Chapter 369: Heavy Hammer for Military Merit

Xu Jin flew at fourfold Flowflare speed for sixty breaths before replenishing his star power once using the starlight of the Can-Dou Platform, then continued high-speed flight at threefold Flowflare speed.

This was another major advantage of having forged thirty-six star cores.

Previously, when Xu Jin used fourfold Flowflare, he could sustain it for at most seven breaths.

Later, after advancing the Great Star Gathering Pattern to seventh-rank middle and raising his cultivation base to fourth-rank ninth layer, he could sustain fourfold Flowflare for ten breaths.

But once the Central Star Palace's star core count directly reached thirty-six, Xu Jin's fourfold Flowflare duration extended to forty breaths; with emergency mobilization of the Lower Star Palace's star power, theoretically it could last up to seventy breaths.

This was because the Lower Star Palace still had ten star cores not yet cultivated to the peak of Star Refining.

Unfortunately, fivefold Flowflare could not yet be activated.

Although his star power was sufficient.

But his current star power was distributed across individual star cores—though overall coherent, it remained somewhat fragmented.

Xu Jin estimated that once his cultivation broke through to fifth-rank Star Gathering, and the entire Star Palace became a unified whole, he could activate fivefold Flowflare.

After flying continuously at threefold Flowflare for half an hour, Xu Jin concealed himself and moved at low speed for another half hour, confirming no one was pursuing him before resuming his journey—this time using onefold Flowflare.

Along the way, Xu Jin had already figured out what had happened.

He had underestimated Yangdu Marquis Chai Ce.

Though cautious in action, recent smooth sailing had made him careless.

Right Sima Zhao Weizhen, though only at fifth-rank early stage, was still a core figure in the Xuanhu Army—at least publicly, the fifth most powerful authority in the army.

Such a powerful figure had died silently within the military headquarters.

How could General Chai Ce possibly treat this lightly?

As for being precisely ambushed, it wasn't because Chai Ce could predict the future, but because his analytical ability was extremely sharp.

Yangdu War City was a frontline post; to the east lay the Infinite Star River, to the west lay the direction of Chen War City.

The north and south directions were barren lands surrounding Yangdu War City.

In fact, due to its frontline status, the areas around Yangdu War City were entirely desolate, with extremely sparse population.

You might not see a single passerby for one or two hours.

Stationing forces along the route toward Chen War City could potentially uncover assassins.

And Xu Jin had underestimated Yangdu Marquis—just a few dozen li beyond Yangdu War City, he had immediately ascended into the stars, attempting to flee quickly, thus exposing himself.

If Xu Jin had hidden longer within or around Yangdu War City for another half-day or a full day, he wouldn't have been discovered.

Yet this battle, though extremely humiliating, was not without gains.

This was Xu Jin's first direct confrontation with a seventh-rank powerhouse, and he had now fully understood his situation when facing seventh-rank experts.

A seventh-rank early-stage expert posed little threat to Xu Jin.

Seventh-rank middle and late-stage experts posed serious threats, but not fatal ones—based on current observations, Xu Jin's speed surpassed these seventh-rank middle and late-stage experts.

But a top-tier seventh-rank pinnacle expert like Yangdu Marquis was extremely deadly.

He could potentially kill Xu Jin with one or two strikes, and his speed was even slightly faster than Xu Jin's.

On the return journey to Chen War City, Xu Jin pondered one question the entire way.

How could he survive against a seventh-rank pinnacle powerhouse like Yangdu Marquis?

As for offense, Xu Jin was not concerned.

Once his cultivation broke through to fifth-rank, the destructive power of his star arts would surge dramatically.

As long as he could survive long enough against a top-tier expert like Yangdu Marquis to gain room to maneuver, with Xu Jin's methods, he stood a chance to injure or even severely wound him.

Although the Soul-Star Art he had previously used had minimal effect on Yangdu Marquis, it still had some impact.

As long as it could affect him, opportunities would abound.

To survive before a top-tier expert, there were essentially two directions: speed and stacked defense.

In terms of speed, Xu Jin knew only two star patterns: Flowflare Star Pattern, already advanced to eighth-rank lower, and Willow-Fluff Star Pattern, which was only fifth-rank upper.

