Start with a red name

In the ensuing battle, Zhang Shan seemed to be sleepwalking.

When he came to his senses, he was back in the familiar cabin.

They disembarked from the vehicle and were traveling rapidly northward.

Compared to the previous journeys south by car and ship, the biggest difference is that the cabins appear much emptier.

Many familiar faces are no longer there.

Were they relocated elsewhere, or... did they die?
Zhang Shan then belatedly realized that the battle to ambush and kill the "Water Gate Army" in the south was completely over.

And he, as a mere lackey, also managed to glean some superficial knowledge.

At his level, the things he could see and hear firsthand were very limited.

For him personally, every battle he participated in was a life-or-death struggle.

However, when viewed from a holistic perspective, it is less than one-thousandth of the whole.

Even so, this experience, which felt like sleepwalking to him, still had an unprecedented and powerful impact on his mind.

Although it was only a fleeting and brief experience, it allowed him to truly understand a completely different path in life than before.

As Zhang Shan repeatedly reviewed and pondered the events in his mind, he felt his body trembling slightly uncontrollably, not out of fear, but out of hunger.

He couldn't wait to have that experience again.

"It's still too weak."

He knows his own limitations. Although he has some special talents, they are far from enough to make him invincible on the battlefield.

Finally, Zhang Shan's thoughts focused on the small pebble embedded deep in his armor, which he had witnessed turn into dust.

"Hey kid, what are you thinking about?" Just then, a familiar voice came from behind. Just from the voice, you could almost imagine that the speaker was laughing heartily.

Zhang Shan quickly turned around, saying at the same time, "Squad leader... ah, your hand!"

Zhang Shan first saw the warm smile of the squad leader "Brother Li," but then he saw that his left hand, up to his shoulder, had disappeared.

When he went south, "Brother Li" was still able-bodied; now he has become the top leader.

Zhang Shan couldn't control himself and immediately cried out in surprise.

He then realized that he had not seen "Brother Li" since he was vaguely led onto the ship.

"Brother Li" himself, however, waved his hand dismissively and said:
"In the last battle, I was a bit too greedy for credit and made some minor mistakes. Fortunately, I didn't die on the spot... I only lost an arm, it's a small matter, no need to make a fuss."

Little things?

Zhang Shan thought to himself, "Aren't you being a little too optimistic?"
"Brother Li" said:
“I should be with the other wounded right now, but considering your situation, I felt I should come over.”

"My situation? What's going on?" Zhang Shan asked, puzzled.

"Brother Li" said:

"Based on your performance in this battle, your strength will definitely see a huge improvement."

However, the prerequisite is that you must have the necessary foundation.

...In my estimation, the military lord's blessing and reward will come after we return to 'Huangwei Island'.

That way, we still have some time.

Now, I'll give you some extra training and teach you the body-tempering techniques for refining skin and flesh.

Zhang Shan was touched by "Brother Li's" thoughtfulness; despite his serious injuries, the man still cared about him.

On the other hand, Zhang Shan was filled with doubts.

He hasn't even mastered a proper skin-refining technique yet. It was only by chance that he passively met all the conditions for skin-refining and body tempering, thus stepping into the threshold of skin-refining.

"Brother Li," who was also very familiar with his own situation, attempted to instill two body-tempering techniques into his mind in such a short time.

Refining the skin is one thing, but to consider refining the meat now seems a bit premature.
Zhang Shan was completely confused, but "Brother Li" didn't explain much to him.

He had already begun his "teaching" on his own.

Seeing this, Zhang Shan also cleared his mind of all distractions and listened attentively.

Regardless of whether these things are too early for him.

Now that he has a master at the Marrow Refining Realm or above giving him one-on-one guidance, it would be ungrateful of him not to cherish such a rare opportunity.

One side is using a cramming approach to indoctrinate students.

One side is also doing its utmost to absorb as much as possible.

Time flies by in this state.

Only when the boat beneath them experienced a noticeable jolting sensation, causing Zhang Shan's seated body to sway forward uncontrollably, did the two finally end their teaching session, which had lasted for several hours.

"How is it?" Brother Li asked Zhang Shan.

Zhang Shan said with a look of shame:
"If you understand the 'Skin Polishing Technique' more thoroughly, you should be able to formally begin practicing it within a few days."

However, I only have a rough understanding of the other technique you taught, the "Giant Bear Breathing Method." I don't know how long it will take before I can truly master it.

