Volume 1, Chapter 24: Disturbance

"Bright sunshine, a gentle breeze... am I in the military or on a picnic?"

Humans are easily corrupted. After just three days of leisurely living in the new Daxia army's Bear Camp, Xiahou felt his bones and muscles loosening up, spending his days lounging around. It was a heavenly life. The food in Bear Camp's Camp One was well above standard, with meat and wine at every meal. Thanks to the Xingtian family's access to the granary's hidden wine stash and their direct imports from Anyi, Xiahou enjoyed a lot of fine dining.

Especially when the other new soldiers clumsily trained under the scorching sun with their less-than-competent instructors, Xiahou could sit lazily in the shade with his hundred soldiers, occasionally sipping from a wine jar. This was an immense physical and mental pleasure.

"Ah, this is the life!" Xiahou kept pouring strong liquor down his throat. Thanks to his barbarian lineage, Xiahou was delighted to discover that his alcohol tolerance was a hundred times higher than in his previous life. No matter how much he drank, he never got drunk. Instead, the alcohol seemed to stimulate his mind, making his spirit soar, enhancing his efficiency in absorbing earth elemental energy and converting it into earth shamanic power.

The tortoiseshell from the Xingtian family's library contained a mid-grade shamanic manual. As Xiahou lay on the ground drinking, he practiced the techniques from this manual.

The principle of shamanic power is simple: it involves merging elemental energy with one's spiritual power. Shamanic power is essentially transformed spiritual power. Those with the potential for shamanic power naturally absorb elemental energy. However, relying on this innate ability alone might only allow one to reach the third or fifth rank, wasting their potential. To fully harness a shaman's potential and transform every bit of spiritual power into shamanic power, a high-level shamanic manual is needed. These manuals guide the efficient absorption and merging of elemental energy with spiritual power.

For example, a shaman with the potential to reach the five-ding great shaman level might only reach the seventh rank relying on natural absorption. With a low-grade manual, they might achieve the two-ding level. A mid-grade manual could help them reach the three-ding or four-ding level. A high-grade or superior manual could not only help them reach their full potential in a few years but might even trigger a spiritual mutation, potentially reaching the six-ding level.

Xiahou's current manual was mid-grade. Compared to the manual taught by his tribe's shaman, this one absorbed elemental energy a hundred times faster. If elemental energy was like fish, he had transitioned from fishing with a rod to fishing with a net.

Following the manual's teachings, Xiahou's spiritual power extended from his brow chakra, weaving into a large net that captured all the nearby earth elemental energy, forming a vortex that flowed into the vast sea of his consciousness. The newly generated shamanic power was entirely used to strengthen his body, pushing his already formidable physique towards an even more extreme level.

Meanwhile, the earth essence within him also circulated energetically, tempering his unformed inner core and refining his primordial spirit, enhancing his spiritual power. Silver spiritual power surged like a tide, enveloping and absorbing a massive amount of earth elemental energy before returning to his body. Gradually, a yellow glow surrounded Xiahou, and the ground beneath him bulged, unable to withstand the intense absorption of earth elemental energy.

A large, dark-skinned man, just slightly shorter than Xiahou, tiptoed over and, seeing Xiahou engrossed in his training, smirked and grabbed Xiahou's wine jar, turning to leave.

Xiahou's hand shot up, gripping the man's shoulder tightly. "Dahei, stealing my wine again? Go, lead the brothers in formation practice."

The man named Dahei looked distressed and shook his head repeatedly. "Sir, we were already decent warriors before joining the camp. What's the point of practicing formations? In battle, it's like fighting wild beasts; it's all about personal skill. The others practice shield formations to fend off Dongyi arrows, but we're the flag guard. What's the use of that for us?"

Xiahou's yellow glow dimmed slightly, revealing his golden-hued face. He tilted his head, pondering for a long time before nodding. "It's a different combat mindset. In the cold weapon era, Daxia's army had its reasons for being able to suppress the Dongyi people. Why am I imposing my previous experience on these guys?"

Letting go of Dahei, Xiahou gave him a hard slap on the back and laughed. "Fine, go enjoy your drink. But let me be clear, you can enjoy life with me, but don't neglect your training. You are all from noble families; you should understand the importance of this."

Dahei nodded with a grin, carrying Xiahou's wine jar away. He was a direct descendant of a local noble family from 800 li away from Anyi. Because of his pitch-black skin, he and his two brothers were named Dahei, Erhei, and Sanhei. All three were skilled warriors of the fifth or sixth rank. Upon entering the camp, they were immediately appointed as Xiahou's direct subordinates, each commanding a segment of his hundred-man unit. Half of Xiahou's troops were their kinsmen, making them easy to manage, especially since the three brothers admired Xiahou greatly.

As the flag guard of Camp One, their duty was to carry the banner on the battlefield. Protected by the main forces, they didn't need to practice formations; their role required individual combat strength to defend the banner. Consequently, Xiahou's unit was almost idle, focusing only on their training.

