Martial Saint through Reading

The lowest is Chiliarch, could it be Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander?

Lin Zhenwu was listening beside him, his heart pounding wildly.

Back then, he and Fang Xiao were both in the Tiger Armor Army, having gone through dozens of large and small battles, capturing and exterminating hundreds of Exotic Race members, and only then did they become Squad Leader.

And even that required strength to reach the late stage of the Blood Circulation Realm, condensing at least nine strands of Qi and Blood Power.

But now, the Tiger Armor Army Chiliarch actually says that Old Fang might become Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander?!

What is Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander?

Commanding ten thousand Tiger Armor Army troops, with authority so vast, in terms of official level, it’s comparable to Fifth Grade rank!

But even Senior Fifth Grade officials have to be respectfully polite to Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander.

Within the Tiger Armor Army, above Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander, there are only the six great Commanders and the supreme Tiger Armor Army Commander.

Every Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander is someone at the Refining Organ Realm.

Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander is truly the one holding the power of life and death over ten thousand!

The morning sun rose behind Fang Xiao. Lin Zhenwu looked on, dazzled by the light.

Ji Yong turned his head toward Lin Zhenwu and Shao Pengshu, speaking with a serious expression: "Instructor Lin, Judicial Officer Shao, can the words from last night after drinking be taken seriously?"

What else did we say?

Shao Pengshu looked at Lin Zhenwu.

"You both said, staying here in Baiyuan County to catch some local ruffians was too dull, nothing compared to the joy of riding and fighting with the Tiger Armor Army." Ji Yong added.

Did we really say that?

But now aren’t we supposed to be persuading Fang Xiao? What’s the point of mentioning this?

"In the letter Ling Qianfu sent back to the army, it mentioned you two," Ji Yong smiled. "With your merits and strength, it’s no problem to aim for Squad Leader or Decurion."

"Didn’t you say you wanted to follow Old Fang and join his Tiger Armor Army?"

This...

The two immediately realized what Ji Yong was getting at.

Squad Leader... Decurion...

Lin Zhenwu was incomparably excited. Although Decurion’s rank was lower than his current Prison Defense Instructor, the battlefield was what his heart yearned for, the place a true man aspired to.

Shao Pengshu, however, wore a bitter expression. He didn’t want to join the Tiger Armor Army, nor did he want to be Squad Leader. Being a Criminal Captain suited him; what he said last night was drunken nonsense, maybe he hadn’t said it at all.

Fang Xiao looked at the four with their varied expressions, cupping his hands and said: "Commander Ling, Mr. Jix, let me think it over."

He already had an answer in his heart.

Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander, with the military power in his hands, would enable him to protect the Young Master even better.

But, Fang Xiao believed this matter must first have Chu Ming’s consent.

He had experienced too much; his youthful enthusiasm and ambitions were already gone.

Now, Fang Xiao only wished to stay by Chu Ming’s side.

He knew very well, the credit for Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander belonged to the young master, not to Fang Xiao himself. Before making a decision, he had to consult the young master.

"Of course you can, the reply from the army will take another day or two to arrive, Old Fang, just take your time."

Ling Hao smiled and said: "If Old Fang really becomes Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander, I’ll apply to serve under him."

"Me too," Ji Yong chimed in.

...

Chu Mansion, West Willow Garden.

Chu Ming had just sent Liu Sitong and Feng Yuan out, when Fang Xiao arrived.

"Instructor Fang!" Liu Sitong and Feng Yuan greeted Fang Xiao; both knew that Fang Xiao had made a great contribution.

Fang Xiao returned the greeting, then walked into the courtyard with a solemn expression.

"Young Master..."

"Come in and talk."

Little Shan and several young maids were still in the courtyard. Some matters weren’t suitable for Little Shan to know.

Inside the room.

Chu Ming sat at the desk, reading books, while Fang Xiao stood near the doorway, appearing somewhat anxious.

"Young Master, your current strength..." Fang Xiao asked the greatest question he’d held back for a whole day and night.

According to Lin Zhenwu, the night before yesterday, in the extermination of the Blood Evil Sect, ’he’ first killed the deepest-hidden member, Prison Chief Luo Lin, then fiercely fought the Blood Evil Sect Strong Bone Realm who burned his qi blood.

