Chapter 76: 10 Days
After King Yan’s Military Array was broken, the two sides immediately clashed head-on.
The Dayong forces tried to storm the fortified camp.
King Yan, meanwhile, led his troops in defense.
However, after charging for about two hours on the first day, the gongs were sounded for a retreat.
They did not press the attack, for night was falling, and the warriors on both sides were starving. The assault was particularly strenuous for Dayong, the attacking party.
Besides, they had already evened the score for the day. Launching a full-scale offensive tomorrow would be just as effective.
As Lu Yuan returned to the camp, dragging his battle blade, he noticed many people looking at him differently.
If, in the past, their fixed impression of him was merely that of a fierce soldier good for small-scale raids...
...then now, he had proven he had what it took to be a commander.
Moreover, no one had ever witnessed Lu Yuan’s performance on the battlefield firsthand before. But that had changed. He had displayed astonishing combat prowess right before their eyes.
And leadership.
The Marquis of Jiuse, in particular, was increasingly pleased with him.
Although they hadn’t managed to break through the camp’s defenses today, that was within the Marquis’s expectations. A battle of this scale could never be concluded in a single day.
As long as they evened the score and boosted the morale of the Dayong warriors, the objective was achieved.
Therefore, upon returning to camp, the first thing he did was shout, "Someone, prepare a banquet! Tonight, I will personally drink with our hero!"
After he spoke,
someone naturally hurried off to make the arrangements.
Zhao Yu and the others, trailing behind, had long faces.
Lu Yuan, pulled to the Marquis of Jiuse’s side, quickly bowed. "Thank you, Marquis."
"Haha! You have performed a great service, so naturally, you must be rewarded."
He then pulled Lu Yuan along toward his personal tent. Seeing this, a flicker of worry appeared in Zhou Hongling’s eyes.
’She was genuinely afraid the Marquis of Jiuse would try to snatch him away.’
Then, everyone filed into the tent in an orderly fashion. Wine and food had already been served.
Zhao Yu was the first to speak. "Today was all thanks to the Marquis’s masterful strategy. We should all toast the Marquis first."
He raised his wine cup as he spoke.
’He didn’t want Lu Yuan to hog the spotlight.’
’Since he couldn’t take the credit himself, he might as well attribute it all to the Marquis of Jiuse.’
Zhou Hongling, of course, saw through his intentions, but since it involved Hong City, she couldn’t say much and could only drain her cup.
After they put down their cups,
the Marquis of Jiuse waved his hand dismissively. "The true hero today is Lu Yuan, not me. If you want to toast someone, toast him first."
With that, he raised his own cup first.
Zhao Yu and the others could only grit their teeth and accept it.
They drank the wine in their cups clean.
Then, the Marquis of Jiuse continued, "For breaking King Yan’s Military Array today, Lu Yuan deserves the highest credit. Record one thousand military merits for him, and fifty for every other soldier involved."
As his voice fell,
Lu Yuan immediately moved to stand, but the Marquis of Jiuse pressed him down. "We are celebrating you today. Don’t be so formal. You are the main character here."
This scene made the young masters from the General’s Mansions in the Imperial City burn with jealousy.
A thousand merits was no small number, even for them.
Lu Yuan was also quite excited. His military merits were now approaching five thousand.
’Now, all else aside, as long as my cultivation breaks through, I can be promoted to Captain when I return.’
For the rest of the banquet, with the Marquis of Jiuse’s backing, no one dared to give Lu Yuan any trouble.
But in their hearts, Zhao Yu and his group harbored deep resentment.
The grudge between them was now set in stone.
Lu Yuan, however, didn’t pay it much mind. ’I’m at the border, and they’ll be returning to the capital after the war is over.’
’Their reach won’t be long enough to target me then.’
After the meal, Lu Yuan headed straight for the Merit Camp.
He planned to exchange his merits for some Elixirs. His strength had now reached the stage of Refining the Liver.
