My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

Before long, more than half of the applicants had registered, and over fifty people were selected.

"No, please, please take me in! I beg you!"

A sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, who looked thin and sallow, as if a gust of wind could blow him away, kept kowtowing on the ground, begging the army to take him in.

Wang Xiaoniu looked at the boy, and behind him his elderly parents and younger siblings, and felt a pang of sympathy, but he quickly suppressed it.

"Your health is too poor, and your chances of survival on the battlefield are slim. Don't sacrifice yourself in vain."

The boy was too weak and frail; even if he went to the battlefield, he would only be a casualty to the enemy and would surely die. Staying behind might give him a chance to survive.

"My lord, I am very strong. Please give me a chance. I will fight bravely and never hold you back."

The boy refused to give up and clung to Wang Xiaoniu's leg, pleading desperately.

The family has been without food for several days. If they don't get any more food, they will starve to death.

Joining the army and receiving silver and food was the only hope for the family to survive.

Wang Xiaoniu remained unmoved and was about to pull his foot away when his expression suddenly changed.

He thought he could easily pull his foot out, but it felt like it was welded to him by molten iron, and he couldn't pull it out for a while.

Wang Xiaoniu was initially worried about hurting the boy and dared not use force.

But as he gradually increased his strength, the boy still clung tightly to his feet, refusing to let go even as cold sweat poured down his forehead.

"Is he born with superhuman strength?"

Wang Xiaoniu stopped exerting force and looked intently at the boy.

You have to understand that he is at the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm. Even some burly men couldn't protect his feet. But the frail-looking boy in front of him was able to hug him, which surprised Wang Xiaoniu.

Looking at the young man before him, Wang Xiaoniu couldn't help but think of Li Xuancang. Perhaps this young man, like Li Xuancang, was a person born with superhuman strength.

Wang Xiaoniu looked down and asked, "What's your name?"

The boy hurriedly replied, "Sir, my name is Bai Meng."

Wang Xiaoniu nodded gently and said, "I'll accept you. You can let go now."

Upon hearing this, Bai Meng was overjoyed and hurriedly released Wang Xiaoniu's leg, kowtowing repeatedly on the ground.

"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir..."

Wang Xiaoniu helped him up, saying, "Get up!"

The accompanying soldiers handed over the food and silver to Bai Meng, who then gave it all to his family.

The family's eyes were all on the food and money, and they soon burst into tears.

Before long, the conscription was completed, and a total of seventy-five people joined the army.

When the group returned to the military camp, it was already dusk.

Bai Meng and the others looked uneasy and followed closely behind Wang Xiaoniu.

Back at the barracks, the aroma of food wafted through the air, causing the hungry men to instinctively swallow hard.

"Let's go! Let's eat first."

Wang Xiaoniu was not aloof like a general, but rather approachable, leading everyone to dinner.

During this period, the food under Li Xuancang's command was quite good. Although they couldn't eat large amounts of meat or drink large bowls of wine, there was still some meat, which was already a very good treatment.

For these new recruits from impoverished families, this was a feast they could only enjoy during the Lunar New Year.

Soon, the food was brought up.

Boiled wild vegetables with some oil in them, and several stir-fried dishes with some minced meat.

The meal consisted of a mixture of brown and white rice, which made Bai Meng and the others very hungry, but no one dared to make a move until Wang Xiaoniu spoke up.

"Sit down and eat. Do you expect me to feed you?"

Wang Xiaoniu laughed and scolded, and everyone quickly sat down and began to wolf down their food as if they hadn't eaten in years.

Wang Xiaoniu is a centurion. He has his own meals and doesn't need to eat with everyone else in the communal kitchen. However, he enjoys eating with everyone and rarely eats alone.

Everyone ate heartily, wishing they could swallow their tongues as well.

Before long, everyone's stomachs were full.

Everyone stopped eating, except for Bai Meng.

He didn't care that all the dishes were eaten; he just wolfed down his rice, his stomach like a bottomless pit.

He ate more than four or five people combined, and everyone around him stared at him.

Feeling the gazes of the crowd, Bai Meng blushed and quickly stopped, looking nervously at Wang Xiaoniu.

He was worried that Wang Xiaoniu would kick him out because he ate too much.

Wang Xiaoniu also looked at Bai Meng with surprise, not expecting this boy to be such a big eater.

"Don't be nervous, being able to eat is a blessing."

Wang Xiaoniu noticed Bai Meng's unease and gently comforted him.

"Eat up! Eat as much as you can, we're rich now!"

What Wang Xiaoniu said was true. Everything they needed was provided by the government. When it ran out, they just went to get more. This treatment was the envy of many.

However, there are only two time periods. If you leave Anzhou City, the government will only provide a fixed amount of food, weapons, and resources.

If you want to obtain more resources, you have to find your own way.

This is why many armies engage in acts of murder, robbery, and falsely claiming credit for killing innocent people.

Upon hearing this, Bai Meng felt relieved and, no longer hesitant, ate to his heart's content.

"Someone, bring some vegetables."

Wang Xiaoniu gave a loud order, wanting to see where Bai Meng's limits were.

Soon, soldiers brought the food up, and Bai Meng ate with even greater gusto, leaving those around him dumbfounded and in awe.

Bai Meng ate the equivalent of ten people's worth of food, yet he showed no signs of being overeating.

"Sir, I'm full."

Bai Meng was still somewhat unsatisfied, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future.

This was the only time he had ever eaten his fill since he was a child.

He was incredibly strong from a young age, and his appetite far exceeded that of Superman. His family was poor, and he was very sensible, always eating only a little bit each time, and he went hungry from childhood to adulthood.

Joining the army meant receiving silver and food to send home, and being able to eat one's fill. For Bai Meng, this place was simply paradise.

"Alright, take them down to collect their uniforms and weapons, and arrange accommodations for them."

Wang Xiaoniu ordered his soldiers to take Bai Meng and the others down to settle them in.

"This matter must be reported to the magistrate."

Wang Xiaoniu pondered this matter and decided to report it to Li Xuancang.

Perhaps Wang Xiaoniu and Li Xuancang are the same kind of people, then he has struck gold.

Bai Meng and the others changed into their new military uniforms, and their smiles never faded.

"I have never worn such nice clothes before."

Some people had tears in their eyes; they had never been as happy as they were today.

They could eat their fill, wear new clothes, and live in a much better place than their old, drafty house.

"I must train hard and stay in the military forever."

"I want to fight on the battlefield, achieve great deeds, and give my family a better life."

"This is my chance to change my destiny, and I must seize it."

"..."

Everyone was filled with ambition and hope for the future, and they made a firm decision.