, Part 3: Dantian and Qi Sea! Tanzhong Acupoint! Establishing Prestige and Sharp Edge Camp

Chapter 66 The Third Dantian Qi Sea! Tanzhong Acupoint! Establishing Prestige and Sharp Edge Camp [Third Update]

He understood.

He immediately got up and pushed open the creaking wooden door of the barracks.

Tonight, the moon is high in the sky, its bright light bathing the military camp and casting long shadows of the earthen walls and flagpoles. A chilly night breeze, carrying the chill of late autumn, brushes against our faces.

He found a sheltered and open corner, sat cross-legged, cleared his mind of all distractions, and looked at the moon in the sky.

Just then, he felt a cool, invisible yet perceptible aura in the air around him, as if drawn by an invisible force, emanating from the moonlight and slowly enveloping him, seeping into his body through his skin.

The air was cool but not piercing; instead, it had a strange and comfortable feeling of cleansing the mind and washing away the heat.

[Moonlight Heart Technique Proficiency +1]

A prompt appeared on the panel.

"It's done!"

Su Yang was overjoyed.

However, he found that his proficiency was progressing very slowly.

The chill of the autumn night in the surrounding air seemed pitifully thin. It took a long time before I managed to regain some proficiency in the dance.

[Moonlight Heart Technique Proficiency +1]

【Moonlight Heart Sutra (Beginner Level 2/2000)】

"At this rate, when will we even get started?"

Su Yang frowned slightly.

The lack of cold air severely hampered the efficiency of skill development.

"The chill—where in the military camp is the coldest?"

He remembered the simplified prompt and his mind raced.

A deep cellar dug next to the kitchen for storing meat.

It may be cold and damp there, but it's mostly filled with the stench of dirt and earth, not necessarily pure, refreshing cold.

Cold water well?

Su Yang's eyes lit up.

The water from the deep well draws on the cold air from the earth, and is icy cold all year round. It is the most natural and readily available source of "cold air"!

He immediately got up and, relying on his status as a battalion commander and his basic understanding of the camp layout, easily found the deep well that was used by the army. The wellhead was built of bluestone, and a distinct coolness could be felt as soon as one got close.

He took a deep breath, reached into the bucket hanging from the well opening, and scooped up a handful of freshly drawn well water.

It was icy cold to the touch, almost instantly taking away the warmth from my hands.

That's it!

Su Yang deliberately sat cross-legged on one side of the shadow of the well curb, his body half-hidden, facing the bright moon.

This time, the results were completely different!

His powerful senses clearly allowed him to see wisps of moonlight, invisible to the naked eye but clearly perceptible to the senses, falling from the night sky as if drawn by some unseen force.

At the same time, a calm and pure icy energy rose from the deep well water beside him. These two energies, one clear and lofty, the other deep and penetrating, converged and merged within a foot of him, transforming into a more mellow and active cool energy flow.

This combined chill, without any guidance, spontaneously and continuously seeped into his meridians through his pores, several times faster than before!

[Moonlight Heart Technique Proficiency +1]

[Moonlight Heart Technique Proficiency +1]

【Moonlight Heart Sutra (Beginner Level 44/2000)】

The panel notification started beating at a steady rhythm, increasing by one point almost every five breaths.

"That's good! At this rate, we can master it by midnight!"

Su Yang felt joy, but he was not completely immersed in it.

His keen senses kept him constantly alert to his surroundings, and he would leave immediately if anyone approached.

He knew that his behavior was indeed suspicious in the eyes of others.

If spotted by a patrolling officer, one might be questioned at best, and at worst suspected of plotting something sinister, such as poisoning the well.

In military camps, water security is of paramount importance.

The sound of footsteps patrolling at night occasionally came from behind the earthen wall not far away, and the flickering light of torches cast shadows.

At such times, Su Yang would hold his breath and concentrate, completely blending his body into the shadow of the well curb. His heartbeat and internal energy would slow down and weaken, like a lifeless stone.

【Moonlight Heart Sutra (Beginner Level 1/10000)】

As time passed, and the third watch gong sounded, the panel in Su Yang's mind flickered.

