The Merit of Being First to Scale the Walls

At the Southern Foothills of Fang City, a patrol of soldiers marched along the wall-walk, their armor clanking with dull thuds.

Deep in the forest, Zhao Cheng swiftly crouched low and hid in the shadows.

At the same time, agony surged through every bone in his body. Then, as if his bones had been replaced, their density rapidly increased. In the blink of an eye, they had become as indestructible as refined steel.

He felt as though his body had grown much heavier, and a sense of unrestrained power continued to break free!

His bones were now strong enough for him to unleash his full strength without fear of them buckling and shattering beneath it!

At last, he had truly become an "iron man" in every sense of the word!

The changes in his body didn't make Zhao Cheng tremble in the slightest. Holding his breath, he fixed his gaze on the patrol soldiers looking in his direction and slowly drew his bow. If they showed the slightest suspicion, he would shoot them down at once.

Fortunately, the sunlight was bright, and the shadows grew even darker by contrast. When people faced the strong light, it was often harder for them to make out things in the dark. The patrol gradually moved farther away.

Zhao Cheng silently eased the bowstring and continued climbing.

The lifespan deduction was still underway.

[Year 301: You enter the Skin Refining stage. You think Skin Refining is useless, but the Basic Body Refining Method makes it perfectly clear: if you wish to reach a higher realm with a flawless body, you must refine your skin to perfection as well.]

[Year 310: The Skin Refining stage you look down on most turns out to be the hardest to cultivate. Even though you are skilled in circulating qi and blood, you make little progress after ten years. You think the cost outweighs the benefits, but you have no other choice.]

[Year 340: Your progress in Skin Refining grows slower and slower. You become impatient for quick results and try to speed up your progress by grinding your skin. As a result, you stray down the wrong path...]

[Year 370: You finally find the right path. The calluses on your body, formed through years of farmwork and training, begin to disappear. Your skin gradually grows smooth and lustrous, even becoming fair and tender. You make your first strides along the path of Skin Refining!]

[Year 380: Your skin becomes lustrous as jade, and your pores grow clear and open. You feel as though you can control them, opening them at will and even breathing through them. You begin to understand why Skin Refining is necessary...]

[Year 400: Your skin's resilience increases dramatically, making it as tough as cowhide. You vaguely realize that Skin Refining conceals profound mysteries. You train with ever greater diligence, and your Skin Refining reaches the minor accomplishment stage!]

[Year 470: Your skin looks tender, but it is astonishingly tough beneath the surface, almost like iron. Even a Bronze Sword cannot injure it. Your Skin Refining reaches the major accomplishment stage!]

[Year 490: The skin all over your body grows clear and permeable, almost as though the wind can pass through it. The qi within you flows through your skin. Even without breathing through your mouth and nose, you can still run at thunderous speed for a long time without needing to catch your breath...]

[Year 500: For the past ten years, you have breathed through your skin and sensed the world around you. You faintly sense that a certain kind of qi also exists between heaven and earth. It flows over your skin and enters your body with every breath your skin takes. You suspect it is the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and you are deeply astonished...]

The deduction came to an abrupt halt.

The bloodied hands and face of Zhao Cheng swiftly grew smooth and pale as jade. Fortunately, the blood that had spattered him earlier was already turning dark red; otherwise, the change would have been far too conspicuous.

At the same time, Zhao Cheng felt layer after layer of oily film peeling away from his body. It was like he had been deep underwater, then burst out of the depths, gasping for air. His pores opened wide, greedily drawing in the air, as his body rapidly grew lighter and more permeable.

The wind blew against him and passed through his clothes, as though it could reach his internal organs—and even travel right through him, from his chest to his back.

The sensation was exceptionally refreshing and wondrous.

It was like he had spent his entire life wrapped in plastic. What had once felt normal now seemed almost suffocating when he thought back on it.

An indescribable, mysterious qi flowed faintly over his skin. He tried to grasp it, but couldn't.

"Now isn't the time to investigate this qi." Zhao Cheng quickly shut out the wonderful sensation and turned to test the strength of his skin.

Taking advantage of Feng Quan looking the other way, he pressed the arrowhead against his palm!

He felt nothing.

He slowly applied more force and began to feel a little pain, but that was all. The arrow still couldn't pierce his skin.

He kept increasing the pressure. Only when the arrowhead began to bend slightly did he feel a little sting, and a tiny spot of blood appeared on his skin.

Zhao Cheng reached a conclusion: calling his skin impervious to blades and spears might be an exaggeration, but it was many times tougher than cowhide. Ordinary blades and swords truly had a hard time piercing it.

"That means even the arteries running close to the surface are protected by my skin."

"Skin, muscles, fascia, and bones—four layers of defense. That's enough for me to scale walls, seize strongholds, and carve through the enemy ranks!"

An unparalleled sense of power built within him, like a volcano ready to erupt.

From his bones to his skin, he had complete command over every part of this body. His immense strength let him control his indestructible form as he pleased. This supreme authority over his own body filled Zhao Cheng with confidence.

He moved faster, his body now nimble to the extreme. Though it looked as if his feet were stepping on dead branches and leaves, he was actually moving forward by gripping the tree trunks with his hands. He made no sound and left no trace.

