Chapter 11: Iron Blood Squad

In the afternoon, Xiao Yu fetched the full set of equipment from his third uncle and finished dressing.

Now he wears d6 Series combat boots, a d6 Series combat suit, and holds in each hand a broad Silver Moon Battle Knife of the 6th series, looking very imposing.

"Cousin, you're so handsome!"

"Cousin, you're mighty!"

"Cousin is a great general!"

A group of younger brothers and sisters, eyes shining, swarmed around him.

"Hurry up and train!" Xiao Ling walked over and said.

She glanced at Xiao Yu and said, "Not bad, you look a bit manly now!"

"Tch, she's only a few months older than me." Xiao Yu found it somewhat funny; this little Y-head was already acting like an adult, but the months of wilderness training had indeed made her much more mature.

It's not just external experiences and knowledge; more importantly, her heart has already begun to change.

On the second floor of the Xiao Family, in the training hall.

The lingering glow of the setting sun streamed through the windows, bathing the entire training hall in a yellow‑orange hue. Xiao Yu, wearing a loose training robe and barefoot, sat cross‑legged in the hall. The hall, over 150 square meters, was empty except for Xiao Yu sitting in the center, with a secret manual—Nine Thunder Knife Manual—placed before him.

He opened to the first page of the Nine Thunder Knife Manual.

"Fast!" The most prominent large character on the title page made Xiao Yu feel as if a blade of light were rushing at him, causing his heart to tremble; one can imagine that Lei Shen had reached a planetary level when he created this technique, otherwise it wouldn't make someone with his rich past‑life cultivation experience feel such a shiver.

"All martial arts under heaven are unbreakable; only speed is invincible."

The sole profound principle of Lei Shen's Nine Thunder Knife is a single character: 'Fast'!

The Nine Thunder Knife contains a complete body technique called 'Flowing Light', a full guiding art named 'Nine‑fold Primordial Source', and an entire sword method called 'Thunder Knife'. Among these three, the guiding art is fundamental!

The Nine‑fold Primordial Source guiding art has nine chapters; this book records only the first four. Likewise, the Thunder Knife sword method has only four levels, and the Flowing Light body technique also has only four levels.

The Nine‑fold Primordial Source guiding art can strengthen a person's physique; bodily quality is the foundation, while body technique and sword method are skills that require repeated cultivation and insight.

Xiao Yu studied the first four levels of the Nine Thunder Knife sword method in detail; they were indeed noteworthy. Some key techniques were things even his past self hadn't considered. No wonder he is a martial prodigy; a strong one who rose during the Great Nirvana period should not be underestimated.

An ordinary person swinging a full‑force slash may exert ninety percent or even a hundred percent of their power. A practitioner of the Nine Thunder Knife, however, uses only seventy percent of their strength for a slash. When delivering the first tier of force, they strive to make the body emit a second tier, also at seventy percent. The two forces combine to fourteen‑tens percent.

After mastering the Nine Thunder Knife, each tier can generate an additional hidden force, meaning the technique can ultimately unleash up to seven times the base power.

This power can be applied not only to attacks but also to body technique, making one's speed even swifter.

The first four tiers of the Nine Thunder Knife that Xiao Yu purchased can allow him to deliver attacks up to 3.5 times his normal strength.

Xiao Yu began practicing according to the methods described in the Thunder Knife sword technique.

The first tier of the Thunder Knife comprises eighteen sword moves; practicing these aids in grasping the power generation of the first tier of the Nine Thunder Knife.

All eighteen moves are simple; after one round of practice, Xiao Yu could execute them, but the difficulty lies in delivering them consecutively.

"System, set the First Wish to perfectly comprehend the first tier of the Nine Thunder Knife."

【Setting successful!】

【Host: Xiao Yu】

【First Wish: Perfectly comprehend the first tier of the Nine Thunder Knife.】

【Wish progress: 121.2/5000 Wish Points.】

"No wonder it's touted as the hardest manual in the world to grasp! Understanding the first tier requires five thousand Wish Points, more than double the amount needed to advance from Apprentice Second Tier to Apprentice Third Tier," Xiao Yu muttered.

He gathered his thoughts and began to practice earnestly.

Following the eighteen moves, he swung his blade eighteen thousand times daily, spent the remaining time training the Flowing Light body technique, and at night combined the Nine‑fold Primordial Source guiding art with genetic primal energy cultivation, which yielded the most noticeable results.