It was undeniable that Xingtian Chao had arranged this, otherwise, even as flag guards, Xiahou and his men wouldn't be lounging in the shade, drinking without any officer objecting. Any other lazy soldier would have been whipped long ago.

Nearby, a commander shouted loudly, "I know you were all heroes before joining the camp. In Bear Camp, there's no one below the second-rank Wu warriors. But in the army, what do you need to learn? Not how to fight; anyone can kill. I killed over ten Dongyi the first time I went to battle!"

"But the new camp has its purpose. It's to make you somewhat disciplined. When you join the king's direct armies, you can't be slovenly. Do you know the formations needed for different ceremonies if you become palace guards? This is what you need to learn."

"Those who stand well and march well will be selected to learn how to stand in the grand halls, how to hide in the shadows and observe. These are your lessons! Do you think if you're lucky enough to guard the Shaman Hall or the palace, you can act like this?"

Xiahou turned slightly, watching the commander's passionate speech with interest. It seemed he had misunderstood Daxia's officers; it was the soldiers who were stubborn. Teaching a bunch of rough men to stand in formation was no easy task.

However, the purpose of training soldiers just to create a show was hard for Xiahou to accept. It reminded him of fruit vendors arranging their stalls.

The commander continued, excitedly enticing, "Our Bear Camp's new soldiers are divided into three grades! The best formations go to the palace as royal guards, accompanying the king on his travels! The second grade goes to the Shaman Hall as guards. With the grand shamans' guidance, your future is limitless! The third grade joins the army, ready for battle."

Shaking his head, Xiahou shifted his body, adjusting his inner energy. His tall frame curled into a fetal position, breathing subtly, entering a state of innate breathing. He incrementally strengthened his power, hoping to find his way home. His previous instructors' harsh scoldings echoed in his mind: "No matter what happens, if you have a breath left, crawl back if you must."

Muttering, Xiahou mumbled, "Go back? Not go back? Why think so much now?"

Xiahou's large hand randomly grabbed a few clumps of dirt from the ground and threw them down, setting up a small Five Elements Concealment Formation to ward off mosquitoes. Fully focused, he entered a meditative state and began another day of rigorous training. His spiritual power extended outward, continuously absorbing earth elemental energy, while his consciousness looked inward, using true essence to slowly refine the nearly formed golden core. Tiny sparks of core fire flickered on the unformed golden core, significantly altering the nature of the true essence flowing through it.

In the city of Anyi, Xingtian Dafeng led several dozen officers of the Hei Yan Army out of the royal palace. As soon as they exited the palace gates, Xingtian Dafeng joyfully exclaimed, "Ha, this month's rotation is finally over. Brothers, hand over your pay. Tonight, I'm treating everyone at Fenyinze!"

One of the officers cast a resentful glance at Xingtian Dafeng and smiled wryly. "Sir, every time you treat us, why do we end up paying?"

Xingtian Dafeng's face fell, and he weakly replied, "Brother, you know how things are with the Xingtian family. We brothers are all dirt poor. Besides a little military pay, the family gives us nothing. Whose money should we use if not yours? Besides, I'm not useless. When we spend the night at Fenyinze, Heiming Sen will give us at least a fifty percent discount because of me. Think of how much money we save!"

The officers of the Hei Yan Army reluctantly handed over their coin pouches, grumbling as they did so. One officer muttered, "Damn it, we Hei Yan and Xuanbiao soldiers are the poorest in all of Anyi. To see a girl, we have to pool our money despite our ranks. Damn it, what a loss."

Xingtian Dafeng hummed a few times, sullenly stuffing the copper coins into his pouch. Muttering something under his breath, he suddenly shouted, "Let's head to the Xuanbiao camp! My second brother is richer than me. We'll drag him along, and he'll cover the bill! Strange, we all live off our military pay, but he's always better off. Could he be embezzling? Dad would break his legs if he found out."

A cold voice came from the side of the palace wall, "Big brother, just because you can't make money doesn't mean you should suspect me." Wearing jade-white armor, Xingtian Xuanzhi leaned casually against the palace wall, surrounded by several high-ranking officers of the Xuanbiao Army. He lazily greeted Xingtian Dafeng, "Do you think it's easy for me? As a Xuanbiao officer, I have to rent storefronts to do business under someone else's name just to have spending money. It's a lot harder for me."

With a sudden exertion of strength, Xingtian Xuanzhi straightened up and took out a money pouch from his belt, shaking it to reveal the sound of jade coins clinking together. He grinned at Xingtian Dafeng, "Big brother, I just made a small profit. Tonight, I'll treat all officers from the Hei Yan and Xuanbiao armies at Xifang."

Xingtian Dafeng glared at the money pouch and muttered a few curses before mounting his black horse, shouting, "Let's go, brothers, let's take our money to Heiming Sen!"

Xingtian Xuanzhi chuckled, mounting a white horse that looked like a fierce tiger with large patches of white scales and deep blue eyes, exuding a cold aura. He patted the silver horn on its forehead, and the horse roared, galloping after Xingtian Dafeng.

