The Storm Approaches

The news of the General of the North-Suppressing encountering the main force of the Di Army arrived the day after the Seventh Prince was released from house arrest.

That morning, Li Jinshui was practicing his punches in the barracks when he was summoned to the residence of Commander Zhao Zheng.

The commander said to Li Jinshui, "The General of the North-Suppressing... has clashed with the main force of the Di Army! I heard it's three hundred miles to the east, with over two hundred thousand troops between them, fighting until the sky turned dark! There was no probing; it was a fight to the death from the very start!"

Li Jinshui frowned slightly.

Over two hundred thousand people.

How many would die from that?

The commander continued, "Also, there is news regarding the Seventh Prince—the people who want him dead are not in North-Rejecting City, but back in the capital. Therefore, the house arrest on me and the Personal Guard Battalion has been lifted; we are free to come and go."

Li Jinshui nodded, his face devoid of expression.

The house arrest was lifted.

That woman named Yun Ruoxi would no longer be watching him.

But he knew this was only temporary.

A greater storm was still to come.

Sure enough, by the afternoon, even worse news arrived.

In North-Rejecting City, people began to flee.

At first, it was the merchants, loading carts with large and small bundles, heading south. Then came the common folk, carrying packs, dragging their families along, surging toward the south gate of the city.

The city gates were open, and no one was stopping them.

But the more people who ran, the more panicked those who remained became.

By evening, the city had descended into total chaos. The streets were packed with people, their cries, curses, and shouts blending into a cacophony. Some were looting, some were fighting, and others were kneeling on the ground, praying to the gods.

Li Jinshui stood at the entrance of the barracks, watching the fleeing crowds without saying a word.

Er Gou stood beside him, muttering in a low voice, "Squad Leader, are we... are we not running?"

Li Jinshui turned his head to look at him.

Er Gou shrank back under that gaze and hurriedly lowered his head. "I... I was just asking..."

Li Jinshui withdrew his gaze and continued to watch the fleeing crowds.

Run?

Where could he run to?

He was a soldier; to run was to be a deserter, and to be caught meant death.

Besides—

He touched the panel hidden in his tunic, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

The opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

That night, even more shocking news arrived.

The main force of the Di Army had sent someone over.

An Origin-Opening Realm expert.

It was said to be the third prince of the Di Kingdom, the older brother of Huyan Lie—Huyan Zhuo.

An expert in the late stage of the Origin-Opening Realm, he was a cut above Huyan Lie.

He had come to North-Rejecting City to avenge his brother and, incidentally, to take the city.

As the news spread, the entire North-Rejecting City erupted.

Early the next morning, the south gate of the city was shut.

The commander issued an order: no one was allowed to leave the city during wartime; violators would be executed.

Those who hadn't managed to escape were trapped inside, wailing and crying out to the heavens.

But no one paid them any mind.

Because outside the city, the Di Army had already arrived.

Thirty thousand Di soldiers were once again at the city walls.

This time, the leader was no longer the severely wounded Huyan Lie, but a middle-aged man riding a giant black wolf and draped in a blood-colored cloak.

Huyan Zhuo.

Late stage of the Origin-Opening Realm.

He stood before the formation, looking up at the walls of North-Rejecting City with a cold sneer on his lips.

On the city wall, the Seventh Prince was already standing there.

His injuries had not yet fully healed, and his face remained somewhat pale, but his aura was still so imposing that people dared not look him in the eye.

Behind him stood Yun Ruoxi and the other four guest advisors, along with Zhao Zheng and the experts of the Personal Guard Battalion.

Li Jinshui stood at the middle section of the city wall, watching that blood-red figure in the distance, his hand slowly clenching into a fist.

Late Origin-Opening Realm.

Stronger even than the Seventh Prince.

This battle would likely be more brutal than any that had come before.

Yet, there was no fear in his heart.

Only excitement.

Because he knew that today, he too would break through.

Night fell in the barracks.

Li Jinshui sat cross-legged on his bed and pulled up his interface:

[Name: Li Jinshui]

[Realm: Inner Strength Realm (Mid-stage)]

[Techniques: Evergreen Art (Minor Achievement 12/500), Rock Body (Minor Achievement 0/200), White Tiger Blade Technique (Entry 45/80), Iron Thread Fist (Entry 38/60), Inch Step (Entry 29/50), Marching Step (Entry 0/40), Iron Shirt (Perfected), Wolf Killing Seven Forms (Perfected), Tiger Walk (Perfected)]

[Points: 428]

He looked at those 428 points and took a deep breath.

Tomorrow, the Di soldiers would assault the city.

Tomorrow, countless people would die.

Tomorrow, he might die as well.

But today—

Today, he would become stronger.

