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

Beside the mule cart, Li Changqing still sat on that old stool.

His slightly worn blue robe fluttered gently in the autumn wind.

He held a rough porcelain bowl in his hand and slowly drank the last drop of water in it.

Listening to the rumbling of cannons and the mournful roars of wild beasts coming from the front.

Li Changqing placed the bowl of water on the carriage shaft, his gaze passing over the layers of military formations, and calmly landing on the two-headed giant python that was displaying its power.

"This beast does have some luck; the energy flowing within its body is faintly tinged with the earth element power of that ancient formation. No wonder the Thunderfire Cannon's attack failed to pierce it."

Li Changqing muttered to himself.

He watched as the battle line ahead began to falter under the onslaught of the giant python.

If this beast were to break through the formation, countless unnecessary casualties would be inflicted on the Ming soldiers.

The pioneering war of this new continent was originally intended to train troops and establish a psychological advantage for this mortal army over the cultivation world and even the ancient wilderness.

If the first battle is fought so fiercely, it will inevitably dampen their fighting spirit.

"Very well, meeting is fate. Consider this beast my small gift to this new continent."

Li Changqing slowly extended his right hand.

He casually picked up a shriveled soybean that had fallen onto the shaft of the mule cart beside him, a soybean meant for feeding livestock.

Those eyes, as deep as an ancient well, narrowed slightly at that moment.

He did not get up, nor did he use any earth-shattering immortal magic, and there was not a trace of true energy emanating from his body.

He simply held the soybean between two long, slender, white fingers, his gaze fixed on a spot several miles away.

The two-headed python was opening its blood-red maw, preparing to spew fireballs again.

"go."

A calm and uttered word came softly from his lips.

Li Changqing's wrist trembled slightly, and he flicked his finger lightly.

"Whoosh..."

The shriveled soybean, the instant it left his fingertips, seemed to be endowed with some supreme power that transcended the laws of this world.

There was no sound of anything cutting through the air, nor any dragging of light or shadow.

This soybean moved at a terrifying speed that transcended ordinary understanding and even the divine sense of a Nascent Soul stage expert could not detect.

In an instant, it traversed several miles, penetrating the thick smoke that filled the battlefield.

At this very moment, on the front lines of the battlefield.

A newly loaded Thunderfire Rune Cannon, amidst the gunner's roar, was aimed directly at the two-headed giant python that was within arm's reach.

"Ignite! Fire!"

The artillerymen, their eyes bloodshot, slammed their torches onto the fuses.

The two-headed python's head, gleaming with crimson light, was already raised high, and a blazing fireball was about to burst forth from its mouth.

On its thick, dark gold scales, the yellowish-brown halo flowed to its fullest extent.

They were clearly prepared to withstand this salvo.

Just one ten-thousandth of a second as the cannon roared and the shells left the barrel with a destructive aura.

The soybean, which had traveled several miles, arrived on the battlefield silently.

It was incredibly precise, striking the reverse scale—the one most heavily protected by the yellowish-brown aura—below the left side of the two-headed python's head.

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

There was a very faint, yet exceptionally crisp, cracking sound.

The dark golden reverse scale, which was hard enough to withstand the bombardment of rune cannons and was harder than iron, was as fragile as a thin piece of ice when hit by this tiny soybean.

Instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks, it then shattered with a deafening roar!

The earth elemental energy protecting the giant python's entire body dissipated without a trace the moment its reverse scale shattered, like a deflated balloon.

In an instant, an indescribable sense of extreme horror and pain surged into the giant python's originally ferocious eyes.

It had no idea what terrifying power had so easily shattered its proud defenses.

And in the very next instant after the reverse scale shattered and the defense was completely lost.

"boom……!!!"

The heavy shell, bursting forth from the Thunderfire Rune Cannon and trailing a blazing tail, hurtled towards them.

Without the protection of scales and qi, the cannonball pierced through the opening without hindrance, penetrating the unprotected flesh of the two-headed python.

