Blood and Fire Forging

After that brutal battle, the war at North-Rejecting City fell into a strange rhythm.

The Di Army no longer launched overwhelming, all-out sieges, switching instead to small-scale harassment several times a day.

Every time, a few hundred men would charge a section of the wall carrying Scaling Ladders, refusing to retreat no matter how many died, as if their goal wasn't to breach the city, but to exhaust the defenders to death.

The Death Squad Camp became the busiest unit—wherever the situation grew critical, they were thrown into the fray.

Sometimes they had to scale the walls three or four times a day, each time filling the gaps with their own lives.

Li Jinshui soaked in this sea of blood, growing at a rapid pace.

During the first harassment battle, he cut down four Di People, gaining four points which he immediately invested into Iron Shirt.

[Consumed 9 points, Iron Shirt Third Layer (12/15)]

[Current points: 0]

Through repeated life-and-death struggles, his Army-Breaking Saber Technique finally broke through its bottleneck, advancing from Entry-level to Minor Achievement.

[Army-Breaking Saber Technique Entry-level -> Minor Achievement]

With the saber technique flowing, the transitions between the three stances produced many new variations, making his strikes far more cunning.

The second time, he ran into a Di Squad Leader at the third layer of Body Forging.

After clashing for over twenty moves, he and Monkey managed to hack the man's head off, earning three points.

[Consumed 3 points, Iron Shirt Fourth Layer (0/20)]

[Current points: 0]

With the proficiency for the third layer of Iron Shirt maxed out, he broke through to the fourth layer.

[Current Realm: Body Forging Fourth Layer]

His skin took on a faint bronze hue, making it difficult for ordinary blades to pierce.

His strength increased by more than thirty percent, and the iron saber in his hand felt as light as a blade of grass.

Monkey also broke through during the third harassment battle, stepping into the third layer of Body Forging.

The two of them worked together with increasing familiarity; when standing back-to-back, seven or eight Di soldiers couldn't even get close to them.

"At this rate, if I slaughter another dozen or twenty, I'll be able to reach the fifth layer," Li Jinshui mused while resting one time.

However, he sensed something was wrong—there were more and more Di soldiers with cultivation.

Before, it was one in ten; now, it was one in every three or four. And their levels were rising too—second and third layers were everywhere, and occasionally he would even run into a fourth-layer soldier.

But as Li Jinshui killed more enemies, his points climbed steadily.

[Points +2, +1, +2, +1, +2]

[Current points: 8]

[Consumed 8 points, Iron Shirt Fourth Layer (8/20)]

Seven days later, the Di Army changed their tactics.

That morning, before the mist had fully cleared, three thousand-man phalanxes of the Di Army suddenly appeared on the open field three miles outside the North Gate of North-Rejecting City.

They didn't attack the city; they simply stood there in formation, war drums thundering and horns blaring one after another.

The defenders on the wall tensed up. An hour later, a messenger rushed into the Death Squad Camp:

"The General orders! The entire Death Squad Camp is to exit the city and crush the Di vanguard!"

The parade ground fell deathly silent.

Li Jinshui cursed inwardly, Which idiot gave this order? A charge on flat ground? Why ignore the walls? Are they morons?! Do they even know how to command?!

Exit the city, form up, and fight in an open field.

This meant abandoning the walls and the tactical advantage, forcing them into a head-on collision with the Di Army.

And the Death Squad Camp was to be the first wave of cannon fodder sent to die.

Captain Zhang stood on the platform, his face ashen: "This is a death order. But military law is like a mountain; those who disobey—will be executed."

He paused, his voice rasping harshly: "Those at the fifth layer of Body Forging, step forward now; you are exempt from this battle."

Hearing this, Li Jinshui started cursing again. Was this even human? Did they think the cannon fodder camp had too many people?

No one moved below—the Death Squad Camp didn't have a single person at the fifth layer of Body Forging.

There were a few at the fourth layer, and Li Jinshui was one of them.

"Collect your armor! Collect your blades!"

