Chapter 39: Military Strategist Formations

Perhaps because of the Military Strategist profession skill, abilities related to formations can be upgraded with killing experience.

Killing experience finally has a use!

Mu Yi looked at the skills in his skill library and couldn't help but weep; the hard days were finally over, the era of guarding the unusable Golden Mountain was finally over.

Level up, level up, level up, all upgraded!

As Mu Yi stared, new prompt information refreshed on his retina:

"Upgrade Military Strategist - Battle Formation to LV5? This operation requires 4 skill points or 10,000 killing experience."

Mu Yi directly chose Confirm.

In the past days, the killing experience he had accumulated had reached a considerable amount; each Simple Difficulty Goblin Disaster alone contributed two to three thousand killing experience.

A mere 10,000 killing experience, trivial.

"Consume 10,000 killing experience, profession skill: Military Strategist - Battle Formation upgraded to LV5."

"Zongwang Prompt: The character's current skill level has reached the present limit; after the profession level surpasses Level 10, a new skill cap will be unlocked."

Military Strategist - Military Formation LV5:

LV2: After arranging the formation, all members within the formation gain a 5% increase to all attributes.

LV3: All formation effects increase by 10%.

LV4: All formation Cloud Energy amounts increase by 20%.

LV5: Can execute Double Formation, stacking two formation effects simultaneously.

"This effect…"

Mu Yi looked at the newly added effects, astonished as if a deity.

Although formations are used more in the Military Power Scheme field, they are actually one of the Military Strategist's fundamental abilities.

Or one could say the four major schools of the Military Strategist exist merely to differentiate styles; any famous general practices them all, only their primary strengths differ.

For example, Champion Marquis Huo Qubing is best known for sealing the Wolf's Lair, which after defeating the Xiongnu he ascended Wolf Lair Mountain, built an altar and offered a sacrifice to the heavens to proclaim victory; such sacrificial rites are usually classified under Military Yin-Yang.

Nevertheless, Huo Qubing is often regarded as one of the outstanding representatives of Military Formation.

"Upgrade Formation - Yuan Yang Formation to LV2? This operation requires 1 skill point or 10,000 killing experience."

Mu Yi's eye twitched; he had just thought his killing experience was sufficient, but now it seemed not quite enough.

But keeping it would be useless, Mu Yi directly confirmed.

"Consume 10,000 killing experience, profession skill: Formation - Yuan Yang Formation upgraded to LV2."

Formation - Yuan Yang Formation LV2:

New Effect 4: Damage reduction 5%; when taking damage, teammates can share 30% of the damage.

Strong, invincible, a big‑shot's gear is top‑tier.

That was Mu Yi's sole impression after reading; for easy comparison, Mu Yi casually unlocked a basic formation - Square Formation.

Formation - Square Formation:

Quality: White Common

Type: Profession Skill

Current Level: Level 1 (limited by the profession skill Military Strategist - Military Formation level, maximum currently upgradeable to Level 5)

Formation Effect 1: Increase defense by 5%

A dry, ordinary effect, better than nothing, but Qi Jiguang's military treatise emphasizes that these basic formations are fundamental, the very foundation of advanced formations.

If it weren't for the special effect of Training Soldiers Chronicle, Mu Yi wouldn't even think of touching the Yuan Yang Formation's fur.

Seeing the stock dwindling, Mu Yi planned to train his subordinates first.

Formations require not only the commander's understanding but also that the soldiers engrave them deep in their souls to fully unleash the formation effects.

Thinking of it, Mu Yi immediately gathered all his subordinates and began training.

The Training Soldiers Chronicle records many methods of training troops; although they appear ordinary with no special effects, Mu Yi can directly feel Li Tian and the others' growth.

Not only physical quality, but also their organizational cohesion; if before they were a ragtag crowd, now they truly form a whole.

After just a week of training, Li Tian and the others seemed reborn, already able to perfectly cooperate with Mu Yi to execute Double Formation.

The more Mu Yi flipped through the Training Soldiers Chronicle, the more he felt its content was vast and profound.

Each reading yields new impressions, even new discoveries during training; revisiting with those discoveries brings different insights.

While Mu Yi was reading daily, Li Tian arrived at the door with an elder.

"Boss Mu, this is Elder Li, a highly respected senior in the city!" Li Tian introduced the elder's identity.

"Elder, is there something you need?"

Mu Yi looked at the elder with curiosity; he sensed a different aura from him, the other party didn't seem simple.

"The snow disaster has spread further!" Elder Li sighed, speaking with considerable worry.

Mu Yi shook his head; this was something he couldn't handle for now, Nuan Xue was not a problem he could solve at the moment.

"If the snow disaster expands further, we will have to continue heading south. I see our young friend comes from the ranks, and the brave men are strong; I ask you all to lead the city's youths and strongmen forward, opening a southern passage, just in case!"

Elder Li's expression grew gloomy; Nuan Xue was too cruel and terrifying for the common folk of this world.

Mu Yi's expression shifted; he had already heard that this was a deal.

Elder Li would persuade the city's youths and strongmen to join Mu Yi's forces for the southern expedition, effectively hitching Mu Yi to this city's war chariot.

Although they have their own defensive forces, handling ordinary beasts is manageable, but facing mountain spirits and wild monsters would likely exceed their strength.

When Mu Yi's group entered the city carrying a giant rat, Elder Li recognized the rat's identity, thus relying on Mu Yi's intentions.

He was already old and frail, unable to continue leading everyone onward, while Mu Yi seemed to have that ability; most importantly, Mu Yi was still young, and he was already old.

In chaotic times, the capable go first; if Mu Yi truly can protect a region's peace, pledging allegiance to him doesn't seem unacceptable.

"Deal is sealed!" Mu Yi stood up, staring directly into Elder Li's eyes.

"It's settled with a single word!" Li Lao did not dodge, straightforwardly facing Mu Yi's eyes, he said earnestly.

Although nothing was explicitly said, the two had already reached an agreement.

As a respected elder of the city, under Li Lao's persuasion combining kindness and authority, nearly two hundred able-bodied youths joined Mu Yi's team, the vast majority of them being middle-aged.

Having experienced long-distance migration in their youth, they clearly understood this was a life‑risking task, but for the sake of their wives and children, they could only step forward again to seek a development for the continuation of their families.

"Set off!!!"

After drilling the able-bodied until they were familiar with battle formations, Mu Yi directly led the team southward to attack.

At the moment of parting, the families of the able-bodied rushed to see them off; the sorrow of farewell enveloped everyone, and no one could guarantee they would return alive—not even Mu Yi.

(End of chapter)