9: Preparation for battle

“Strengthening the Blood is easy, but refining the Skin requires a great deal of effort to achieve Minor Achievement!”

“Refining the Skin is mainly divided into several levels: Stone Skin, Copper Skin, Iron Skin, and Jade Skin. Most martial artists who can cultivate to Copper Skin or Iron Skin are considered to have exceptional Aptitude. As for Jade Skin, only a very few peerless Geniuses might achieve it.”

“After cultivating Stone Skin, the skin all over the body becomes like rugged stone, rough and thick, able to block ordinary wooden clubs and sharp spikes, belonging to the 'tough hide and thick flesh' category.”

“After cultivating Copper Skin, the skin all over the body turns yellowish like brass, exceptionally tough, able to block ordinary blades and sharp swords. This layer of skin is comparable to a soft armor worn close to the body.”

“After cultivating Iron Skin, the skin all over the body turns black like wrought iron, hard and resilient, difficult to be harmed by swords, blades, or arrows. With just this layer of Iron Skin, one can charge freely through chaotic armies!”

“As for the final Jade Skin, hehe, with your Aptitude…”

Inside the military camp, Colonel Zhou Yun, with a booming voice, was explaining the crucial points of the second layer of the Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill to the dozen or so Platoon Leaders in front of him.

The Blood Strengthening period, in simple terms, is about strengthening Qi and blood through exercise and nourishment, making the body strong and healthy. It's the foundation of martial arts practice, preparing for true entry.

Otherwise, if most ordinary people, with their frail and weak bodies, could achieve success in martial arts, that would be truly bizarre.

However, starting from refining the Skin, it becomes much more difficult to advance further.

Listening to his explanation, Gu Chang silently pondered the crucial points. Although it was only the stage of refining the Skin, it was clear that different levels of achievement were vastly different.

Soon, Colonel Zhou Yun finished speaking, and the Platoon Leaders present began to assist each other in their practice.

“Whack! Whack! Thump!”

“Hiss!”

The essence of refining the Skin is to improve the body's resistance to impact. Therefore, in addition to striking several fixed poses and coordinating breathing to temper the body, the most important thing is to use external force to strike the body's skin.

Initially, they were hit only with wooden sticks wrapped in cloth. Gradually, these would be replaced by wooden sticks as thick as wrists, and then by copper rods, iron rods, and other heavy metal objects.

Gu Chang was caught off guard by a wooden stick hitting his body, and he involuntarily trembled, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

“Whack! Whack! Whack!”

It wasn't just him; the other Platoon Leaders practicing were also like this. Even though they grimaced from the beatings, not a single one gave up.

Not long after, Gu Chang felt his entire skin become red and swollen. Only then did Colonel Zhou Yun call for a halt.

“That’s enough practice for today. Now, all of you disperse to rest. Remember to practice your basic skills more and eat some meat for nourishment.”

“Those who want to drink the secret medicine, bring your money and follow me!”

With that, he didn't bother to look at the expressions of these Platoon Leaders and simply turned and left.

Seeing this, Gu Chang immediately followed, as his main purpose for this Reincarnation was precisely for the secret medicine!

The place where the secret medicine was brewed was in the core area of the military camp, where various Colonels and elite soldiers were stationed. Normally, it was not a place where the Auxiliary Army could enter.

However, now, following behind Zhou Yun, Gu Chang entered quite smoothly.

“Gurgle gurgle ~”

In addition to Gu Chang, there were two other Platoon Leaders. All of them had now arrived at a place similar to a kitchen.

Here, two rows of medicinal pots were boiling, and inside them was the secret medicine.

“Thirty gold coins per person. You can drink one bowl at a time, and you must finish it here!”

Upon arriving, Zhou Yun directly quoted a price, which immediately made the other two Platoon Leaders feel a pang of pain.

Thirty gold coins were not as simple as thirty ordinary copper coins. These copper coins, used for rewards, were of good quality, sufficient weight, and exquisite craftsmanship. If exchanged, one coin could completely be traded for ten ordinary copper coins.