A stream of information appeared in his mind, which was the introductory cultivation method of the Bright Moon Heart Technique, as well as some faint insights.

at the same time.

Within his dantian and meridians, a cool current of energy appeared—it was none other than the Bright Moon True Energy!

This wisp of Bright Moon True Qi was many times purer than the internal energy of the Nourishing Life and Cultivating Essence Technique. The moment it appeared, the panel in my mind vibrated, generating a guiding force that surged upwards, heading straight for the Tanzhong acupoint in my chest!

"boom!"

It was as if the world had been created!

Su Yang saw that the space around his Tanzhong acupoint suddenly expanded, creating a clear and pure area.

The gentle, miniature sea of ​​qi, with its wisp of bright moon true qi, drilled into the sea of ​​qi in the center of the sandalwood tree, circled around it once, and floated in the middle of the sea of ​​qi in the center of the sandalwood tree.

With a thought, Su Yang could send that wisp of Bright Moon True Qi to his fingertips, and it could even circulate throughout his body along the specific meridian routes recorded in the Bright Moon Heart Method!

"I've successfully mastered the Bright Moon Heart Technique! I've actually opened up my third dantian!"

"This... if I achieve mastery of my three dantian and my internal energy, how powerful will I be?"

Su Yang felt his inner energy center and dantian, and his eyes showed anticipation.

The next day, the first quarter of the chen hour begins.

On the newly allocated drill ground of the Ruifeng Battalion, five hundred soldiers had already lined up.

The chilly morning wind of late autumn swept across the compacted loess soil, raising fine dust.

The group was not exactly well-organized, and even somewhat disorganized. About three hundred of them were former subordinates that Su Yang had brought from the Huang residence, and they were relatively quiet.

The other two hundred men were "veteran soldiers temporarily drawn from other battalions," whispering amongst themselves, their eyes darting around, making no attempt to hide their scrutiny and disdain for the new battalion commander.

Su Yang, dressed in his newly acquired light armor as a captain, stood on the command platform with his hand on his sword.

His gaze swept across each face like a cold iron scraping against it.

In the front row below the stage, a burly man with a scar on his left cheek and a face full of scars was standing with his arms crossed, tilting his head and talking and laughing in a low voice to the people next to him. His voice was not loud, but just loud enough for everyone around to hear: "Heh heh—a guard who was born into a family, he managed to kill a few bandits and now he thinks he's a general? He's more likely to lead us to our deaths."

Su Yang remained unmoved.

He knew this man was Liu Biao, the former deputy captain of the elite cavalry battalion, a former subordinate promoted by Huang Zhenggang, and a notoriously ruthless and unyielding fellow. The purpose of placing him there was self-evident.

Yang Yunxing's words from last night echoed in his ears: "Huang Zhenggang won't act openly; he'll only resort to these underhanded tricks, like a slow, insidious process. If you kill the troublemaker with swift and decisive action, he'll have an excuse to accuse you of tyranny and arbitrary killing, undermining morale. If you can't control it, the Sharp Edge Battalion will fall apart, and there will be plenty of unforeseen events in the future. Military affairs await you."

We must not kill them.

But the goal is to beat him so badly that he'll feel a chill run down his spine whenever he thinks about this day for the rest of his life.

"quiet!"

Su Yang spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an invisible pressure that clearly resonated throughout every corner of the training ground.

It wasn't entirely due to internal strength, but rather a cold, hard quality that had been honed through countless life-and-death experiences and the ability to issue commands.

The buzzing from the audience paused for a moment.

Instead of restraining himself, Liu Biao raised his voice and said to the veteran soldiers around him, "Li Laosan, tell me—the new battalion commander doesn't even ask what the brothers are called, what weapons they use, or what merits they've made? When it comes to life and death on horseback, if the commander has no idea what he's doing, isn't he just testing the brothers' lives?"

These words, cloaked in the guise of "serving the public good," actually struck at the very core of Su Yang's character.

Many of the soldiers who had been transferred here had a look of skepticism mixed with genuine doubt on their faces.

Su Yang's gaze fell on his face: "Liu Biao."

