Four Great Military Merits!

Outside Duan Yun Pass, within the Death Row Camp, three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Because he had achieved First to Ascend, Ding Hao not only earned the awe of the other death row inmates over these three days, but Ding Yishan also bestowed upon him a large amount of food and wine!

Life was far, far better than before, when he never knew when his next meal would come!

Of course, compared to eating and drinking, the most exciting thing for Ding Hao was this!

Under his ten-times comprehension, in just three days, he had cultivated the advanced martial art Tyrant Blade Slash to the Great Accomplishment stage!

If anyone had known, they would have been utterly shocked!

After all, even for powerful True Martial Realm experts, it would take years of arduous training to reach Great Accomplishment with an advanced martial art; Ding Hao achieving it in three days was simply heaven-defying.

One morning, while all the death row inmates were still sound asleep, Ding Hao went alone to the training grounds outside the camp. He took a long saber from the weapon rack and immediately unleashed the Tyrant Blade Slash!

The long saber danced, executing grand and sweeping movements. A heavy and domineering force surged from it, as if possessing the power to sweep away a thousand jun!

Finally.

He unleashed this saber strike. Accompanied by a dull chopping sound, he directly carved a deep gully into the icy ground.

The ravine stretched for several dozen feet, reaching the feet of an armored soldier!

Gasp!

Seeing this, the soldier couldn't help but swallow hard!

He was one of Zhang Dahu's confidantes and the deputy commander of the Death Row Camp.

He had been ordered today to summon Ding Hao on behalf of Ding Yishan. He had originally intended to use this opportunity to suppress Ding Hao.

But now, Ding Hao's Tyrant Blade Slash had clearly terrified him!

Good heavens!

With a single strike like that, how could he, a fifth-rank martial artist, possibly withstand it!

"Deputy Commander, are you... here for me?"

At this moment, Ding Hao sheathed his saber and asked the deputy commander with a smile.

Clearly, he had seen the deputy commander's ill intentions from afar. He had deliberately cleaved the ground near him with that last strike!

As expected, it had a good effect.

After regaining his senses, the deputy commander hurried forward. Not only was he not causing any trouble, but he even showed a hint of respect. "Brother Ding Hao, I'm here to deliver a message. General Ding wants you to report to his military tent!"

"Oh?"

"It seems the imperial amnesty has arrived!"

Ding Hao raised an eyebrow and casually tossed the long saber in his hand to the deputy commander. "Please return the saber for me, Deputy Commander. I'll go pay my respects to General Ding!"

After saying that.

He left the training grounds without paying any heed to the frustrated deputy commander.

Because Ding Hao had achieved First to Ascend as a death row inmate, his name had already spread throughout the military camp.

He encountered no obstacles along the way and smoothly arrived at Ding Yishan's large tent.

After announcing himself, Ding Hao entered the tent with a hint of excitement.

Inside, Ding Yishan, having removed his silver armor, was seated before the desk. In his hand, he held the battle report scroll from the imperial court!

"General Ding!"

Ding Hao stepped forward and bowed. Ding Yishan looked up and said, "You've come!"

Ding Hao nodded and asked eagerly, "General Ding, did you summon me because the imperial decree pardoning me has arrived?"

To his surprise, Ding Yishan did not answer directly. Instead, he apologized, "Ding Hao, I'm sorry, but something has changed regarding the promise I made to you!"

Ding Hao's expression darkened, and he quickly asked, "What do you mean, General Ding? Did the imperial court not pardon my status as a death row inmate?"

"That's right!"

Ding Yishan nodded, then continued, "In the history of our Great Zhou Dynasty, there have been many precedents. Achieving First to Ascend, Breaker of Formations, Capture the Flag, or Slay the General – any one of these military merits is a great achievement. Death row inmates can be pardoned from the death penalty, and soldiers can be promoted three ranks!"

"But in your case, the imperial court has not pardoned your death row status. Even Her Majesty the Empress personally annotated – any death row inmate named Ding Hao who achieves First to Ascend is insufficient; they must accumulate all four military merits before a special pardon can be granted!"

What!!

Ding Hao's eyes widened, and a million thoughts raced through his mind.

This meant he would need to achieve Breaker of Formations, Capture the Flag, and Slay the General in addition to First to Ascend just to shed his death row status!

