Provocation

Back at the military camp, Li Xuancang and the others headed straight for the military merits office to turn in the demon wolf's corpse.

After verifying it, the military official's expression sharpened.

"Black-Ridge Demon Wolf? This kind of demon beast has occupied Rocky Ravine for years. In the past, it took several ten-man squads to surround and kill one, yet you, a Five-Man Leader, led a team and slew it?"

Li Xuancang was covered in wounds, his breath somewhat unsteady. He replied in a deep voice, "I was fortunate."

Seeing the miserable state of Li Xuancang and the others, the official asked no further questions.

It was clear that they had paid a considerable price to kill this Black-Ridge Demon Wolf.

He immediately recorded it and settled their military merits.

"Slaying one low-grade demon wolf: a reward of twenty taels of monthly silver, one dan of superior polished rice, three doses of Body Tempering Decoction, and three boxes of Flesh-Fortifying Ointment."

Li Xuancang wasn't overly stirred by the rewards, but Zhou Xing and the others flushed red, their breathing growing heavy.

What they cared about most were the Body Tempering Decoction and Flesh-Fortifying Ointment. In this chaotic age of Demons, body-tempering medicinal materials were the most precious.

Ordinary soldiers could spend their entire lives without ever touching Body Tempering resources. Only military officers of Five-Man Leader rank and above, as well as soldiers with merits, could claim them regularly.

If they obtained Body Tempering Decoction and ointment, they might have a chance to advance further.

The weighty silver, plump grain, and body-tempering medicine carrying a faint medicinal fragrance all went into Li Xuancang's bag.

That was the advantage of military rank: strength earned military merits, military merits exchanged for resources, and resources further increased strength, cycling again and again.

Everyone's eyes burned as they looked at Li Xuancang's belongings, but none dared speak.

Although the demon wolf had been killed by their combined efforts, Li Xuancang had led the battle. He was their Five-Man Leader.

Even if Li Xuancang swallowed every reward for himself, there was nothing they could do about it.

Li Xuancang said nothing and led them back to camp.

"Everyone contributed greatly in this battle. I'll divide these ten taels of silver, one dose of Body Tempering Decoction, and one box of Flesh-Fortifying Ointment among you."

Li Xuancang didn't choose to keep all the rewards for himself and took out a portion to distribute among them.

"Thank you, Five-Man Leader."

They were overjoyed. Compared to others, Li Xuancang was already exceptionally generous.

After dividing the items, Li Xuancang returned to his private barracks and tightly shut the door.

He took out the body-tempering medicine, mixed it with hot water, and slowly applied it over the skin and flesh of his entire body, then gradually refined it with the medicinal brew.

The medicine seeped through his pores. Threads of warm medicinal power traveled through his limbs and bones, tempering his flesh and washing away the accumulated fatigue and hidden injuries within his body.

He didn't need this decoction and ointment to temper his body, but he could use them to speed up his recovery.

Three days later, Li Xuancang's injuries had fully recovered, and his strength rose steadily.

One afternoon, at the military camp's training ground.

Soldiers from every squad went through their daily drills. Their shouts shook the heavens, while weapons clashed with ringing clangs.

The Five-Man Leaders each trained their own troops, secretly competing with one another.

Lakeside Station was a bitterly cold frontier outpost with limited resources. Military merits, medicinal materials, and promotion slots were all things to be fought over.

Whenever someone rose, they were bound to draw jealousy and exclusion.

Li Xuancang had only just become a Five-Man Leader when he killed a demon wolf. His fame was too great, and several veteran Five-Man Leaders nearby bore a grudge against him.

A burly veteran Five-Man Leader with a face full of flesh approached with the soldiers under his command, looking Li Xuancang up and down with disdain.

Zhou Mang had guarded the frontier for five years. At the Early Body Tempering Stage, he relied on his seniority as an old soldier and had always been overbearing and tyrannical.

"Well, if it isn't our new Five-Man Leader who became famous overnight?"

Zhou Mang's tone dripped with mockery and contempt.

"You were merely lucky enough to pick up a few kills and get promoted as an exception. Then you killed an aged demon wolf and received body-tempering medicine. What incredible fortune."

Quite a few soldiers nearby turned their heads and gathered to watch.

Anyone could see that Zhou Mang was deliberately picking a fight.

The five men under Li Xuancang's command instantly darkened, wanting to step forward and argue.

