Bloodbath

The giant sneered as he dragged his battle-axe closer step by step. His heavy footfalls crunched over the rubble, each one sending a shiver through the air. He looked down at Li Jinshui, who was struggling to move amid the rocks, his eyes full of the cruelty of a cat toying with a mouse.

Li Jinshui's vision blurred. As he watched the enormous figure draw closer, the shadow of death descended over him.

No! He couldn't die here! His revenge was still unavenged, and Li Houde and Li Jinbao were still living carefree lives. How could he die?!

An overwhelming desire to survive and a searing hatred, mingled with agony, erupted in his chest like a volcano!

"Roar—!!!"

Li Jinshui let out a howl that sounded nothing like a human cry. Strength surged from some unknown place within him, and he snatched up the half of a broken saber beside him. His body sprang off the ground like a released coil!

Instead of retreating, he hurled himself straight into the giant's arms!

The giant clearly hadn't expected Li Jinshui, so badly wounded, to suddenly rise and fight back. He froze for a moment.

That moment was all Li Jinshui needed!

He poured every last ounce of strength, along with his frenzied will, into the broken saber and viciously drove it into the giant's uncovered lower abdomen!

"Pfft!"

The broken blade sank in to the hilt!

The giant roared in agony. The pain in his lower abdomen made him falter.

But his ferocity flared. He abandoned his axe with his left hand and swung a punch at Li Jinshui's face, while his right hand reached for Li Jinshui's throat.

Li Jinshui didn't dodge or evade. He let the giant's bowl-sized fist graze his cheek, leaving a burning sting in its wake.

He raised his left arm and took the giant's reaching right hand on his shoulder blade, his fingers hooking deep into the giant's flesh.

At the same time, his long-charged left fist, infused with the last of Iron Shirt's power, shot upward like a cannonball and smashed into the giant's unguarded Adam's apple with all his might!

"Crack!!!"

The crisp snap of breaking bone made one's teeth ache.

The giant's eyes bulged. His hand abruptly released Li Jinshui, and he clutched his crushed throat, choking and wheezing, unable to make a coherent sound.

How could Li Jinshui let such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by?!

A murderous glint blazed in his eyes. He yanked the broken saber from the giant's belly, bringing with it a gush of scalding blood and intestines, then drove it viciously into the giant's heart!

The second stab, straight through the heart!

The giant's body convulsed violently.

The third slash flashed across the giant's throat, ending his life for good!

"Ugh..." The giant's throat gave one last muffled whimper. His massive body swayed, then crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

[Killed Northern Di Squad Leader (Body Forging, peak of the sixth layer), points +8]

[Current points: 8]

The cold notification rang in his mind like the sweetest music.

Li Jinshui roared inwardly, "Put all my points into Army-Breaking Saber Technique!!"

[Spent 8 points, Army-Breaking Saber Technique proficiency +8]

[Army-Breaking Saber Technique: Great Accomplishment → Perfection]

"Boom—!!!"

It was as if a barrier in his mind had been shattered in an instant! An ineffable torrent of insight surged into him.

Upward Slash, horizontal slash, cleaving strike—the three moves he had honed tens of thousands of times flowed together completely at that moment, without the slightest obstruction!

The saber was the man, the man was the saber. The saber followed his heart, and his intent followed the taking of life!

At the perfected realm, Army-Breaking Saber Technique had returned to simplicity. Each slash was the most direct, most effective, and most lethal move!

A warm current also rose from his dantian and flowed through his limbs and bones, rapidly mending his grievously wounded body. He wasn't fully healed, but he had regained some ability to move.

His earlier patrol had already raised Army-Breaking Saber Technique to Great Accomplishment.

Li Jinshui lowered his head and looked at the enormous battle-axe on the ground, smeared with blood and brain matter.

"Roar!" he growled, bending down to grab the haft.

The axe was heavy in his hands, weighing at least fifty pounds. Before, swinging it would have been a struggle, but now, with the perfected saber technique's insight and that newly risen current of energy bolstering him, it felt surprisingly easy to handle!

He turned, his bloodshot eyes sweeping across the Barbarian Soldiers, who had fallen into brief confusion after their Squad Leader's sudden death.

His killing intent spread through the air like a tangible force.

"Kill—!"

Dragging the battle-axe, Li Jinshui charged into the enemy ranks! His steps were a little unsteady, and the pain in his chest and abdomen continued, but his presence was utterly demonic!