Gu Chang, however, was quite decisive and directly paid. Anyway, he could Reincarnate many times, so these coins were spent as they were.

The cook soldier responsible for brewing the secret medicine collected the money and then poured them a bowl of dark secret medicine.

“Whew~”

After a simple blow, the three directly drank it, because this secret medicine could only exert its full medicinal effect when it was scalding hot.

After they finished drinking, before they could even savor it, Zhou Yun directly waved his hand to dismiss them.

Then, they were directly escorted out of this military camp by two elite soldiers. Throughout the entire process, they were not allowed to converse or interact with anyone else.

“They really are on strict guard! We Platoon Leaders of the Auxiliary Army are simply not trusted. It seems that getting the formula for the secret medicine is truly not an easy task.”

Upon returning to his barracks, Gu Chang couldn't help but smile bitterly as he recalled what he had just witnessed.

Under such circumstances, obtaining the formula for the secret medicine was basically as difficult as ascending to heaven, unless the military camp encountered a large-scale riot; otherwise, there would be no chance at all.

“The war is about to begin in three days. It will be difficult to find a suitable opportunity during this period.”

“It seems I can only endure this battle first. It's just that my current strength is still too low.”

After some thought, Gu Chang directly took out his reward money and spoils of war and began to prepare.

Three days were clearly not enough to raise his strength by a level. Since that was the case, it would be better to convert the money he had into better equipment to arm himself and his soldiers.

Including the child soldiers Wang Da Niu and Li Ergou, Gu Chang planned to arm ten trusted subordinates, providing them with better armor, better weapons, and meat for sustenance.

At the same time, his own equipment also needed to be strengthened. Fortunately, after being promoted to Platoon Leader, he was also issued a set of iron armor; otherwise, he would still have to use his original cloth armor.

In three days, Gu Chang only had enough time to fully arm ten trusted soldiers. His own strength, under continuous training and the secret medicine's enhancement, could only be said to have barely reached the Stone Skin level, which was much better than when the last battle began.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Three days later, a great battle erupted again. Two armies faced each other, war drums thundered, and shouts of killing pierced the sky.

“Remember! No one is to be disorderly! Otherwise, the final outcome will be death!”

“Once the fighting starts, everyone follow me!”

“Wang Da Niu, pay attention to the situation of that elite soldier unit. If they move out, tell me immediately!”

“Li Ergou, just focus on holding your shield. Grin and bear this battle, and you'll survive!”

“Zhao Tiezhu, stay by Li Ergou's side and attack. If anyone dares to approach, kill them fiercely!”

“…”

With the enemy before him, Gu Chang did not forget to repeatedly instruct those around him. There was no other way; this time, the enemy was too fierce, especially that burly man among the enemy forces. His strength was definitely at the Colonel level, and Gu Chang simply couldn't stop him.

To survive in such chaotic warfare, the most important thing was to concentrate his forces, then seize the opportunity to move closer to the elite soldiers; otherwise, the final result would be death.

“Kill!!!”

“Pfft! Bang!”

“Crack!”

“Keep up! Don't retreat! Don't scatter!”

“Die for me!”

Soon, the two armies collided. There was no retreat for either side; there was only desperate fighting. Only by carving out a bloody path could they survive.

Gu Chang held a shield in one hand and swung his saber in the other, continuously hacking at the enemies opposite him. Beside him, his armored trusted soldiers wielded long spears and wooden shields, attacking relentlessly.

However, even though he had given instructions beforehand, once both armies plunged into chaotic battle, their formation inevitably devolved into a melee.

“The elite soldiers have moved out!”

“Right side! Right side!”

Fortunately, at this moment, Wang Da Niu, who had been keeping an eye on the elite soldiers' movements, suddenly shouted loudly to Gu Chang.

“Huff! Huff!”

Gu Chang was covered in blood, his breathing heavy. He turned his head to glance at the situation around him and immediately shouted:

“Follow me! Go!”

Without any hesitation, Gu Chang immediately gave orders to the soldiers around him.