First came the experience and insights from all kinds of blade techniques in the Blade-Breaking Eight Styles, which coursed through his mind. It was as if he had practiced for countless years.
Then, one day, he suddenly had an epiphany and comprehended a technique on a higher level. This blade technique was more powerful and easier to master.
The Five-Tiger Array-Breaking Blade was the new blade technique Lu Yuan had comprehended.
It had only five moves, but each had many variations. Every one was more forceful and aggressive.
The instant he comprehended the blade technique, Lu Yuan's arms changed. It was as if he had wielded a blade for decades: they had grown stronger, yet lighter.
He could now perform some of the difficult movements he had once been unable to manage with ease.
[Technique: Five-Tiger Array-Breaking Blade (1209/10000, Great Mastery)]
Next came the changes to his body. His cultivation began to break through toward the Bone-Forging Realm.
Divine matter pulsed throughout his body.
Even his bones began to transform, growing sturdier than before.
If he could look inside himself, he would have seen that his bones had turned whiter.
They were changing toward the color of jade.
His body had grown stronger, and his blood and qi more powerful. Sitting there, his muscles and bones thrummed with strength.
[Tiger-Subduing Stance, Bone Forging (192/1000, Minor Mastery)]
Just as expected, with the Golden Bell Cover bolstering him, his bones had been improving all this time. He had broken through and reached Minor Mastery in one fell swoop.
Lu Yuan calculated silently.
After that, the Golden Bell Cover began to change. It was as if he had practiced body-tempering techniques for countless years, until one day he suddenly had an epiphany.
The Golden Bell Cover had also mutated.
In the next instant, his defenses increased dramatically from head to toe, making him seem as hard as steel. The change affected not only his skin and bones, but his internal organs as well.
The upgraded technique was now called the Iron-Bone Golden Bell Cover.
"Clang!"
When he slammed his arms together, they rang out like clashing metal.
A faint golden light flashed and vanished.
Lu Yuan believed that, with his current defenses, no one at the same realm could break through them. Only Tendon-Refining experts wielding weapons might pose a threat.
[Iron-Bone Golden Bell Cover (7190/10000, Great Mastery)]
With the Golden Bell Cover bolstering it, the Iron-Bone Golden Bell Cover had reached Great Mastery in one go.
Next, insights into the Wolf-Chasing Archery kept surfacing in his mind. The strength in his arms, chest, and abdomen had now reached its peak.
The muscles in his upper body grew more compact, and thick calluses appeared on his fingers.
[Wolf-Chasing Archery (910/50000, Force-Entry Realm)]
The moment the number appeared in his mind, a giant wolf seemed to materialize behind Lu Yuan, then vanished in a flash.
From that moment on, his archery had reached a higher level.
Ever since the crossbow had appeared in Great Yong, few people practiced archery. Even when they did, it was usually for large-scale volleys.
After all, compared with cultivation techniques, arrows had limited killing power.
Few ever trained their archery to Great Mastery, let alone the Force-Entry Realm.
Once his archery reached the Force-Entry Realm, the Arrowhead Formation began to evolve as well. Military formations were a required subject for every commanding general.
A major reason so many people sought out masters was to learn military formations.
These were almost entirely monopolized by military families. They took generations to devise and were exceedingly precious.
No amount of silver could buy them.
To become a renowned general, mastering military formations was essential.
Especially advanced ones.
At that moment, Lu Yuan felt as if he had spent countless years studying military formations and attained profound expertise. At last, on the battlefield, he created a formation of his own: the Cloud-Piercing Crane-Wing Formation.
This was a cavalry formation. When deployed, it spread like a white crane's wings, with cavalry following along both flanks as the commander at the center broke through the enemy line. Its crane's beak could pierce anything, while its wings were sharp as blades.
It was best suited to fierce fighting in the wilderness.
[Cloud-Piercing Crane-Wing Formation (8101/10000, Great Mastery)]
With every technique having broken through, Lu Yuan's combat strength had increased dramatically.
And it wasn't just him. Now that his troops had a complete formation, his men would also perform better on the battlefield than before.
Although this newly comprehended formation had only reached Great Mastery, it was much more powerful than the Arrowhead Formation.
With the formation's power behind them, his troops could unleash twice their usual attack power and speed.
But with this formation, a mere dozen or so men wouldn't be enough.
"Crack, crack!"
When Lu Yuan stood, his muscles and bones snapped and popped.
Then he headed outside. Night had already fallen.
He planned to find Old Huang and tell him to have the others come to his place tomorrow and gather.
First, he would get them familiar with the formation.
He wasn't worried about it leaking. The soldiers would only be practicing their positions. He was the formation's core—
the most essential part.
There was no need to fear anyone learning it.
The nights in the Northern Frontier were still bitterly cold. Lu Yuan wore a black padded coat as he walked along the street. After turning down another street, he arrived at Old Huang's residence.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Lu Yuan pounded hard on the door.
"Coming!" a woman called from inside.
"Creak!"
The courtyard gate opened, revealing a slightly plump, fair-skinned middle-aged woman.
"Is Old Huang here?" Lu Yuan asked after a brief pause.
"Honey, someone's here for you!" the woman shouted.
"Coming!" Old Huang called from inside. He came running out, tying his belt as he went.
Seeing Lu Yuan, he immediately said, "Oh! My lord's here. Please, come in and sit."
Lu Yuan waved him off. "I won't come in. Tell Wei Yong and the others to come by my place tomorrow."
"Sure thing!" Old Huang replied at once.
Ever since he had started following Lu Yuan, he had earned plenty of silver and risen in status.
Naturally, women had been willing to be with him.
In any case, there was no shortage of widows in Ice Plain City.
Lu Yuan turned and headed home.
But just after he turned down another street, he spotted a familiar figure. His steps halted.
"That looks like Wu Han. What's he doing carrying a blade around in the middle of the night?" Lu Yuan glanced over, shook his head, and didn't ask. He went straight home.
After all, he wasn't particularly close to the man.
Then he returned to his house.
He planned to turn in early. He had broken through today, so he could afford to give himself the night off.
But he had barely stepped inside—
when a violent pounding sounded outside.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Lu Yuan furrowed his brow. Who would show up this late?
When he opened the door, he saw Zhou He staring at him in a panic.
"Something happened. Wu Han killed people. He killed his Squad Leader and even their Centurion. The Sun Family's people are searching the whole city for him."
Lu Yuan froze. "Wasn't he in the Body-Tempering Realm? How could he kill a Centurion?"
"That guy broke through a couple of days ago. I have to say, his talent is unbelievable. He fought through serious injuries and killed their Centurion despite the gap in realms. No one knows where he's hiding now. If the Sun Family's people find him, he's dead for sure."
Zhou He hurried into Lu Yuan's house. After closing the door, he lowered his voice.
"So what are you asking me to do?"
"Help me. My uncle and the Zhou Family won't get involved in this. You're the only one I could think of." Zhou He's voice carried a trace of pleading.
"Wasn't Wu Han usually easygoing? What could make him do something so reckless?" Lu Yuan didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked up and asked.