"Skin Refining Technique" is a technique for refining the skin.

"Giant Bear Breathing Method" for meat refining.

The former has a simple concept and is deeply consistent with Zhang Shan's current state, making it easy to grasp its essence.

The latter has a deeper purpose, ranging from the subcutaneous muscles and fascia to the internal organs and stomach, all of which can be deeply tempered, and it is far removed from Zhang Shan's current state.

Those standing at the foot of the mountain can hardly truly understand the feeling of being halfway up the mountain.

That's true, but Zhang Shan still felt guilty for "Brother Li's" contributions.

Upon hearing his answer, "Brother Li" showed no disappointment. Instead, he pressed on, asking further:

"You should understand the purpose of 'The Giant Bear Breathing Method,' right?"

Zhang Shan nodded: "I understand now."

This is what "Brother Li" has told many times, and what Zhang Shan has repeatedly memorized.

Although he couldn't truly understand the feeling of being "halfway up the mountain," these few hours would be enough if he were just reciting the original text.

If you can't even do this, you're either a blockhead or the listener didn't take it to heart at all.

Seeing this, "Brother Li" nodded in satisfaction.

"That's good. After the blessing and reward begins, don't think about anything else. Just think about the 'Skin Polishing Technique' and the 'Giant Bear Breathing Method'."

At this point, "Brother Li" paused and said, "Do you remember the Six Forms of Shield Strike?"

Zhang Shan nodded: "I remember."

“You can think about this later… but it should be prioritized after ‘Skin Smoothing Technique’ and ‘Giant Bear Breathing Method’,” Brother Li instructed.

Seeing that "Brother Li" looked serious, Zhang Shan quickly nodded to indicate that he had made a note of it.

He wanted to ask more questions, but then a loud shout came from outside the cabin: "Li Qiang, where is Li Qiang?!"

"Brother Li," who was talking to Zhang Shan, paused for a moment and quickly said, "Here, here!"

"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and come over here, or do you still want that hand?"

That's an arm from a late-stage Marrow Refinement cultivator! If you don't come soon, I might give it to someone else!

"Brother Li's" expression changed, and he quickly whispered to Zhang Shan, "Remember this well."

Then he immediately slipped out of the house and hurriedly said:
"Coming right now, coming right now!"

Zhang Shan hurried out of the cabin, but in the blink of an eye, he couldn't even see "Brother Li's" back anymore. He had heard every word of his conversation with the person outside the cabin clearly, but understanding it was really difficult for him.

These words swirled in his mind several times, but he still couldn't figure out what they meant.

However, before he could think too much about it, at the call of the old man from the "Black Wind Army" who had disembarked earlier, he and the others on the ship began to disembark in an orderly manner and gather in the central area of ​​"Huangwei Island".

It was already late at night.

In addition, everyone had just had a fierce battle.

Logically, everyone should be arranged to return to camp to rest.

Any plans will have to wait until tomorrow.

But just by looking at the state of the people around him, Zhang Shan knew that things were not over yet.

When he followed the crowd to an open area on the island, he found himself surrounded by a large crowd.

A dense crowd gathered here.

The raging flames illuminated the surrounding area as bright as day, but even so, Zhang Shan couldn't bear to look at the end of the crowd.

Despite having many doubts, Zhang Shan's expression became solemn in this environment.

He and his fellow soldiers followed the instructions of others and sat cross-legged on a small open space.

What happened next shattered Zhang Shan's preconceived notions about life.

What happened at the beginning, while equally shocking, was not so bad compared to what happened later.

He "only" witnessed a special game up close—a game where death was the stake.

He watched helplessly as thousands of “game losers” were mass executed not far in front of him.

Body and head separated, heads rolling everywhere.

The spurting hot blood almost hit him.

The "arbitrator" of that game was the demon god who seemed to pay special attention to him.

Well, if he were to meet him now, he would have to respectfully address him as "Military Lord".

Looking at the other person through thousands of headless corpses, Zhang Shan felt as if the other person was surrounded by a thick, suffocating blood mist.

The bright flames burning and swirling behind it were like bloody tongues that had come to life, licking the surrounding night sky wantonly.

That gentle face, which occasionally revealed a faint smile, was twisted into an indescribable and unbearable horror in his eyes.

