Body Forging: Third Layer

The Death Squad Camp had been resting for five days following that bloody battle on the ramparts.

Early this morning, everyone still alive was driven out to the drill ground.

Standing on the high platform was not Instructor Zhao, but a clean-shaven, middle-aged scholar dressed in grey-green strategist robes, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.

"My surname is Wu, and I am in charge of the merit and demerit records for the Death Squad Camp," the strategist said. His voice was not loud, yet every word landed clearly in everyone's ears. "Today, I will explain the camp regulations. Listen well."

The crowd below was deathly silent.

"The Death Squad Camp, also known as the Vanguard Camp, is the first to charge in battle and the last to retreat," Strategist Wu said, scanning the crowd. "Most who enter here are criminals, refugees, or conscripts. But the military law of the Great Zhou still leaves a glimmer of hope."

He paused, enunciating each word:

"Anyone who reaches the fifth level of Body Forging may leave the Death Squad Camp and be reassigned to the regular army. Take your Military Merit Token to the City Defense Bureau to process it; no one will dare stop you."

A buzz of excitement exploded from the crowd.

Li Jinshui stood in the throng, his eyes brightening.

Although he had heard the old veterans mention it before, hearing it from an official's own mouth carried a completely different weight.

"Those at the third level of Body Forging or higher can serve as squad leaders, with an extra three coins in monthly pay and five catties of meat," Strategist Wu continued. "As for how to improve... kill the barbarians on the battlefield, and you will naturally have your rewards."

He spoke vaguely, but the veterans understood—killing the Di People and looting the Blood Essence Stones from their bodies could aid in Body Forging.

While it couldn't compare to proper medicinal pills or cultivation techniques, it was the only path for low-level grunts to climb upward.

After they were dismissed, Li Jinshui and Monkey squatted behind the barracks, gnawing on coarse buns.

"Fifth level of Body Forging..." Monkey mumbled, his mouth full of grain. "I'm currently at the peak of the second level."

Li Jinshui nodded. His panel showed he was at the second level of Body Forging, and his proficiency in Iron Shirt was already 4/15.

During these days of rest, he had secretly practiced his technique; although he had no points to add, his internal energy had become more solid.

"There are quite a few in the camp with some cultivation," Li Jinshui observed, glancing around. "Look at that one-eyed man; he's at least at the third level. That big guy in the northwest corner is probably close to the fourth."

Monkey squinted to look. "They're all old hands... among us new recruits, besides you and me, not many have even entered the ranks."

Just as they were speaking, a bronze gong began to clang violently.

"Enemy attack—to the walls—!"

The city walls again.

Li Jinshui gripped his iron saber tightly and charged up with the squad.

This time, he felt more confident—at the second level of Body Forging, protected by Iron Shirt, as long as he didn't run into anything too lethal, his chances of survival were much higher.

The top of the wall was already a chaotic mess. The Di People had deployed more Scaling Ladders this time, and several wobbly Siege Towers were being pushed forward.

"Death Squad Camp! Plug the gap—!"

Li Jinshui was pushed toward a crenel in the middle of the wall—the defenders there had just been mowed down by a volley of arrows, and the Di People were swarming up.

As one Di soldier poked his head up, Li Jinshui raised his shield and shoved, knocking the man straight off. A second barbarian leaped up, his scimitar swinging toward Li's head.

Army-Breaking Saber Technique: Horizontal Slash!

The iron saber collided with the scimitar, sending sparks flying.

Li Jinshui's arm went numb, but as he channeled his Iron Shirt, the force dissipated. He seized the moment to kick the man in the stomach; the barbarian stumbled back, and Li finished him off with a slash.

[Killed a Northern Di soldier, points +1]

[Current points: 4]

Add to Iron Shirt immediately!

With a thought, his points cleared to zero. A slight warmth spread through his body, and his Iron Shirt proficiency jumped to 5/15.

The third Di soldier was tricky—he was short and stocky, but his movements were lightning-fast, his scimitar targeting Li's lower body.

Li Jinshui blocked three strikes in a row, a chunk of his shield being shaved off.

"I've got him!"