That Strong Bone Realm, with the power of burning qi blood, was too much for even the combined forces of Chiliarch Ling Hao and Centurion Ji Yong.

’He’ was not he, but the Young Master.

"Late stage Strong Bone Realm," Chu Ming answered calmly, continuing to read.

The night before, after slaying that Blood Evil Sect Strong Bone Realm, Chu Ming obtained the Blood Evil Sect’s Blood Evil Technique for the Strong Bone Realm, enhancing the [Mountain and Sea Tiger and Python Fierce Blood Refining Scripture - Strong Bone].

His limb bones and torso bones had already surpassed gold and iron; his neck bones barely reached gold and iron hardness.

The quantity of Qi and Blood Power in his body had reached seventeen strands.

Based on Martial Artist’s classification of body transformation in Strong Bone Realm, that was the late stage of Strong Bone Realm.

As expected!

Fang Xiao’s heart trembled violently at these words.

The Young Master truly had reached the late stage of Strong Bone Realm!

He steadied his breath and continued to ask: "Young Master disguised as the old servant to eliminate the Blood Evil Sect, this merit..."

"Let’s stick with the original plan – if it can be credited to the Criminal Defense Bureau, then let it be."

This achievement was great, but the Blood Evil Sect’s hatred was even greater.

The Blood Evil Sect’s Young Master died in Baiyuan County, all five or six hundred Blood Evil Sect members lurking in Baiyuan County were uprooted, and it was revealed that the Blood Evil Sect possessed armor.

According to Great Qin Dynasty law, forging armor privately carries the same sentence as treason.

Chu Ming speculated that the Blood Evil Sect was plotting rebellion.

That meant, on the surface, this was exterminating the Baiyuan County Blood Evil Sect, but actually it exposed the Blood Evil Sect’s conspiracy to rebel.

If the Blood Evil Sect dares to rebel, their strength is certainly unfathomable.

Merit is also hatred; if the Criminal Defense Bureau takes the credit, that means the government, the Tiger Armor Army, and the imperial court all recognize it.

But if the Blood Evil Sect discovers it was an individual outside the government, the consequences would be unthinkable...

Fang Xiao was silent for a moment, then said: "Young Master, Ling Qianfu just came to see me."

"To have you rejoin the Tiger Armor Army?" Chu Ming raised his eyes, staring at Fang Xiao: "I think it’s a good idea."

"Young Master..." Fang Xiao pondered, "The old servant has thought this over carefully."

"Speak."

"The Blood Python Technique and Tiger Blood Technique you devised have already been sent to the Tiger Armor Army. According to Ling Qianfu, with these two techniques and the achievement of exterminating the Blood Evil Sect, you could at least become Chiliarch."

"Most likely become Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander..."

"Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander, huh..." Chu Ming chuckled softly, "Sounds good. Housekeeper Fang, aren’t you tempted?"

"Please don’t joke, Young Master, the old servant doesn’t have that kind of strength..." Fang Xiao bowed.

Chu Ming smiled without speaking.

"But shameless as I am, I think I ought to return to the Tiger Armor Army," Fang Xiao said seriously, "That way, with the identity of Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander... I can protect Young Master."

Fang Xiao had difficulty speaking further.

The merits and cultivation techniques are the Young Master’s; Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander should also be the Young Master...

Chu Ming slowly got up, moved to the side, poured two cups of tea, handed one to Fang Xiao, and said with a calm smile: "Then I’ll trouble Housekeeper Fang to keep taking care of things."

With these words, the room fell silent.

Fang Xiao looked at the cup suspended in mid-air; the tea was still, without ripples, perhaps just like the Young Master’s heart now?

Calm as water.

So, is the Young Master agreeing?

"Housekeeper Fang, did you find any Centennial Black Ginseng or other hundred-year, thousand-year herbs like I asked earlier?"

Chu Ming sat back at the desk and continued reading.

Studying more books, including the Classic of Poetry, Records of the Grand Historian, Complete Book of Agricultural Administration, and various travelogues and storybooks, could expand his third Book collection Lake.

This lake is now like the extra water in the Cultivation Technique Lake, which, when encountering bottlenecks in Inference Technique, can provide more inspiration and guidance.