That night, Sheng Huai'an and the others could not continue traveling and could only find a place to stop and rest.
With so many horses and supplies, traveling at night was not ideal.
Once they stopped, they lit fires and cooked. Tonight, they still had stewed meat.
After dinner, Sheng Huai'an arranged for people to stand watch through the night.
They had to be cautious in all things and could not let down their guard. One moment of carelessness could cost all of them their lives.
During the day, he had killed one hundred and forty or fifty Xiongnu enemy soldiers by himself, gaining quite a bit of Slaughter Value.
Name: Sheng Huai'an Race: Human Realm: Martial Practitioner Late Stage (+) Cultivation Techniques: "Ferocious Ox Strength" (Minor Mastery) (+) "Blood Fiend Saber Technique" (Major Mastery) Strength: Four thousand jin Talent: Silver Archer (+) Slaughter Value: 203
His Slaughter Value had now risen to two hundred and three points, so he could improve his cultivation again.
Without hesitation, Sheng Huai'an immediately spent points to raise his cultivation.
After consuming one hundred and fifty points of Slaughter Value, an immense power spread throughout his body, circulating within him and continuously strengthening his flesh, blood, muscles, and bones.
Under this power, Sheng Huai'an's physique steadily grew stronger, his strength rapidly increased, and the true essence in his body continued to accumulate and condense.
The others could not sense any changes, but Sheng Huai'an could clearly feel his physique strengthening, his power rising, and his true essence continuously increasing and solidifying.
The true essence within his dantian seemed to have condensed into spiritual liquid.
Once that powerful force vanished, Sheng Huai'an clenched his fist. He felt as though he could shatter the void with a single punch.
Of course, that was only an illusion!
Name: Sheng Huai'an Race: Human Realm: Martial Practitioner Great Perfection Cultivation Techniques: "Ferocious Ox Strength" (Minor Mastery) "Blood Fiend Saber Technique" (Major Mastery) Strength: Four thousand five hundred jin Talent: Silver Archer (+) Slaughter Value: 53
Looking at his improved cultivation and strength, Sheng Huai'an sighed. The system truly lived up to its name.
At this level of power, he was already comparable to a Martial Master Late Stage.
With the realm of Martial Practitioner Great Perfection, he could rival a Martial Master Late Stage. Fighting above his level—this was a proper protagonist template.
The system really was Daddy!
Too bad it was a mute system!
After breaking through, Sheng Huai'an did not rest. Instead, he continued cultivating and condensing Martial True Essence.
Even with the system, he still had to work himself to the bone—quietly work hard, then grind everyone else to death.
Early the next morning, Sheng Huai'an and the others ate a simple breakfast and continued on their journey.
Within the Xiongnu army's camp, two thousand armored cavalry left the main camp and headed into the grasslands.
Looking at the army, now reduced to only forty thousand men, the Left Virtuous King pondered whether he should send more soldiers to join the battle.
The Great Chanyu had sent another messenger to urge him to take Anning Pass as soon as possible.
The central army was locked in a fierce struggle with the Northern Garrison Army. They hoped this side could take Anning Pass, enter the pass, circle behind Jubei City, and attack the Northern Garrison Army from the rear.
Seeing the worried expression on the Left Virtuous King's face, the Left Valley Marquis spoke. "My lord, since we cannot take Anning Pass, why not send troops through the pass elsewhere and head south? We need only leave some men here to pin down the Anning Army."
The Left Virtuous King glanced at his father-in-law. "Then how many troops do you think we need to leave behind to hold back the defenders of Anning Pass?
"If we enter the pass elsewhere, what if the defenders of Anning Pass attack us from behind? And how will we transport our logistical supplies?"
This father-in-law of his was already so old. In his younger days, he had been a fierce general too. How had he become so muddleheaded now?
A single night raid had thoroughly shattered the Xiongnu army's hopes of swiftly breaking through Anning Pass.
"Continue sending troops to assault the pass and wear down Anning Pass's defenders. Mobilize another fifty thousand troops," the Left Virtuous King finally decided.
Entering the pass was an excellent opportunity. If they could not break through, he would not be able to answer to the Great Chanyu.
The Xiongnu army began attacking Anning Pass.
The soldiers atop Anning Pass's walls watched the Xiongnu soldiers surge forward like a tide. They had already gone numb.
Other than the two days after their camp had been raided, the Xiongnu army assaulted the pass every day.
They had already grown used to the Xiongnu army attacking the pass.
"Archers, prepare! Loose!"
The archers fired a volley of arrows, and many charging Xiongnu soldiers died on the way.
The Xiongnu also sent out cavalry and archers to fire at the walls, covering the army's assault.
The soldiers on the walls fired arrows while dodging the Xiongnu arrows raining toward them.
When the Xiongnu army reached the foot of the walls, they set up siege ladders and ropes and began climbing.
"Smash these turtle sons to death!"
"Xiongnu bandits, fuck your grandmothers!"
