After leaving Wu Kuang’s tent, Chen Sheng did not return to rest. Instead, he found a secluded corner. First, he took a pill from his robes and swallowed it, then drew in a deep breath and assumed a somewhat peculiar stance.
This was none other than the “Standing Cauldron Stance,” one of the twelve stance exercises of the Golden Bell Body-Tempering Method.
This cultivation method consisted of twelve stance exercises and thirty-six forms. Only by completing a full cycle could he slowly advance the progress bar.
In the months since he had transmigrated here, after experiencing slaughter on the battlefield, Chen Sheng had come to deeply understand one iron law: in this chaotic world, strength was the foundation of survival.
Thus, from the day his golden finger awakened, he had never slacked off for even a moment. He trained bitterly day and night. Whenever he had no mission, he would curl up in the camp, free of distractions, and temper himself.
It was precisely this almost obsessive persistence that had allowed him, in just over a month, to successfully open his apertures, establish his foundation, and step into the Mingxi Realm.
That pill was a “Qi and Blood Pill” he had purchased at a high price after using his savings to grease the palms of the quartermaster. It could nourish qi and blood, resist physical fatigue, and support him in sustained cultivation.
About two hours later, the night was as thick and dark as ink. Exhausted in both body and mind, Chen Sheng looked at the panel before him, and at last a trace of unrestrained satisfaction appeared on his face.
[Basic Saber Technique: Great Accomplishment (406/1000)]
[Golden Bell Body-Tempering Method: Minor Accomplishment (192/500)]
This panel, which could clearly reflect his own progress, had no other miraculous abilities, yet it gave Chen Sheng an extraordinary sense of solidity. One part effort, one part gain—as long as he persevered, he would eventually see results.
……
When Chen Sheng returned to the tent, it was nearly the end of the hour of Hai. He had thought everyone would have long since fallen asleep, but unexpectedly, the moment he stepped inside, he felt several gazes sweep over him. In the darkness, it seemed quite a few people were still awake.
This abnormal silence gave Chen Sheng a faint sense of surprise: Could the matter of me meeting Commander Wu have spread this quickly?
Without betraying anything, he felt his way to his own bed in the dim light. Just as he was about to lie down, Sun Liuzi from the neighboring bed leaned over and urgently lowered his voice.
“Brother Sheng, where did you go just now?”
“Couldn’t sleep, so I went out to practice for a while,” Chen Sheng replied quietly.
“Something happened, Brother Sheng!” Sun Liuzi’s voice carried suppressed excitement and lingering fear.
“Just now, someone called Huang Ren came. He claimed he was already the newly appointed deputy commander and actually returned all the silver Wang Yi had given Commander Wu! He even… even mocked him to his face a few times.”
“Wang Yi couldn’t keep his expression together at all. He rushed out and still hasn’t come back. Everyone’s been talking about it, so no one’s fallen asleep.”
Chen Sheng immediately understood. So that was it. No wonder the atmosphere was so strange. His heart eased slightly—Wu Kuang had only returned Wang Yi’s silver, which meant his own matter was likely settled.
After all, the price he had paid was far beyond what Wang Yi could compare with.
Still, Wu Kuang did indeed seem to have a bit of “principle” in the way he handled things.
If the matter was not accomplished, the silver was returned. Though he was greedy for money, he could still be considered somewhat principled.
“Did Wang Yi repay the silver he borrowed from you all?” Chen Sheng asked casually.
“No!”
Sun Liuzi’s tone immediately collapsed, full of regret.
“That’s exactly what we’re worrying about. Before Wang Yi ran off, he even left us with a few words, telling us not to panic and that he’d go look for another way. But… sigh! If we’d known earlier, we never would’ve lent it to him!”
Chen Sheng did not continue the conversation. After giving a few perfunctory replies, he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, though the great battle had already ended, the army’s drills continued as usual. When it was time to rest, last night’s commotion naturally became the hottest topic of conversation, and the words exchanged were filled with no small amount of schadenfreude and ridicule.
