Advancement to Squad Leader

After receiving simple treatment, Li Xuancang's wounds stopped bleeding. Given the strength of his body, he only needed a few days to make a full recovery.

Not long after, Zhao Changlin awoke and saw Wang Xuanshan the moment he opened his eyes.

Zhao Changlin struggled to sweep his gaze around and found that he had already returned to the military camp. His expression immediately relaxed.

"Greetings, sir."

Zhao Changlin spoke hoarsely.

"What exactly happened? Why did you fall into an ambush?"

Wang Xuanshan asked directly.

This operation had been confidential. There was no way word could have leaked out, so why had the Barbarians set up an ambush in advance?

"Sir, how did I get back?"

Not seeing Li Xuancang, Zhao Changlin didn't immediately answer Wang Xuanshan's question. Instead, he asked how he had returned.

"Li Xuancang carried you back."

Wang Xuanshan told him plainly.

"How is Li Xuancang now?"

Zhao Changlin blurted out, worried about Li Xuancang's injuries.

"Don't worry! His injuries were lighter than yours. He's already out of danger."

Only then did Zhao Changlin finally set his mind at ease.

"Sir, we went to the ambush point according to plan, but who could have expected..."

After confirming that Li Xuancang was all right, Zhao Changlin recounted the entire course of the battle.

After hearing Zhao Changlin's account, a flicker of surprise crossed Wang Xuanshan's eyes.

He had burned the Barbarians' grain supplies and risked his life to rescue Zhao Changlin. Wang Xuanshan hadn't expected Li Xuancang to have rendered such tremendous merit.

After learning the full story, Wang Xuanshan instructed, "Rest and recover first."

With that, Wang Xuanshan turned and left.

Although this operation had fallen into an ambush and suffered many casualties, they had burned the Barbarians' grain supplies, so their objective had still been achieved.

Before long, soldiers who had successfully broken out of the encirclement returned to the camp one after another.

Of the fifty-man force, only a dozen or so had escaped back alive.

As the surviving soldiers continued to spread the story, the entire camp learned of Li Xuancang's feat, and everyone admired him immensely.

"You didn't see it! Five-Man Leader Li was like a god descending to earth, charging through the Barbarian army as if no one was there. He tore straight through their defensive line and successfully burned their grain supplies."

Some soldiers vividly recounted Li Xuancang's slaughter, speaking as though they themselves had been Li Xuancang. The listeners' blood boiled with excitement.

"Five-Man Leader Li has rendered such great merit. He'll very likely be promoted again and become a Squad Leader."

"Five-Man Leader Li's rise is way too astonishing."

"If only I had Five-Man Leader Li's skills."

"..."

The crowd discussed it heatedly. They all believed that with this merit, Li Xuancang would definitely be promoted to Squad Leader.

"Five-Man Leader Li's merit is plain for all to see. His promotion to Squad Leader is only natural."

Li Xuancang had performed outstandingly in every battle. Everyone could only envy his promotion to Squad Leader, and all were utterly convinced.

Five days later, Li Xuancang's injuries had fully healed, and Zhao Changlin was also able to get out of bed and move around.

Not long after Zhao Changlin met with Li Xuancang, the order regarding Li Xuancang's promotion arrived.

"Pass down the order: Li Xuancang is promoted to Squad Leader. He will command ten border troops and receive all the benefits of a Squad Leader."

Wang Xuanshan's military order swiftly spread throughout the camp.

"Lord Wang has given the order. Five-Man Leader Li has already been promoted to Squad Leader."

Upon hearing the news, no one was the least bit surprised. They felt it was only right.

Li Xuancang straightened his armor and headed to the central command tent to receive the order.

Inside the tent, Wang Xuanshan sat upright in the seat of honor, looking warmly at Li Xuancang as he read the promotion order aloud.

"Li Xuancang, for guarding the border and repeatedly earning military merit, with bravery and martial prowess beyond the ordinary, you are hereby promoted to Squad Leader."

"From this day forward, fulfill your duties faithfully, fight the enemy valiantly, and guard the border. There must be no mistakes."

"This subordinate obeys! I will not disappoint your high expectations, sir!"

Li Xuancang cupped his fist and bowed, his voice steady and forceful.

Next came the benefits and privileges exclusive to a Squad Leader, announced one by one. Every one of them far surpassed those of a Five-Man Leader, making one's heart surge with excitement:

Salary and provisions: monthly pay doubled, with full silver wages, refined rice, and meat issued each month. Silk and cloth would also be granted, while winter brought cold-weather padded armor.

Cultivation resources: a fixed monthly allotment of high-grade body-tempering medicinal decoctions and bone-strengthening ointments to speed up cultivation.

Command authority: command ten soldiers and oversee two five-man squads. He could independently arrange patrols, garrison duty, and troop training, with full discretion over rewards and punishments for his subordinates.

Residence privilege: move into a spacious private barracks with a dedicated storage room, no longer needing to live alongside ordinary soldiers, enjoying peace and freedom.

Clan protection: his family's taxes and corvée labor would be exempt for life. His clan could receive three years of reduced corvée labor and taxes. Should demon calamities or bandit troubles arise, they could directly request court reinforcements.

Military privileges: he could enter the mid-level armory within the camp to replace his weapons and armor with superior gear, and he need not perform the grand kneeling salute when meeting his superiors.

Every single benefit was enough to drive people mad.

It didn't merely protect his family; even his clan could share in the good fortune.

At the side, Zhao Changlin looked at Li Xuancang gently and gave him a slight nod.

Li Xuancang immediately returned the gesture. Zhao Changlin's contribution to his exceptional promotion had been immense.

He would remember this favor of advancement in his heart.

After Li Xuancang left the main camp, the two five-man squads, ten soldiers in all, gathered before his tent and bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Squad Leader!"

Among the ten were veterans and newly enlisted soldiers, but without exception, their eyes were filled with reverence and submission.

Li Xuancang's strength and battle achievements had long spread throughout the camp. In the borderlands of a chaotic age, following such a powerful man was the safest path.

Li Xuancang stood before them, his presence composed and his tone sonorous.

"From this day onward, we stand united—guard the border, slay Barbarians, and destroy demons!"

"Merit will be rewarded, and faults will be punished. So long as you fight bravely, I will surely secure military merit for you all and exchange it for resources."

As his words fell, the ten soldiers answered in unison, their morale soaring.

"Go patrol!"

After briefly getting acquainted with the ten men and giving them their instructions, Li Xuancang sent them off to their duties.

He headed to his brand-new private barracks. On the table lay a new Squad Leader's badge, finely crafted armor, high-grade body-tempering medicinal materials, and a clan-protection document stamped with the military seal.

Holding the cold, heavy Squad Leader's badge, a trace of determination flashed through Li Xuancang's eyes.

From a conscript trampled by all, to a Battle Soldier, a Five-Man Leader, and now a Squad Leader.

In only a short time, he had cast off the fate of cannon fodder and stepped into the ranks of the military camp's lower-ranking officers. He held command authority, possessed resources, and could protect his family.

But this was still far from enough.

Body Tempering Realm, Bone Forging Realm, Blood Condensation Realm, Astral Qi Realm...

Squad Leader, Hundred-Man Commander, Battalion Commander, Thousand-Man Commander...

He craved a higher realm, a higher military rank, and greater power.

After the Barbarians' grain supplies were burned, they temporarily lacked the strength to launch another attack. The two sides coexisted peacefully for half a month without any conflict erupting.

Just when Li Xuancang thought he could enjoy peace for a while, a military order arrived from above, shattering the quiet days.