Grinding to Martial Emperor from the Border Army

’The Marquis has probably started his preparations as well.’

’He just hasn’t made any official moves yet.’

"Just you watch. In a little while, this buffer zone will probably become a full-blown battlefield. All the major powers will get involved. If someone can actually establish a foothold here, it would be a remarkable feat."

After he finished speaking, Lu Yuan nodded lightly.

He hadn’t considered that angle. ’It seems your perspective really is determined by your position.’

Yun Mo remained silent, just nodding from time to time.

He didn’t have a family backing him; he was just Zhou Ming’s disciple, so these matters didn’t concern him much.

The meal ended after about two hours, as they had to go to the battlefield the next day.

After returning, Lu Yuan rested.

「In the great hall of Vulture Ridge.」

Eagle, known as the Outer Border Divine Eagle, sat on the high seat. His head was partially bald, and he had an aquiline nose.

His features were somewhat ferocious, but his body was incredibly robust.

He wore a suit of black armor.

He swept his gaze over the assembled chieftains, big and small, and said, "The imperial court’s forces have actually made a move against us, and without any prior warning. What about our spies in the city? What the hell have you all been doing?"

No one in the great hall knew what to say. After a moment, one figure gathered his courage and said, "Boss, the city has a new Captain. All our men were purged."

"We couldn’t get any information at all."

"We only realized they were coming for us when their army arrived at the foot of the mountain."

"Enough of this nonsense. The Helian Family’s men have already seized the horse farm at the foot of the mountain. I reckon they’ll attack the stronghold tomorrow."

"Tell the lads to stay sharp. There will be great rewards after we drive off the imperial soldiers."

"As you command!"

The chieftains below responded at once.

However, they also understood that this situation would likely not end well.

An army of this size wouldn’t retreat so easily.

But none of them dared to voice these thoughts at that moment.

They could only plan to adapt to the situation as it unfolded.

But after returning to their quarters, these chieftains began packing their gold, silver, and other valuables. Some even secured their most precious items on their person.

Clearly, they were preparing to flee at a moment’s notice.

The night passed in the blink of an eye. Early the next morning, the army at the foot of the mountain assembled.

All the warhorses were herded into the stables, left under the watch of designated guards.

After all, this was a siege. There wasn’t much need for horses.

Vulture Ridge, as its name suggested, was shaped like a giant vulture. However, it wasn’t particularly steep. There were no truly precipitous regions in the Northern Border Wasteland, and this ridge was merely at a higher elevation.

The stronghold was situated on the mountainside. Its walls were about five meters high, built from stacked green stones, with uneven crenellations.

Inside the stronghold, the brutes aimed their shoddy bows and arrows downward.

The ironwood gate was mottled with age.

Eagle stood atop the wall, clad in armor, his black cloak fluttering behind him.

He was most skilled in Qinggong and Claw Skill.

His Blood Movement Realm cultivation would make him a capable expert even in the army.

At this moment, his eagle-like eyes stared down below.

Watching the imperial soldiers approach, he rasped, "Everyone, keep your eyes peeled! Fire on anyone who dares to get close."

As his voice fell, the men around him hastily complied.

By now, the main army had arrived at the base of the stronghold.

Looking at the crude stone wall ahead and the archers with their bows drawn, Lu Yuan’s eyebrows twitched. ’No wonder Helian Shang is so confident.’

’With this level of weaponry and equipment, they’re no match for the imperial court at all.’

"CREAK!"

Then, a hundred Siege Crossbows were brought forward.

Lu Yuan felt like they were using a cannon to shoot a mosquito.

On the wall, the moment Eagle saw the Siege Crossbows, his mouth twitched. He knew he definitely couldn’t hold them off this time.

’What kind of decent person uses Siege Crossbows to attack a mountain stronghold?’

’Only this Border Army would dare to do something like this.’

Once the massive crossbows were angled correctly, there was no more needless talk.

As Helian Shang’s command flag swept down.

"THWANG! THWANG! THWANG!"

One after another, massive bolts tore through the air, leaving white trails in their wake.

Without hesitation, Eagle pulled a subordinate in front of him to block the deadly volley. He then dropped low, ducking behind the crenellations.

At a time like this, he couldn’t care about looking pathetic.