Putting aside where he would even find opportunities to achieve these three military merits, in his memories from both his past and present lives, he had never heard of any warrior or fierce general who had ever accomplished all four military merits!

This was bullying an honest person!

At this moment, Ding Yishan said with a wry smile, "Alas, the Empress's annotation on the battle report, 'any death row inmate named Ding Hao'... it's clear that perhaps another Ding Hao offended Her Majesty, causing you to be targeted as well. You've suffered an unjust calamity!"

"Uh~"

Hearing this, Ding Hao, who had initially felt indignant, actually calmed down!

This is not a disaster without cause. That wretched bitch Xia Weiyang is clearly targeting him.

However, based on the annotations, Xia Weiyang doesn't seem to believe that Ding Hao, who took the First to Ascend, is the same Ding Hao who was her stud!

Ding Hao understood that if the other party knew the truth, it wouldn't just be about making things difficult; it could completely block his path to escaping the Death Row Camp!

It made sense.

Before, he was just a weak scholar with no strength to even truss a chicken, almost drained to death. How could he possibly achieve First to Ascend!

Even he himself wouldn't have believed it before his cheat system arrived!

"However, this might be my real chance to regain my freedom!" At this thought, Ding Hao's eyes suddenly lit up.

After all, Xia Weiyang didn't know that it was Ding Hao who achieved First to Ascend. As long as he could truly gather the four great military merits, even if she disliked the name Ding Hao, she would have to restore his freedom!

After all, the Emperor revoking an edict was a very serious matter, damaging imperial authority and face. Moreover, if even someone who had gathered all four great military merits was toyed with, how could the Great Zhou manage its army?

The only difficulty was how to obtain the other three great military merits!

Seeing Ding Hao fall into silence, Ding Yishan felt ashamed.

After all.

He had confidently promised Ding Hao that achieving First to Ascend would exempt him from the death penalty, but now that things had changed, he felt he had lost face!

So he said, "Ding Hao, don't be sad. This general feels indebted to you for this matter. However, it was personally approved by Her Majesty the Empress, and I have no power to change it."

"How about this, you name some other conditions, and this general will do his best to compensate you!"

"Oh?"

Ding Hao, who had been contemplating the matter of the three great military merits, raised an eyebrow.

No!

He wasn't sad at all!

On the contrary, he was actually very fortunate that Xia Weiyang didn't realize it was him who achieved First to Ascend. If she had, he would have been truly finished.

But since Ding Yishan offered, it would be foolish not to take advantage of it!

So, Ding Hao feigned helplessness and said, "Alright, I accept!"

"I would like to ask General Ding for some cultivation techniques and martial arts to enhance my own combat power!"

"Although gathering all four great military merits is an impossible feat!"

"I am still willing to give it a try. This is my goal in living!"

Ding Yishan pondered, "Cultivation techniques and martial arts? There is a widely circulated military cultivation technique in the Divine Phoenix Army called Raging Bull Strength. However, the Divine Phoenix Army has regulations that only officers of Squad Leader rank and above can practice it. This general cannot teach it to you!"

"Hmm, I've got it!"

Suddenly, Ding Yishan's eyes lit up, and he said again, "Before I joined the army, I accidentally obtained a cultivation technique, but it's very incomplete. However, this is my personal possession, and I have no problem teaching it to you!"

An incomplete technique?

Ding Hao frowned. The next moment, Ding Yishan copied the technique. On the cover, a large title could be seen: [Heavenly Tyrant Body Art]!

In addition, he also copied out two scrolls of martial arts. One was named [Wind Treading Steps], and the other was named [Golden Bell Shield]!

"Although these two intermediate martial arts are also circulated in the army, any ordinary soldier who has achieved merit can practice them. Although you are a death row inmate, you have achieved the merit of First to Ascend, so teaching them to you is considered compliant!"

As Ding Yishan spoke, he handed the incomplete technique and the two martial arts to Ding Hao!

"Thank you, General Ding!"

Ding Hao knew it was best to accept what was offered and not be greedy.

General Ding nodded, "Go now, Ding Hao. I have high hopes for you. Although gathering the four great military merits is difficult, it's not entirely impossible!"

"Understood!"

"Farewell, General Ding!"

Ding Hao nodded and finally withdrew from the military tent with the incomplete technique and martial arts!