A Barbarian Soldier roared and charged at him with a raised saber. Li Jinshui didn't dodge. The battle-axe swept upward at a strange angle, striking before his opponent could!

"Pfft!"

The axe blade easily broke through the leather armor and cleaved the Barbarian Soldier in half diagonally, from shoulder to hip! His organs and blood splattered across the ground.

[Killed Northern Di soldier, points +1]

The battle-axe swung back and swept horizontally! Another Barbarian Soldier was cut in half at the waist!

[Killed Northern Di soldier, points +1]

There was no form and no fixed moves, only the purest, most violent slaughter!

He perfectly integrated the perfected realm's saber technique into his use of the battle-axe. The weapon was different, but the essentials of generating force, choosing angles, and seizing the right moment were the same.

In his hands, the heavy battle-axe became as easy to control as his own arm, a reaper's scythe harvesting lives.

Chop, cleave, sweep, slash upward... Each blow took one or even two lives. The Barbarian Soldiers' terrified screams, the sharp cracks of broken weapons, and the dull sounds of tearing flesh mingled together.

Li Jinshui was drenched in blood, some of it his own, but most of it his enemies'.

Like an asura crawling out of a blood-soaked hell, he charged back and forth through the enemy ranks, unstoppable! The agony in his chest seemed temporarily suppressed by the fever of slaughter, while notifications of his rising points flashed across his panel.

[Killed Northern Di soldier, points +2]

[Killed Northern Di soldier, points +1]

[Points +1...]

As he slaughtered furiously, he kept assigning points in his mind: "Put all my points into Iron Shirt!!"

[Spent 3 points, Iron Shirt proficiency +3]

[Spent 2 points, Iron Shirt proficiency +2]

[Spent 1 point...]

Iron Shirt's proficiency surged at an unprecedented rate!

[Iron Shirt: Fifth Layer (15/25)]

[Fifth Layer (17/25)]

[Fifth Layer (20/25)...]

Kill! Kill! Kill!

When the tenth Barbarian Soldier fell beneath his battle-axe, Iron Shirt's proficiency finally reached the threshold!

[Iron Shirt proficiency full]

[Breakthrough: Fifth Layer → Sixth Layer]

"Rumble—!!!"

It was as if thunder had exploded inside him! The Iron Shirt force that had been on the verge of collapse was like a withered tree bursting into spring. It recovered instantly, then surged with greater strength than ever before! Layer upon layer of invisible shackles were smashed apart by its violent power!

A dark golden sheen suddenly lit up across his skin, more intense and longer-lasting than ever before. It took a full five breaths to slowly recede.

Under the surging force, the broken ribs in his chest shifted back into place. They hadn't fully healed yet, but the pain had eased considerably. The deep wound beneath his ribs wriggled and contracted as the muscles drew together. The bleeding stopped, and the wound began to scab over.

A feeling of power nearly twice as strong as before filled his entire body! His senses sharpened extraordinarily, and every detail of the battlefield entered his mind: the terrified faces of the Barbarian Soldiers, the paths of the flying droplets of blood, even Er Gou's labored breathing in the distance.

[Current realm: Body Forging, sixth layer]

He had broken through! In a fight to the death, he had advanced through two levels in succession!

"Roar—!!!"

Li Jinshui couldn't help throwing back his head and howling, his cry shaking the mountain ravine! His howl brimmed with release and exhilaration!

The battle-axe in his hands swung with even greater fury and ease!

Protected by Iron Shirt at the sixth layer of Body Forging, he could take the blades of ordinary Barbarian Soldiers almost without a scratch! With his saber technique at the perfected realm, every attack was flawlessly timed, making him far more efficient!

He killed five more Barbarian Soldiers in succession, including a minor leader who had tried to sneak up on him.

His points increased once more.

"Put more into Iron Shirt!"

[Spent 5 points, Iron Shirt proficiency +5]

[Current: Sixth Layer (5/30)]

The dozen or so remaining Barbarian Soldiers broke down completely.

They looked at the Zhou Army officer, drenched in blood and as invincible as a demon god. They saw their Squad Leader on the ground and their comrades hacked into pieces. Their last shred of courage vanished.

"Monster! He's a monster!"

"Run—!"

Terrified shrieks rang out. The remaining Barbarian Soldiers abandoned their encirclement and fled wildly toward the depths of the ravine, wishing their parents had given them two more legs.