This Willow-Fluff Star Pattern had been passed to Xu Jin after his teacher Liu Qingzhu persuaded her clan elders.

But Willow-Fluff Star Pattern emphasized mobility, offering far less speed enhancement.

Thus, Xu Jin had never advanced it.

But today, after being locked onto and hunted by Yangdu Marquis Chai Ce's arrowlight, nearly suffering serious injury, Xu Jin realized he should also advance his mobility techniques.

Another direction was the Thunder Hawk King's Thunder Dash Star Art, which he had witnessed in the Spring Thunder Star Region.

It was extremely fast.

The Thunder Hawk King, at sixth-rank ninth layer pinnacle, could match Xu Jin's fourfold Flowflare speed with his Thunder Dash technique.

When Xu Jin was in the Spring Thunder Star Region, he had also obtained the Thunder Dash Star Pattern's inheritance bloodline from the Thunder Hawk—though he had never advanced it.

Another direction was Thunder Wings.

Thunder Wings could enhance speed, but Xu Jin's Thunder Wings had always drawn power from the offered Thunder star cores, which were of low rank.

In other words, Thunder Wings still had great potential for enhancement.

As for Flowflare Star Pattern, even advancing it to eighth-rank middle would only increase its power by ten percent.

Still, if he strengthened Flowflare Star Pattern, he didn't know how efficiently speed would improve.

This was also a direction.

For speed, these were the only enhancement paths Xu Jin could think of.

For stacked defense, the possible improvements were even fewer.

Fish-Screen Golden Bell was the strongest defense star art Xu Jin had ever encountered.

Among the several star patterns, Rain-Screen Star Pattern was a weak point, only fifth-rank upper.

This Rain-Screen Star Pattern was a reward Xu Jin received during the Autumn Exam, when Headmaster Dong Zhao bet with Deputy Sacrificial Officer Song Bing.

This was one direction for improvement.

Beyond that, there were the already eighth-rank Fish-Swim Star Pattern and Earth-Origin Star Pattern.

And the newly advanced Earth-Image Star Pattern.

After advancing and engraving them, Fish-Screen Golden Bell's defensive power should increase dramatically.

Xu Jin had decided: he would strengthen both speed and defense.

As soon as he entered the coverage range of the Chen War City Star Tower branch, Xu Jin received a star message reply from Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.

【Marshal Mao of the Chen War Zone has begun a large-scale inspection regarding military merits across all armies, checking for underreporting, omission, or fraudulent claims. The Xuanhu Army will likely receive special attention; results should follow soon. 【67】 The Star River battlefield is riddled with factionalism, far more complex than the mortal world. Stay calm and wait a while—whether I or Marshal Mao, our stance is clear: no brave warrior who earns merit will suffer injustice.】

The battlefield of Star River is dotted with military outposts, its situation far more complex than the present world; remain calm and wait a while—whether it's me or Marshal Mao, our stance is clear: no brave warrior who earns merit in battle will suffer injustice.

The Grand Master's final sentence was an explanation.

Xu Jin fully understood the Grand Master's predicament.

After his earlier investigation into the Xuanhu Army headquarters, Xu Jin had understood how Zhao Weizhen suppressed Ning Yuchan's merits.

How to put it? It was entirely within the rules.

Very hard to handle.

But with Zhao Weizhen eliminated as a threat, the question now was whether Yangdu Marquis would take any further action against Ning Yuchan.

If he did, Xu Jin could simply have Ning Yuchan transferred out of the Xuanhu Army.

Transferring a military post within the Star River battlefield should be within the Grand Master's capability. During his flight to Chen War City, Xu Jin sent Ning Yuchan a star message, informing her of Zhao Weizhen's fate—including how her merits had been transferred to Cui Chongguang—and also suggested whether she should change her military post.

【Thank you, I won't change my post! I'll handle this myself—I believe I can handle it well.】

【How do you plan to handle it?】

【In the army, there are army ways. I'll deal with it, then tell you.】

【Alright!】

Xu Jin didn't press further—Ning Yuchan had such ability and now such confidence; he would leave it to her.

Worst case, if a loophole emerged, Xu Jin would cover for her.

More accurately, it would be the Grand Master who covered for her!

