Chapter 3

Looking at the huge increase in attributes, Shen Tianxing's heart blossomed with joy, and he also noticed that after reaching Second-Rank in Martial Dao Realm, each level increase raises martial power by twenty points.

If, like the Red Gem, raising one's rank doubled martial power, then reaching Master would increase martial power to 100,000 points, and if it were Zongshi Peak, it would be 200,000 points.

Thinking of this, Shen Tianxing looked at the Master Experience Card lying in the System Package, drooling nonstop.

Three uses, each lasting fifteen minutes; after this, as long as he doesn't provoke an existence equal to Zongshi Peak, he will have at least three invincible life-saving opportunities.

Unfortunately, defense and Suodu only increase by five points per level, so it seems he can only focus on being a warrior.

"You little brat, you're really something—already possessing Second-Rank strength; serving as a New Soldier under me is a waste of talent. When we return, I'll report your military merits."

"Ten Great Martial Soldiers, one Ten-Soldier Captain, together worth 200 military merits—enough to let you stand on equal footing with me. By the way, what's your name?"

Zhang Lei excitedly walked up to Shen Tianxing, patting his shoulder, his words full of friendliness.

"Sir, you jest. I'm Shen Tianxing; since childhood I've followed my father in martial practice, I know a bit of fist and foot, can wield a few blades, but I don't understand Martial Dao Realm much—could you enlighten me, sir?"

"That's natural. Martial Dao ranges from First-Rank to Ninth-Rank, each rank divided into ten layers; achieving Ninth Grade Perfection gives a certain chance to break through to the Master Realm, though of course that chance is minuscule."

Currently, our Da Zhou has only two Masters; the Masters of the other Five Nations are also recluses. Below Master there are Half-Step Masters, and our Da Zhou has recorded eight Half-Step Masters.

After that are Ninth-Rank experts, of which twenty-one are recorded; then come the similarly few Eighth-Rank experts, about fifty or sixty recorded.

Seventh-Rank Experts number in the hundreds, most of them serving the Imperial Court, holding at least Third- or Fourth-Rank official positions; Sixth-Rank Experts recorded exceed a thousand, Fifth-Rank number in the thousands, Fourth-Rank in the tens of thousands, Third-Rank in the tens of thousands.

As for Second-Rank and First-Rank, they are countless; basically, anyone who diligently trains martial arts can reach First- or Second-Rank level, especially many in the army.

Shen Tianxing nodded repeatedly; according to Zhang Lei's words, his Zongshi Peak Experience Card could be called invincible in the world, and absolutely must not be used lightly except at a matter of life and death.

"You're this strong and didn't even tell me, making me worry for nothing."

Mingyue didn't run; instead, she came up to Shen Tianxing with a face full of disbelief. As for those new soldiers, only six survived, and the wives given to them—three of them survived—meaning three people will remain bachelors.

Of Zhang Lei's fifteen men under him, eight survived; they were cleaning the battlefield while looking at Shen Tianxing with grateful eyes—without him, they would probably all have died.

"You didn't ask me either, but you said you were worried about me? That's actually something to be happy about!"

Shen Tianxing grinned mischievously, looking at Mingyue's face covered in soot; upon closer look, she was still quite pretty, especially when Shen Tianxing teased her—she blushed and lowered her head, that black-and-red face rather amusing!

"What's there to be happy about? I'm just worried you'll die, and they don't know who they'll give me to; if I end up with someone worse, I'll be miserable. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Shen Tianxing laughed; explaining equals covering up, and covering up equals the fact.

"I understand; in your heart I'm terrible, though I've done nothing—could it be that I'm ugly? Am I not worthy of you?"

"I don't mean that; you're not terrible, you're not ugly, and I never said you're unworthy of me."

Mingyue got a little anxious; personally speaking, Shen Tianxing gave her a pretty good impression.

