The barracks of the 131st Company seemed unusually empty, with only a dozen or so soldiers left in the quarters that could accommodate two hundred. The heavy weight of mourning for their fallen comrades pressed down on every soldier’s heart.
Qian Ye did not deny the lieutenant’s report about the 131st Company’s battle situation, and he tacitly allowed the lieutenant to use this explanation to comfort the soldiers. Unlike Qian Ye, these soldiers would still have to return to the 17th Legion, regardless of whether the 131st Company still existed. Right and wrong were not their concern.
As he made this decision, Qian Ye suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, recalling a similar conclusion his captain had drawn after a rebel-purging mission with the Red Scorpion years ago. However, this time, Qian Ye felt a bit hesitant to revisit the Red Scorpion’s past, and quickly shifted his thoughts, deciding to enter seclusion for cultivation.
Perhaps due to the large amount of blood he had absorbed during the Battle of the Earth Castle, although the golden and purple blood energies within him were continuously consuming and transforming, the foreign blood energy in his body had not fully settled. The ordinary blood energy, which had increased from seven to nine streams, remained dormant and silent in his heart.
When Qian Ye began his inner observation, he was surprised to find a new change. Instead of nine streams, a single, much thicker stream of ordinary blood energy emerged from his heart.
Qian Ye pondered for a while before guessing that this might be the method of advancing the power of blood. Just as all human martial arts share a common characteristic—nine levels, nine turns, nine stages—the power of blood might follow the same principle. When the nine streams of ordinary blood energy reach a certain level, they might condense into one advanced stream. In the past, the continuous consumption by the golden and purple blood energy prevented them from reaching nine streams, thus delaying the advancement.
However, unlike the golden and purple blood energy, which granted special abilities upon advancement, the ordinary blood energy did not show any significant changes. Qian Ye only felt a slight itch in his internal organs, especially in his heart, like a wound about to heal. This might indicate some enhancement in physical attributes, but it was still far from the boost provided by the Bloodline Power. Qian Ye speculated that the differences in abilities between different bloodlines might stem from this.
Once the blood energy within him was in order, Qian Ye began to cultivate the “Military Conquest Decision.” He realized that the recent restlessness and agitation might be due to the excessive blood absorption or the numerous unresolved matters. Therefore, he spent extra time in deep meditation before initiating the primordial force tide.
The primordial force tide quickly surpassed thirty cycles, and Qian Ye still felt capable of more. His body was now brimming with blood energy, and his internal organs, particularly his heart, had become even stronger, able to withstand the repeated surges without any damage.
Thirty-one, thirty-two… Soon, he surpassed thirty-five cycles. Surprisingly, Qian Ye felt the same impact as he did at thirty cycles. When the thirty-sixth cycle came roaring in, his internal organs started to show signs of injury. At that moment, Qian Ye’s mind moved slightly, guiding the immense wave towards the fifth node. The barrier shattered instantly, and the primordial force node was ignited with ease.
This advancement, so unexpectedly easy, surprised even Qian Ye himself.
The near-day was nearing its end, and it was also the night when Gemini Alpha Star was closest to the Eternal Night Continent. Qian Ye lay flat on the deserted rear parade ground, his hands behind his head, gazing at the moon that occupied most of the sky, as if he could touch it with an outstretched hand.
He had just broken through to the fifth level and should have patiently refined and stabilized the newly ignited node. However, the inexplicable restlessness churned in his chest. For the first time, he didn’t want to continue cultivating; he just wanted to keep his mind blank, as if that would bring some calm.
In the distance, the sound of wheels grinding against the ground stopped at the entrance of the 131st Company’s barracks. Then, the night fell silent again, with no commands or guards reporting. The sound of the wheels seemed to be an illusion.
Suddenly, Qian Ye leaped up and turned to look. Ji Yuanjia emerged from the shadows of the building.
He looked at Qian Ye and asked, “You’re at the fifth level?”
This was clearly not a normal opening line, but Qian Ye’s restlessness gradually subsided. He replied, “Yes.”
It was as if the days that had passed didn’t exist, and they exchanged a calm greeting.
Ji Yuanjia smiled, “Do you want to have a match?” He seemed in high spirits. His right arm lowered, and a small sword, half a foot long, appeared in his hand. The primordial force array lit up, shining like a pool of autumn water in the night.
Qian Ye and Ji Yuanjia had once engaged in a hand-to-hand combat using the virtual fighting system at the Yin family’s villa. Ji Yuanjia had suppressed his primordial force to the fourth level, and both used military combat techniques. It was more of a teaching session than a competition.
Ji Yuanjia’s combat style left no impression on Qian Ye. His moves were textbook, with clear offense and defense, each move copied from a textbook. The only thing that put Qian Ye on alert was that this rigid style managed to block most of his attacks.
Qian Ye checked his waist, finding only a military knife. He drew the short blade and held it reversed in his hand.
A sharp sound, like the clash of metal, filled the air as Ji Yuanjia lunged forward. The sword in his hand blurred into a myriad of light points, like a rain of stars.