Monkey darted out from the side, stabbing his blade into the barbarian's ribs.

The Di soldier turned to parry, and Li Jinshui seized the opening, executing an Upward Slash—

The blade sliced across the man's thigh, exposing the bone.

The Di soldier collapsed with a scream and was finished off by Monkey.

[Points +1]

Add to Iron Shirt again!

His Iron Shirt proficiency increased, and his strength rose.

The two stood back-to-back, desperately defending the crenel.

The Di People surged up like a tide, only to be beaten back time and time again.

Li Jinshui's saber technique grew more fluid, cycling through the Three Army-Breaking Styles until it began to feel like flowing water.

"On the left!" Monkey suddenly roared.

A Di warrior wearing leather armor and a wolf-skin cap vaulted onto the city wall.

This man's presence was entirely different; his eyes were as fierce as a wolf's, and the scimitar in his hand was thicker and heavier than those of the common barbarian soldiers.

Body Forging Fourth Layer!

And it was definitely at the peak of the fourth layer.

"Five-Man Squad Leader!" an old soldier screamed, "Retreat! Let the spearmen take over!"

But the spearmen were tied up at another breach and could not make it over in time.

The Di Five-Man Squad Leader grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and charged straight toward Li Jinshui.

The scimitar cleaved downward, the sound of it cutting through the air piercing to the ears.

Li Jinshui raised his shield to take the blow head-on—

"Crack!"

The wooden shield split down the middle.

A massive force surged through it, forcing Li Jinshui to retreat three steps as a metallic, sweet taste welled up in his throat.

Monkey lunged from the side with a stab, but the Five-Man Squad Leader parried it with a backhand motion and kicked Monkey in the stomach, sending him flying backward.

"Monkey!" Li Jinshui's eyes turned bloodshot.

The Five-Man Squad Leader gave him no chance to catch his breath, swinging the scimitar down again.

Li Jinshui could only barely block with the half-shattered shield; with every blow he took, his arm grew more numb.

He couldn't fight him head-on!

Li Jinshui began to circle around the crenellations, using the corpses and broken bricks on the wall as cover.

The Five-Man Squad Leader's sword technique was fierce, but his footwork was not agile; after missing several swings, he grew increasingly irritable.

"Zhou dog! Is running all you can do!"

Li Jinshui remained silent, watching for the moment the opponent's swing missed and his old strength was spent before the new could arise, then suddenly turned and charged!

Army-Breaking Saber Technique: Upward Slash!

This strike was as fast as lightning, aiming straight for the wrist holding the scimitar.

The Five-Man Squad Leader was caught off guard and hastily turned his blade to parry.

The two blades collided; the webbing between Li Jinshui's thumb and forefinger split, and his iron saber nearly flew from his hand—but he had successfully forced the opponent back a step.

Now!

Li Jinshui did not retreat but advanced, slamming his body into the opponent's chest. He smashed the remains of his shield into the man's face, causing the Five-Man Squad Leader to instinctively tilt his head back to dodge—

The iron saber thrust upward with all his might!

The tip of the blade sank into the lower abdomen.

The Five-Man Squad Leader's eyes widened in disbelief. He let out a howl and swung his scimitar back in a desperate hack.

Li Jinshui pulled his blade out and retreated rapidly, the edge of the scimitar grazing his chest and slicing through his leather armor.

"Ah—!" The Five-Man Squad Leader staggered two steps, blood gushing from his stomach, but he did not fall; instead, he lunged forward even more crazily.

Li Jinshui gritted his teeth and met him again.

This time, the Five-Man Squad Leader's strength was waning. Li Jinshui parried two strikes, found an opening, and swung his iron saber in a horizontal slash—

The blade swept across the neck.

The Five-Man Squad Leader froze, the scimitar in his hand clattering to the ground. His corpse slowly toppled over.

[Killed Northern Di Five-Man Squad Leader (Body Forging Fourth Layer Peak), Points +5]

[Current Points: 10]

Put it all into Iron Shirt!

[Consumed 5 points, Iron Shirt proficiency is now maxed]

[Breakthrough: Second Layer → Third Layer]

Boom!

