Blood Qi Like Dragon

The instant he broke through to the Houtian realm, immense power surged from within him, continuously strengthening his flesh, bones, and physique.

This was the most primordial power, originating from the deepest reaches of the human body.

His body seemed to have shattered some kind of limit, allowing this power to arrive vast and fierce.

Soft cracking sounds continuously came from within his body. His bones were being endlessly reinforced, forged by that power.

His skin and bones were tinged with a faint golden hue, as though undergoing a transformation. Powerful bodily force continuously strengthened his flesh and cells.

The sinews and bones throughout his body were being washed by this power, becoming tougher and stronger.

That majestic blood qi made many people's hearts tremble at the sight of it.

Many soldiers sensed the powerful aura and rolling blood qi coming from Sheng Huai'an's tent.

The blood qi flowing and churning within him roared like a dragon's cry.

The powerful blood qi was felt even by those outside the tent.

"Is this Blood Qi Like Dragon?!" Tang Yunshan and the others were utterly shocked.

"What powerful blood qi!"

At this moment, Sheng Huai'an was like a blazing sun, making the soldiers outside the tent feel a scorching heat.

"No wonder people say Battalion Commander Sheng is a monstrous genius. At this realm, he has already cultivated his blood qi to such a level."

"Those so-called once-in-a-millennium monstrous geniuses would likely still fall short compared to Battalion Commander Sheng."

"Battalion Commander Sheng must have succeeded in his breakthrough. Such a young Houtian Martial Artist..."

Many people fell silent, especially Guo Xiaoping and Hu Bing. Both were past thirty, yet neither had managed to break through to the Houtian realm.

Yet now, Sheng Huai'an had broken through before them. Not even twenty years old, he had already reached the Houtian realm. Such talent left them astonished.

Many were envious, but they were also happy for Sheng Huai'an. The stronger Sheng Huai'an became, the greater their hope of surviving on this grassland.

After that power receded, Sheng Huai'an opened his eyes, and a sharp golden gleam flashed through them.

The blood qi roaring and churning within him also calmed.

He looked again at the golden screen:

Name: Sheng Huai'an

Race: Human

Realm: Early Houtian

Cultivation Methods: "Great Sun Heart Sutra" (Beginner) "Ferocious Ox Strength" (Minor Mastery) (+) "Blood Fiend Saber Technique" (Major Mastery) "Overlord Spear Technique" (Beginner)

Strength: 15,000 jin

Talent: Silver Archer (+)

Slaughter Value: 232

The moment he broke through, his strength had reached fifteen thousand jin, comparable to the strength of Xiantian Martial Artists.

Of course, having strength comparable to Xiantian Martial Artists did not mean his combat power was comparable to theirs.

But even if he faced a Houtian Martial Artist at Great Perfection now, he would not fear them.

There was a difference as vast as heaven and earth between Houtian Martial Artists and Xiantian Martial Artists. The gulf between them could not be bridged by strength alone.

After breaking through to the Houtian realm, his strength had also increased greatly.

He did not dare claim invincibility within the Houtian realm, but it would likely be difficult for him to find an opponent.

After his cultivation broke through, Sheng Huai'an did not stop cultivating. Instead, he continued circulating the Great Sun Heart Sutra, drawing in the spiritual qi of heaven and earth and converting it into Martial True Essence to strengthen his blood qi, sinews, bones, flesh, and blood.

Martial cultivators constantly tempered their physiques, making their bodies ever stronger as they broke through the limits of the human body.

Seeing that Sheng Huai'an had successfully broken through, Guo Xiaoping and Hu Bing also began preparing to take Breakthrough Pills, planning to break through to the Houtian realm in one stroke.

Those in the group whose cultivation could advance and who had received Breakthrough Pills also began cultivating one after another, taking the pills and preparing to break through and increase their strength.

Such an opportunity was rare. Being able to seize so many pills counted as good fortune for them.

That night, the Anning Cavalry's strength improved, becoming much stronger than before.

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, soldiers had already prepared breakfast.

Guo Xiaoping and Hu Bing emerged from their tent with delighted smiles on their faces, their mouths harder to suppress than an AK's recoil.

Just as the saying went, a happy event put a spring in one's step.

That was right. After taking Fourth-grade Breakthrough Pills, both had successfully broken through to the Houtian realm.

Whenever they saw someone, the two greeted them with grins.

"Oh? You two look so happy. What, did you have spring dreams last night?" Sheng Huai'an teased.

Guo Xiaoping: ...

Hu Bing: ...

