18: Accumulate strength

“Cough cough!”

“Clear the battlefield!”

After a short rest, Commander Zhou Yun finally calmed the surging Qi and blood within his body. He then looked at the heavily injured Xuanjia Army and Auxiliary Army, his face grim as he issued the command.

Even he hadn't expected such heavy losses from just one engagement.

Both the enemy's leader and their soldiers were true elites, and they fought with incredible ferocity. It was only natural for them to suffer significant casualties when trading blows.

“Understood!”

Soon, the soldiers who still had strength began to act, treating the wounded, handling the corpses, and collecting spoils of war.

Gu Chang was also dealing with the corpses of his own soldiers. Although he had been somewhat prepared this time and made some special arrangements, three of his men still died directly in the battle.

At that time, he couldn't spare a thought for these men; his own strength was still very weak compared to the entire army.

“Collect their bodies properly. As for their families, I will take care of them.”

Gu Chang was silent for a moment before saying this to Li Ergou, Wang Da Niu, and the others beside him.

No matter what, these few were his trusted soldiers, warriors who had fought alongside him!

“Yes!”

Li Ergou and the others nodded heavily, then began to busy themselves.

“The defensive power of the Copper Skin level is still somewhat lacking on the battlefield. If I could reach the Iron Skin level, then I would truly not fear blades and sharp weapons!”

Gu Chang also had some wounds on his body, but none were too deep. He could move after a quick treatment.

Soon, the Xuanjia Army and Auxiliary Army also began to retreat, as the current situation was no longer suitable for continuing the fight.

Upon returning to the military camp, Zhou Yun went directly to the main camp, while Gu Chang and the others took the wounded to rest.

“This two-army battle will likely evolve into a long-term standoff and a protracted war.”

Inside the tent, Gu Chang ate to recover his strength while pondering what he should pay attention to next.

“It's a pity I haven't obtained the Cultivation Technique beyond Flesh Refining. Otherwise, I could have found a way to leave the army. With my current strength, I can already survive in this world. As long as I get some medicinal herbs and food, I can practice cultivation on my own.”

After this battle, Gu Chang was not very optimistic about the future of King Mu's army.

Of course, even so, he still had to stay for now, at least until he gained enough benefits. Otherwise, wouldn't all his efforts have been in vain?

Over the next few days, after Gu Chang's injuries improved slightly, he continued to practice his Cultivation Technique. He needed to constantly improve his strength; only then could he face the impending crisis.

These days, the entire Xuanjia Army was also undergoing some changes, with new recruits joining every day, and Zhou Yun appeared incredibly busy.

However, he ultimately did not forget Gu Chang's contributions. Once the number of soldiers was replenished, he directly named Gu Chang to replace a fallen Platoon Leader.

The treatment of a Xuanjia Army Platoon Leader was completely different from that of an Auxiliary Army Platoon Leader before.

They possessed armor and weapons belonging to military officers, and their military pay and daily expenses were far higher than those of ordinary soldiers.

At the same time, leading a hundred Xuanjia Army soldiers allowed them to operate independently, belonging to the highest position most soldiers in the entire army could ever reach in their lifetime!

“Greetings, Platoon Leader!”

At this moment, Gu Chang was inspecting the hundred-plus soldiers under his command. Li Ergou, Wang Da Niu, and his other trusted men went without saying, but most importantly, he now had several new soldiers under him who had good foundations and abundant courage.

“Very good!”

“Next, we will practice cultivation together. If anyone practices the best, there will definitely be a reward!”

Gu Chang's gaze swept over them, then he said loudly.

“Yes!”

“Ho! Ha!”

Soon, training began in the military camp. Soldiers who could join the Xuanjia Army all had some skill; at the very least, their physical and mental states were qualified.

Gu Chang also practiced his Cultivation Technique. With daily secret medicines and meat, after his body recovered, he even directly used a copper staff to temper his body.

Half a month later, the Xuanjia Army received orders to go to war again.

This time, they would attack the ruined city together with other elite troops. King Mu's fifty thousand soldiers seemed to have all been deployed, no longer just the probing attacks from before.

As the saying goes, 'when numbers exceed ten thousand, they are boundless.' At this moment, a full fifty thousand soldiers, arrayed in formation, stretched as far as the eye could see just by standing there.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Eighteen enormous oxhide drums were moved onto a high platform. Bare-chested strongmen continuously swung drumsticks, and instantly, a thunderous drumbeat spread throughout the entire battlefield.

This was the first time Gu Chang had seen King Mu, although it was only a blurry figure seen from afar.

The other party was wearing a magnificent python robe, appearing middle-aged, accompanied by several tall generals and hundreds of personal guards.

Before the battle, the other party seemed to have said something, but Gu Chang, being in the rear, could not possibly hear it.

In reality, it wasn't just him; without loudspeakers or megaphones, only the great generals and personal guards around him could clearly hear what he said.

Of course, Gu Chang was indifferent to this. In his eyes, even King Mu was just an ignorant ancient man craving power, so he naturally held no respect for him in his heart.

After an unknown period, the military order was issued, and the army began to advance.

Immediately, various siege equipment began to be used. Countless arrows and huge stones were launched, and large areas of the ruined city in front were quickly destroyed and set ablaze.

“Rumble!”

Soon, tens of thousands of Auxiliary Army soldiers began to charge. The two armies immediately engaged in fierce combat. About half an hour later, a portion of the defeated remnants retreated, and another Auxiliary Army unit took their place.

The sounds of footsteps, shouts of killing, screams, roars, weapon clashes, crumbling buildings, and burning flames mingled together.

The air was filled with a strong smell of char. Sweat continuously seeped from inside his clothes, and a faint scent of blood lingered at his nostrils.

This was a true battlefield, where so-called human lives were merely cold statistics.

Most of the people who died here would not even be remembered by many.

The first day passed quickly. For the entire day, the Xuanjia Army had no chance to move, instead holding their positions and guarding the flanks.

The second and third days were much the same. It wasn't until the fifth day that the entire Xuanjia Army, along with other elite troops, began to battle the enemy's elite army.

For the next dozen or so days, this was basically the situation. Thousands of people died every day, and the original fifty thousand strong army gradually dwindled to less than forty thousand.

Soldiers and generals on both sides appeared increasingly exhausted, and morale in the military camps continued to drop at a visible rate.

“Slap! Slap!”

“Keep going! Don't stop!”

At night, Gu Chang was still practicing his Cultivation Technique in the military camp as usual. The cold, tough copper staff struck his body again and again.

Now, his skin was incredibly sallow and rough, as if covered by a layer of oxhide. The copper staff striking his body could no longer cause much effect.

“Whew!”

“Alright, that's enough for today!”

Finally, Gu Chang let out a deep breath, then said this to Li Ergou and the others.

Although they had been fighting during the day these past days, he had never stopped practicing his Cultivation Technique at night, spending a large amount of time and energy every day refining and tempering his body.