Aside from the men of the Sixth Squad, who still had some scruples about Wang Yi’s status as squad leader, the soldiers of the other squads—especially those squad leaders who had no hope of promotion to begin with—seized the chance to make a few sarcastic remarks. Wang Yi’s face turned ashen as he listened, his teeth clenched tightly.
If there had been no hope from the start, that would have been one thing. But he had bragged so hard that everyone in the squad knew he was “guaranteed” the position. In the end, he was slapped in the face on the spot and had nearly lost even the clothes off his back.
Some of the soldiers who had lent him silver felt their hearts ache and wanted to step forward to demand repayment, only for Wang Yi to scold them furiously.
“Old Xu, if you take this silver back today, then when I become deputy commander in the future, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”
“It’s just a few taels of silver. Look at how pathetic you all are! Once I take the position, I’ll pay you back double!”
“I still have plenty of chances! Even if I can’t get it here, can’t I get it in another unit? Don’t forget, I’m someone who has opened his apertures and established his foundation!”
After a round of coaxing, threats, and boasting, the men of the Sixth Squad exchanged glances. In the end, none of them dared press him further. Only the regret in their hearts grew wildly like weeds—Commander Wu’s silver had been returned, yet their money still could not be recovered.
Chen Sheng paid no attention to these disturbances. As soon as the drills ended, he went straight to a corner of the martial field and continued polishing his stance exercises. The path of cultivation prized persistence above all. He had never been willing to waste even the slightest bit of time.
While practicing, he repeatedly pondered the warning that had once again appeared in his mind that morning from the Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity:
[My name is Chen Sheng. When you see these words, it is already too late for regret. Wang Yi once personally witnessed me having private dealings with the quartermaster. After learning that I was the one who took his position and that I could produce a large sum of silver to bribe Wu Kuang, he used this to threaten and extort me.
I flatly refused. Because of this, he bore a grudge and actually colluded with others to report the matter to the commandant. After investigation, it was confirmed that the quartermaster had repeatedly sold military supplies for personal profit. In the end, he violated military law and was sentenced to beheading, while I was also implicated and placed among those transferred to the border pass… I should have killed him long ago…]
“If you don’t die, my heart will never be at ease…”
Chen Sheng looked from afar at Wang Yi’s restless back, and a trace of icy killing intent flashed through his eyes.
“Assemble—!”
“Fourth Unit of the Mountain-Character Battalion, assemble!”
Suddenly, war drums thundered across the martial field.
All the soldiers under Wu Kuang’s command moved at the sound, quickly forming ranks by squad. Ten men to a line, twelve columns deep—they soon finished assembling on the drill ground.
After months of tempering through blood and fire, even the new recruits understood the authority of the army drums.
Those who disobeyed orders and failed to step forward had long since become chickens killed to warn the monkeys.
At the front of the formation, Wu Kuang strode over in light armor, with the steady-looking Huang Ren following behind him. His gaze was like lightning as he swept it across the entire field. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and announced in a clear voice:
“I have summoned you all today to announce an appointment!”
The soldiers held their breath and focused. Wang Yi stared fixedly at Huang Ren behind Wu Kuang. The last trace of luck in his eyes was utterly extinguished, leaving only ashen defeat and unwillingness.
“From this day forth, Huang Ren, formerly of the Second Unit, is transferred to my Fourth Unit and will serve as deputy commander over the First through Fifth Squads!”
Huang Ren stepped out at the order, his gait steady as he stood before the First Squad. His gaze was level, and he naturally carried an imposing air.
Wu Kuang paused slightly, turned his gaze to the other side, and shouted again:
“Where is Chen Sheng?”
“Your subordinate is here!”
Chen Sheng stepped out from the crowd and walked to the front of the Sixth Squad’s formation, his bearing straight and tall.
Wu Kuang stared at him, his voice carrying across the whole field:
“From this day forth, Chen Sheng will serve as deputy commander over the Sixth through Twelfth Squads!”
Chen Sheng raised his head. His voice was clear, firm, and forceful:
“Your subordinate obeys!”