"Ha... ha...!"
Pei Menglong threw back his head and laughed, saying boldly, "Since you called me Brother Pei, I'll cover the Profound Heavy Iron!"
Chen Xian grinned.
Pei Menglong could not possibly have agreed to help him merely because of that one "Brother Pei." What he valued was Chen Xian's character, talent, and strength.
In life, no matter what environment one found oneself in, everyone would make one or two friends who caught their eye and were easy to talk to.
As for Pei Menglong, he had given Chen Xian the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art upon their first meeting. For that alone, Chen Xian was willing to befriend him.
"Pei Gang, take the demon core and exchange it for ten mid-grade Essence Replenishing Pills and ten mid-grade healing pills."
"The Golden Silk Great Ring Saber is Chen Xian's spoils of war. Send it to the armory and tell Master Yue to combine it with the Profound Heavy Iron I left there last time, then forge a straight saber!"
"Yes, General!"
Pei Gang stepped forward, took the pills and the Golden Silk Great Ring Saber, glanced at Chen Xian, then strode away.
Pei Menglong had Chen Xian sit down and discuss cultivation insights with him, while also asking whether he could understand the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art.
The two began talking.
Less than half an hour later, Pei Gang returned carrying two white porcelain bottles.
After handing the bottles to Chen Xian, he said to Pei Menglong, "General, Master Yue sent word that the saber will take at least a month to forge."
"A month?"
Chen Xian's eyes flickered. He had not expected it to take so long.
Pei Menglong said, "Sabers made from ordinary materials are quicker to forge, but fine materials naturally take longer. Just wait patiently. Master Yue's saber-forging skills are first-rate even in Great Ning. He'll definitely forge you a good saber!"
"Many thanks, Brother Pei. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you further!"
Chen Xian rose to thank him, then took his leave.
Not long after he left, Pei Gang said resentfully, "General, that was Profound Heavy Iron—top-grade material for forging weapons. You're usually reluctant to use much of it yourself, so why did you give it to that little Cook Soldier?"
"I, Pei Menglong, have always had a sharp eye for people. Though Chen Xian is in the Cook Soldier camp, he is a talent. It's only a bit of Profound Heavy Iron; consider it the price of making a friend."
"Since you value him so highly, why not keep him by your side?"
"The time isn't right yet!"
Pei Menglong said indifferently.
He had spoken to General Sun about it, but someone had been stirring things up behind the scenes, and General Sun had not agreed.
Pei Menglong could roughly guess who it was.
Among the nine camps, the only people who could make General Sun take notice were those young masters of noble families in the Head Chef Army.
Early October.
The weather was cold.
Another ten days had passed since Chen Xian had asked Pei Menglong to forge him a straight saber.
During that time, Liu Dingchun had sent people to replenish the number of Cook Soldiers in the camp. At the same time, the August monthly pay had been distributed—five taels of Silver Shards.
There was no letter from home.
Every day, after practicing spear techniques with Ding Chen and the others, Chen Xian stayed in his tent cultivating.
He had spent 40,000 Experience Points. The Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique remained at perfection, but his cultivation had reached the peak of the Soaring Realm.
The panel indicated that he had not found the proper method and could not advance to the next realm.
Chen Xian planned to improve the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art, or deduce the Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique further.
Given his current circumstances, raising the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art to advance his cultivation realm would be easier.
At the same time, he would gain command of a powerful cultivation art. When unleashed through martial techniques, its power would be ten times greater than that of the Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique.
That evening, Chen Xian was summoned away by a Head Chef Army soldier.
The Head Chef Army soldier was one of Li Sheng's men. After ten days, Li Sheng had finally come looking for him.
Inside a large tent.
Li Sheng was alone.
After exchanging formalities, Chen Xian got straight to the point. "Commander Li, what matter did you summon me for?"
"How have you considered that matter?" Li Sheng asked, turning around.
"What matter?" Chen Xian's expression remained blank.
A cold glint flickered in Li Sheng's eyes. He had never been a patient man, and he had already tolerated Chen Xian for ten days. This brat really did not know what was good for him.