As they neared the Southern Foothills of Fang City, everyone grew more tense. They held their breath, clenched their teeth, and stared wide-eyed at the defenders on the city wall.

The closer they got, the greater the risk of being discovered.

They had to be more and more careful. The slightest rustle of wind or grass might draw the defenders' attention!

Closer, closer still!

Fifty paces. Thirty...

Everyone moved more and more slowly, crouching lower and lower. Their eyes grew bloodshot from staring for so long, but they didn't dare blink...

Twenty paces. Ten...

The beard of the defender standing atop the wall was now clearly visible.

Just then, Feng Quan, whose sharp eyes missed nothing, suddenly noticed that Zhao Cheng was moving faster up ahead—but the dead leaves beneath his feet weren't being crushed??

How could that be?

As he stared in surprise, a dead branch snapped beneath his foot with a crack!

Everyone's heart lurched. It's over!

Sure enough, the defender on the wall looked down at once. But before his gaze could land, Zhao Cheng swiftly raised his hand and hurled an arrowhead like a hidden weapon. It plunged straight into the defender's throat!

One strike, one kill!

"Ugh!"

Before the defender could get a clear look at Zhao Cheng and the others, his strength gave out and he toppled down.

Zhao Cheng moved like a phantom, rushing to the wall like the wind. He tapped his toes against it a few times, slapped his palm against the surface, and soared onto the walls of Fang City. Still in midair, he drew his bow left and right!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As the bowstrings cracked, Han Army defenders fell all around him, before him, and behind him!

At the same time, the Han Army descended into chaos. Cries of alarm rang out, and some quick-reacting soldiers raised their bows and fired back. There were so many defenders on the wall that arrows fell like rain!

It had all happened in the blink of an eye.

Feng Quan charged forward as if his life depended on it, the veins bulging in his neck as he roared, "Up the walls!!"

Because of his mistake, the Squad Leader had risked everything and climbed the wall ahead of time, landing in the midst of a perilous encirclement!

At that moment, he had forgotten all fear of death!

He too rushed beneath the wall like a furious little leopard. He kicked off the wall and a tree trunk in quick succession, and was the second to leap onto the ramparts, taking his place beside Zhao Cheng!

The elite Assault Cavalry behind him moved just as swiftly. Some kicked off the wall and climbed; others clambered up vines and branches. They surged onto the wall like a rising tide.

Farther back, the long-faced Centurion didn't hesitate either. He leaped up and shouted, "Brothers, cover our comrades with your bows!"

The supporting fire threw the Han Army's assault on Zhao Cheng into disarray!

The Han Army was panicked and confused!

The elite enemy troops flooding onto the wall took them completely by surprise. Some were still drawing their bows when elite Assault Cavalry suddenly sprang up and cut them down.

Their formation was in chaos, and the fighting had closed to short range. Arrows were useless now.

So the Han Army gathered its forces to fight the Qin Army, hoping to drive them off the wall.

But Zhao Cheng had already charged into the fray like a ferocious tiger descending the mountain. He raced like thunder, and heads flew wherever his Bronze Sword passed!

He charged alone against the surging tide of more than a hundred Han soldiers, fighting his way upstream!

At first, the Han Army relied on their numbers to give them courage, and attacked him together. But the moment they came within seven paces, they were already marked by Yama. In the blink of an eye, their heads would be rolling!

What shattered the Han Army's courage most was that the man simply wouldn't die!

They had no idea how many times their comrades had hacked at him with swords. Even the bronze armor on his body had been smashed and cracked, yet he was still going strong.

He charged at them like a monster, letting blades and swords strike him as he pressed forward without hesitation, splitting a soldier in two with a single blow!

They were terrified!

Blood sprayed in all directions, spattering the Han soldiers around him and soaking Zhao Cheng from head to toe until he was drenched in red. Only his fierce eyes, radiating boundless Killing Intent, remained bright, gleaming with a terrifying light!

The Han soldiers in front were nearly scared out of their wits!

"What a fiend!"

"Fall back! Fall back!"

"Kill!!"

"Cut down anyone who falters!"

The soldiers at the front were terrified and wanted to retreat, but those behind them couldn't see what was happening ahead and kept surging forward with all their might!

Even worse, their commander, Zhao Yong, kept shouting that anyone who faltered would be executed!

As if I don't know they'll execute me for faltering!

But if I don't falter, I'm dead for sure. If I do, I might still get away and live as a deserter!

If you're so brave, then get up here yourself!

The Han soldiers in front trembled as they grit their teeth in rage!

Even as they ground their teeth, the fiend cut down another squad of soldiers and charged toward them, sword trailing behind him. The pressure was like a mountain-sized tiger pouncing at them. One man was so terrified that he fell to his knees, and Zhao Cheng beheaded him with a single stroke!

By now, the soldiers being slaughtered one after another had realized they couldn't escape. Instead, desperation stirred in them the resolve to burn their boats and fight to the death!

"He's deep in enemy territory! If we attack together, we can definitely kill him!"

"Kill!! Don't be afraid! We'll die either way if we're afraid!"

"Kill!!"

The Han Army roared to bolster their courage, then surged forward as one!

Not far away, Feng Quan and the others, having eased the pressure by wiping out the few remaining defenders, turned around in confusion. The moment they looked, their faces changed in alarm!