The defenders on the walls grabbed stones and hurled them down. Scalding hot golden juice was also continuously poured below.
"Xiongnu bandits, come on! Your grandpas are treating you to golden juice!"
If the Xiongnu army wanted to climb the walls, they had to pay a considerable price in casualties.
The great battle continued without pause; beacon fires stretched across three months.
The defenders of Anning Pass still stubbornly resisted the Xiongnu army.
Blood and wind-blown frost stained this ancient border city with the mottled traces of time.
The walls were covered in saber marks and arrow holes!
The war continued until dusk before the Xiongnu withdrew.
Sheng Huai'an and the others were still taking a detour, avoiding the Xiongnu camp.
The detour back was farther, but it was safer. Along the way, they traveled through extremely secluded places.
It was not until the third day that they finally circled back to Anning Pass!
The defenders on Anning Pass's southern wall saw so many warhorses rushing toward them, kicking up rolling clouds of dust. Thinking enemy troops had taken a detour to attack, they hurriedly went on alert.
"Enemy attack! Be on guard!"
The southern defenders grabbed their bows, sabers, and spears, warily watching the thousand-plus riders below the city.
"Brothers on the wall, we aren't enemy soldiers! We're the Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion!" Seeing the defenders atop the walls draw their bows and nock arrows, Tang Yunshan hurriedly shouted.
If they were mistakenly injured and made a joke of themselves, that would be one hell of a spectacle.
Hearing the shout, the defenders on the wall were all somewhat suspicious. The people below spoke with an authentic accent; they did not sound like Xiongnu enemies in disguise.
But hadn't the Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion all died during the camp raid?
"The Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion? Didn't we hear they were all killed?"
"Who knows? Could the Xiongnu have captured them and now be trying to trick us into opening the city!?"
"Wait and see. If anything seems wrong, attack."
"Brothers on the wall, if you don't believe us, you can report this upward and have the generals come over. We truly are the Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion!" Tang Yunshan continued shouting.
"Send someone to report this!" one of the leaders ordered.
Soon, the dust settled, and the defenders on the walls saw more than a thousand horses below, many laden with supplies.
Yet there were only around sixty people!
Their battle robes and banners were indeed those of Anning Pass's defenders.
"Captain, there are only around sixty people below. It doesn't look like they're trying to trick us into opening the city!" a Sergeant said.
"Be more cautious. We can't afford a single mistake right now," the Captain said carefully.
The soldiers atop the wall still did not open the gates, remaining exceedingly vigilant.
On the northern gate tower, the generals kept a close watch on the battle. If they discovered any Xiongnu experts joining the fight, they would have to intervene and stop them.
"Report—"
A messenger soldier ran over.
"What is it!?" Yang Ye looked at the messenger soldier.
"Reporting to the general, there is a group outside the southern gate claiming to be the Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion of our Anning Army. They have brought over a thousand horses and request the general's instructions," the messenger soldier said quickly.
"What?"
Yang Ye rose from his seat.
The other Brigade Generals also stared at the messenger soldier in disbelief, thinking they had misheard.
The Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion—the squad that had been the first to charge into the enemy camp on the right flank of the Xiongnu army and turn it upside down—they remembered the Tenth Squad clearly.
Hadn't they said the entire Seventh Battalion had died in battle? How had they suddenly appeared again?
"Are you sure it is the Tenth Squad of the Seventh Battalion?" Yang Ye asked sternly.
"Reporting to the general, that is what they said," the messenger soldier replied.
"General, I'll go take a look!" General Who Breaks the Barbarians Sun Hao said.
"Fine. Take the Martial Commandant with you and see what is going on." Yang Ye nodded.
The Xiongnu army was attacking the city right now, and he could not leave. He had to hold the battlefield in case a Grandmaster from among the Xiongnu army attacked the city.
"Yes, General!"
Sun Hao called for the Martial Commandant and hurried to the southern wall!
Looking down, they saw Sheng Huai'an and the others seated atop their warhorses, each leading more than ten horses.
"It really is that kid!" Upon seeing Sheng Huai'an, Sun Hao naturally recognized him.
They had all been paying attention to Sheng Huai'an!
"Martial Commandant, are those below really all from your camp's Tenth Squad?" Sun Hao asked.
To guard against every possible accident, it was best to remain cautious.
"Reporting to the general, more than a dozen of them aren't. They seem to be from other squads. The rest are all soldiers of the Tenth Squad," the martial commandant replied.
Seeing Sheng Huai'an and the others, the Martial Commandant was extraordinarily shocked.
Weren't these fellows rumored to be dead? How had they returned, alive and well?!
"Good."
"Quickly open the gates and let them in," Sun Hao said.
He then descended the wall and came to the city gates. He was extremely curious about what Sheng Huai'an had been doing to bring back so many warhorses.
Seeing the gates open, Sheng Huai'an said to the soldiers behind him, "Brothers, enter the city!"
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