Seeing that his family could live in peace and security, Shiheng finally felt completely at ease. He left ten thousand gold coins and told his parents there was no need to be frugal. The stipend from his noble title could also be transferred directly into his father's name in the future. From then on, even while he was in the military camp, he could ensure his family had food and clothing and lived out their days in peace.
With everything settled, Shiheng finally returned to the military camp. The smoke of battle and a faint trace of magical beast blood still lingered around him, marks of a warrior of the battlefield. He carefully straightened his crisp uniform, smoothing out every crease, then walked with steady, firm steps toward Legion Commander Kolewell's command tent. The soldiers on duty along the way all stopped when they saw him, their eyes filled with awe. During the fierce battle over the level nine magical beast cub, Shiheng had charged into the enemy ranks alone. Word of his fearless valor had long since spread throughout the camp, and recruits and veterans alike acknowledged him as a formidable warrior.
Lifting the command tent's heavy hide flap, Shiheng strode inside with his head held high. He bowed to Legion Commander Kolewell, who sat in the seat of honor with a steady, imposing presence. His voice rang out firmly, without a trace of fatigue. "Shiheng reporting for duty, Legion Commander!"
Kolewell raised his eyes to him, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, and carefully examined Shiheng's slightly weary figure, still as straight as a pine. A faint smile slowly curved his lips. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight and authority of a seasoned battlefield veteran, every word ringing clear. "Shiheng, I thought that after this campaign and your distinguished military achievements, you would choose to go back and enjoy the comfort of noble life, leaving the blades and bloodshed of the military camp behind for good."
Shiheng's heart tightened. He hurriedly straightened his back and was about to explain when Kolewell continued, his tone now carrying undisguised approval. "I didn't expect you to still have some ambition, lad. You haven't let empty fame and fleeting gains blind you or make you lose sight of who you are."
As he spoke, Kolewell leaned forward slightly, his gaze turning utterly solemn as he instructed him, word by word. "Remember, in these troubled times, and here in the army, your own strength is the foundation of your survival and the basis of all your confidence. All external honors and noble titles are ultimately nothing but hollow, elusive vanity. Only the power you hold in your own hands will never betray you."
Every word was a pearl of wisdom that struck hard at Shiheng's heart, instantly clearing away his lingering confusion over honors and noble titles. His understanding of strength and honor deepened, and his gaze toward Kolewell grew even more respectful and sincere.
Seeing how attentively he listened, his eyes clear with understanding, Kolewell could tell that he had truly taken the words to heart. Even more satisfied, he immediately waved his large hand and announced his appointment. "You're quick-witted, lad, your skills are decent, and you have a steady temperament. You can shoulder responsibility. From now on, you won't need to return to your old unit. Stay by my side as a centurion of my personal guard and gain some proper experience!"
"Yes, sir! Thank you for your confidence in me, Legion Commander!" Joy rose in Shiheng's heart, and some of the tension surrounding him eased. He immediately bowed deeply to accept the order, his voice filled with resolve. In his eyes, serving beside the legion commander as a personal guard centurion was not only a sign of the commander's profound trust but also an opportunity others could only dream of. He could observe the bearing of a powerful warrior up close and gain more opportunities to improve himself. He silently resolved to train diligently from then on and do everything he could to increase his strength, never letting down the commander who had promoted him and placed such high hopes in him.
The legion commander's personal guard battalion might seem infinitely prestigious, but in truth, it held the most dangerous position in the entire legion. There were no mundane patrols or menial duties here. Others saw it as an easy, leisurely posting, but that was because the personal guard battalion either received no mission at all or received an absolute order that offered only a slim chance of survival. Every deployment was a hard-fought battle that concerned the legion's survival, or even the overall situation of their faction.
During this time, Shiheng enjoyed Kolewell's deep trust and had no cumbersome daily affairs to occupy him. He spent most of his daytime hours standing guard outside the command tent, awaiting orders and keeping himself in peak condition at all times. Whenever he had a free moment, he plunged into his own tent, shut himself away, and began the most brutal, demanding physical tempering.
Sweat soaked his uniform again and again, only to be evaporated by the heat radiating from his body. The tent floor gleamed from the sweat dripping onto it. Shiheng sweated profusely, every punch carrying a sharp whistle as it cut through the air, every kick making the ground tremble slightly. After the quiet recuperation and treatment he had undergone following the previous battle, the meridians in his body were already completely clear, with no lingering problems whatsoever. His training progressed ever more smoothly.
His improvement was plain to see. By then, Shiheng had firmly established himself as a fifth-level beginner warrior. If he entered his berserk state in battle, he could even unleash terrifying combat power comparable to that of a half-step seventh-level warrior. Such extraordinary explosive power was exceedingly rare among warriors of his level.
Time passed, and half a year went by in the blink of an eye.
Over those six months, Shiheng cut off almost all pointless socializing and immersed himself wholeheartedly in training, without distraction. From five in the morning until ten at night, he performed intense physical training day after day, never missing a single day. Through repeated tearing and rebuilding, the muscles throughout his body grew tougher and more compact. His vitality and spirit became as steady and substantial as metal and stone, and his entire bearing underwent a tremendous transformation.
Now, his strength had firmly broken through to that of a fifth-level middle-stage warrior. The power surging within him was like an endlessly rushing river, vast and mighty, ready to be unleashed. Only one final bottleneck remained before he could reach the threshold of the fifth-level warrior late stage and achieve another great leap in strength.
That day, Shiheng was once again focused on training his body inside his tent. Force spilled outward with every movement of his fists and feet, accompanied by powerful whistles through the air. Blood and vital energy slowly surged throughout his body as he immersed himself completely in his training, oblivious to everything else.
Hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent. A soldier in a personal guard uniform strode inside and bowed to Shiheng, speaking urgently. "Centurion, the legion commander wants to see you. He has important orders!"
"All right, understood." Shiheng immediately stopped training and answered in a low voice. Picking up a dry cloth from beside him, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck, carefully straightened his neat personal guard uniform, and completely settled the restless energy around him. Then he quickly followed the guard toward the legion commander's command tent.
As he entered the command tent, he felt a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, as though even the air inside had frozen. Legion Commander Kolewell wore a grave expression, with a trace of anxiety between his brows. Upon seeing Shiheng, he dispensed with any pleasantries and spoke directly. "Shiheng, yesterday the Shadow Alliance suddenly attacked our Magic Crystal Vein two hundred li away. The attack came without warning, and the enemy struck in force. Our garrison couldn't hold them off. Right now, our main forces cannot be redeployed. The situation is extremely urgent."
He looked firmly at Shiheng and issued an absolute order in a solemn voice. "Take one hundred of my personal guards immediately and rush to reinforce the Magic Crystal Vein. You must hold the vein and repel the Shadow Alliance's attack!"
"Yes, sir!" Shiheng answered in a low voice without the slightest hesitation. He turned and strode out of the command tent, swiftly assembling one hundred personal guards. They were all battle-hardened elites and finished preparing in moments. Shiheng swung onto his horse, spear in hand. At his command, the unit spurred their horses into a gallop, racing toward the Magic Crystal Vein to provide reinforcements.
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