Fierce Tiger's Might Established

"Now, it's my turn."

The voice wasn't loud, but it felt like the bone-chilling wind of the dead of winter, making the hearts of the few Northern Mang elite soldiers tighten.

At this moment, Chen Qing was like a completely different person from when he was fighting and dodging earlier. Beneath his tattered iron armor, his dark skin with black and red patterns seemed to writhe, as if something alive was crawling underneath. The faint black and red sheen on his saber, like blood that hadn't dried, looked eerily demonic in the firelight. Most terrifying were his eyes, cold and dead, yet burning with an almost insane desire to kill.

The Black Tiger Saber Intent and Fist Intent, now fully integrated, combined with the mutated Fierce Tiger Iron Body, caused him to exude a non-human, ferocious aura.

"Putting on a show! Kill him!" A Northern Mang elite soldier, wielding a curved saber, suppressed his unease and roared, charging forward first. The others reacted, launching their attacks simultaneously!

However, in Chen Qing's current perception, their movements seemed a beat too slow.

Chen Qing moved.

No complex techniques, just a simple, direct forward slash!

The saber cut through the air, the black and red malevolent energy on the blade suddenly intensifying, vaguely forming a distorted, roaring phantom tiger head! Before the saber even struck, a fierce, brutal intent had already crashed down!

"Roar--!"

Not a real sound, but a strange howl produced by the saber intent and malevolent energy vibrating the air!

The soldier with the curved saber was the first to bear the brunt. He felt an indescribable ferocious energy surge towards him, his heart felt as if it were gripped by an invisible hand, his breath hitched, and his movements slowed by half.

Just that half a beat!

Ching!

The saber, like a hot knife through butter, sliced down from the soldier's head, continuing its path and splitting him entirely in two! Blood and organs splattered everywhere!

[Killed Northern Mang Elite Soldier, gained Vitality and Malevolent Energy, Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency +15!]

Chen Qing's steps didn't falter, his saber's momentum unbroken. Using the force of the slash, he spun around abruptly! The saber traced a horrifying arc!

Black Tiger Saber Technique—Fierce Tiger Spin! Infused with the brutality of the Fierce Tiger Iron Body and the dominance of the Black Tiger Fist Intent!

Two other Northern Mang elite soldiers attacking from the sides were caught. One's spear was severed by the saber's light, along with his arm, which flew through the air! The other's attempt to block was met with his curved saber being directly shattered, the blade slicing across his neck, sending his head flying with an expression of shock!

[Black Tiger Saber Technique proficiency +18]

[Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency +10]

In the blink of an eye, three elite Northern Mang fighters at the late Skin Refining Realm were dead!

The last elite soldier, wielding a short axe, had just reached Chen Qing's back. Before he could even swing his axe, he saw his three comrades brutally killed in an instant. Terrified, he turned to flee.

How could Chen Qing let him escape? Without even looking, he threw his saber backward with a backhand flick!

Whoosh--!

As if imbued with life, the saber, with a sharp whistling sound and a streak of black and red malevolent energy, accurately pierced the elite soldier's back, exiting through his chest, carrying a spray of blood, and pinning him firmly to the ground!

[Killed...]

Silence.

A brief, deathly silence descended within a dozen paces of Chen Qing.

Whether it was the Northern Mang soldiers still trying to breach the gap or the Great Yan defenders fighting desperately, they were all stunned by the scene of four elite soldiers being slaughtered like vegetables in the blink of an eye.

That was no longer bravery; it was demonic power!

"A ghost... he's a ghost!" It was unclear which Northern Mang soldier broke first, shouting and turning to run.

Fear spread like a plague. The once ferocious Northern Mang vanguard, utterly demoralized by Chen Qing's single-handed, single-saber assault, began to retreat!

"Kill! Drive them out!" The Captain in charge of the west flank finally reacted, seizing this golden opportunity, and roared hoarsely.

The Great Yan defenders, their morale soaring as if injected with adrenaline, charged with war cries, actually pushing the Northern Mang soldiers who had breached the gap back, temporarily stabilizing the defense line!

Chen Qing stood in place, breathing heavily. The continuous high-intensity burst, especially the final saber throw, had drained more than half his strength. The ferocious aura within him began to stir restlessly, and the stinging sensation of backlash was faintly felt.