Barely a mile out, a large group of strange mounts suddenly appeared at a crossroads—colorful plum blossom deer, black jade unicorns, double-horned zebras, and thousand-mile dust beasts. If Xiahou were here, he would have screamed at the sight of these legendary mounts from the Shanhaijing. Fortunately, he was in the new military camp, sparing himself the embarrassment. Among Anyi's noble families, these mounts were precious but not rare.

Xiangliu Rou sat proudly on a sticky three-headed python, occupying the middle of the crossroads. He tossed a jade bear coin up and down, smirking at the Xingtian brothers. The python hissed at Xingtian Dafeng, spewing green poisonous mist, scattering the nearby commoners in terror.

Xingtian Dafeng gripped the hilt of his sword and shouted, "Xiangliu Liu, you're an official and yet you dare to disturb the peace with a fierce beast?"

Xiangliu Rou coughed and bowed slightly to Xingtian Dafeng, his face full of resentment. "Thanks to the great kindness of the Xingtian family, my position as a chief inspector has been stripped away. Last time at the city gate, I couldn't even stop one of your friends, which greatly displeased my grandfather. He directly removed me from my position."

Patting the head of the python he was riding, Xiangliu Rou sneered. "But I was lucky. After losing my position as a chief inspector, my father found me a job under the government decree. Now, I'm a court official under the government decree, an assistant chief procurer. So, technically, I'm a palace official now. Can the chief inspector even control me?"

Xingtian Xuanzhi glanced at Xingtian Dafeng, muttered a curse under his breath, and bowed with a sly smile. "So, you've been promoted?"

Xiangliu Rou sneered in return, pointing at the Xingtian brothers. "Promoted, yes, thanks to you all! To celebrate my promotion, how about a small wager?" He took out a money pouch and spilled its contents on the ground, revealing a heap of jade coins, red gold, and beautiful gems that sparkled in the sunlight, making the Xingtian brothers' faces turn pale.

With a triumphant laugh, Xiangliu Rou said, "I know the Xingtian family is always short on money. So, here's the deal: one of your jade coins against ten of mine. I've just recruited a very skilled swordsman. If you win, take as much as you want. If you lose, I don't want your money. Just go to the four city gates of Anyi and shout three times that you admire Xiangliu Rou."

The companions Xiangliu Rou had brought along laughed loudly. Xiangliu Rou glared at Xingtian Xuanjzhi and shouted, "Last time, you made me lose face, and my standing in the family dropped. My younger brothers have overtaken me. This time, I need to regain my honor. Xingtian Dafeng, Xingtian Xuanzhi, will you dare to accept the challenge?"

He sneered maliciously, "But then again, the Xingtian family hasn't produced any formidable figures in recent years. Except for that girl Xingtian Huaying, look at you—Xingtian Dafeng, Xingtian Xuanzhi, Xingtian Pan, Xingtian Aolong, Xingtian Pi, Xingtian Huanghu—only six of you have reached the cauldron rank. Few others have even reached the eighth rank. Can you find anyone to match my swordsman? How will you survive in Anyi?"

A slick voice chimed in, "In Anyi, strength speaks. If you can't accept the challenge, Xingtian brothers, go back to your family's territory. At least there, you're big fish in a small pond. Better than being bullied by our sixth brother here."

Xingtian Dafeng's black horse neighed softly, its eyes red, stamping impatiently. Xingtian Dafeng patted its neck to calm it, saying coldly, "Our Xingtian family lacks capable warriors? Ha, ha."

Xingtian Xuanzhi replied calmly, "It's just a friendly duel, right? We accept. Xiangliu Rou, make sure you prepare enough jade coins. Don't come up short."

Xiangliu Rou scanned the high-ranking officers of the Hei Yan and Xuanbiao armies, sneering. "Take your time gathering your money. Tomorrow at noon, we'll meet at the palace training ground. Bring whatever you can. If you win, I'll pay tenfold. If you lose, don't forget to shout my praises at the city gates."

Xingtian Xuanzhi nodded seriously. "Don't forget Anyi's rules: cauldron-ranked shamans cannot fight here."

Xiangliu Rou shrugged and laughed maniacally. "I know. My fighter is a top-grade ninth-rank swordsman. I'm just worried you can't find someone to match him. It's strange, the Hei Yan and Xuanbiao armies have so many experts, yet they always lose to us. Haha!"

With a loud shout, Xiangliu Rou's python hissed and slithered away at an incredible speed, followed by his laughing companions riding off towards Xifang.

Xingtian Dafeng's face darkened as he slashed the air towards the roadside stones, shouting angrily, "How dare they! If our best fighters weren't away, we'd never let this happen!"

Xingtian Xuanzhi patted his money pouch and smirked, "Good, a ten-to-one payout? Xiangliu Rou, I'll take all your money. I'm broke, but I can borrow. Let's see what kind of swordsman you have. Top-grade ninth rank? Impressive? Chi Hu Baolong killed four ninth-rank Wu warriors single-handedly. Haven't you heard? Ha, ha!"

The Xingtian brothers laughed sinisterly and, forgetting about the duel, led their troops towards Xifang.