Storm Clouds Gathering

The Azure Cloud Ridge main camp was imposing in scale, with the Xuanyang Commandery Army's main force stationed there.

Tents stretched as far as the eye could see, banners snapped in the wind, and the soldiers' training shouts shook the heavens. It was far more orderly and heavily guarded than the ruined camp at Lakeside Station had been.

After Li Xuancang and Zhao Changlin were rescued by the guards at the checkpoint, they were immediately sent to the military physicians' tents for treatment.

Both were drenched in blood, grievously wounded and on the brink of death.

Li Xuancang in particular had dozens of wounds across his body. His qi and blood had been nearly exhausted. If his physical foundation hadn't far surpassed that of ordinary men, he would've died long ago.

The main camp's military physicians were highly skilled and had excellent healing pills. It took two days to pull Zhao Changlin back from the gates of hell.

Li Xuancang's injuries were worse than Zhao Changlin's, yet he stabilized sooner.

Although Li Xuancang was badly injured and couldn't engage in fierce combat, his life was no longer in danger. He only needed to recuperate in peace to gradually recover.

Zhao Changlin's injuries were too severe, so he could only be sent to the rear for treatment.

Li Xuancang recuperated quietly in the military physicians' tent, relying on the medicinal soup issued by the camp each day to nurse his body back to health.

His body had always been powerful, and with his strength increasing by 1% without interruption every day, his injuries healed far faster than those of ordinary people.

In just five days, he was able to move normally again, and more than half his injuries had healed.

That afternoon, Wang Xuanshan arrived at Li Xuancang's recuperation tent with a camp messenger.

Wang Xuanshan no longer bore the bedraggled appearance he'd had while fleeing. Dressed in a neat military uniform, he looked imposing and dignified.

He had already heard that Li Xuancang had carried the severely injured Zhao Changlin back to camp, and his gaze toward Li Xuancang was filled with approval.

Zhao Changlin's injuries were serious, and he had been sent to the distant rear to recuperate. Wang Xuanshan intended to take the opportunity to recruit Li Xuancang under his command.

No commander would dislike someone like Li Xuancang—of clean background, decent strength, and unwavering loyalty.

"Li Xuancang, the main camp's orders have been issued. The remnants of Lakeside Station are to be incorporated into the Xuanyang Commandery Army in full. You will remain under the former Lakeside Station structure and answer to my unified command."

Li Xuancang rose and clasped his hands in salute, his attitude respectful.

Holding the military order register, the messenger proclaimed, "Squad Leader Li Xuancang has rendered merit in defending the border, held fast to the retreat route, and endured a bloody battle during the breakout. His loyalty and courage are commendable."

"By order, he is restored to his former post as Squad Leader and assigned to the remnants of Lakeside Station. He will command ten regular Battle Soldiers and serve under Battalion Commander Wang Xuanshan's command. He is to proceed at once to the barracks, settle in, bring his soldiers into order, and await deployment."

He had been restored to his former position—still a Squad Leader, still commanding ten men—but he now answered directly to Wang Xuanshan, substantially raising his actual standing.

Li Xuancang had no objections whatsoever. He bowed and accepted the order. "This subordinate obeys!"

After the messenger left, Wang Xuanshan patted his shoulder, his manner amicable.

"The main camp is short on troops. The ten Battle Soldiers I've assigned to you are elite veteran soldiers transferred from various units. They may not be as familiar as your former men, but every one of them is battle-hardened."

"You've only just returned to camp, so settle in and rest first. Get your men accustomed to one another. The border fighting will grow tense afterward—there'll be no shortage of battles to fight."

To win Li Xuancang over, Wang Xuanshan had given priority to meeting his need for troops.

"Thank you, sir."

Li Xuancang could see Wang Xuanshan's attempt to recruit him, but he didn't deliberately refuse.

The military camp, too, was riddled with factions. Having a Battalion Commander to rely on was always better than fighting alone.

Many times, if you wanted to climb higher, it wasn't enough for you to be capable. The person saying you were capable had to be capable too, and so did the person behind the one saying you were capable.

Without any foundation, unless your strength could move everyone who saw it, you had to follow the army's rules.

With no one to rely on, even if you rendered merit, it might not necessarily belong to you.

"Your strength is not bad. Cultivate well and strive to break through to the Late Body Tempering Stage as soon as possible. When the time comes, I'll seek an opportunity from above to have you promoted to Hundred-Man Commander."

Wang Xuanshan offered Li Xuancang an enormous temptation, one he couldn't refuse.

The step from Squad Leader to Hundred-Man Commander was a hurdle many people could not cross even in a lifetime.

If he could become a Hundred-Man Commander and command a hundred men, it would bring glory to his ancestors. Even the magistrate of an entire county would have to treat him with courtesy.

Li Xuancang was somewhat excited. Wang Xuanshan wasn't merely dangling an empty promise—he truly had the ability to secure this opportunity for Li Xuancang.

"This subordinate will not disappoint your high expectations."

Li Xuancang clasped his hands toward Wang Xuanshan and decided to perform well in the coming war, earning enough merit.

"Go settle in at the camp first!"

After Wang Xuanshan spoke, one of the personal guards behind him led Li Xuancang toward the camp area of the Lakeside Station remnants.

Of the several hundred men from Lakeside Station, only a little over fifty remained. They had been settled in a section of the main camp's western side.

The Barbarians had pursued them relentlessly. Even with Zhao Changlin and the others risking their lives to cover the rear, Wang Xuanshan hadn't escaped unscathed.

Many of the personal guards at his side had died in battle, and he had paid a price himself before fleeing back to the main camp.

Though only fifty-odd men remained, their unit structure was still intact. The court would soon send reinforcements.

The tents were simple, but clean and orderly. They received the same treatment as the main army, with rations and military equipment issued in full.

Li Xuancang's Squad Leader tent had been set aside separately. Inside were a simple bed and a weapon rack, several times better than the crude barracks at the border before.

Before long, ten Battle Soldiers wearing neat armor and moving with agile bearing arrived in formation before the tent.

All ten were veterans who had survived the battlefield. Their auras were steady, and their gazes toward Li Xuancang carried admiration.

They were old soldiers who had survived Lakeside Station. Some had even witnessed Li Xuancang's valiant bearing as he slaughtered enemies on the battlefield.

Even those who hadn't seen Li Xuancang fight had heard of him and were thoroughly convinced of his worth.

"Greetings, Squad Leader Li!"

The ten clasped their hands in unison, their voices loud and clear.

Li Xuancang's calm gaze swept over the ten men, carrying the killing intent of one who had passed through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"From this day onward, we are comrades-in-arms. In training, guard duty, and battle, each shall fulfill his duties. Merit will be rewarded, and wrongdoing punished."

With just a few simple words, he established the rules without needing to show anger to inspire awe.

The ten veterans were filled with reverence and answered in unison, "We obey the Squad Leader's orders."

Over the next stretch of time, Li Xuancang trained with the men every day, while his own strength steadily increased.

More than half a month passed, and his strength was already enough to rival that of the Late Body Tempering Stage.

If he fought a life-and-death battle against someone at the Late Body Tempering Stage, he was confident he could rely on his powerful body to kill the enemy.

Storm clouds churned within the Azure Cloud Ridge main camp. Though no great battle had broken out, the mountain rain was about to fall, black clouds pressing down upon the city.

More than three thousand troops had gathered, while the Barbarians' army continued advancing toward Azure Cloud Ridge. A great battle could erupt at any moment.

"Come!"

Battle intent flickered in Li Xuancang's eyes. He felt no fear; instead, he looked forward to the coming war.