[Basic Saber Technique: Great Accomplishment (610/1000)]
[Golden Bell Body-Tempering Method: Minor Accomplishment (320/500)]
[Toad-Fishing Force Secret Art: Entry Level (25/100)]
Before he had fully refined the medicinal power of the pill, Chen Sheng was pleasantly surprised to discover that the cultivation progress of the Toad-Fishing Force had suddenly surged, saving him at least half a month of bitter effort.
Sensing this, he immediately gathered his mind, cast aside stray thoughts, and devoted himself fully to guiding that cool, pure medicinal power as it circulated through his body, refining it with complete focus.
As the medicinal power continued to seep in, he could clearly feel fine, turbid impurities slowly being expelled from the pores all over his body.
The Pure Origin Pill’s effects did not disappoint Chen Sheng. After spending half a day completely refining it, although he had not reached the point of being reborn anew, he could still clearly sense that his body had undergone significant changes.
In particular, the cultivation progress of the Toad-Fishing Force had advanced by leaps and bounds.
[Basic Saber Technique: Great Accomplishment (610/1000)]
[Golden Bell Body-Tempering Method: Minor Accomplishment (322/500)]
[Toad-Fishing Force Secret Art: Entry Level (75/100)]
This improvement had saved him more than a month of bitter cultivation.
More importantly, after this marrow-cleansing and body-tempering, when he cultivated the Golden Bell Body-Tempering Method, he could clearly feel that his inner breath gathered several times faster than before—this was equivalent to directly improving his cultivation aptitude, making up for the shortcomings of his innate foundation.
Such miraculous effects made Chen Sheng crave the Pure Origin Pill even more.
If he could obtain another one, then entering the threshold of the Toad-Fishing Force would likely happen in an instant.
Unfortunately, he also understood that this pill was precious and difficult to obtain. Even Wu Kuang had only managed to secure it from Commandant Nie with great effort; with Chen Sheng’s current status and channels, it was almost impossible for him to acquire one.
By the time Chen Sheng had bathed and changed, the sky was already growing dim.
Without waiting for Wu Kuang to send someone to urge him, he changed into a deputy commander’s standard light armor and hurried over.
When he arrived, he saw Wu Kuang chatting and laughing with Huang Ren. Seeing Chen Sheng arrive, Wu Kuang gave a slight nod, while Huang Ren rose and greeted him politely.
Anyone could see that Wu Kuang relied more heavily on Chen Sheng. Not only had he handed over real authority to him, he had also entrusted him with the important task of selecting and transferring soldiers.
Naturally, Huang Ren felt somewhat uncomfortable about this, but that was all. The reason he had been transferred under Wu Kuang’s command was entirely due to his elder brother’s arrangements and Commandant Nie’s favor, allowing him to return with the transfer to the rear. He absolutely did not dare rashly clash with Chen Sheng, who was clearly held in high regard.
However, wariness was one thing. Seeing Wu Kuang make no effort to conceal how much he valued Chen Sheng, Huang Ren still harbored a faint desire to compete in secret, hoping that one day he could surpass Chen Sheng.
Chen Sheng sensed this, but did not care. As long as the other party did not take the initiative to provoke him, he was too lazy to bother with it.
“It’s about time. Let’s go.”
After waiting a little longer, Wu Kuang rose and called to them, then lowered his voice to instruct the two: “After entering the tent, watch more and speak less. Don’t force yourself into the limelight. You must keep a low profile.”
“Yes!”
Chen Sheng and Huang Ren answered in unison, then followed closely behind him.
……
Inside the main tent, figures were already gathered in a crowd. Seeing Wu Kuang arrive, several commanders who had arrived earlier all greeted him with smiles, their words filled with no shortage of envy and teasing.
Being transferred back to serve in a rear county town was undoubtedly a coveted and cushy post.
Within the Shan Battalion, only a scant two people had such connections. To obtain such an opportunity, strength alone was far from enough; the key was still having solid backing.
By comparison, the latter often carried even more weight.
Facing his colleagues’ teasing, Wu Kuang laughed it off and took the opportunity to introduce Chen Sheng and Huang Ren behind him to everyone. Because of Huang Ren’s elder brother, everyone was already familiar with him and did not pay much attention.
