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

Back at the military camp, Li Xuancang and his companions went straight to the military merit room to hand over the demon wolf's corpse.

After the military officers verified the merits, their expressions turned serious.

"Black-spine Demon Wolf? This kind of demonic beast has been entrenched in the Chaotic Rock Valley for years, and it used to take several ten-man squads to hunt it down. You, a mere squad leader, led a team and killed it?"

Li Xuancang was covered in wounds and his breathing was somewhat disordered. He replied in a deep voice, "Just lucky."

Seeing the miserable state of Li Xuancang and his companions, the officials stopped asking questions.

It was clear that the group had paid a considerable price to kill the Black-spined Wolf.

He immediately wrote it down and recorded the military merits.

"Kill one low-level demon wolf, receive twenty taels of silver as a moon-viewing reward, one shi of high-quality rice, three doses of body-tempering medicine, and three boxes of flesh-strengthening ointment."

Upon hearing the reward, Li Xuancang was not overly excited, but Zhou Xing and the others turned red in the face and breathed heavily.

What they care about most are body-tempering soup and flesh-strengthening ointment, as body-tempering medicinal materials are the most precious in this world of demons and monsters.

Ordinary soldiers can never access body tempering resources in their entire lives; only officers of the rank of squad leader or above, and meritorious soldiers, can apply for them periodically.

If they obtain the body-tempering tonic and ointment, they might have a chance to advance further.

The heavy silver coins, the plentiful fine grains, and the body-strengthening medicine with a faint medicinal fragrance all ended up in Li Xuancang's pocket.

This is the benefit of military service: strength is exchanged for military merits, military merits are exchanged for resources, and resources are used to increase strength, in a continuous cycle.

Everyone's eyes burned with desire as they looked at the things on Li Xuancang's body, but none of them dared to speak.

Although the demon wolf was killed by several people working together, the leader was Li Xuancang, who was the squad leader of the group.

Even if Li Xuancang swallowed all the rewards, the others would be helpless.

Li Xuancang did not speak, and led the group back to the camp.

"Everyone contributed a lot to this battle, so this ten taels of silver, a body-tempering medicine, and a box of flesh-strengthening ointment will be divided equally among you."

Li Xuancang did not choose to keep all the rewards; instead, he distributed some to everyone.

"Thank you, Corporal."

The group was overjoyed; compared to the others, Li Xuancang was already considered extremely generous.

After distributing the supplies, Li Xuancang returned to his private barracks and closed the door tightly.

He took out the body-strengthening medicine, mixed it with hot water, and slowly applied it to his skin and flesh, then combined it with the medicine to slowly refine it.

The medicinal liquid seeped into the pores, and the warm medicinal power traveled through the limbs and bones, polishing the skin and washing away the fatigue and hidden injuries accumulated in the body.

He doesn't need these herbal decoctions and ointments to toughen his body, but they can be used to speed up his recovery.

Three days later, Li Xuancang's injuries were fully recovered, and his strength steadily increased.

Afternoon, military training ground.

The soldiers of each unit practiced daily, their shouts deafening, and the clanging of weapons echoing through the air.

Each squad leader led their own training team, secretly competing with one another.

The lakeside post station was a harsh and cold border town with limited resources, so military merits, medicinal herbs, and promotion opportunities were all highly sought after.

When someone rises to prominence, it inevitably attracts jealousy and exclusion.

Li Xuancang had just been promoted to corporal and had already killed a demon wolf, which made him too famous and aroused the resentment of several veteran corporals around him.

A veteran corporal with a fierce face and a burly build strolled over with his soldiers, looking Li Xuancang with disdain.

Zhou Mang had been stationed on the border for five years and was in the early stages of body tempering. Relying on his seniority as a veteran, he had always been arrogant and domineering.

"Hey, isn't this our newly famous corporal?"

Zhou Mang's tone was sarcastic, filled with disdain.

"It's just good luck. I picked up a few kills and got promoted out of turn. I even killed an old demon wolf and received a body-strengthening medicine. What a blessing."

Many soldiers around them turned to look at what was happening.

Anyone could see that Zhou Mang was deliberately picking a fight.

The five men under Li Xuancang's command immediately turned pale and wanted to step forward to argue.