They had risked their lives to kill that demon wolf. There hadn't been the slightest trace of luck involved, and they would never allow anyone to question it.

The moment the five moved, Li Xuancang raised a hand and stopped them.

His gaze remained calm as he looked at Zhou Mang, then he spoke lightly.

"Military merits are earned through battle. Rewards are exchanged for with strength. It has nothing to do with you."

"Nothing to do with me?"

Zhou Mang sneered and advanced step by step, deliberately erupting with his blood and qi to reveal his Body Tempering Realm cultivation.

"We're both Five-Man Leaders. I've guarded the frontier for five years and bathed in blood countless times, yet I've advanced steadily, one step at a time."

"You were cannon fodder for two years, yet rose to the heavens in a single step. What gives you the right to stand on equal footing with me?"

"I'd say your meager strength doesn't qualify you to be a Five-Man Leader at all."

He openly provoked and humiliated Li Xuancang, hoping to make him lose face and scatter the hearts of those under his command.

In a military camp during chaotic times, the weak were meat for the strong. Once one showed weakness, one would be bullied at every turn, have resources withheld, military merits suppressed, and find it impossible to take a single step forward.

Li Xuancang slowly raised his eyes, and a chill flashed through them.

"Whether I qualify isn't for you to decide. If you aren't convinced, you can ask Commander Zhao yourself."

The moment Li Xuancang said that, Zhou Mang's face reddened, and for a moment, he had no answer.

Though he was a veteran Five-Man Leader who had spent years in the camp, how could he dare question a commander? Wouldn't that be seeking death?

Zhou Mang's face shifted from red to white. His eyes immediately turned vicious as he barked, "Sharp tongue. Let me see whether your bones are as hard as your mouth."

Zhou Mang's ferocity surged. As his words fell, he brazenly struck a palm toward Li Xuancang's chest.

"Today, I'll properly teach you a lesson for the camp and let you know that a new Five-Man Leader needs to understand the rules."

His palm wind howled, its force far from weak. He clearly intended to heavily injure Li Xuancang and humiliate him before everyone.

The surroundings fell silent at once, and every eye fixed firmly on the two of them.

"Five-Man Leader, be careful."

The five men under Li Xuancang's command turned pale, their hearts filled with worry.

As the palm wind rushed toward him, Li Xuancang didn't retreat. He went all out.

This was his first time fighting a Body Tempering Realm cultivator, and he didn't dare be the slightest bit careless.

At the instant the palm was about to land, Li Xuancang twisted aside to evade it, then firmly seized Zhou Mang's wrist.

Crack!

Li Xuancang struck with all his strength, holding nothing back. The sound of shattering bone rang out.

Zhou Mang's face twisted as agonizing pain swept through his body in an instant.

Horror filled his face. His full-force palm strike had actually been locked down by his opponent.

Li Xuancang's hand was like an iron clamp, locking him in place so tightly that he couldn't move.

"H-how is that possible?!"

Zhou Mang's pupils constricted sharply, his face filled with disbelief.

He had broken through to the Body Tempering Realm years ago and was only one step away from the Mid Body Tempering Stage. His physique was powerful, so why was he as weak as a child before Li Xuancang?

"What? Zhou Mang actually lost?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"How is this possible?"

"..."

Seeing Zhou Mang suppressed by Li Xuancang in a single move, the onlookers were dumbfounded, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

Zhou Mang might have run rampant through the military camp, but no one doubted his strength. Without formidable strength, he wouldn't have dared bully others in the camp.

Yet now, Zhou Mang was being suppressed by Li Xuancang, a newcomer who had only just emerged. No matter how they looked at it, it was unbelievable.

"Ah!"

As Li Xuancang slowly increased his strength, Zhou Mang cried out in agony. The bones in his wrist were on the verge of breaking, all the strength in his body was firmly suppressed, his blood and qi flowed in reverse, and a stifling, bloody taste rose in his chest.

He fought back frantically, trying to break free of Li Xuancang's grip. But no matter how he struggled, Li Xuancang continued to hold his wrist tightly, leaving him unable to escape.

Li Xuancang raised his hand slightly, then gave him a shove.

Bang!

Zhou Mang staggered backward without stop, flew several meters, and crashed onto the ground. Dust billowed up as he lay there in a miserable state.

This was the military camp, and they were under everyone's watchful eyes.

Li Xuancang could only teach Zhou Mang a lesson. He couldn't seriously injure him, or he would face punishment from above.