This time, they weren't issued leather armor, but old yet intact iron armor—it was a bit rusty, but it provided solid protection.

Their blades were also replaced with standard-issue military sabers, the edges gleaming with a chilling light.

Li Jinshui donned his gear in silence.

The iron armor was heavy, weighing over thirty catties, but with his strength at the fourth level of Body Forging, it did not hinder his movements.

Monkey was beside him, tying his armor cords with trembling hands: "This time... I fear we truly won't be coming back."

"Stay close to me." Li Jinshui said only those three words.

At the third quarter of the Mao hour, the city gates creaked open.

The Three Thousand Death Battalion lined up and marched out of the city.

The iron armor clattered, sounding like funeral bells.

On the open ground outside the city, the Di Army had already deployed three phalanxes.

Directly ahead was a thousand-man infantry formation, with five hundred cavalrymen patrolling each flank.

The sun pierced through the morning mist, illuminating the ferocious faces of the Barbarian Soldiers.

Li Jinshui stood in the middle of the ranks, gripping his military saber tightly. He expanded his panel:

[Technique: Iron Shirt (Level 4, 8/20), Army-Breaking Saber Technique (Minor Achievement, 5/10)]

[Realm: Body Forging Level 4]

[Current Points: 0]

Today, he had to reach the fifth level. If he didn't, he would die.

Having killed so many Barbarian Soldiers, his proficiency in the Army-Breaking Saber Technique had increased by another 5 points.

The war drums began to thunder.

"Death Battalion—charge—!"

Three thousand men let out howls that sounded inhuman, slamming into an enemy formation ten times their size.

A rain of arrows rose into the air from the Di Army ranks.

Li Jinshui raised his shield to protect his head, pushing his Iron Shirt to the limit. Arrows pinged and clattered against his iron armor; a few pierced the plates, only to be caught by his muscles.

Fifty paces, thirty paces, ten paces—

The two armies collided with a deafening crash!

The front row fell like harvested wheat.

Li Jinshui slammed into a cluster of Barbarian Soldiers, his saber sweeping horizontally to sever two legs.

He turned to hack, and another head flew into the air.

[Points +2]

Add to Iron Shirt! Proficiency 10/20.

Three Barbarian Soldiers rushed from the left, surrounding him in a triangle.

Li Jinshui did not retreat but advanced, unleashing the full power of his Army-Breaking Saber Technique at the Minor Achievement level—an Upward Slash severed one man's wrist, a horizontal slash opened another's chest, and a follow-up spinning hack sent the third head rolling.

[Points +3]

Add to Iron Shirt! 13/20.

Monkey was struggling on the right flank, caught between two Barbarian Soldiers.

Li Jinshui rushed over and hacked one down, while Monkey seized the chance to stab the other through the throat.

"Thanks!" Monkey's face was covered in blood.

"Don't scatter!" Li Jinshui roared.

Back-to-back, the two of them charged and broke through the enemy formation.

The sword marks on their iron armor stacked one upon another, but with the fourth level of Iron Shirt holding firm, they were only flesh wounds.

However, the tide of battle turned sharply.

The Death Battalion was too small and was soon carved into a dozen pieces by the Barbarian Army.

Every dozen Zhou Soldiers had to face the siege of a hundred Barbarian Soldiers. Screams rose one after another, and blood stained the frozen earth a deep red.

Not far away, Li Jinshui saw a veteran of the Death Battalion, also at the fourth level of Body Forging, being surrounded by five Barbarian Soldiers; exhausted, he was hacked to pieces.

He gritted his teeth and killed his way deeper into the enemy formation—there, a Barbarian Squad Leader was directing the siege.

To capture the bandits, first capture the king!

The Squad Leader saw him too and grinned as he stepped forward to meet him. Their blades collided, sending sparks flying.

Peak of Body Forging Level 4!

Furthermore, his saber technique was both ruthless and seasoned. Li Jinshui launched seven consecutive attacks, all of which were parried. The Squad Leader countered with a slash toward his neck; Li Jinshui retreated urgently, the tip of the blade grazing his armor collar and leaving a deep gouge.