He walked to the corpse of the Northern Mang elite soldier pinned to the ground and bent down to retrieve his saber. The blade was still cold, but the black and red sheen had dimmed considerably.

"Squad Leader! Are you alright?" Shi Tou and the other three rushed over. Seeing the new, deep wounds on Chen Qing, especially the saber wound on his back that revealed bone fragments, their voices were choked with tears.

"I won't die." Chen Qing waved his hand, his gaze sweeping around. The defenders were using debris to block the gap and tend to the wounded. Countless eyes, filled with awe, fear, gratitude, and complexity, fell upon him.

He knew that after this battle, he could no longer remain low-key in this camp.

"Help me down," Chen Qing said to Shi Tou, his voice tinged with exhaustion. The malevolent energy was beginning to erode his mind; he needed to meditate and suppress the backlash as soon as possible.

Shi Tou and Hei Wa quickly supported him, one on each side. Gou Sheng and Tie Dan stood guard vigilantly on the flanks.

As they helped Chen Qing through the crowd towards the rear, everyone they passed, from ordinary auxiliary soldiers to regular troops, instinctively made way, their gazes following the blood-soaked young figure.

"Is that Chen Qing?"

"That menace from the Supply Camp..."

"He held the gap alone and killed four Northern Mang elite soldiers... Mother of mercy..."

"His wounds... he's not dead from that?"

Whispers arose behind them.

Back in the temporarily assigned small tent, Chen Qing immediately sat down cross-legged, circulating the Fierce Tiger Iron Body technique with all his might, guiding the remaining vital energy within him to slowly grind away and absorb the restless malevolent energy. The intense pain surged like a tide, but he didn't even frown.

After an unknown amount of time, when he opened his eyes again, night had fallen outside the tent. The malevolent energy inside him was temporarily suppressed, and his injuries were slowly healing, but the bone-deep coldness and brutality seemed to have become even more deeply ingrained.

The tent flap was lifted, and Squad Leader Zhang walked in, carrying a food box and a pot of wine.

He glanced at Chen Qing's condition, placed the items on the ground, then sat cross-legged opposite him. He poured two bowls of wine and pushed one toward Chen Qing.

"How are you feeling?" Squad Leader Zhang asked after taking a sip of wine.

"Still holding up," Chen Qing picked up the wine bowl and downed it in one go. The spicy liquid traveled down his throat, bringing a hint of warmth that temporarily dispelled the chill within him.

"The west flank has been temporarily secured. You, kid, performed a great service today." Squad Leader Zhang looked at him with a complex expression. "The Captain himself inquired about your situation. Your reward has been doubled: one hundred taels of silver and five Blood Strengthening Pills. Also... Zhao Tie from the Vanguard Camp came to see me again. This time, he brought a written order from his Captain."

Chen Qing looked up.

Squad Leader Zhang sighed, "We can't hold them off anymore. Your skills are being wasted in the Supply Camp, and it's also a potential hazard. The higher-ups have decided to transfer you to the Vanguard Camp as a Squad Leader."

Squad Leader! A direct promotion from Auxiliary Soldier Squad Leader to a combat soldier Squad Leader, commanding ten official combat soldiers! This was practically an unprecedented promotion!

Chen Qing remained silent, not surprised by this outcome. When he chose to reveal his strength and stand at that breach, he had anticipated this day.

"When do I leave?"

"Tomorrow morning." Squad Leader Zhang finished the wine in his bowl and stood up. "Once you're in the Vanguard Camp, there will be more rules and more experts. It won't be as carefree as it is here with me. But... there will also be more opportunities. Live well, and don't die."

He walked to the tent entrance, paused, and without looking back, said, "Chen Qing, remember what I told you. Strength is a blade; hold it tight."

The sound of his footsteps gradually faded.

Chen Qing sat alone in the tent, watching the flickering flame of the oil lamp.

His days in the Supply Camp were over. Tomorrow, he would step onto a more dangerous, but also broader, stage—the Vanguard Camp.

He clenched his fist, feeling the cold yet powerful force within his bones.

Fierce Tiger Iron Body, the fully integrated Black Tiger Fist and Saber Technique.

Whether this blade would wound himself or slay his enemies depended on him.

He picked up the wine pot, poured another bowl, offered a slight toast to the empty air, and then tilted his head back to drink it all.

The Vanguard Camp, huh? Good. The enemies there should be tougher to cut down.