First to Ascend

Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunfire erupted through the mountain forest. After hearing the order, more than a hundred Overseeing Bureau Inspectors raised their Tiger-style Rifles and opened fire.

Several Tranquil God Sect members on the hillside, carrying Native Guns, immediately panicked and turned to flee. Two were hit by bullets and collapsed on the spot.

Li Fei drew his saber and followed unhurriedly behind the others as they ran up the hillside.

Looking down from the hillside, they could see a mountain stronghold below. At its center stood an altar piled from stone. An eerie pattern had been carved onto it using the blood of some unknown animal—the very symbol of the Tranquil God Sect.

"Officer, this is it! This is the place!"

Liu A'si, who had led the way, pointed excitedly at the stronghold below.

"Good. You've done well. Once we get back, you'll receive your reward."

Lu Sheng nodded, then turned to Wang Ping.

Wang Ping looked down at the stronghold, excitement showing on his face.

"I sensed an extremely powerful spell ritual on that altar. An altar like that must be used for important sect ceremonies. This should be the Tranquil God Sect's headquarters!"

Destroying an evil sect's headquarters and wiping out the sect entirely—such a feat would earn him enough merit to exchange for the Implant he needed for his Dao foundation.

He could hardly wait.

"Attack! Capture as many alive as possible!"

Wang Ping issued the order.

Lu Sheng turned and called over three company commanders. "The Second Company will flank from the left, the Third Company from the right, and the First Company will charge down from the front."

"Yes, sir!"

The three company commanders accepted the order and left.

As for the Military Academy students, they had already been assigned to the various companies beforehand and would act alongside them.

Li Fei, Lu Changwu, and the others had been assigned to the First Company, under Lu Sheng's direct command.

A frontal assault naturally offered the greatest share of the credit.

Lu Changwu wore a smug expression as he whispered to Li Fei and the others, "Brothers, stay alert and act when the opportunity comes. Our chance has arrived."

Soon, the main force charged down the hillside and began attacking the stronghold.

The stronghold's gate was protected by a wooden wall more than three meters high. People on the wall fired back with Native Guns and bows.

However, a Native Gun's effective range was only fifty meters. Beyond that distance, nobody knew where its lead shot would go.

As for the bows, although they could reach beyond a hundred meters, their power was too weak. Unless they struck someone's hands or feet, they posed little threat to the Overseeing Bureau Inspectors and students wearing Stab Proof Vests and steel helmets.

The Inspectors wielding Tiger-style Rifles fired in volleys. From more than two hundred meters away, they suppressed the enemies on the wooden wall with overwhelming firepower, keeping them from raising their heads.

Even the few fierce men who dared to repeatedly pop up and return fire were quickly focused on and killed by concentrated gunfire.

The First Brigade, personally trained by Lu Sheng, had the strongest combat power in the entire Xingcheng Overseeing Bureau. Its Inspectors had excellent marksmanship and coordination. Before long, they had advanced to within twenty meters of the wooden wall, forcing the people atop it to keep their heads down and fire only by sheer luck.

The next step was to breach the wooden wall and storm the stronghold's gate.

They had not brought any specialized climbing equipment, but a wall just over three meters high did not require any.

"Who's willing to rush up and seize this section of wall, opening the stronghold's gate for us?"

Lu Sheng turned and asked Lu Changwu, Li Fei, and the others.

For climbing the wall and engaging in close combat inside the stronghold, the Military Academy's people were certainly more useful than the Inspectors.

The senior instructors, who possessed the strength of true martial artists, were naturally the best candidates. But this battle was also an examination for the students, which was why Lu Sheng asked Li Fei and the others.

This was an excellent opportunity. On ancient battlefields, there were three great merits: beheading a commander, capturing a banner, and being the First to Ascend. The last referred to being the first person to reach the city wall during a siege.

Although the battle before them could not really be called a siege, the merit of being the First to Ascend still existed. If they seized it, an Rank A+ evaluation for this operation would basically be assured.