He first looked at Rock Body; it was still a long way from Great Achievement, but he could push it a bit further.

[Consume 60 points, Rock Body proficiency +60]

[Rock Body: Minor Achievement (0/150) → Minor Achievement (60/200)]

The heavy energy within his body became more solidified, and the stone-blue hue on the surface of his skin deepened.

He reached out and pressed against his chest; the sensation of hardness was like pressing against a real stone.

Now, he could withstand a full-force blow from a mid-stage Inner Strength Realm expert.

That was enough.

He looked at the White Tiger Blade Technique.

This was the blade technique he practiced most diligently, the one with which he had killed the most enemies, and it was the closest to Great Achievement.

It was also the key to his survival on the battlefield.

Going from Entry 45/80 to Great Achievement required 235 points.

That was enough.

He thought for a moment, deciding to bring it to the edge of Great Achievement and leave the rest to be finished by killing on the battlefield tomorrow.

[Consume 235 points, White Tiger Blade Technique proficiency +235]

[White Tiger Blade Technique: Entry (45/80) → Great Achievement (0/300)]

Boom—

Countless memories flooded into his mind!

It wasn't the fragmented scenes from before, but a complete set of combat memories!

A massive white tiger rampaged through the mountains and forests; every pounce carried the force of a thunderbolt, every bite was lethal, and every lash of its tail could snap a tree as thick as a man could embrace!

Those memories merged with his own blade technique—the viciousness of the Wolf Killing Seven Forms and the ferocity of the White Tiger Blade Technique fused perfectly!

He reached out, miming a blade with his hand, and swung it gently.

A blade aura shot out from his fingertips, leaving a shallow mark on the wall.

At the Great Achievement realm, blade aura became as solid as reality.

He nodded in satisfaction and continued to add points.

Iron Thread Fist, from Entry 38/60 to Minor Achievement, required 22 points.

[Consume 22 points, Iron Thread Fist proficiency +22]

[Iron Thread Fist: Entry (38/60) → Minor Achievement (0/100)]

Fist technique memories poured in, and the profound meaning of the Iron Thread Fist deepened. With both hardness and softness combined, the punches were like iron threads, the force penetrating skin and bone. A single punch might look light on the surface, but the internal energy would drill into the enemy's body like an iron thread, destroying their internal organs.

Inch Step, from Entry 29/50 to Minor Achievement, required 21 points.

[Consume 21 points, Inch Step proficiency +21]

[Inch Step: Entry (29/50) → Minor Achievement (0/100)]

The strange sensation underfoot grew clearer. Within a Square Inch, he could not only move instantly but also change direction mid-flight, his movements elusive and unpredictable.

Marching Step, from Novice 0/40 to Minor Accomplishment, required 40 points.

[Consumed 40 points, Marching Step proficiency +40]

[Marching Step: Novice (0/40) → Minor Accomplishment (0/80)]

Li Jinshui looked at the glaring [0] on the panel, a slow smile spreading across his lips.

[Name: Li Jinshui]

[Realm: Inner Strength Realm (Mid-stage)]

[Techniques: Evergreen Art (Minor Accomplishment 12/500), Rock Body (Minor Accomplishment 60/200), White Tiger Blade Technique (Major Accomplishment 0/300), Iron Thread Fist (Minor Accomplishment 0/100), Inch Step (Minor Accomplishment 0/100), Marching Step (Minor Accomplishment 0/80), Iron Shirt (Perfection), Wolf Killing Seven Forms (Perfection), Tiger Walk (Perfection)]

[Points: 0]

Enough.

This is enough.

He stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open.

The night breeze blew in, carrying a hint of coolness.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.

Inner Strength, mid-stage.

Evergreen Art, Minor Accomplishment, his internal energy was as vast as rivers and seas, inexhaustible.

Rock Body, past the halfway point of Minor Accomplishment, his defense was astonishing.

White Tiger Blade Technique, Major Accomplishment, his blade energy was solid, capable of cleaving an Inner Strength mid-stage expert in one strike.

Iron Thread Fist, Minor Accomplishment. Inch Step, Minor Accomplishment.

And those techniques at Perfection—Iron Shirt, Wolf Killing Seven Forms, Tiger Walk.

He was now more than twice as strong as he had been three days ago.

Tomorrow—

He looked towards the distant Di encampment, where countless points of fire flickered.

Tomorrow, he would show those people what true slaughter was.

He closed the window and returned to his bed, lying down.

Closing his eyes.

He heard Monkey's snores, the distant sounds of patrolling footsteps, the faint whisper of the wind.

Listening to those sounds, he slowly drifted into dreamland.

In his dream, he saw a colossal white tiger standing atop a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, letting out a long roar to the heavens.

And he stood beside that white tiger.