Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

The faint light of dawn struggled to pierce through the perpetual fog that shrouded the New World.

A layer of mottled light and shadow was cast on the dark brown stone walls of Zhenhaibao.

The tide was receding in the bay, revealing large areas of muddy mudflats.

Several unidentified gray seabirds took off and landed on the mudflats, searching for stranded fish and shrimp.

Accompanied by the distant sound of waves crashing, this isolated Ming Dynasty military town, nestled overseas, gradually awoke in the early autumn morning.

Li Changqing walked at a leisurely pace, following the side gate for transporting grain on the side of the camp, back to the trade market area where merchants gathered.

His worn-out blue cloth gown, which he had worn for many years, fluttered slightly in the morning breeze.

His shoes were covered with morning dew and mud from the mountains and forests, making him look like an ordinary accountant who had just finished checking goods outside after working from dawn till dusk.

There was no indication that last night, he had subdued the arrogant wolf king in the deep mountains dozens of miles away with his own imposing aura.

Inside the neighborhood, the shop assistants at each store had already started cooking.

Wisps of smoke rose between the tents, and the air was filled with the aroma of coarse grain cakes sticking to the iron pan, as well as the salty and sour smell of aged pickled vegetables.

"Li, where have you been wandering around so early in the morning? This is a wild and desolate place. Who knows what kind of poisonous insects and wild beasts might dart out of the forest? You're a scholar who can't even kill a chicken, so you should be careful."

Beside the shop of Fuyuanhao, Zhao Laolang was squatting in front of a military iron pot, holding a long-handled wooden spoon and vigorously stirring the bubbling mixed grain porridge in the pot.

Seeing Li Changqing walk back, he casually greeted him in his rough voice.

Li Changqing walked to the wooden table, casually put down the Xiangfei bamboo folding fan in his hand, and pulled over a small stool to sit down.

"I went out for some sea breeze to refresh myself."

Li Changqing spoke calmly, casually picking up the rough, black porcelain bowl from the table.

"In this new continent, the sky is high and the land is vast, and the air in the morning is much clearer than in the capital."

"What's the use of being translucent? Can you eat it?"

Old Zhao pursed his lips, scooped up a full bowl of hot porridge, and placed it heavily in front of Li Changqing. He then pushed over a small dish of finely chopped dried salted fish.

"Eat it while it's hot. The Ministry of War has issued a strict order that the army will break camp today and head straight for Wolong Ridge to search for spirit stone mines. We merchants will have to follow behind the logistics and supply camp."

"This journey involves clearing roads through mountains and building bridges over rivers, and it will take at least two or three days. There will be plenty of hardships to endure."

Li Changqing picked up the bowl of porridge, not caring about the heat, and slowly took a sip.

The coarse grains slid down my throat, carrying with them a genuine, down-to-earth, everyday flavor.

He ate the dried salted fish, chewing slowly, his eyes revealing a leisurely enjoyment.

"No pain, no gain. If the master can successfully follow the army and collect some ferocious beast hides and bones to return to Tianjin, the Fuyuan can be exchanged for a larger ship."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Laolang's weathered old face broke into a wide smile, his wrinkles bunching up into a tight knot.

"Thank you for your kind words! I've risked my life for this old man, all I want is to earn a solid legacy for my sons."

While the merchants were hurriedly having their breakfast, the main camp area on the other side presented a different, somber and tense scene.

The Shenji Battalion's temporary workshop was located at the north corner of Zhenhai Fort.

Dozens of simple forging furnaces burned day and night, baking the area as if it were the height of summer.

Shen You's eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night, and his moon-white Imperial Academy student robe was covered in black ash and oil stains.

He was kneeling beside a thick iron felt, holding a specially made small steel chisel in his hand, intently carving on the shaft of a crossbow bolt as thick as a child's arm.

This is no ordinary arrow shaft; it is made of ironwood, a wood unique to the New World, with an outer layer of refined steel.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Two old blacksmiths beside him were rhythmically forging a newly made musket barrel, wielding large hammers, according to the diagrams drawn by Shen You.

Shen You took a deep breath and began to circulate the "Great Ming Body Tempering and Breathing Techniques, First Chapter".

A subtle energy flowed along the meridians and gathered at the fingertips. The carving knife moved across the hard steel surface, raising a trail of tiny sparks.