Each day he could feel himself growing stronger.

A week later, in the training room on the second floor of the Xiao Family.

A boy about 1.8 meters tall, clad in a full d6 combat suit, wielded twin blades, continuously slashing at empty air; as he swung, his body moved swiftly, creating the illusion of a phantom for a moment.

"Xiao Yu! Not bad!" A middle‑aged man in casual clothes, who had been watching for a while, said, "You've only just begun training the Nine Thunder Knife, and you're already showing results; it seems you chose the right manual."

"Huh?" Xiao Yu, just immersed in sword practice, hadn't noticed his father Xiao Dingguo entering.

"I saw you were deep in practice, so I didn't disturb you," his father Xiao Dingguo said with a loving smile. "From your body technique and speed just now, you should already be at the advanced warrior level, right?"

"Yes, before the combat assessment my physical quality had already reached the advanced warrior level; after the assessment, and after studying the Nine‑fold Primordial Source guiding art, I feel my progress has accelerated," Xiao Yu said confidently.

Xiao Dingguo was delighted and asked, "How much strength have you reached now?"

"Yesterday's punch force measured 7,500 KG," Xiao Yu replied honestly.

"What? Come on, test it again," his father Xiao Dingguo said incredulously.

They went to the punch‑force testing machine in the corner; Xiao Dingguo pressed the switch, and after the device powered up, Xiao Yu steadied himself, struck the target, and the display showed '7,535 KG'.

"Haha! Looks like the Xiao Family is solid now!" Xiao Dingguo laughed heartily.

"By the way, this time I'm only staying in the city district for about a week; it's mainly for two reasons. The first is that your elder uncle sent me a set of insights to pass on to you," his father Xiao Dingguo said with a smile.

"The second is to bring you into the Iron Blood Squad."

"When Uncle Wu came over before, he mentioned this, and I thought you'd be away for a month before returning!" Xiao Yu said, puzzled.

"Haha, it's my son who wants to join the Iron Blood Squad to train in Huang Ye Qu; how could my old friends all give me such a favor?" Xiao Dingguo said.

"I will now tell you about our team's basic situation. Our squad currently has six members, all battle‑general warriors; with you, that makes seven. Among them, only I and you, Liu Shu, joined when the squad was first formed; the other four joined later. I, your father, am the captain of the Iron Blood Squad, and you, Liu Shu, are the vice‑captain."

"This is the cultivation insights on the first six tiers of the Nine Thunder Knife from the war god Yang Renhua," Xiao Dingguo said as he pulled a notebook‑sized book from his chest and handed it to Xiao Yu.

"These are cultivation insights?" Xiao Yu asked.

"Don't doubt it; the insights inside are pure solid content, though there aren't many pages. Some stages you might ponder for months without gain, yet a master's single sentence can trigger enlightenment. That's the principle," Xiao Dingguo said with a smile. "In cultivation, the guide is crucial; relying on a single person to fumble is hard to achieve results, unless you're an exceptionally gifted prodigy!"

Xiao Yu flipped to the first page of the insights, which bore the bold characters "Yang Jiu's Insights".

Turning the page, the second read: "The key to cultivating the first tier of the Nine Thunder Knife is how to link the eighteen sword moves into a sequence so that the waist‑to‑back muscle groups can continuously emit two streams of force..."

"Hmm, this book is well written; the many problems I previously faced seem solved at once," Xiao Yu praised.

"These insights truly are a treasure; had we had them as reference before cultivation, grasping the first tier of the Nine Thunder Knife would have been much easier,"

"As long as you gain something, that's good. Train well these few days, and in five days come with me to Huang Ye Qu! Haha," his father Xiao Dingguo laughed twice and left the training room.

Xiao Yu nodded.

After his father left, Xiao Yu carefully studied the cultivation notes of the first level of the Ninefold Thunder Blade, reading them two or three times with great focus, gaining much, and the lingering doubts in his mind were finally answered.

Seizing the moment of insight, he pressed on with practice.

In the first round, eighteen consecutive sword moves, a single advance, swing; as he swung, the core muscles of his body burst with force, and when that force transferred into his arm, the waist‑hip area unexpectedly generated another surge of power.

Puff!

The Silver Moon Battle Knife flashed a cold gleam, its speed the same as before, but the arc of the gleam in the air was a bit larger.

Failed!

Clearly a second surge of power had already formed!

The time gap between the two surges was a bit too long.

Continue training.