A surge of heat rushed through his body, and his skin glowed with a pale bronze light that faded after two breaths.

The soreness and numbness in his left arm vanished instantly, and the wound on his hand stopped bleeding and healed. His aura climbed steadily, and his muscles and bones cracked and popped.

[Current Realm: Body Forging Third Layer]

It worked!

Li Jinshui let out a long breath, only then feeling his entire body go limp.

He leaned on his saber to catch his breath and looked toward Monkey—Monkey was clutching his stomach as he climbed up, his face deathly pale, but he was still moving.

"Not dead..." Monkey grinned, his smile looking even worse than crying.

At that moment, reinforcements finally arrived, regaining control of this section of the wall.

When retreating from the city wall, Li Jinshui took a deliberate look at the corpse of the Di Five-Man Squad Leader—his leather armor was better than that of a common soldier, and a small leather pouch hung from his waist. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, he snatched it off and stuffed it into his tunic.

Back at the Death Squad Camp, they tallied the casualties. Over sixty men had died in this battle, but the offensive of the Di Army had been repelled.

At night, Li Jinshui and Monkey sat in the corner of the barracks, sharing a piece of dried meat.

"Did you break through?" Monkey asked.

"Yeah, the third level." Li Jinshui nodded. "What about you?"

"Still a bit off." Monkey rubbed his stomach. "That kick was brutal... but it was worth it. I feel like my bottleneck has loosened."

The two of them chewed on the dried meat in silence. From the distance came the groans of wounded soldiers, mixed with the snoring of the veterans.

"Why did you join the Death Squad Camp?" Monkey asked suddenly.

Li Jinshui paused. "Sold out by my own kin."

"Ha." Monkey let out a laugh. "Same here. Famine hit my hometown, and my parents starved to death. I ran to North-Rejecting City looking for work, but the recruitment officers caught me. They said refugees must serve, or be treated as spies."

He chewed the dried meat, his gaze drifting. "Actually... I have decent talent for martial arts. A passing martial artist once said my foundation was above average, but my family was too poor to afford the apprenticeship fee."

Li Jinshui looked at Monkey.

It was true; although Monkey was only at the second level of Body Forging, he was agile and quick-witted, often showing flashes of brilliance during a fight.

"Once I reach the fifth level of Body Forging and join the regular army, I can learn proper techniques." A light shone in Monkey's eyes. "By then, I might be able to push to the seventh or eighth level, maybe even reach the Mingjin stage!"

Li Jinshui nodded. "You definitely will."

He pulled the leather pouch from his tunic and opened it—inside were three blood-colored crystals the size of thumbs, along with a few taels of broken silver.

"Blood Essence Stones?" Monkey's eyes lit up. "Good stuff! The Di soldiers sometimes carry these on the battlefield to replenish their vitality. One piece is worth ten meals of meat!"

Li Jinshui gave one piece to Monkey and kept two for himself.

They split the broken silver equally.

"Thanks." Monkey didn't stand on ceremony and tucked it away carefully. "When I break through to the third level, I'll treat you to a drink—if we can ever get our hands on any."

That night, Li Jinshui swallowed a Blood Essence Stone.

The crystal dissolved as soon as it hit his stomach, turning into a warm flow of blood that dispersed into his limbs and bones.

He circulated his Iron Shirt technique, guiding this energy to nourish his muscles, bones, and skin.

Two hours later, the energy from the crystal was fully absorbed, and the proficiency of his Iron Shirt third level rose from 0 to 3/15.

He pulled up his panel:

[Technique: Iron Shirt (Third Level 3/15), Army-Breaking Saber Technique (Initiate 9/10)]

[Realm: Body Forging Third Level]

[Points: 5]

The Army-Breaking Saber Technique was only one point away from reaching the Minor Accomplishment stage.

The Iron Shirt was steadily progressing. With the third level of Body Forging, he had already covered more than half the distance toward his goal of reaching the fifth level and leaving the Death Squad Camp.

Outside the window, the moonlight was deathly pale.

Li Jinshui clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body.

Soon.