Did they look like such hopeless men? They were both past thirty and had done plenty of "poverty relief" at Yichun Tower. Why would they still have dreams like that?

"Good morning, Battalion Commander Sheng!" Hu Bing forced out an awkward smile.

"Why are you smiling so terribly? Don't tell me I hit the mark." Sheng Huai'an squeezed his eyes and raised a brow.

Guo Xiaoping and Hu Bing looked at each other. Their commander's temperament was truly difficult to put into words.

When killing enemies, he was like a slaughtering god who had crawled out of hell.

Yet now, he was like some improper old patron of Yichun Tower.

"Battalion Commander Sheng, we broke through to the Houtian realm," Guo Xiaoping said.

"Oh, what a coincidence. I broke through too. How about we spar?" A malicious bit of amusement rose in Sheng Huai'an's heart. Seeing how delighted they looked, he wanted to spoil it.

"Mm!"

The two shook their heads like rattles. They would not assume that breaking through to the Houtian realm meant their strength was anywhere close to Sheng Huai'an's.

They still possessed some self-awareness, and they had no masochistic tendencies.

Seeing them shake their heads and refuse to spar with him, Sheng Huai'an continued.

"You two can come at me together and spar against me jointly."

"Mm~"

Guo Xiaoping and Hu Bing still shook their heads. Their aptitude might be slightly lacking, but they were not fools.

Seeing that they refused no matter what, Sheng Huai'an felt somewhat regretful. He had just broken through, and his fists were itching, yet he could not find a punching bag.

Once breakfast was ready, they began eating.

Before the morning sun had risen, Sheng Huai'an and the others had already finished breakfast and continued roaming deeper into the grasslands.

Today's target was still the Xiongnu army's grain and supply transport troops.

If they cut off the Xiongnu army's grain supplies, the Xiongnu army would be unable to attack the city, buying time for Anning Pass.

That morning, the Xiongnu army did not attack the city. Their food supplies had become scarce.

Seeing that the Xiongnu army was not attacking, Yang Ye and the other Anning Pass defending generals understood that Sheng Huai'an and his men had made their move.

"It seems this tactic of cutting off their food really is having an effect," a Brigade General said.

"It is indeed having an effect, but Sheng Huai'an and the others are also in danger," General Polu Zhao Yong'an said.

"I hope they can all return safely," Sun Hao said.

But those words were clearly nothing more than a hope and a wish.

The Xiongnu army would not simply allow its grain supplies to be cut off. They would certainly send heavily armed troops back to wipe out those cutting off their supplies.

Yang Ye did not speak. His heart was heavy. This had always been a matter of trading lives for a chance for the Anning Pass defenders to catch their breath.

It was merely replacing one group of people with another to die.

"Reporting to Left Virtuous King, the scouts have sent word back. The people attacking the supply trains appear to be a cavalry force of roughly one thousand, likely Anning Army cavalry," the communications officer reported early that morning.

"Anning Army cavalry? One thousand men dare touch this king's tiger whiskers? What audacity."

"Send three cavalry units. Bring those thousand heads back to me." The Left Virtuous King roared in fury.

These past few days, his temper had been particularly foul. He had already tormented several of the slave prostitutes he brought with him to death.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After receiving the order, a Xiongnu general immediately dispatched three cavalry units to exterminate those cutting off the grain supplies.

Each cavalry unit numbered two thousand men.

Sheng Huai'an and his men were about to face the encirclement and extermination of six thousand Xiongnu Cavalry.

Yet at this moment, Sheng Huai'an and his men knew nothing of it.

"Battalion Commander Sheng, the troops transporting grain and supplies seem to have been reinforced. It appears the Xiongnu have discovered us," Guo Xiaoping said with a grave expression.

"Being discovered was bound to happen sooner or later!"

They destroyed more than ten Xiongnu supply units a day. It would have been strange if the Xiongnu had not noticed.

Looking at the Xiongnu supply transport force ahead, it numbered two thousand men, including five hundred cavalry guarding both flanks of the transport unit.

The ordinary infantry had also increased to five hundred. There were one thousand regular troops alone.

The remaining thousand herdsmen were armed as well.

"Should we let them pass?" Hu Bing asked.

"Let them pass? Meat that has reached my mouth has never been something I let go."

"Brothers, follow me and kill the enemy! Charge!" Sheng Huai'an raised his spear and shouted before urging his horse into a charge.

"Hyah!"

"Charge!"

"Kill!"

The charge of one thousand cavalry was like ten thousand galloping horses. The earth trembled, rolling dust rose into the air, and their momentum was magnificent.