to three thousand men!

What immense honor and power!

"Long live the General!"

"Long live the Black Tiger Camp!"

The soldiers waved their weapons, letting out earth-shattering cheers, their gazes towards Chen Qing filled with fanatical adoration.

Chen Qing accepted the imperial decree, his expression still calm, but the hint of dark red in his eyes seemed to deepen.

Power and status were merely tools for acquiring strength and talismans to him. What he truly cared about were the thousand spirit jades and the authority to expand.

With more spirit jades, his cultivation speed could be further enhanced. With three thousand men in the Black Tiger Camp, the "resources" he could obtain would increase exponentially!

"Old Niu, Sun Quezi."

"Your subordinate is here!" The two were now bona fide direct generals under the commander, their voices like thunder.

"From this moment on, in the name of the Black Tiger Camp, recruit brave and valiant soldiers. The standards remain unchanged; it's better to have fewer than to have the wrong people! What I want are elite warriors who can march with me to crush the Northern Mang Royal Court!"

"Yes! General!" The two excitedly accepted the order.

As the news of the Black Tiger Camp's expansion spread, the entire Northern Frontier was once again abuzz. Countless brave soldiers eager for merit and wealth, and even some mid-to-low-ranking officers from other camps, flocked to join. The recruitment office of the Black Tiger Camp was crowded daily.

Chen Qing handed over the recruitment and training matters entirely to Old Niu and the others, while he himself, with the thousand spirit jades, entered seclusion once more.

Although he had successfully retreated from the battle of Wild Wolf Plains, his injuries were not light, especially his left arm, which was almost crippled by Wugutuo's fire-elemental magic and had not yet fully recovered. The direct confrontation with a peak Meridian Condensing Realm expert also made him realize his own shortcomings.

He needed to recover from his injuries as quickly as possible and break through to higher realms.

Mid-stage Meridian Condensing Realm, or even late-stage!

Inside the tent, spirit jades were piled up like mountains, emitting a soft and pure spiritual energy.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged, holding a spirit jade in one hand while simultaneously circulating the Fierce Tiger Iron Body and the Black Tiger True Intent.

Pure spiritual energy surged into his body, forming a delicate balance with the overbearing and fierce killing intent. The spiritual energy nourished his damaged meridians and body, accelerating the healing of his injuries, while the killing intent, tempered by the spiritual energy, became more refined and controllable.

He guided this mixed energy, repeatedly washing over the barrier that prevented him from stepping into the middle stage of the Meridian Condensing Realm.

Time flew by in his cultivation.

Outside the tent, the Black Tiger Camp's scale continued to expand, its killing intent growing heavier each day.

Inside the tent, Chen Qing's aura was also continuously rising, becoming deeper and more terrifying.

When he had absorbed the nine hundred and ninety-ninth spirit jade.

Crack!

It was as if some shackles within his body had been broken!

A more surging and powerful force surged and flowed through his Saber Meridian. The Fierce Tiger Domain around him expanded uncontrollably, instantly engulfing the entire tent. The dark red killing intent churned like a tangible substance!

Meridian Condensing Realm, middle stage!

He slowly opened his eyes, the dark red in his pupils resembling two burning wisps of ghost fire.

The injury on his left arm had healed completely. The newly formed skin and bone were even tougher than before.

Feeling the power that was like a transformation within his body, and the Fierce Tiger Domain that had expanded to a range of twenty feet, Chen Qing clenched his fist.

It was time to find the Northern Mang and collect some interest.

He stood up and lifted the tent flap.

Outside, the sunlight was just right. The two thousand five hundred newly recruited Black Tiger fierce soldiers were undergoing strenuous training under the leadership of Old Niu and others. Their roars shook the heavens, and their killing intent pierced the sky!

Chen Qing's gaze swept over them and fixed on the north.

Northern Mang Royal Court... wait for me.