"Shen Tianxing, you really can adapt; this is like you and your wife starting to flirt. Let's go—when we return to the camp, you two can linger a while longer. These are the ears of ten Great Martial Soldiers, Wu Tao's Military Token, and your military merits."

Zhang Lei made a teasing remark, greeted Shen Tianxing to set off; Mingyue blushed and lowered her head, Shen Tianxing nodded with a smile, took the bag holding the ears, hung it at his waist, stored the Military Token in his bosom, and took Mingyue's hand to continue following Zhang Lei on the road.

Along the way, after passing three quarters past noon, there were still ten li to Humen Pass; although it was already autumn, the weather remained hot.

Zhang Lei had everyone rest in the roadside woods; they had just sat down when the sound of war drums and horns came from afar, and Zhang Lei sprang to his feet.

"The Great Martial Dogs have attacked Humen Pass; there's no time to rest, the camp is still five li away—let's hurry back to the camp."

Everyone had no choice but to follow Zhang Lei in quickening their pace; the dirt road was hard to travel, and running didn't make them much faster.

After running for a quarter hour, the vista ahead opened up; far off they could see the camp's fortifications standing in rows, and the Da Zhou Humen Pass Guard Rear Army Camp was clearly approaching.

"The city gate has been breached; General Yang Hongyue is wounded, she ordered a retreat, the entire Rear Army formed ranks, to meet the main force's withdrawal at the South City Gate."

Just as Shen Tianxing and the others were about twenty or thirty zhang from the Rear Army Camp, a sound came from afar of covering the main army's withdrawal.

"Damn it, how did the city gate get breached? Even General Yang is wounded—what are we to do?"

Zhang Lei stamped his feet in anxiety; Shen Tianxing didn't answer, when the System Prompt sounded in his ear, a new mission was issued.

"Detecting an imminent large-scale battle ahead, a decapitation mission has been issued: please, Host, slay a Hundred-Soldier Captain amidst the chaotic troops; completing the mission rewards 1,000 Killing Points, increases strength to Second Rank Sixth Layer, grants the special skill True Eye of Reality, three Beginner Lotteries, and fifty taels of silver."

"Detecting an imminent large-scale battle ahead, a decapitation mission has been issued: please, Host, slay a Thousand-Man Leader amidst the chaotic troops; completing the mission rewards 5,000 Killing Points, increases strength to Third Rank Fifth Layer, grants the special blade technique Top-Grade Blade Technique 'God Slayer Three Blades', one Intermediate Lottery, and two hundred taels of silver."

"Detecting the Da Zhou Army's defeat, a side quest has been issued: at the South City Gate, meet the retreating main army, escort Silver Moon General Yang Hongyue to safely withdraw from Humen Pass and reach An City."

Completing the mission rewards 5,000 Killing Points, upgrades Beginner Xuanwu Armor to Intermediate Xuanwu Armor, increases strength to Third Rank Seventh Layer, grants the special item God Slayer Mask, one Intermediate Lottery, and five hundred taels of silver.

The three missions came in succession, their rewards extremely generous; Shen Tianxing cared most about the True Eye of Reality, God Slayer Three Blades, and God Slayer Mask—just hearing those names made them sound formidable.

"Captain Sir, we can only go support now; running away would make us deserters, but they're just ordinary civilians—going would be useless, so better let them leave temporarily; I'll follow you, Captain Sir, to the South City Gate to support and kill the enemy."

Shen Tianxing proposed this—not because he was particularly kind-hearted, but because he didn't want Mingyue to join the adventure, nor could he rest easy letting her go alone; naturally, he could only let the others go together.

Zhang Lei hadn't expected Shen Tianxing to have such awareness; upon reflection, his words made sense—this is a large-scale battle, and these regular troops of theirs going up would be utterly insignificant, unable to play much of a role.

Letting these ordinary civilians and women go up would only add chaos; better to let them leave.

"Good, then let's do as you say—let them go, unlock their shackles; if you're willing, follow me to the death battle against the Great Martial Dogs!"