…

Huh! Xiao Yu exclaimed in surprise, having actually succeeded.

Xiao Yu suddenly made a forward advance.

The core power zone of his body—the waist‑hip area—almost instantly erupted with force, and at the same moment the muscular force transferred into his arm, the waist‑hip area naturally, like a wave, burst out another surge. The two forces entered his arm almost simultaneously.

Puff!

The Silver Moon Battle Knife flashed a cold gleam in the air, its speed surprisingly two points faster than before.

Haha, just as I thought, it really can emit two surges sequentially. I can reach this level even without the system's help, Xiao Yu muttered to himself.

He wanted to see how the system handled it in this situation.

"System, check the First Wish fulfillment status,"

【Host: Xiao Yu】

【First Wish: Perfectly comprehend the first level of the Ninefold Thunder Blade.】

【Wish fulfillment status: 121.2/2000 Wish Points.】

"The Wish Points actually decreased; this never happened in my past life!" Xiao Yu was somewhat puzzled.

"Could it be that after making a wish to the system, my own effort reduces the required Wish Points, yet why, even though I've mastered the first‑level Ninefold Thunder Blade power technique, do I still need two thousand Wish Points to meet the condition?"

Perhaps the power technique I grasped is still not perfect.

"Xiao Yu, come down for a meal," mother Xu Jingyi called.

"Alright, I'm coming down," Xiao Yu replied.

Xiao Yu stepped out of the training room, and the moment he entered the dining hall, he was astonished by the table piled with dishes.

"Mom, this is unbelievable! It's like winning the lottery!"

No wonder Xiao Yu shouted; the table held eighteen bowls and plates, a sheer display of luxury that even the Xiao family's usual wealth rarely affords, and during the New Year they usually prepare only one or two main dishes. The procurement cost for this single table alone runs into millions of Huaxia Currency.

"My son, aren't you heading to the Huang Ye Qu soon? Use these two days to replenish well; once you're out there, you won't eat or sleep properly!" mother Xu Jingyi said.

"Mom, you're the best!" Xiao Yu laughed.

"Hmph! I go out often, yet I never see you bring me good food to replenish!" father Xiao Dingguo said with a hint of jealousy.

"You even drink your son's vinegar! You really are something! All this food still can't shut your mouth," mother Xu Jingyi scolded.

August 16th, today is the day Xiao Yu departs with the Iron Blood Squad to campaign in the Huang Ye Qu.

"Let's go, Xiao Yu, we're heading to the HR Alliance Mall to rendezvous with Uncle Liu and the others," Xiao Dingguo, wearing a d8 Series Combat Suit and carrying two seventh‑generation battle axes, led the way out of the villa.

"Mm." Xiao Yu followed.

"Xiao Yu, be careful!" mother Xu Jingyi said, unable to hide her concern as she watched Xiao Yu in his combat suit.

"Don't worry, Mom, you take good care of yourself too!" Xiao Yu grinned.

"Rest assured, Jingyi, I've got this!" father Xiao Dingguo turned his upper body toward his wife, patted his chest, and said.

Xiao Yu and his father Xiao Dingguo boarded the dedicated vehicle of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and set off quickly.

Jiangnan Base City, one of the six major base cities of Huaxia Nation, is exceedingly prosperous. In its central district stands an 88‑story skyscraper, its façade emblazoned with the dazzling letters 'HR'. Around the first floor of the tower lies a beautiful plaza and the largest fountain in Jiangnan Base City. Encircling the plaza are over a thousand armed soldiers on patrol, forbidding any outsider from stepping inside.

This is the famed HR Alliance Jiangnan Base City headquarters, its interior lavishly decorated.

The lobby bar area.

Xiao Yu and his father sat on the sofa.

"Gentlemen, what would you like to drink?" a rather handsome server bowed slightly and asked with a smile.

"Tieguanyin, and bring him a cup of pu'er," father Xiao Dingguo said without waiting for Xiao Yu to respond.

"Xiao Yu, once you enter the Huang Ye Qu you must be meticulous, stay fully alert, and abstain from alcohol! Remember this rule," Xiao Dingguo said solemnly.

Xiao Yu nodded heavily.

"Xiao Yu, here the first floor is the reception lounge. From the second floor upward is the mall where goods are sold. Prices here are generally a bit lower than the full price on the Extreme Home online mall, though of course higher than our half‑price..." Xiao Dingguo explained the HR Alliance to his son in detail.

