Chapter 54 - 52: Class Change, Military Warrior
[Name: Chen Ye]
[Identity: Military Conscript]
[Profession: Bandit (Level 4)]
[Talent: Fierce Body]
[Martial Arts: Wind-Slicing Saber Technique Level 4, Stone Skill Level 2]
In just three short months, his Bandit Profession had risen to Level 4, and his Stone Skill had reached Level 2. This rate of progress was nothing short of fast.
But Chen Ye was still somewhat dissatisfied.
He couldn’t even compare to Mu Jianqing, who had taken on Cyan Bamboo Mountain single-handedly with just a sword, let alone the third-rate masters of the Martial World. He was still far too lacking.
But there was nothing he could do. It wasn’t something to be rushed; he could only take it slow.
...
The days passed one by one. The fighting at the front lines seemed to grow more intense, forcing a change in their grain transport route.
The procession left the flat main roads and began to cross a series of rarely-traveled, towering mountain ranges.
The rugged mountain path was muddy and slick. On both sides were bottomless cliffs; the slightest misstep meant certain doom.
The conscripts complained endlessly, as pushing the heavy grain carts up the steep mountain path required immense effort with every step. Many of them were so exhausted they looked like different people, their eyes growing numb.
Only Chen Ye remained unfazed, his breathing steady.
He now possessed a physique and stamina far beyond that of an ordinary person, so this bit of hardship was nothing to him.
One day, the procession came to an extremely treacherous cliffside.
To the left was a steep cliff wall that soared into the clouds; to the right, a bottomless Abyss. Between them was a narrow path, only five or six meters wide, barely enough for a single grain cart to pass.
Everyone was on high alert, carefully guiding the grain carts, terrified of the slightest accident.
But that was precisely when disaster struck.
"WHOA—!!"
At the rear of the procession, a mule pulling a grain cart, startled by something unknown, suddenly reared up with a long bray. Its eyes turned bloodshot as it began to bolt forward madly.
"Stop it! Quick, stop it!" Bai Xuan’s expression changed in an instant as he roared himself hoarse.
The path was too narrow.
If the mule crashed into the cart ahead, it would be a disaster of shattered carts and lost lives. It might even set off a chain reaction, sending the entire procession plunging off the cliff.
A few conscripts tried to block it, but the crazed mule was immensely powerful. They were knocked to the ground the moment they got close.
Just as a tragedy was about to unfold, a figure shot out from the group like an arrow loosed from a bow.
It was Chen Ye!
In just a few steps, he rushed in front of the crazed mule. Without dodging or evading, he planted his legs firmly into the ground like the gnarled roots of an old tree. Then, he sank his waist, lowered his stance, and braced the runaway grain cart with his shoulder!
BANG!
A dull, heavy thud resounded.
The immense impact cracked the stone ground beneath Chen Ye’s feet. His body sank abruptly, the muscles of his arms instantly swelling as veins bulged like coiling dragons.
Then, Chen Ye let out a low roar, unleashing all the strength in his body without reservation.
The crazed mule was still desperately trying to charge forward, but it was as if it had run into a mountain. No matter how it brayed and struggled, it couldn’t advance another inch.
The stalemate lasted for more than ten seconds.
The mule finally exhausted its strength. Chen Ye seized the opportunity, grabbing the reins with one hand and pressing down on the mule’s head with the other. With a sudden surge of power from his waist, he forced it to its knees, rendering it immobile.
A deathly silence fell over the cliffside path.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded. Whether conscript or Soldier, their faces were etched with shock.
That was a grain cart weighing a thousand jin, plus a crazed mule. The force of the impact was terrifying to imagine.
And yet, a single man had stopped it with his bare body?
Squad Leader Bai Xuan’s mouth hung open, but no words came out for a long moment. The way he looked at Chen Ye had completely changed.
’Could this kid have been born with Divine Power?’
...
The disturbance subsided, and the procession continued onward. Now, all the conscripts looked at Chen Ye with expressions full of awe and reverence.
That evening, Bai Xuan sought out Chen Ye personally. Without a second word, he clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Chen Ye, from this day on, you are the Centurion of this conscript unit. Your rations and treatment will be on par with a military Centurion."
Chen Ye did not refuse, accepting the position calmly.
In the dead of night, Chen Ye sat cross-legged in his tent, his Heart Spirit sinking into his mind.
Just moments ago, he had felt a warm current surge through his body, and his Professional Panel had changed accordingly.
[Profession: Bandit (Level 5) Max Level. Advance Profession?]
Chen Ye immediately chose yes.
[One: Military Warrior]
[Description: Amidst a thousand armies and ten thousand horses, you charge rampantly. You are the firmest bulwark on the battlefield and the most terrifying meat grinder. Your body is your strongest weapon; every punch and kick holds the power to shatter mountains and split stone.]
[Talent: Immovable as a Mountain—Your body is as firm as a rock, greatly increasing your strength, defense, and resistance to damage.]
[Two: Green Forest Hero]
[Description: You eat meat in great mouthfuls and drink wine from large bowls. You live for swift vengeance and gratifying favors, with righteousness and loyalty above all else.]
[Talent: Righteousness That Pierces the Clouds—Your words and actions naturally carry the air of a heroic outlaw, making it extremely easy to win the trust and loyalty of other vagrants and bandits.]
[Three: Mr. Fan Dou]
[Description: You understand the seasons of heaven, know the lay of the land, and see into the hearts of men. You are not a fierce general who charges into battle, but a master strategist who directs the war from a command tent.]
[Talent: Preemptive Insight—Your intuition becomes extremely sharp, allowing you to vaguely sense oncoming danger and opportunity. You can also easily see through the lies and disguises of others.]
Once again, there were three completely different paths. But this time, Chen Ye only gave them a brief glance before making his choice without hesitation.
"I choose Military Warrior."
The next moment, an indescribable, majestic power erupted from within him. His bones chimed in unison, and his flesh and blood surged.
Chen Ye could clearly feel his bones growing denser and his muscle fibers tougher. His entire body, down to his limbs and bones, was filled with explosive power.
It was as if he could shatter a mountain boulder with a single punch, if he so wished!
Although this feeling was an illusion, it gave him an immense sense of security.
After completing the Profession advancement, Chen Ye clenched his fists, his heart calm.
He didn’t make a show of it, nor did he let any sign of this change show on the outside.
Because sometimes, being low-key and hiding one’s strength is the best way to go.
In the days that followed, Chen Ye acted just as he always had, showing no change at all.
This continued until half a month later, when they arrived before a perilous valley. The cliffs on both sides were as sheer as if they had been carved by knives and axes, and the path between them was extremely narrow, like a long, thin thread.
Bai Xuan also knew how treacherous the terrain was and shouted sternly, "Everyone, pick up the pace! Let’s get through this godforsaken place quickly."
No one dared to linger, and Chen Ye was no exception. Moreover, he felt a sense of trepidation, a thrumming in his heart, so he kept to the outer edge of the group. That way, if something were to happen, he could duck behind a boulder at a moment’s notice and shield the others with his body.
Just as the procession reached the middle of the valley...
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
A sharp sound of something tearing through the air suddenly erupted!
A sky-blotting rain of arrows, like a swarm of black locusts, descended from the clifftops on both sides!