Vajra Dragon Elephant

"As a commandant, you felt pretty imposing, didn't you?"

Pei Menglong gripped Chen Quanwu by the back of the neck, his face cold as he said, "When facing the Young Wolf King, why didn't I see you strutting your authority?"

"General, that Cook Soldier dared to talk back to me. I only struck because I could endure it no longer!" Chen Quanwu's face went deathly pale as he hurriedly defended himself.

"Hmph!"

Pei Menglong snorted coldly. "Do you take me for blind? A commandant picking on a Cook Soldier? You truly ought to reflect on yourself!"

Chen Quanwu panicked at once and hastily admitted his mistake. "Please calm your anger, General. I was wrong. I was blinded by rage and acted on impulse."

Pei Menglong released Chen Quanwu and waved a hand. "Get back to your tent and reflect on your mistakes for three days. I'll deal with you again after three days."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Chen Quanwu nodded repeatedly. As he left, he shot Chen Xian a cold glance.

"Chen Xian, come with me!"

Pei Menglong did not spare Ding Chen and the others a glance, merely calling Chen Xian over before turning to leave.

Ding Chen gave Chen Xian a push from behind, signaling him to hurry up and follow.

Wang Yan, Qin Fei, and the others were naturally filled with envy. To win Pei Menglong's favor meant a boundless future.

Inside the tent.

Pei Menglong studied Chen Xian curiously.

"How old are you this year?"

"Reporting to General, eighteen."

Pei Menglong was somewhat surprised. At eighteen, Chen Xian had already been able to kill the Young Wolf King. His talent was even more astonishing than Pei Menglong's own.

"I see you cultivate the Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique?"

"...Yes!"

Chen Xian hesitated before nodding. Could the highest limit of his Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique be the Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique?

He had now deduced it to the Ox Demon Golden Flame Technique. That meant if he continued deducing it in the future, it would become the Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique.

Pei Menglong did not ask where Chen Xian's martial cultivation technique had come from. Being able to cultivate it was ability in itself. Besides, the Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique had originally been a court-issued technique.

"The Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique is a Mid Grade martial cultivation technique. It has a limit and can only let you cultivate up to the Soaring Realm."

"If you want to raise your realm further, you must switch to another cultivation technique."

"How about it? Do you want to join the vanguard and become a Demon Slayer Soldier who protects Great Ning?"

Chen Xian's eyes flickered slightly. When Pei Menglong had told him to come over at noon last night, Chen Xian had known the latter wanted to recruit him into the vanguard.

Once he entered the vanguard, there was no need to mention the achievements and glory he could earn.

But he would have to part from Ding Chen and the others.

He had spent nearly two months with them, and some bonds had naturally formed.

If he went to the vanguard alone to win merit and establish himself, they would likely find it hard to meet again in the future.

Chen Xian said expressionlessly, "Reporting to General, I can likewise kill demons and protect Great Ning in the Cook Soldier camp. Besides, coming to the vanguard is not a matter of whether I want to. I must obey orders."

Pei Menglong burst into laughter. "You must indeed obey orders."

"Let's not speak of that for now. You fought bravely last night. Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Pei Menglong still had the authority to reward a Cook Soldier.

Besides, if he wanted to recruit Chen Xian, how could he move the man without showing some sincerity?

Chen Xian was taken aback. Weren't their rewards all distributed by General Liu of the Head Chef Army camp?

Since Pei Menglong had asked, he did not beat around the bush. "General, you just said the technique I cultivate is a Mid Grade technique. I don't understand much about these things. Could you explain them to me?"

Pei Menglong was also briefly stunned, then smiled. "The martial cultivation techniques under heaven are generally divided into five grades: Low grade, Mid Grade, High Grade, Supreme Grade, and Heaven Grade."

"It is said that there are grades above Heaven Grade, but those are too distant."

"The strongest techniques in the military camps are Supreme Grade techniques. With your current strength and merits, you are not yet qualified to cultivate one."

"But you are qualified for a High Grade one."

Chen Xian's eyes could not help brightening. A Mid Grade technique was already so formidable. Wouldn't a High Grade technique be even more powerful?