Half an incense stick later, as the last stroke closed, a complex yet fluid "armor-piercing" rune was perfectly engraved on the back of the arrowhead.

"call……"

Shen You let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his dirty sleeve.

"General, the last batch of fifty heavy rune crossbow bolts has been completed."

Shen You raised his head and looked at Wang Shouren, the Minister of War, who had been standing at the entrance of the workshop at some point.

Wang Shouren was clad in heavy armor, his bright red cloak fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.

He stepped into the workshop, reached out and picked up the heavy crossbow bolt that had just been engraved with runes. His fingertips gently caressed the cold and mysterious patterns, his eyes filled with calm approval.

"Shen Jiansheng, you've worked hard. These past few days, you and the craftsmen have been working day and night, increasing the army's chances of victory by thirty percent."

Wang Shouren put the crossbow bolts back on the weapon rack and turned to look at the craftsmen who were sweating profusely by the furnace.

These craftsmen's breathing was perfectly synchronized as they swung their hammers to forge iron.

Each time the hammer falls, it not only draws on the brute force of the waist and back, but also carries a long, continuous flow of energy.

This is the most authentic appearance of the cultivation method after it falls into the mortal world.

There was no ethereal mist, only the immense power woven from sweat and the furnace fire.

"The army is about to set off. Shen Jiansheng, please pack your things and accompany my central army. The terrain of Wolong Ridge is treacherous. If we encounter any ancient mazes, we will need your expertise in formations from the Imperial Academy to solve them."

Wang Shouren patted Shen You on the shoulder, then turned and walked out of the workshop.

At 3:45 AM, the deep sound of ox horns echoed over Zhenhai Fort.

Fifty thousand elite Ming troops, under the command of their commander, formed orderly square formations and marched out of the camp gates in a grand procession.

Leading the way were spearmen clad in heavy armor and wielding runic spears.

They marched in unison, each step making a dull thud as they trod on the muddy ground.

Closely following behind were the firearms units of the Shenji Battalion.

The soldiers slung their muskets, engraved with spirit patterns, over their shoulders, and pushed hundreds of heavy tiger-squatting cannons and light breech-loading cannons.

Most eye-catching were the ten "Thunderfire Rune Cannons" guarded by the central army.

These national treasures, originally installed on warships, were forcibly dismantled by Ming Dynasty craftsmen and installed on a four-wheeled heavy artillery carriage made of fine steel.

Each cannon cart required eight robust pack oxen, fed with bits of spiritual herbs, to pull it at great effort to slowly move forward on this rugged terrain.

The logistics and supply battalion, along with the accompanying civilian caravans, formed long lines, trailing far behind the main army.

Li Changqing sat on a mule cart of the Fuyuan.

An old felt mat was laid on the carriage shaft. He bent one leg, holding a rough paper account book in his hand, and a water bag filled with clear water beside him.

The mule cart creaked and groaned under the weight of the bumpy animal trail.

He sat perfectly still, not even the wolf-hair brush in his hand wobbled in the slightest.

The army entered the wild jungle.

The ancient trees all around were so tall that their lush foliage blocked out most of the sunlight.

A faint miasma lingered in the forest, carrying the scent of decaying vegetation.

"Form ranks! Clear the path!"

The captain of the vanguard battalion drew his long sword and shouted sharply.

Hundreds of axemen stepped forward, wielding their sharp broadswords, and cut down the thick vines and thorns blocking their path.

The march was not fast.

In this unknown ancient forest, any underestimation of the enemy and reckless advance could lead to the annihilation of the entire army.

For two consecutive days, the army trudged through the jungle with great difficulty.

Passing through several treacherous swamps and deep valleys, occasionally a few venomous pythons or spotted leopards lurking in the shadows will leap out and attack.

But before they could get close to the army formation, they were riddled with holes by the Shenji Battalion soldiers on the outer perimeter with their new rune-inscribed muskets.

Those lead bullets, whose range was deliberately lengthened and whose penetrating power was greatly increased, burst open the faint aura attached to them the moment they hit the beasts' bodies, tearing those thick-skinned beasts apart.

The combination of ordinary firearms and celestial array patterns has resulted in a terrifying harvesting efficiency on this ancient land.

Whenever a wild animal was killed, the merchants and their assistants would rush forward like jackals smelling blood.

With the quartermaster's approval, they quickly skinned the animals, removed the bones, and loaded them onto the mule carts.