"Zhou dog, you've got some skill." The Squad Leader sneered, "But it's not enough!"

His saber momentum suddenly shifted, crashing down like a violent storm. Li Jinshui blocked with difficulty, his arms aching and numb, the web of his thumb split open.

He could not fight him head-on!

Li Jinshui recalled his last fight against a peak Fourth Layer opponent—maneuver, find the opening!

He began circling his opponent, using the chaotic crowd and corpses on the battlefield as cover. The Squad Leader's several fierce lunges missed, making him increasingly irritable.

At this moment, Monkey suddenly lunged from the side, stabbing his blade toward the Squad Leader's ribs!

The Squad Leader turned his saber to parry, and Li Jinshui seized this split second to swing his military saber with all his might—

Army-Breaking Saber Technique: Cleave!

This strike was at the pinnacle of the Minor Mastery realm.

The blade sliced through the leather armor and bit into the shoulder blade. The Squad Leader shrieked, his saber momentum stalling.

Monkey seized the opportunity to stab again, the tip of his blade piercing the man's lower back.

Li Jinshui pulled his saber free and slashed again!

The second strike severed the neck.

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

[Current Points: 5]

Put it all into Iron Shirt!

[Consumed 5 points, Iron Shirt proficiency 18/20]

Still two points short!

With the Squad Leader dead, the offensive of the surrounding Barbarian Soldiers slowed.

Li Jinshui and Monkey took the chance to retreat, merging with seven or eight surviving soldiers from the Death Squad Camp to form a circular formation.

"How many are still alive?" a veteran covered in blood asked.

"Don't know... at least half are dead," someone replied.

Li Jinshui scanned the battlefield. The Death Squad Camp's banner had fallen, and the remnants were cut into a dozen small pockets, each fighting for themselves. The Barbarian army was slowly tightening the encirclement.

Must kill two more!

He locked eyes on a Barbarian Soldier not far away and said to Monkey, "Cover me!"

The two suddenly charged out of the circular formation, rushing straight at the Barbarian Soldier.

The Barbarian Soldier didn't react in time and was cut down by Li Jinshui's saber.

[Points +2]

Enough!

[Iron Shirt proficiency full]

[Breakthrough: Fourth Layer → Fifth Layer]

[Current Points: 0]

The shackles within his body shattered with a roar!

Internal energy surged like a bursting river, and his skin glowed with a dark golden light for a full three breaths.

His strength surged nearly twofold, and his five senses suddenly sharpened; every detail on the battlefield etched itself into his vision.

[Current Realm: Body Forging Fifth Layer]

It's done!

Li Jinshui let out a long howl that shook the battlefield. He felt as if his iron armor weighed nothing, and the military saber in his hand felt like an extension of his own body.

With one swing, three Barbarian Soldiers fell in response.

[Points +3]

[Consumed 3 points, Iron Shirt Fifth Layer (3/25)]

Add to Iron Shirt again! Fifth Layer proficiency 3/25.

[Current Points: 0]

Li Jinshui charged like a tiger into a flock of sheep, and wherever he passed, the Barbarian Soldiers fled in disarray.

Monkey followed by his side, and the two of them carved a bloody path through the enemy lines.

"Reinforcements! Reinforcements are here—!"

At the city gate, the Zhou Army cavalry finally moved.

Three thousand cavalrymen charged into the flank of the Barbarian army like a torrent of iron.

The Barbarian formation fell into chaos and began to retreat.

The remnants of the Death Squad Camp seized the chance to break out, retreating toward the city gate.

Li Jinshui supported Monkey—Monkey had been slashed in the left leg and was limping.

The two retreated into the city gate with the flow of people, leaving a field of corpses behind them.

As the city gate slammed shut, Li Jinshui looked back one last time.