"Your subordinate is here!" Liu Biao stepped forward, his posture impeccable, but his eyes held a hint of provocation: "What are your orders, Battalion Commander? Do you wish to inquire about the brothers' situation? I will certainly answer all your questions!"

"You seem to have some dissatisfaction with my appointment as battalion commander."

"I wouldn't dare!"

Liu Biao drawled, "But the brothers are all a bit apprehensive. Going to the battlefield is a job where we risk our lives. We need a leader who's truly capable and can save our lives. Battalion Commander, don't you agree?"

"rational."

Su Yang nodded, but his next words stunned everyone: "So, I'm giving you a chance."

He took off the bronze badge that represented his identity as a battalion commander from his waist and casually tossed it to Sun Wang behind him.

Then, he leaped off the platform and landed about ten feet in front of Liu Biao.

"I will not use my position as battalion commander to pressure you. Today, we will only discuss the matter of the fistfight. If you win, I will go to General Fang to resign and recommend you for the position of deputy battalion commander of the Sharp Vanguard Battalion."

Su Yang's voice remained calm: "I win. You will receive thirty strokes of the military rod, be demoted to a regular soldier, and await orders. Do you dare?"

The drill ground fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even greater commotion.

Sun Wang and the others panicked: "Battalion Commander! No!"

Liu Biao was stunned at first, then his eyes flashed with wild joy and ferocity.

He was confident in his strength and was one of the best in the elite cavalry. Why would he be afraid of a guard who got his position by luck?

This is like a windfall!

"Is the battalion commander really telling the truth?!"

He was afraid that Su Yang would change his mind.

"There is no joking in the military."

Su Yang stood with his hands behind his back: "You may use a weapon."

"Hehe, the battalion commander is so generous! Then this humble general will have to offend you!"

Liu Biao grinned maliciously and drew a pair of heavy, iron-clad short halberds from his back. He had honed his skills with these halberds for many years, and had smashed the heads of countless bandits with them.

Su Yang simply unsheathed his ring-pommel straight sword, stuck it in the ground beside him, and faced his enemy empty-handed.

This move has caused an uproar.

Liu Biao's face flushed red, feeling insulted: "The battalion commander is far too arrogant!"

"It's alright."

Su Yang beckoned with his finger: "Come on, let me see just how good our elite cavalry soldiers really are."

The last half of his sentence was spoken in a slightly cold tone.

Without further hesitation, Liu Biao roared and charged forward with his burly body, his twin halberds striking Su Yang's head and abdomen with a fierce wind!

His moves were ruthless and skillful, clearly the result of real combat experience, not just empty gestures.

A strong wind blew in my face.

Su Yang, however, seemed rooted to the spot, and only moved the moment the halberd's wind touched his body.

There are no dazzling movements, just the simplest side turn and step forward.

The mastery of internal energy cultivation and the perfected Tiger Form Fist granted him exceptional control and reflexes, allowing him to grasp distance and timing with pinpoint precision.

The left tip of the halberd grazed the chest armor plate, while the right blade was caught by his left hand, which used its five fingers like hooks to grab the halberd shaft with lightning speed!

"Let go!"

Liu Biao roared, his arm muscles bulging, as if he were using all his strength to try to wrestle or shake the opponent away.

However, he felt as if he were entangled in a pillar made of cast iron.

Su Yang's five fingers were like iron hoops, completely still.

At the same time, Su Yang raised his right palm, slightly concave, and instantly filled it with a concentrated and powerful internal force. He then lightly pressed his palm against Liu Biao's chest, which was wide open due to his exertion.

The ultimate internal strength for nourishing life and cultivating vitality—the Vibrating Internal Organs!

"Bang!"

A muffled thud, like a blow to leather.

Liu Biao's sinister smile froze instantly, his eyes bulged out, and his massive body was as if struck by an invisible giant hammer. His feet left the ground, and he flew backward more than ten feet before crashing heavily into the yellow earth with a "thud".

"Ugh—"

He curled up like a shrimp, his double halberds long since slipped from his hands, his hands clutching his chest tightly, his face turning from red to white, then from white to blue, a painful hoarse sound emanating from his throat, unable to utter a word for a moment.