The Elixirs he needed to take would naturally have to change.
As soon as he entered the Merit Camp, the Quartermaster walked over with a wide smile. "Congratulations on your new achievements, Lord Lu."
Lu Yuan waved his hand. "I’m just serving the court. I’m here to purchase some Elixirs."
"Right away! We have plenty in the tent. Please, pick for yourself," the Quartermaster said hastily.
When Lu Yuan stepped inside, he saw many Elixirs on display.
"What kind of Elixirs do you have for Refining the Liver?" he asked softly.
’He could see many, but he didn’t know their specific effects.’
’It would be better to have someone explain them.’
The Quartermaster didn’t find it troublesome at all and quickly explained, "My lord, this whole row is filled with Elixirs for Refining the Liver, but the most effective one is the Cyan Wood Pill."
"It is the best Cultivation Resource for the Refining the Liver stage. However, very few in our army use it. Only a few General’s Family Heads exchange for some for their children."
"The Marquis’s son also takes this Elixir."
"The price is a bit steep, but the effects are excellent."
In the past, the Quartermaster would never have recommended such an Elixir to Lu Yuan. After all, not many could afford it; it was essentially prepared for the noble families from the General’s Mansions within the Border Army.
But now, in his eyes, Lu Yuan was absolutely qualified. He didn’t know how much silver the man had, but his military merits were substantial.
"What’s the price?" Lu Yuan asked with a nod.
’Now that his rank could be promoted as soon as his cultivation was high enough, he certainly wouldn’t be stingy with Elixirs. And not to mention his merits, he wasn’t short on silver either.’
"Twelve hundred taels of silver per bottle."
"Give me ten bottles." As Lu Yuan spoke, he counted out twelve thousand taels in silver notes and gave them to the Quartermaster.
"Right away!"
The man acknowledged and retrieved a box, placing all the Elixirs inside.
Lu Yuan carried the case of medicine and walked straight toward his tent.
Just after stepping inside,
he ordered the guards that no one was to enter without his command.
Then, he opened a vial, took out an Elixir, and placed it in his mouth.
The Elixir melted the moment it touched his tongue.
In moments, a fragrant aroma filled the tent before the energy surged toward his liver.
He pushed the *Tiger Subduing Posture* to its absolute limit.
The muscles all over his body bulged and twisted.
A large amount of impurities was expelled from his pores.
An unprecedented feeling of clarity emanated from within him.
「An entire night passed in the blink of an eye.」
When Lu Yuan woke up the next day, a smile appeared on his face.
[Third-Grade Cultivation Skill: *Tiger Subduing Posture* (Refining the Liver)][Skill Level: 1471/1000 (Minor Achievement)][Break through?]
"This Elixir is truly effective. After just one night, I’ve already surpassed the threshold for Minor Achievement!"
He then chose to break through.
Immediately, a surge of power erupted from within him.
He was much stronger than before.
[Third-Grade Cultivation Skill: *Tiger Subduing Posture* (Refining the Liver)][Skill Level: 471/10000 (Great Success)]
Looking at the panel, Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
Based on the limit of how many Elixirs he could take, he could increase his Skill Level by over a thousand each night. Reaching Perfection would only take about ten days.
’It won’t be long before I can break through again.’
BLARE!
Outside the tent, a horn blared. Lu Yuan didn’t dare delay and rose to head out.
It was the signal for the army to assemble.
Just as he stepped out, he saw that Zhou Hongling had also left her tent. She was looking his way, and upon seeing him emerge, she gave a nod before heading toward the Commander’s Banner.
Lu Yuan knew that another battle was about to begin.
In the days that followed, the assault on the camp continued.
However, this King Yan was clearly an expert in defense.
More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye, but the camp’s defenses remained unbroken.
But during this time, Lu Yuan had reaped massive rewards, and his Skill Level had increased at an astonishing rate.