Qian Ye took a step forward, and the “Military Conquest Decision” surged through nine layers. Without any fancy moves, he punched straight at Ji Yuanjia’s center. The primordial force within him continued to surge, stacking up wave after wave. As the punch neared the curtain of light, the “Military Conquest Decision” surged through the second set of nine layers with a thunderous crash.
Both men went all out from the start.
At this point, Ji Yuanjia’s sword had not yet reached Qian Ye, but the chilling sword intent spread like an invisible net, covering the entire area. The originally clear sword hum became a dense, sharp rain. Qian Ye suddenly sensed that not only the tangible sword moves were threatening, but the surrounding space was also full of danger.
Qian Ye made a split-second decision, retreating instead of advancing. His punch traced an arc, like a surprise attack, abandoning the center and rushing to the right flank. The “Military Conquest Decision” continued to surge through twenty cycles, with the primordial force creating a tidal roar, the thunder growing louder, and the “Soldier King’s Strike” on the verge of reappearing.
A deafening boom covered all other sounds.
The two separated upon contact, both stepping back several steps to stabilize themselves.
Ji Yuanjia wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled, “The Soldier King’s Strike, making a thousand armies retreat. Once it’s fully formed, it truly can’t be resisted.”
Qian Ye looked down at his right rib, where his uniform had been cut cleanly. He paused, then said, “I lost.”
If Ji Yuanjia had intended to harm him, this strike would have drawn blood. However, when Qian Ye’s “Military Conquest Decision” reached the twenty-sixth layer, Ji Yuanjia had forcefully halted it. Ji Yuanjia was about to break through to the eighth level, while Qian Ye had just reached the fifth. Despite the three-level gap, Ji Yuanjia still suffered, showing the power of the Soldier King.
“The secret transmissions of the great families generally fall into two categories: secret methods and combat skills. Secret methods are usually ways to cultivate and operate primordial force, while combat skills cover both offense and defense, encompassing everything.”
Qian Ye listened quietly, entering a completely unfamiliar domain.
“For example, Ye Mublue’s secret method is called ‘Deep Frost.’ If her primordial force strikes you, the cold energy will penetrate your body like fine needles, extremely difficult to resist.” Ji Yuanjia smiled, “Last time, she was too cautious, unwilling to take any small injuries, resulting in you achieving the Soldier King’s momentum. If she hadn’t avoided the confrontation and chosen to fight you directly, the outcome might have been different.”
Qian Ye knew Ji Yuanjia was right. At the time, unaware of the severity, he didn’t immediately clear the invading cold energy. Later, he began to feel numbness and pain. If Ye Mublue hadn’t lost so quickly, the cold energy would have caused him significant trouble.
Ji Yuanjia’s method of defeating him highlighted the weakness of the “Military Conquest Decision”—reaching thirty cycles of the primordial force tide took time. Of course, not everyone could disrupt Qian Ye’s technique in this way. If he were one level higher, Ji Yuanjia wouldn’t dare to challenge him head-on.
A brief silence followed.
“Captain Bao Zhengcheng is still alive. He was severely injured, and the medical facilities in the Eternal Night Continent are inadequate. He has been sent to the Upperland for treatment. Fortunately, he will recover without losing his combat capabilities and will regain his rank when he returns to the 17th Legion. Three others survived, but they will likely retire after recovery, though they will receive generous pensions.”
Qian Ye continued to listen, his eyes on Ji Yuanjia gradually turning cold.
Ji Yuanjia, seemingly unaware, continued, “The 131st Company, as the vanguard in this battle, established a first-class war merit during the defense of the Earth Castle. Therefore, the families of the fallen soldiers will receive double compensation, and the families of sergeants and above will get a place in the Young Officers Academy.”
Qian Ye spoke slowly, “Is this the final decision?”
Ji Yuanjia replied, “This is the result according to the military report.”
“Do you know what happened but don’t intend to tell me?”
“Whether to tell you or not is Miss Qi Qi’s decision.”
Qian Ye frowned. Before he could say anything, Ji Yuanjia added, “Four days ago, Miss Qi Qi learned that you and the 131st Company were in the Dongling Mountains near the Earth Castle. She forcibly requisitioned the reserve 60th Division and rushed there overnight.”
Qian Ye was taken aback, calculating the time in his mind. It was the night he had broken through.
“However, on the way to the Earth Castle, they encountered an ambush by a higher-level blood noble of the Monroe clan. The losses were severe, and Miss Qi Qi herself was injured.”
Monroe was a prominent name in the dark world, claimed to be one of the original thirteen bloodline clans. For thousands of years, they had been led by a prince, and their emblem was the legendary flower of fear, the datura.
Qian Ye suddenly recalled the pale golden datura on Yen Pupul’s collar, feeling a jumble of confusion. Up to this point, he had only seen fragments of the puzzle, slowly revealing a grim shape, but the burden of his confusion and restlessness had only grown heavier.
“So, even if you want to terminate this mission, you should go and explain it to Miss Qi Qi yourself.”
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