"I gave you a chance, and you don't know how to treasure it, huh?" His icy voice squeezed out through clenched teeth.
Chen Xian remained silent.
Li Sheng said nothing either. With his hands clasped behind his back, he merely stared at Chen Xian.
The two stood in a deadlock for ten breaths. A flash of killing intent crossed Li Sheng's eyes as he nodded repeatedly. "Fine, fine, fine. You brat are fucking something of a talent too!"
"Tomorrow morning, lead your men to the western side of Blood River Forest. Cooperate with Commander Chen Quanwu of the vanguard and hold Blood River Forest for three days. After three days, await this young master's orders."
"Yes, Commander!" Chen Xian cupped his fists, turned, and left.
The moment he was gone, Wang Pei and Mu Feng emerged from behind the screen.
Wang Pei said coldly, "Young Master Sheng, that bastard refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit. Winning him over is impossible, so have Chen Quanwu get rid of him amid the chaos."
Li Sheng snorted coldly. "Chen Quanwu is no match for that bastard. Have Zhong Lian make a move. He has Soaring Realm strength."
He had originally thought there would be no need to use Zhong Lian. But given the current situation, if they wanted to kill Ding Chen, they could only have Young General Zhong Lian of the vanguard strike amid the chaos and take both their lives.
Mu Feng spoke up. "The number of demons has risen to thirty thousand. There are five Great Demon Kings, thirteen Lesser Demon Kings, twenty-five Demon Lords, and fifty Demon Men as well."
"Zhong Lian is likely already stretched too thin to split himself apart. And with ten thousand against thirty thousand, if things go wrong, our Head Chef Army may have to take the field too."
"At this juncture, we should leave Ding Chen and Chen Xian alone."
"Once this battle is over, there will be chances to deal with them."
Li Sheng disagreed with Mu Feng. "Don't forget his identity. Even if he's a worthless piece of trash, no one cares while he's alive—but once he dies, someone will jump out and use his name to stir up trouble."
"So Ding Chen must die on the battlefield, preferably at the hands of demons."
Hearing this, Mu Feng said nothing more.
Cook Soldier Camp.
As soon as Chen Xian returned, he found Ding Chen and told him everything from beginning to end.
Ding Chen's face remained calm after hearing it.
Chen Xian was not surprised. Ding Chen had already had conflicts with Li Sheng and Wang Pei. Their wanting to kill him was nothing astonishing.
"Why didn't you agree to them?" Ding Chen suddenly raised his brows and looked at Chen Xian.
Chen Xian shook his head speechlessly. "Let alone the fact that we are brothers who have faced life and death together—even if I didn't know you, I could never kill from behind a man who slays demons and protects Great Ning."
"Besides, I truly can't stand the sight of a spoiled young master like Li Sheng."
Ding Chen nodded. "From what I know of Li Sheng, if you refuse him, he'll kill you along with me!"
Chen Xian said, "To silence me?"
Ding Chen said, "Not just to silence you. He simply wants to kill you! For amusement!"
Chen Xian frowned. "Is he fucking deranged?"
As he spoke, he looked at Ding Chen. "He's always wanted to kill you. Could it be for amusement too?"
"What do you think?" Ding Chen said.
Chen Xian nodded without speaking.
A short while later, he told Ding Chen about the arrangements for the next three days, then returned to his tent.
He summoned the panel.
Martial Arts: Ox Demon Body Refinement Technique (Perfection), Vajra Dragon Elephant Art (Not Yet Initiated)... Experience: 346000 points Realm: Peak Soaring Realm Lifespan: Three hundred years
After taking a look, Chen Xian began improving the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art.
After ten thousand months of diligent cultivation, your Vajra Dragon Elephant Art has entered the Vajra Realm.
Buzz!
In an instant, Chen Xian's skin took on the color of gold and jade, with golden light shining out from beneath it.
At the same time, he discovered changes in his physical body. His tendons, bones, flesh, blood, and skin seemed to have undergone a million rounds of metallic tempering, forged into a vajra body.
Clang! Clang! Clang...!
Chen Xian hammered his fist against his own chest, and the sound of metal striking metal rang out.
"This...!"
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