In Xingyang War City, the Fifth Division's base of the Xuanhu Army, after replying to Xu Jin's star message, Ning Yuchan silently donned her Deputy Inspector's armor and ordered her Personal Guard Captain Yuan Jing, "Go spread word in the army: Deputy Inspector Ning has had her battle merits stolen, and she's going to demand an explanation from General Zhang Wei."

Upon hearing this, Personal Guard Captain Yuan Jing was terrified and hurriedly advised, "Madam, confronting General Zhang Wei like this won't work—if this escalates, how will you ever survive in the army?"

Hearing this, Ning Yuchan glanced at Captain Yuan Jing. "Do you know the two iron laws of the army?"

"What two?"

"First: strength of fist!

Second: strength of merit!

As long as you have these two, even the army commander must speak respectfully to you!

Otherwise, if this spreads, the entire Xuanhu Army will be ruined!" Ning Yuchan said.

In the next instant, Personal Guard Captain Yuan Jing departed on orders.

Meanwhile, Ning Yuchan, fully armored, merely cast a glance—and the entire Second Battalion of the Fifth Division understood immediately; silently, they gathered behind her.

In the central command tent of the Fifth Division's base, Division Commander Zhang Fang frowned as he studied the official document sent by Right Sima Zhao Weizhen, along with the earlier star message he had received.

To this day, the news of Right Sima Zhao Weizhen's death had not been made public.

Right Sima Zhao Weizhen had ordered him to reissue a merit report, having previously assigned the primary merit of rescuing Huashixing Region to Deputy Director Cui Chongguang.

Commanding effectively was also great merit!

Now, Right Sima Zhao Weizhen's intention was to further reduce Ning Yuchan's merits—she would remain second in merit, but her total merit would be cut and redistributed among other participants.

This placed Division Commander Zhang Fang in a difficult position!

But he could only comply.

Such things had been done many times before.

As he pondered deeply.

Suddenly, a clamor arose outside the central command tent.

Zhang Fang furrowed his brow—he enforced strict discipline; who dared cause a disturbance outside the central command tent!

Just as he was about to order his personal guards to rebuke them, a massive surge of star force erupted outside the central command tent!

A hammer shadow, a hundred meters long and mountain-sized, suddenly rose above the central command tent, then crashed down with crushing force before the stunned gaze of the personal guards.

"Ning Yuchan, what are you doing?" the guards roared.

BOOM!

As the heavy hammer descended, the guards outside the tent charged forward without hesitation.

Four fifth-rank late-stage guards and twenty fourth-rank late-stage guards all lunged at Ning Yuchan!

This was the central command tent—military law governed here.

If the central command tent were destroyed, and they were punished under military law, that would be unjust!

THUD THUD THUD THUD!

The heavy hammer unleashed terrifying star force waves.

Ning Yuchan brought down one hammer blow, instantly flinging all four fifth-rank late-stage and twenty fourth-rank late-stage guards flying.

As those guards were blasted backward, spitting blood, Ning Yuchan struck again—a lightning-fast hammer blow!

BOOM!

The entire front gate of the central command tent was instantly flattened!

At that moment, the guard commander Zhang Fang, having sensed something amiss, stepped out of the tent and saw Ning Yuchan in the act of violence—he roared, "Insolent! Ning Yuchan, do you know what you're doing?!"

But Ning Yuchan acted as if she heard nothing. She stepped forward, spun the heavy hammer, and unleashed the Whirlwind Heavy Hammer—striking Zhang Fang with brutal force.

She struck at the sixth-rank seventh-layer guard commander Zhang Fang.

Zhang Fang flew into a rage!

How dare he!

To openly attack him, a guard commander, was beyond tolerance—unless he made an example of her, discipline would collapse entirely.

In an instant, Zhang Fang pushed his star force to its peak; behind him, the faint outline of a cloud-tower star pattern shimmered as he punched straight at Ning Yuchan!

Guard commander versus deputy supervisor!

Sixth-rank versus fifth-rank!

BOOM!

The next instant, starlight exploded, the hammer shadow shattered—and completely engulfed guard commander Zhang Fang!

One hammer blow!

Just one hammer blow sent Zhang Fang flying fifty meters backward, smashing through the central command tent's barracks and sending up a cloud of dust!

It stunned all the elite troops.