Lu Sheng was giving everyone a chance—or, more precisely, giving his son, Lu Changwu, a chance.

"I'm willing!"

Lu Changwu did not disappoint Lu Sheng and stepped forward first.

"I'm willing too!"

Li Fei was the second to step forward.

Being the First to Ascend certainly carried great risks, but he had the Myriad Blood Bead and a Health Bar three times that of an ordinary person. He was confident he could protect himself.

"I'm willing too."

"I'll do it."

The remaining dozen or so Overseeing Bureau scions also spoke up one after another.

"Good."

Lu Sheng pointed at Lu Changwu and Li Fei. "You two go up first. Once you've opened a gap, the rest will follow immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

Lu Changwu was both excited and nervous, while Li Fei remained relatively calm.

Lu Sheng briefly explained the battle plan, then said in a deep voice, "The people inside are either veteran members of the evil sect, their hands stained with blood, or stubborn fanatics brainwashed by the sect, beyond saving. So don't hesitate when you meet the enemy. Mercy toward the enemy is cruelty toward yourselves and your families!"

"Understood!"

Everyone nodded in unison.

At last, Lu Sheng took a deep look at Lu Changwu. Without saying a word, he swung his hand down hard.

"Go!"

He could have sent Lu Changwu up the wall alone to open a breach, with the others following afterward. That way, the merit of being the First to Ascend would have belonged entirely to Lu Changwu.

But in the end, he still feared there might be unforeseen dangers atop the wooden wall, so he chose to have Li Fei climb up alongside Lu Changwu.

Letting Lu Changwu be first—that was the decision of a brigade commander.

Having Li Fei accompany him—that was the mercy of a father.

More than a dozen students dashed toward the foot of the wooden wall.

"Covering fire!"

Without needing Lu Sheng to give the order, the surrounding Inspectors began firing at the wooden wall.

With dozens of guns providing cover, Li Fei and the others successfully reached the base of the wall.

Four people stood beneath the wall. In pairs, they clasped their hands together, forming a boost for the climbers.

Li Fei and Lu Changwu exchanged a glance, backed up several steps, then sprinted forward. As they neared the wall, they planted their right feet forcefully onto their companions' cupped hands.

The four companions thrust upward at the same time, sending Li Fei and Lu Changwu leaping into the air.

Li Fei seized the edge of the wooden wall with his left hand and pushed hard. He flipped over with ease and landed steadily on the wooden platform behind it.

On the other side, Lu Changwu likewise landed safely on the platform.

About two meters to Li Fei's left, a man crouched behind the wall with a Native Gun. Not far in front of him stood another man holding a bow.

Li Fei made his decision at once. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and charged left, bringing his saber down with force.

Bang! The man instinctively raised his Native Gun to block. The barrel was hacked open, and the impact knocked the weapon to the ground.

Li Fei twisted his wrist and swept the saber upward in a backhand slash.

During this time, he had constantly practiced the saber techniques Hao Yi taught him. This Rolling Thunder Stance had nearly become instinct.

Whoosh—

The blade slid smoothly across the man's chest.

Blood sprayed into the air, and the man let out a shrill scream.

Before Li Fei could carefully savor what it felt like to cut someone for the first time in his life, the Steel Armor Implant at the back of his neck suddenly stirred violently. It had sensed danger.

Without thinking, Li Fei immediately crouched, then spun around and slashed with his saber.

An arrow flew over the top of his head.

The enemy with the bow had taken advantage of the opening to shoot at Li Fei, aiming for the unprotected back of his neck.

That man was a hunter who had spent years hunting in the mountains. He was thoroughly practiced with the bow, which was why he could fire so quickly with such frightening accuracy.

Li Fei felt a rush of fear, which then flared into rage. He leaped forward and chopped the man to the ground.

Only after the man convulsed several times and stopped moving did Li Fei realize it: he had killed someone.