Li Jinshui didn't pursue them. He leaned on his battle-axe and gasped for breath.

Every breath carried the heavy smell of blood, and his chest heaved violently. Although he had broken through to the sixth layer of Body Forging and most of his wounds had healed, the continuous fighting—especially that final frenzied slaughter—had taken a heavy toll on his stamina and mental strength.

"Squad Leader... Squad Leader!" Er Gou rushed over with the three survivors of Squad Jia, stumbling as they came. Their eyes were filled with shock and reverence as they looked at Li Jinshui, and their voices trembled.

They had formed a defensive formation and killed three or four Barbarian Soldiers themselves. They had also witnessed with their own eyes how Li Jinshui had turned the tables when cornered and smashed through the enemy ranks.

"Count the casualties." Li Jinshui wiped the blood from his face, his voice hoarse.

The results came quickly. Of the five men in Squad Jia, one had died, one had suffered minor injuries, and three were unharmed. Squad Leader Sun's main force had suffered heavy losses: seven killed in action, three seriously wounded, and nine lightly wounded.

But their victory was just as astonishing: thirty-four enemies slain, including three Squad Leaders. This was unquestionably a great victory, one that would be enough to draw the attention of the Camp Commander, if not the general.

The atmosphere was heavy and solemn on the way back to the city.

The seriously wounded were carried on stretchers, while the bodies of the fallen were wrapped up as best they could. Squad Leader Sun walked over to Li Jinshui. The middle-aged man was injured too. He looked at Li Jinshui with a complicated expression, gratitude mingled with deep shock.

"Squad Leader Li," Squad Leader Sun said hoarsely, "if not for you today... our whole squad would have been left at Eagle Beak Ravine. I, Sun, owe you my life. From this day on, no one in the Third Battalion will dare refuse to acknowledge you."

Li Jinshui nodded but said nothing. He closed his eyes as though regulating his breathing, but in truth he was savoring the fight, especially the wonderful feeling of his strength surging and everything coming under his control when he had assigned points and broken through.

By the time they returned to the Third Battalion's camp, the news had already spread.

When Li Jinshui walked through the camp gates, drenched in blood and dragging the conspicuous giant battle-axe, every soldier along the way turned to look, whispering among themselves. Their eyes were full of reverence, even fear.

After washing up alone in the barracks and changing into clean clothes, Li Jinshui sat cross-legged on his bed and opened his panel:

[Technique: Iron Shirt (Sixth Layer 5/30), Army-Breaking Saber Technique (Perfection)]

[Realm: Body Forging, sixth layer]

[Points: 0]

Iron Shirt had entered the sixth layer, and Army-Breaking Saber Technique had reached perfection.

He had reached the sixth layer of Body Forging in barely over a month since leaving Death Squad Camp at the fifth layer. Hardly anyone would believe such a rate of progress.

But it still wasn't enough. There were stronger fighters in the Di Army, and North-Rejecting City wasn't absolutely safe. He had to face not only enemies on the battlefield but also jackals inside the city.

Bright Force—he had to break through as soon as possible!

By then, his strength would undergo a qualitative leap.

He thought of Li Jinbao, the cousin who had snatched away all his hopes and laughed as he pushed him into a dead end. Now he was a Squad Leader at the sixth layer of Body Forging. What about Li Jinbao? He was probably still swaggering around in that little constable's post.

There was no rush.

Li Jinshui's lips slowly curved into a cold, cruel smile.

Once I break through Bright Force, once I have enough strength to crush everything.

Then I'll go back.

Li Houde, Li Jinbao, and those so-called clansmen who had watched coldly from the sidelines...

I hope you can still laugh when the time comes.

He took out today's Blood-Qi Pill and swallowed it.

The pill dissolved as soon as it entered his mouth, turning into a surging stream of heat. He calmed his mind and circulated the sixth-layer Iron Shirt technique with all his might, guiding the medicinal power to nourish his sinews, bones, skin, and membranes as he pushed toward a higher realm.

His proficiency increased slowly but steadily.

Soon.

Li Jinshui could feel the threshold representing Bright Force, already faintly within sight.

When that time came—

With my battle-axe pointed at you, who could stand against me?

Blood debts must be paid in blood!

Outside the window, the bitter northern wind howled past, whipping the camp banners into a fierce flutter, as if the drums of war had yet to fall silent.