Instead, it was Chen Sheng who had recently risen to prominence within the Shan Battalion, drawing several commanders to take a few extra looks at him—not only had Wu Kuang made an exception to promote him to deputy commander, he had even emerged unscathed from Administrative Officer Zhou’s case, and had further been entrusted with the important duty of selecting soldiers.
However, their curiosity ended there. A deputy commander was ultimately not enough for them to attach too much importance to. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the topic quickly shifted elsewhere.
Chen Sheng and Huang Ren were arranged to sit in inconspicuous seats in the second row.
Before long, all six commanders and twelve deputy commanders of the Shan Battalion had arrived.
A moment later, the tent curtain lifted, and a lean figure strode inside.
The newcomer wore no armor, only a loose brocade robe. His face bore faint traces of hardship yet could not conceal its handsomeness. What was even more astonishing was his age—he appeared to be only just over twenty, yet the deep, immovable aura around him already quietly enveloped the entire gathering.
“Greetings, Commandant!”
“Commandant, sir!”
The moment this person appeared, everyone in the tent, regardless of rank, rose to their feet and saluted respectfully.
The newcomer was none other than the commandant of the Shan Battalion, Nie Yuanliu.
Chen Sheng did not know much about this Commandant Nie; previously, he had only seen him from afar a few times.
But from Wu Kuang, he had learned that this man came from an illustrious family, and that his talent was even more extraordinary. At merely twenty-one, he had already stepped into the realm of Innate Chaoyuan.
Back when Chen Sheng had first transmigrated, the figure he had seen breaking through the enemy formation with a spear in hand, like a god of war, had been this very man.
By comparison, Wu Kuang’s promotion seemed insignificant. Nie Yuanliu had spent half a year quelling the rebellion, winning illustrious military merits and enjoying extremely high prestige within the Shan Battalion. With this promotion, his future was even more boundless.
However, what Chen Sheng cared about most was the warning the [Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster] Heavenly Book had given yesterday:
[My name is Chen Sheng. When you see this sentence, my regret is already too late... During the banquet in the great tent, after Commandant Nie expressed gratitude for the assistance of the commanders, he saw that the deputy commanders were growing increasingly respectful. After some thought, he proposed bidding farewell with a wagered bout, and took out prizes as the stakes. Because I kept Wu Kuang’s warning firmly in mind, I did not step forward. Only when the prizes were revealed did I learn that they were three treasured weapons, with the winner allowed to choose one. I was immediately filled with bitter regret...]
“No need for such ceremony, everyone.”
Nie Yuanliu gave a slight nod and walked calmly to the main seat before sitting down, waving his hand casually.
The soldiers waiting outside the tent immediately filed in, offering fine wine and delicacies.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, the atmosphere inside the tent gradually grew lively.
Midway through the banquet, Nie Yuanliu raised his cup and took a light sip. His gaze swept across the gathering as he said with a faint sigh,
“In the half year I, Nie, have spent in the Shan Battalion, I have been fortunate to receive the wholehearted assistance of all you commanders. After today, some of you may head for the border passes, while others will return to your former posts. I, too, will be transferred away in the coming days. Let this banquet serve as a farewell. Before departing, I have prepared a modest gift to express my feelings. I hope that one day, we may meet again.”
With that said, he gently flicked his sleeve, and six crystal-clear jade bottles actually flew out from beneath the table, landing with perfect accuracy before the six commanders.
True qi projected outward, controlling objects from afar!
This effortless display of Innate-level ability immediately drew a wave of low exclamations from within the tent.
The six commanders all became solemn, raising their cups and cupping their hands at the same time.
“Congratulations on your promotion, Commandant!”
“Congratulations, Commandant!”
The remaining deputy commanders also echoed one after another, their eyes burning with eagerness as they hoped they too might receive some reward.
Nie Yuanliu naturally had no intention of giving out that many gifts. Most of the deputy commanders present had rotated through several batches, and he could not even recognize them all. But with everyone looking at him so earnestly, he could not be too stingy either. Thus, meeting their expectant gazes, he smiled calmly.
“Very well. Since you deputy commanders are able to be here today, that too is fate. This commandant shall set up a wagered bout. The victor may receive one prize as the stake, thus making this gathering complete.”