Such a massive commotion, such a spectacle—within an instant, over ten thousand soldiers of the fifth guard of the Xuanhu Army gathered from all directions, yet remained bewildered.

But before Zhang Fang could speak, Ning Yuchan's voice, amplified by star force, echoed throughout the entire camp:

"Zhang Fang, on October 29, I patrolled the Star River Passage and slew seven fifth-rank alien beings, severely wounded one sixth-rank alien being—I should have received three major merits, why only one?"

"Zhang Fang, over two months ago, during the Nine-Star Tide, I fought desperately in the Star River Passage, killed one sixth-rank alien being, severely wounded another, and held my ground against a sixth-rank ninth-layer alien assault, ensuring nine-tenths of a thousand elite troops survived!"

"Why did my four major merits become only two?"

"Zhang Fang, during the reinforcement of the Huashi Star Region, I slew three sixth-rank alien beings, led the vanguard into the Altar Heavenly Path, and completed the mission—I should have received first merit, special merit, and two major merits!"

"Why was it downgraded to secondary merit, leaving me with only three major merits?"

"Zhang Fang, I've fought bloody battles repeatedly—my accumulated major merits long exceed five. Why am I still only a deputy supervisor?"

Ning Yuchan's voice thundered across the land, echoing through the entire central command tent.

"Zhang Fang, you drink your soldiers' blood and steal their merits—I fight and bleed on the frontlines, while you steal my merits from behind! Today, if you don't give me an explanation, I'll lead men straight to the Chen Guo War Zone Command Headquarters and demand justice from Marshal Mao!"

"I refuse to believe my blood-soaked merits can be stolen by you!"

Ning Yuchan stood in silver helmet and armor, her golden hammer hovering in the sky, her roar like thunder.

Zhang Fang, who had just crawled out of the ruined tent, opened his mouth to roar—but one glance at the soldiers' eyes around him sent a chill through him.

Damn it!

This is going to blow up big!

Not just the other units—even his own personal guard soldiers now looked at him, their commander, with strange expressions!

"Deputy Supervisor Ning, I haven't drunk my soldiers' blood or stolen merits! Please, stop this—retract your hammer, let's talk calmly," Zhang Fang was genuinely terrified of her hammer.

He never imagined a fifth-rank soldier could strike him down!

"Not true?"

"Prove it!"

Forget others—my merits are forged in blood and iron!"

"Where are they? Tell me clearly!"

Then Ning Yuchan roared again at the surrounding soldiers: "Brothers, we fear neither bloodshed nor death—we can fight and die on alien soil!"

"But our merits, earned through bloody battles, are being stolen and falsified!"

"Tell me—is this acceptable?!"

"Not acceptable!"

In an instant, the entire fifth guard's camp roared like thunder!

Ning Yuchan's accumulated prestige within the fifth guard exploded in that moment.

Guard commander Zhang Fang knew this had spiraled beyond his control.

His shattered authority meant nothing now!

Even if this incident were suppressed, few in the fifth guard would ever obey him again!

He urgently tried to contact the Right Secretary Zhao Weizhen—but could not reach him.

Helpless, Zhang Fang had no choice but to report the matter immediately.

The Chen Guo War Zone Command Headquarters did not rely solely on generals to control the armies—each army, each guard, even each unit, had spies planted by the headquarters.

Quietly, word of Deputy Supervisor Ning Yuchan hammering her commander to demand her merits spread straight to the top.

It sparked a massive uproar!

Watching the soldiers' furious expressions, Zhang Fang's panicked face, and the united fury of officers at all levels, Ning Yuchan stood with hammer in hand, silver helmet and armor gleaming—like a goddess of war.

A faint, proud, and secret smile curled at her lips.

All the pent-up resentment she had carried was now gone.

A torrent of star force surged upward; her cultivation base, long suppressed at the peak of fifth-rank fifth layer, suddenly burst forth like a raging river.

She broke through!

Fifth-rank sixth layer!

Fortunately, she had visited the Star-Picking Tower just yesterday and claimed a Golden Star.

A smile touched Ning Yuchan's lips.

She sent a full report of what she had just done to Xu Jin.

A joyful sharing—and a notification.

Though Xu Jin possessed extraordinary ability and strength beyond her description,

In military affairs, Ning Yuchan understood them better.

(End of Chapter)