He felt a gentle yet domineering force penetrate his body, surging through his internal organs, causing excruciating pain, yet his external appearance showed no signs of serious injury.

silence.

A deathly silence.

Five hundred people on the drill ground, regardless of whether they were new or old, all stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.

One move?

He faced off against two halberds bare-handed, and only used one move?!

They didn't even see how Su Yang made his move; they only saw Liu Biao pounce on him and then fly back at an even faster speed.

Su Yang slowly withdrew his palm, as if he had merely brushed away a fallen leaf.

He walked over to Liu Biao and looked down at his face, which was contorted with pain.

"Battle isn't about words or seniority," Su Yang said calmly, yet with immense force. "It's about the ability to survive and win. You don't have that ability."

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the soldiers who had been eager to fight but were now trembling with fear: "Anyone else who's not convinced? Step forward now, and I'll give them the same chance."

No one answered.

No one even dared to look him in the eye.

Su Yang walked back to the command platform, took the battalion commander's bronze plaque from Sun Wang, and put it on again.

"Sun Wang, Wang Tiezhu."

"exist!"

"Drag Liu Biao away and, as agreed, give him thirty strokes of the cane. After the punishment, send him to the medical officer for treatment, with the expenses covered by the camp. Once he recovers, he will be assigned to the supply train."

"yes!"

Sun Wang and Wang Tiezhu responded loudly, their eyes filled with excitement and respect.

The battalion commander not only won, but won so decisively and cleanly, and handled the situation so logically and well-founded that no one could find fault with him! He established his authority, left no room for criticism, and even provided medical treatment—they were impressed by his methods!

Su Yang looked down at the audience again.

At this moment, those five hundred gazes were no longer the same.

Fear, shock, and doubt, but more than anything, there was an instinctive awe of the strong, and a glimmer of hope—perhaps one could follow in their footsteps.

"I know that many of you were forced into the Sharp Edge Battalion. You harbor resentment and unwillingness, feeling that following me, a battalion commander with no connections, offers no future and might even lead to your death."

17

Su Yang's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power.

"I'm not going to lecture you on grand principles of loyalty and righteousness. I'll just say three things."

"First, under my command, military merits and rewards are absolutely fair. If you cut off an enemy soldier's head, you will receive your due reward, not a single tael less. If you desert in battle and cause the death of your comrades, I will execute you according to military law, and no amount of pleading will help!"

"Secondly, I will fight and rob for the food, armor, and pay of the Sharp Vanguard Battalion. If other battalions eat dry food, we will try our best to eat dry food too. If others have knives, we will try our best to have them as well. I dare not say it will be the best, but I will never let you go to your deaths on an empty stomach, carrying scraps."

"third."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife: "If you want to live, if you want the bounty, if you want to make a name for yourself in this chaotic world, I alone aren't enough. You need the knives in your hands, and the brothers you can trust! From today onward, forget who you were before, and only remember one thing—you are from the Sharp Edge Battalion! Wherever the Sharp Edge Battalion's blade points, that is the direction in which you will achieve your goals!"

"Now, tell me!"

Su Yang suddenly raised his voice, like a tiger roaring in the mountains: "Do you have the confidence to follow me and make this Sharp Vanguard Battalion the strongest blade in Jingling?!"

After a brief silence.

First, Sun Wang, Wang Tiezhu, and other former subordinates, their faces flushed, roared hoarsely, "Yes!!!"

Then, those soldiers who had been stunned but whose hearts had been ignited with a spark of patriotism were also infected and shouted, "Yes!!"

The sounds were initially chaotic, but quickly coalesced, eventually transforming into a unified roar that shook the training ground: "Yes!!!"

"have!!!"

"have!!!"

The roar soared into the sky, startling crows in the distant woods.

Su Yang stood with his hand on his sword, looking at the increasingly fervent and determined faces below the stage, a look of satisfaction on his face.

After this incident, I've finally established myself in the elite battalion.

Suddenly, out of the corner of Su Yang's eye, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a piece of clothing flashing and disappearing in the shadows of the tents at the edge of the training ground.