The shell exploded inside the giant python.

The violent lightning and fire spiritual energy raged and expanded wildly within the narrow passage of flesh and blood.

"hiss……!!!"

A heart-wrenching scream, piercing to the eardrums, boomed across the battlefield of Wolong Ridge.

The massive body of the two-headed python was violently thrown backward by the terrifying force of the explosion.

Its left head, along with a small portion of its thick neck, was blasted to pieces from the inside by this shot.

Blood rained down, mixed with dark golden scales and charred bits of flesh, like a bloody storm, pouring down on the muddy ground ahead.

The immense inertia carried its remaining body as it crashed heavily to the ground.

It broke more than a dozen ancient trees that were as thick as two people could hug, and smashed a deep crater in the ground.

The python's remaining right head writhed and convulsed in agony in the mud.

Large amounts of venom spilled uncontrollably from its mouth, sizzling as it corroded the surrounding vegetation.

It had clearly suffered a fatal blow and was no longer any of its former glory.

At this moment, the entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence.

The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty stared wide-eyed at the ancient remnant that had been so arrogant just moments before, seemingly ready to destroy everything.

He was hit by one of his own cannons, losing half his head in a single shot, and lay dying in a pool of blood.

After a moment of deathly silence.

"Victory! Victory for the Ming Dynasty!"

"Bomb it to pieces! Our artillery has destroyed it!"

A thunderous cheer erupted from the Ming army's ranks.

The soldiers brandished their weapons, tears welling in their eyes.

The captain on the artillery position was so excited that he trembled all over.

He stared in disbelief at the cannon still emitting smoke in front of him, swallowed hard, and laughed as he patted the gunner beside him.

"Good lad! That was a perfect shot! Damn, a perfect shot! You found that beast's weak spot right away, a single, decisive hit!"

Wang Shouren stood on horseback, looking at the giant python that had fallen to the ground and was unable to move.

A hint of relief and ecstasy finally flashed in those eyes that had been tense all along.

He drew his longsword and pointed it straight ahead.

"All troops, listen to my command! Musketeers, provide cover! Pikemen, advance and utterly slay this beast! Today, this Wolong Ridge will be the first cornerstone for our Great Ming to establish its prestige in the New World!"

Accompanied by deafening battle cries, the Ming soldiers surged forward like a tidal wave, completely engulfing the dying giant python and the remaining beast horde.

Meanwhile, in the supply camp at the rear.

Hearing the cheers coming from ahead, Zhao Laolang mustered his courage and crawled out from under the mule cart.

He stood on tiptoe, looked ahead, saw the collapsed giant tree and the raging fire that had stopped, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"My goodness, that scared the old man to death! The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty are really tough; they can even kill such a monster."

He patted the dirt off his clothes, turned to look at Li Changqing sitting on the stool, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"Li, you have quite the composure. The earth was shaking just now, and you didn't even flinch."

Li Changqing smiled slightly, tapped the mottled folding fan lightly in his palm, and stood up.

"You flatter me, sir. I am merely an accountant. With a large army blocking our way, there's no point in running. We might as well sit and wait."

He gazed at the battlefield ahead, where the outcome was already decided, his eyes deep and peaceful.

"Let's go, Master. The battle ahead is almost over. This two-headed python is a treasure trove. Its unbroken scales and fangs can fetch a large sum of spiritual silver notes in the capital. If you're late, Master, you might not even get a sip of soup."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Laolang's eyes lit up. He no longer cared about being afraid and hurriedly called on his men to pull the mule cart forward.

Li Changqing walked beside the mule cart, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

With the hard-fought battle at Wolong Ridge over, the Ming Dynasty had truly etched its mark on this new continent with blood and fire, leaving an indelible mark on mortals.

Next, it's time to visit that ancient cave hidden deep within the spiritual vein.

In the long river of time, there must be some novel things to pass the endless leisure.