"Furious Axe!" a bright voice called out.

A middle‑aged man with half‑white hair, wearing a d6 Series Combat Suit and carrying a pair of massive war hammers, walked over, followed by two fully‑armed young hulks, each in a d5 Series Combat Suit, bearing battle axes and shields.

Hearing the voice, Xiao Dingguo sprang to his feet and said, "Uncle Liu, this!"

Xiao Yu also turned, quickly standing to shout, "Uncle Liu!"

The half‑white‑haired middle‑aged man leading them was Xiao Dingguo's old friend, the Iron Blood Squad's deputy commander, the fierce warrior Liu Yuanping.

Liu Yuanping stepped forward, sized up Xiao Yu and said, "Good kid! It's only been a year since we last met; you've grown, become handsome! You have a few of the younger Xiao's features!"

"Come, Xiao Yu, let me introduce you: these two are the famed Zuo brothers, Zuo Yan and Zuo Xuan," Xiao Dingguo said with a smile.

The Zuo brothers nodded at Xiao Yu, set aside their shields and battle axes, and sat down.

"Brother Yan, Brother Xuan," Xiao Yu greeted with a smile.

Seeing Xiao Yu stare at the two of them, the one who moved closer said, "Xiao Yu, I'm Zuo Yan. Don't be confused; Zuo Xuan and I are twins, we look identical, so it's natural to mix us up at first, but our personalities differ, and over time you'll understand."

"Alright, Brother Zuo Yan." Xiao Yu nodded in response.

Zuo Xuan beside him said nothing, just sitting quietly.

"Why haven't Li Chao and Zhang Shaoyong arrived yet!" Zuo Yan kept looking left and right, clearly unable to sit still.

"Xiao Yu, I see you're holding two battle swords—are you a dual‑blade user?" Zuo Yan said to Xiao Yu with a smile, "Zhang Shaoyong in our squad wields a sword; you'll be able to exchange techniques later."

"Mm." Xiao Yu nodded.

Zuo Yan extended his left arm, revealing a massive scar that had healed, and said to Xiao Yu:

"Brother, you see it, right? This scar on my left arm is from hunting a high‑grade Beast General Rank Crimson Flame Tiger‑Ape Beast a year ago. If I hadn't reacted quickly and blocked with my shield, that half‑meter‑long massive claw would have pierced my body…"

"Brother!" Zuo Xuan beside Zuo Yan interrupted.

Interrupted, Zuo Yan lifted the coffee the waiter had just brought, drank it in one gulp, and then began scanning the surroundings.

"Li Chao, Zhang Shaoyong, over here!" Zuo Yan stood up and called toward the hall entrance.

Xiao Yu turned his head and saw that among the two newcomers, one was a hulking man about 1.9 m tall and robust, wearing a d6 Series Combat Suit, carrying a massive battle sword and a shield.

The other, a little over 1.8 m tall, was slimmer than the hulking man yet still sturdier than an average person, also in a d6 Series Combat Suit, bearing a detachable battle rifle.

"Old Yan, Captain!" the two shouted almost simultaneously.

"You two, hurry up; let me introduce you to the new recruit in our squad," Zuo Yan said urgently.

The two set down their weapons and shields and sat on the sofa.

"Xiao Yu, these are Li Chao and Zhang Shaoyong," Xiao Dingguo said with a smile.

"Brother Chao, Brother Yong!" Xiao Yu greeted them with a smile.

They also smiled, nodded, and gave Xiao Yu a once‑over.

"We'll rest a moment and set out right away," Xiao Dingguo began.

"Yes, Captain," everyone replied in unison, and Xiao Yu also changed his tone.

In less than twenty minutes, everyone finished their tea and prepared to depart.

"Let's go!"

The Iron Blood Squad, seven members strong, boarded the HR Alliance's official vehicle straight to the train station, took a train out of the base city toward County‑level City No. 0201.

County‑level City No. 0201 lies several hundred li north of Jiangnan Base City, near a military region garrison.

Within the military region a special zone is designated as a Warrior Supply Base, dedicated to warriors' rest and provisioning. It gathers the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, Thunder‑Lightning Martial Arts Hall, the HR Alliance, and government troops; monster materials that warriors obtain in Huang Ye Qu can also be sold here.

When the Iron Blood Squad's special train arrived at the military garrison at noon, the seven replenished food and water at the supply point and continued on their way.

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(End of chapter)