Rock Body

Zhao Zheng's voice fell, and the hall fell so quiet that the rustling of the wind in the trees outside the window could be heard.

The Northern Di were making a major move.

Those six words were like six stones weighing down on every heart.

Zhao Zheng returned to the seat of honor and sat down. His gaze swept over the people in the hall before he spoke slowly:

"Our scouts have reported that the Northern Di have been gathering troops recently. The banners of every tribe on the grasslands are converging on the royal court. There are already more than two hundred thousand of them."

Two hundred thousand.

Li Jinshui quickly did the math. North-Rejecting City's garrison numbered fewer than fifty thousand, even counting every last soldier. Even with the forces from several nearby cities, they would only have a little over a hundred thousand.

Two hundred thousand against a hundred thousand, and the Northern Di cavalry were renowned for their ferocity.

This battle wouldn't be easy.

Someone couldn't help asking, "Governor, are the Di People going to attack our North-Rejecting City?"

Zhao Zheng shook his head. "Not for now. Their main force is headed east."

He stood up and walked to the map hanging on the wall, pointing to a spot three hundred li east of North-Rejecting City.

"Yanmen Pass."

Everyone drew in a sharp breath.

Yanmen Pass was Great Zhou's foremost northern stronghold, guarding the main route to the Capital City. If Yanmen Pass fell, the Di cavalry could reach the Capital City in just three days.

"The Imperial Court has already received the news," Zhao Zheng said. "His Majesty has ordered the General of the North-Suppressing to lead an army of a hundred and fifty thousand to meet the enemy at Yanmen Pass. The royal family will also send experts to reinforce the various regions."

He paused and turned to look at everyone.

"Although our North-Rejecting City isn't on the main battlefield, it's closest to the Di border. The Di main force going after Yanmen Pass doesn't mean they'll leave us alone."

His finger moved across the map, pointing to several places around North-Rejecting City.

"Here, here, and here. These are all routes the Di cavalry commonly use to infiltrate our territory. If they send a secondary force around Yanmen Pass and attack us from the flank, North-Rejecting City will bear the brunt."

Silence filled the hall.

Li Jinshui stared at the map, rapidly working through the possibilities.

A secondary force meant it wouldn't be too large. A few thousand, ten thousand at most.

But even a few thousand Di soldiers would be more than enough to give North-Rejecting City a hard time. Last time, three hundred Di soldiers had killed hundreds of villagers, and more than a hundred men from the Third Battalion had fallen. If a few thousand came—

He clenched his fists.

Zhao Zheng's voice rang out again.

"So I called you here today for one reason: prepare for war."

His gaze swept over each person, sharp as a blade.

"Starting today, all Camp Commanders and squad leaders must work hard to improve their strength. Those who need to train should train; those who need to kill the enemy should kill the enemy. Every level you gain gives you a better chance of surviving the coming battle."

He walked to the center of the hall and stood with his hands behind his back. His voice landed like a blow from deep in his chest.

"Only those in the Pulse-Opening Realm can sit back and watch the storm."

"Those in the Inner Strength Realm merely have the strength to protect themselves."

"Body Forging—"

He paused, his gaze falling on Li Jinshui before sweeping over the others.

"Body Forging is just cannon fodder."

Cannon fodder.

Li Jinshui knew those words all too well.

Three months ago, he had been cannon fodder.

Now he was a squad leader, at the eighth layer of Body Forging, but in the Governor's eyes, he was still cannon fodder.

Zhao Zheng continued, "I know some of you think that reaching the eighth or ninth layer of Body Forging makes you pretty strong. But let me tell you: in a real war, those in the Body Forging Realm are just there to fill the pits. The Di elite start at the seventh layer of Body Forging. Their squad leaders are at least at the ninth layer, and every company commander is in the Inner Strength Realm."

His voice grew heavier and heavier.

"If you run into a company commander, how many of you will make it back alive?"

No one answered.

They all knew the answer: not many.

"So," Zhao Zheng said, each word deliberate, "if you want to live, you have to claw your way up with everything you've got. The ninth layer of Body Forging isn't enough? Break into the Inner Strength Realm. The middle stage of Inner Strength isn't enough? Push into the late stage. The late stage isn't enough? Break into the Pulse-Opening Realm."

He returned to the seat of honor and sat down again.

"For the time being, military merit rewards will be doubled. Blood-Qi Pills, manuals, weapons—the General's Mansion will supply anything that can improve your strength. Your job is to kill the enemy, train, and stay alive."

He waved his hand.

"Dismissed."

Everyone saluted and filed out of the hall.

Li Jinshui walked among them, one hand tucked inside his coat, where he felt the book titled Rock Body and the bag of silver.

The Inner Strength Realm.

He had to break through as soon as possible.

When he left the General's Mansion, Qin Lie came over and asked in a low voice, "Squad Leader Li, did the Governor give you a cultivation manual in private?"

Li Jinshui nodded.

Qin Lie's eyes lit up. "What manual?"

"Rock Body."

Qin Lie froze, then sucked in a sharp breath. "Damn, that's the Governor's private collection! I heard that once you master it, you can stand there and let people hack at you without them being able to cut through! You hit the jackpot!"

Li Jinshui smiled but said nothing.

Hit the jackpot?

He still had to master it first.

By the time he returned to camp, it was dark.

Li Jinshui first went to Squad Jia's barracks and briefly explained what had been discussed at the meeting. Er Gou and the others looked pale as they listened. Only Monkey sat silently in the corner, his eyes frighteningly bright.

After the meeting, Li Jinshui called Monkey outside.

"Scared?"

Monkey shook his head. "Scared of what? Back in the Death Squad Camp, every day was spent waiting to die. At least now we've got a chance to live. What is there to be scared of?"

He looked at Li Jinshui and suddenly asked, "Jinshui, did you just say that Body Forging is cannon fodder?"

Li Jinshui nodded.

Monkey grinned. "Then I need to train even faster. I can't keep holding you back."

Li Jinshui looked at him without a word, then patted him on the shoulder.

Back in his barracks, Li Jinshui lit the lamp, took out the book titled Rock Body, and opened it.

The cultivation method was much more complex than Iron Shirt. Even mastering the basics required pairing it with an inner cultivation method, guiding qi into the body, and tempering the five internal organs. Once mastered, the skin would take on a faint, stony blue hue, and ordinary blades would leave only a white mark when they struck.

As he read, he brought up the panel:

[High-level Body Forging technique detected... Recording...]

[Successfully recorded: Rock Body]

[Requirement: Inner Strength Realm]

[Unable to cultivate at present]

Li Jinshui stared at the words and fell silent for a while.

The Inner Strength Realm.

He had to break through to the Inner Strength Realm first.

And to break through to the Inner Strength Realm, he needed an inner cultivation method.

He lowered his eyes to the Scripture Pavilion token in his arms.

Tomorrow.

He would go tomorrow.

The night wind blew in through the window, making the candle flame flicker a few times.

Li Jinshui looked up at the window. The night sky over North-Rejecting City was pitch-black, moonless, with only a few scattered stars.

He suddenly thought of Li Houde's face, of him saying, "After all, we're family," and of his hand trembling slightly as he handed over the bag of silver.

And of Li Jinbao sprawled on the ground, his face covered in blood.

He turned his gaze back to the manual in his hands.

Those matters could wait.

Right now, the most important things were staying alive and getting stronger.

The great battle was coming.

Before it arrived, he had to break through to the Inner Strength Realm.

Then—

He touched the bag of silver, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile.

Then he would settle the scores that needed settling.

Night deepened.

In one of the barracks of North-Rejecting City's Third Battalion, a candle burned until well past midnight.