He only glanced at it from afar, and whether it was his imagination or not, Zhang Shan felt as if he had made direct eye contact with that gaze.

Zhang Shan's heart tightened, and he quickly lowered his head.

When the "Death Game" ended, those prisoners who survived the "game" became new members of the "Black Wind Army".

Zhang Shan noticed that his companions around him had suddenly become much more upright in their posture.

They all looked up in the direction of the Demon God Army Lord, like a flock of hungry, insatiable fledglings, hoping and yearning for something.

Soon, Zhang Shan understood what everyone was hoping for.

Blessings and rewards for merit.

So this is what bestowing blessings and rewarding merit is all about!
When he went on stage, Zhang Shan, who was full of questions, only remembered "Brother Li's" instructions.

My mind was filled with images of "Skin Polishing Technique," "Giant Bear Breathing Method," and "Six Forms of Shield Strike."

When he stepped down from the stage, Zhang Shan felt like a pregnant woman six months along.

In a very short period of time, an overwhelming amount of power was forcibly injected into his body.

A massive amount of information also flooded into his mind, and for the first time he truly felt the limits of his "brainpower".

In order to preserve the massive amount of information forced into his mind as properly as possible, he didn't even have the energy to be distracted by meaningless thoughts like "shock".

At the same time, Zhang Shan felt as if a giant beast had awakened within his body, opening its gaping maw and greedily demanding from him.

He had a strong intuition that if he could not meet its needs quickly, the beast would "devour" him.

In this predicament, Zhang Shan slowly walked down the platform. A man guarding the platform patted him lightly and then fed him a pill.

He even laughed as he said:
"You're lucky, kid. This is a Spirit Essence Pill that was confiscated from the 'Water Gate Army' warehouse."

"Refine it quickly, don't waste it."

Essence Pill?
Zhang Shan was stunned for a moment, and soon felt a powerful medicinal force spread from his stomach to his limbs and bones.

The feeling of being swallowed up, like the gaping maw of an abyss, diminished considerably in an instant.

Zhang Shan didn't dare to think too much. He immediately found an open space, sat down cross-legged, and began to refine the medicinal power within his body.

It wasn't until dawn that Zhang Shan had a clear understanding of what he had gained from this "blessing and reward."

The "skin smoothing technique" has achieved an exaggerated four-level leap: beginner, minor mastery, major mastery, and mastery.

In the blink of an eye, he had surpassed countless levels in the process of refining skin.

Having only a rudimentary understanding of the "Giant Bear Breathing Method," he not only successfully entered the basics but also advanced to a minor level of mastery.

Meat-making achievements, from nothing to something.

Even the "Six Forms of Shield Bash," which was the lowest priority, was completely mastered by him, and he successfully entered the basics.

The days when, in the chaos of battle, people were so desperate that they didn't know what to do and could only act on instinct will no longer happen.

His cultivation level went directly from the initial stage of skin refining to the stage of flesh refining.

Physical fitness will be improved in all aspects.

Their combat capabilities have undergone a remarkable transformation.

Even with his strength, he was still just a low-level henchman in the "Black Wind Army".

But for Zhang Shan personally, this is likely the reward he could only obtain after years of hard work.

Now, this "blessing and reward" has been achieved in one go.

In those widely circulated stories, this is an extraordinary adventure that only the protagonists of those stories could have.

But now, such "adventures" are countless in the "Black Wind Army," as numerous as the stars.

Although everyone held back some of their gains during the exchange, Zhang Shan could tell that even the new members who had just joined the Black Wind Army had tasted some benefits.

And those comrades who fought alongside him and are still alive today, judging from their excited smiles, you can tell that they have gained tremendously.

Those who break through to new heights are numerous.

When the squad leader, "Brother Li," stood before him again, Zhang Shan almost doubted his own eyes.

He had lost an arm, but it has now been fully restored, and there are no signs of any injury.

Moreover, he learned from the other party that after the "blessing and reward," his cultivation level had quietly advanced to the mid-stage of the Marrow Refinement Realm.

Moreover, during the subsequent reorganization, the squad leader "Brother Li" was promoted one rank and became a deputy general.

To bestow blessings and reward merit?

Horror!
When everything was over, it was already broad daylight.

Zhang Shan and the others have returned to their respective posts to rest and recuperate.

Everyone, including Zhang Shan himself, had only one thought in their minds—

When will the next battle come? (End of Chapter)