They fought and killed the demon wolves with their lives, without any chance of survival, and they would not allow anyone to question it.

The five men made a move, but Li Xuancang stopped them with a raised hand.

He gazed calmly at Zhou Mang and spoke softly.

Military merits are earned through fighting, and rewards are obtained through strength; they have nothing to do with you.

"Irrelevant?"

Zhou Mang sneered and approached step by step, deliberately unleashing his qi and blood to reveal his Body Tempering Realm cultivation.

"As a fellow squad leader, I have guarded the border for five years, shedding countless blood, yet I have remained steadfast and resolute."

"You, a cannon fodder soldier who served for two years, rose to the top in one step. What makes you think you can be on equal footing with me?"

"I think your meager skills are not enough to qualify you to be a squad leader."

He publicly provoked and humiliated Li Xuancang, wanting to make him lose face and demoralize his subordinates.

In the chaotic military camp, the strong prey on the weak. Once you show weakness, you will be bullied everywhere, your resources will be blocked, your military achievements will be suppressed, and you will find it difficult to move forward.

Li Xuancang slowly raised his eyes, a chill suddenly appearing.

Whether I am worthy or not is not for you to decide. If you are not satisfied, you can go and ask General Zhao yourself.

Upon hearing Li Xuancang's words, Zhou Mang's face flushed red, and he was speechless for a moment.

Although he was a veteran corporal who had been in the military for many years, how could he dare to question a centurion? Wouldn't that be courting death?

Zhou Mang's face flushed red and then turned pale. His eyes hardened, and he said sternly, "Sharp teeth and a sharp tongue, let me test whether your bones are as hard as your mouth."

A surge of ferocity rose within Zhou Mang, and as soon as he finished speaking, he ruthlessly struck Li Xuancang in the chest with his palm.

"Today I will teach you a lesson on behalf of the camp, so that you, as a new corporal, will know the rules."

The palm strike was powerful and forceful, clearly intended to severely injure Li Xuancang and humiliate him in public.

The surroundings fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the two of them.

"Sergeant, watch out!"

The five men under Li Xuancang's command changed their expressions drastically, filled with worry.

The palm strike came crashing down on him, but Li Xuancang did not back down and went all out.

This was his first time fighting against a Body Tempering Realm cultivator, and he dared not be careless in the slightest.

Just as his hand was about to strike, Li Xuancang dodged to the side and then firmly grabbed Zhou Mang's wrist.

"Snap!"

Li Xuancang attacked with all his might, holding nothing back, and a sound of bones shattering rang out.

Zhou Mang's face contorted in pain as excruciating agony swept over his entire body in an instant.

His face was filled with horror; his full-force palm strike had been locked down by the opponent.

Li Xuancang's hands were like iron clamps, firmly binding him and making him unable to move.

"How...how is this possible?!"

Zhou Mang's pupils shrank suddenly, his face filled with disbelief.

Having broken through to the Body Tempering Realm for many years and only one step away from the mid-stage of the Body Tempering Realm, with a strong physique, why was he as weak as a child in front of Li Xuancang?

"What? Zhou Mang was actually defeated?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"How is this possible?"

"..."

The onlookers were dumbfounded and could not believe what they were seeing when Zhou Mang was suppressed by Li Xuancang in one move.

Although Zhou Mang was domineering in the military camp, his strength was undeniable. If he didn't have formidable strength, he wouldn't dare to bully others in the military camp.

But now Zhou Mang is being suppressed by Li Xuancang, a newcomer who has just emerged, which seems unbelievable to them no matter how they look at it.

"what!"

As Li Xuancang slowly exerted his strength, Zhou Mang cried out in pain. His wrist bones were on the verge of breaking, his strength was suppressed, his blood and qi flowed backward, and he felt a dull, metallic taste in his chest.

He fought back fiercely, trying to break free from Li Xuancang's grip, but no matter how he resisted, Li Xuancang held his wrist firmly, preventing him from escaping.

Li Xuancang slightly raised his hand and pushed it forward.

"Bang!"

Zhou Mang stumbled backward, falling several meters before crashing to the ground, raising dust and looking utterly disheveled.

This is a military camp, and it's happening right in front of everyone.

Li Xuancang could only teach Zhou Mang a lesson, not seriously injure him, otherwise he would be punished by his superiors.