Round after round of crossbow bolts kept the men on the wall from even lifting their heads.

The walls and the gate were soon peppered with a dense forest of bolts.

"Attack!"

Seeing the mountain bandits suppressed and a great number of them shot dead, Lu Yuan shouted and charged toward the stronghold with his men. Yun Mo and Helian Shang followed close behind.

Now, the bolts stuck in the wall served as the perfect climbing aids.

Wielding his Crescent Saber, Lu Yuan leaped lightly, using the protruding bolts to propel himself onto the top of the wall.

His blade swept outward.

It let out an astonishing whistle.

"SHLIIICK!"

As if tearing through leather, the dozen or so mountain bandits surrounding him were all slain by that single slash.

Heads tumbled to the ground.

The others were not to be outdone.

Yun Mo, holding his saber in one hand, weaved through the battlefield. Every time his blade fell, it claimed a life.

Helian Shang used a long spear.

And with great skill. His cultivation had already reached the Gang Qi Early Stage.

The shaft of his spear was coated in a faint layer of True Gang.

Everywhere he passed, blood sprayed into the air.

Beside each of them were elites composed of fully armored Entry Level and Bone Forging cultivators. When they charged into battle, their advance was utterly devastating.

The mountain bandits on the wall were completely routed in a single charge.

When Eagle saw this, he knew the situation was lost.

His body flashed as he used his masterful Light Body Skill, intending to leap off the wall and escape.

But Lu Yuan’s eyes had long been locked onto him.

In fact, the entire reason for this attack on Vulture Ridge was this very man.

As long as Eagle was dead and the stronghold breached, the men of Vulture Ridge would be leaderless. And without a home, it would be much simpler for Wu Han to recruit them.

Therefore, anyone could be allowed to leave, but not him.

So, just as Eagle landed on the ground, his brow furrowed. He felt an indomitable blast of wind bearing down on him from above.

When he turned to look, Lu Yuan’s Crescent Saber was already before his eyes.

Eagle’s body flashed aside, and the blade landed, barely grazing his chest.

"KANG!"

A fissure was cleaved into the ground.

The sound was incredibly deep, and the frightening gash was a startling sight.

Eagle retreated continuously.

Lu Yuan leaped horizontally, spinning like a top turned on its side. His saber moved with his body, leaving a streak of azure light in the air as it crashed down on Eagle’s head once more.

His Spleen Refining Realm cultivation filled his body with abundant qi and blood, and his strength had reached a terrifying level.

Although Eagle could see that Lu Yuan’s cultivation was at the Organ Refining realm, he didn’t dare underestimate him.

With a flick of his waist, he drew two short swords and held them over his head to block.

"CLANG!"

He had only just raised them when Lu Yuan’s blade fell.

It collided with the edges of the swords.

With devastating force, the short swords were shattered, and the blow continued on to Eagle’s body.

A spray of blood mist erupted.

The surrounding mountain bandits were aghast. Their boss had actually been killed in battle.

As for Helian Shang and Yun Mo, who were still on the wall, they looked as if they’d seen a ghost.

They knew Lu Yuan was at the Organ Refining realm, and they were aware of his formidable combat prowess.

But this Eagle was at the Blood Movement Realm!

’Even if you can fight above your level, does it have to look so easy? You killed him in just two strikes!’

’At the same realm, who could possibly be his match?’

Only now did they truly understand why the Marquis valued Lu Yuan so highly. At first, they had all thought it was because they had faced life and death together Beyond the Passes.

Now they understood. This Lu Yuan was truly extraordinary.

While Helian Shang and Yun Mo couldn’t compare to the young masters of the great noble families, they were definitely rare talents among ordinary people.

But now, compared to Lu Yuan, they seemed like nothing.

’Just think about what I was doing at seventeen.’

’It’s too embarrassing to even say.’

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan was unaware of their thoughts. He was simply taking this opportunity to kill as many enemies as he could and earn Skill Level points.

[Host has slain an opponent. Wind and Thunder General-Slaying Saber Technique Skill Level +10]

...

[Host has blocked an opponent’s strike. Blood Refining Golden Bell Shield Skill Level +10]

...

As the notifications rang out one after another.

Lu Yuan could clearly feel the speed of his saber swings increasing, and even his strength was slowly growing.