Of the Three Thousand Death Battalion, fewer than three hundred returned alive. In the open field outside the city, corpses were piled into mountains; those of the Zhou Army and the Barbarians were mixed together, long since impossible to tell apart.

The setting sun was as red as blood, splashing across this field of carnage.

Back at the Death Battalion camp, no one spoke.

Those who had survived either sat or lay down, their eyes hollow. Some wept in low voices, while others stared blankly at the sky.

Li Jinshui leaned against the wall of the barracks and pulled up his interface:

[Technique: Iron Shirt (5th Layer 3/25), Army-Breaking Saber Technique (Minor Achievement 8/10)]

[Realm: Body Forging 5th Layer]

[Points: 0]

Body Forging 5th Layer... he had finally reached it.

Through constant killing, his proficiency in the Army-Breaking Saber Technique had also risen to 8 points.

Captain Zhang walked over, glanced at Li Jinshui, and then at Monkey, who had also broken through to the 4th Layer of Body Forging beside him.

"You two, come with me."

Inside the captain's quarters, Captain Zhang produced two wooden tablets and handed one to each of them.

"Li Jinshui, Body Forging 5th Layer. Per military law, you are discharged from the Death Battalion and assigned to the Third Battalion of the City Defense Army as a Squad Leader. Monthly stipend: one tael of silver, one Blood-Qi Pill, and twenty catties of meat."

"Hou San," he looked at Monkey, "Body Forging 4th Layer. Promoted to Corporal of the Death Battalion. Monthly stipend increased by three coins, plus five catties of meat. Once you break through to the 5th Layer, you can leave as well."

Monkey took the wooden tablet and grinned, though his eyes were glistening with moisture. "Thank you, Captain."

Li Jinshui traced the characters on his tablet—"Squad Leader Li Jinshui."

Three months of fighting for his life had finally bought him this glimmer of hope.

"Report to the Third Battalion tomorrow," Captain Zhang paused. "Remember, even though you are out of the Death Battalion, you are still under military registry. You are not to leave the camp without orders; those who violate this... will be beheaded."

"Understood."

That night, Li Jinshui packed the few belongings he had—two changes of clothes and a pair of worn-out shoes.

Monkey helped him bundle his things.

"We won't be able to kill Barbarians together tomorrow," Monkey laughed, "but it's for the best. At least you'll be able to eat a proper meal."

"When you reach the 5th Layer, I'll treat you to a drink," Li Jinshui said.

"It's a deal."

Early the next morning, Li Jinshui shouldered his pack and walked out of the Death Battalion.

Outside the camp gate, two soldiers from the City Defense Army were already waiting.

They verified Li Jinshui's wooden tablet and led him toward the city.

As they passed the city walls, Li Jinshui looked up.

There was still wet blood on the battlements, and the guards stood at their posts with expressionless faces.

Further away, the faint sounds of shouting and laughter drifted from the officers' quarters—the general was hosting a banquet to celebrate the great victory from the night before.

He withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

The Third Battalion's station was much more orderly, with rows of barracks, a training ground, and an armory.

Li Jinshui was led to a private barrack; it was small, but clean, with a bed, a table, and a small window.

On the table sat a porcelain bottle containing a dark red pill, its medicinal fragrance hitting his nostrils.

Beside it, in an oil-paper parcel, was twenty catties of cured meat.

The soldier who led him said, "Squad Leader Li, rest today. Report for roll call tomorrow at the hour of the Dragon, and you will be assigned your men."

"Thank you."

After the soldier left, Li Jinshui closed the door.

He walked to the window and looked toward the direction of the Death Battalion.

That side was deathly silent, while this side was orderly—it felt like two different worlds.

From today on, he was no longer cannon fodder.

But the road ahead was still very long.

Li Jinshui opened the porcelain bottle and swallowed the Blood-Qi Pill.

A warm current dissolved in his stomach; he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to circulate the Iron Shirt technique.

Points increased by two.

[Iron Shirt (5th Layer 5/25)]

The Blood-Qi Pill was indeed a good thing, though it was a pity he only got one a month.