"Reporting to General, I ask for nothing else. I only wish to request a High Grade cultivation technique," he said.

"Hehe, you're not foolish."

Pei Menglong stared at Chen Xian with a smile, took out a book from his robes, and tossed it onto the table. "This general cultivates this High Grade technique as well—the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art. It is among the best of High Grade techniques, and entering its gates is difficult. Take it back and study it. Return the manual after one month."

Chen Xian was overjoyed. He stepped forward and seized the manual. "Thank you, General!"

With this High Grade technique, he would surely save a great many Experience Points. This was simply wonderful.

After stuffing the technique into his robes, Chen Xian suddenly asked, "General, if I cultivate this technique, no one will criticize me for it, right?"

"If you can cultivate it successfully, that is your ability. Who would dare criticize you?" Pei Menglong glared.

Chen Xian thought that made sense. The Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique was a court-issued technique, so the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art surely was as well. He was a court Demon Slayer Soldier. Even if he was a Cook Soldier, he was still protecting the safety of Great Ning.

Merit could only be rewarded. How could it be punished as a crime?

Chen Xian touched the Young Wolf King's demon core in his robes, then took it out and placed it on the table. "Reporting to General, this item is of no use to me. I would like to exchange it here for some pills."

Pei Menglong picked up the demon core, examined it briefly, and nodded. "No problem."

"Pei Gang!"

"This subordinate is here!"

A square-faced Demon Slayer Soldier in black armor strode in from outside the tent.

"Take this and exchange it for ten Origin Condensing Pills."

"Yes, General!"

Pei Gang strode forward, took the Young Wolf King's demon core without even looking at Chen Xian, then turned and left.

Ten Origin Condensing Pills?

Chen Xian's heart stirred. It seemed the Young Wolf King's demon core was quite valuable. He did not understand Origin Condensing Pills, but with the word "Origin" in their name, they were surely far superior to Body Refinement Pills and Qi and Blood Pills.

Before long, Pei Gang returned and placed a white porcelain bottle in Pei Menglong's hand.

"Take it."

With a flick of his hand, Pei Menglong sent the white porcelain bottle flying toward Chen Xian.

Chen Xian's hand was steady. He caught the bottle and tucked it into his robes. "Thank you, General."

"You may go."

Pei Menglong waved his hand.

Chen Xian was neither servile nor overbearing. He was steady and clever, and knew moderation in what he asked for. Pei Menglong liked him greatly. If he could recruit Chen Xian under his command and nurture him for a time, Chen Xian would surely become a fierce general capable of standing on his own.

The Cook Soldier camp.

Ding Chen and the others had not yet eaten. They were waiting for Chen Xian.

When they saw Chen Xian riding toward them from afar, everyone swarmed forward at once, chattering over one another with questions.

Chen Xian dismounted and briefly explained the situation. When they heard it, they were endlessly envious.

A High Grade cultivation technique!

After lunch, Chen Xian called Ding Chen, Wang Yan, Qin Fei, Luo Ying, and Xue Qishan together.

"Brother Ding, divide the ten Origin Condensing Pills exchanged for that demon core among the five of you." Chen Xian generously tossed the white porcelain bottle into Ding Chen's hand, moving the five men so deeply that they did not know what to say.

At present, only the five of them could break through to Origin Condensation.

Chen Xian had given them the Origin Condensing Pills because he also hoped they could break through as soon as possible. When they returned to the battlefield, their chances of surviving would be much greater.

"Xianzi, great kindness needs no words of thanks!"

Wang Yan held two Origin Condensing Pills as he stared at Chen Xian. "No matter when it is, if you ever have use for this brother, just give the word!"

Qin Fei and the other two said the same.

Only Ding Chen remained silent, but the gratitude in his eyes was beyond expression.

The corners of Chen Xian's mouth lifted slightly. "Why talk about giving orders? We are brothers who have faced life and death together. No need to be so distant."

"Where is Chen Xian? Get out here!"

A cold shout came from outside the tent.

Chen Xian knew who it was the moment he heard the voice. It was Second Lieutenant Lu.

He immediately walked out of the tent with Ding Chen and the other five.