Chapter 147 Good News
Shen Changqing's arrival surprised the Black Tiger Army. For him to single-handedly intercept the Barbarian Clan Army and then, even after successfully breaking out, manage to find his way back here was unexpected. The Black Tiger Army, acting as hidden sentries, were still positioned at their original location. Shen Changqing returned with Chu Ding.
Along the way, no one spoke. Chu Ding was very curious about how Shen Changqing had managed to fight his way out and what the current status of the Barbarian Clan Army was. However, he could infer a great deal from the thick scent of blood emanating from the other man. His garments and saber were caked in blood. The thick gore had congealed to such an extent that it was impossible to tell if Shen Changqing himself had sustained any serious injuries.
Soon, the small group returned. Nie Xu, who had been waiting there, immediately spotted Shen Changqing accompanying the others.
"Lord Shen!" Surprise flickered across Nie Xu's face, quickly morphing into delight.
"Lord Nie." Shen Changqing managed a smile; seeing a familiar face also put him in a good mood.
Quickly, some soldiers brought over clean water and dry rations.
"Lord Shen, please sit and rest for a while. Have some water and dry rations to replenish your energy. I'm not sure if you've been injured, but our army still has some medicinal supplies for treating wounds," Chu Ding inquired after handing the items to Shen Changqing.
Shen Changqing didn't decline. He accepted the water and rations, sat down on the spot, and quickly finished them.
The preceding battle had left him considerably drained. Some forms of exhaustion could not be completely negated by a strong physique alone. Only after eating some food and drinking some water did he feel somewhat revitalized.
After a while, Shen Changqing let out a long breath. He used the remaining water to wash the bloodstains from his face, then shook his head. "My injuries aren't serious; a moment's rest should be nearly enough."
His most severe injury was the slash from Mairba. However, the recovery power of the Invincible Golden Body was truly formidable. Thanks to the self-healing capabilities of his Flesh, the wound on his shoulder, though not fully healed, had recovered significantly. As long as he didn't engage in combat again soon, the wound wouldn't burst open. At this rate, he could fully recover in a few more days.
Upon hearing this, the others also felt slightly relieved.
"Right," Shen Changqing said casually, as if suddenly remembering something. "Mairba is dead. The remaining Barbarian Clan Army will likely descend into chaos in the short term, making it difficult for them to pursue us. The Black Tiger Army can seize this opportunity to rest and recuperate thoroughly."
His voice was calm. Yet, to Chu Ding and the others, his words struck like thunderclaps detonating in their hearts, causing their bodies to tremble violently.
What did this mean? Mairba was dead! How did he die?
Chu Ding's face flushed with excitement. The commander of the Black Tiger Army could no longer maintain his composure, and his voice trembled as he spoke, "Lord Shen, are you saying Mairba is dead!?"
"Correct." Shen Changqing nodded, reaffirming his statement for them. "If I hadn't killed him, escaping wouldn't have been so easy for me."
"Good! Excellent! I never expected Mairba, who dominated for so long, to fall at Lord Shen's hands. This is a truly great meritorious deed!" Chu Ding laughed heartily.
He hadn't expected Mairba to be killed by Shen Changqing. After all, Mairba's strength was immense. In the past, not even the formidable Hundred Rivers Sect could withstand him; instead, they were utterly eradicated by him. In terms of strength, few in the Jianghu could contend with Mairba. Experts at the mid-Grandmaster Realm weren't like common vegetables, readily found everywhere.
However, Chu Ding then considered it. Shen Changqing had reached the Tiger Leopard Thunderous Roar, classifying him as a late-stage Grandmaster Realm expert. Killing Mairba, a mid-stage Grandmaster, wasn't entirely out of the question. Had it been a one-on-one duel, Chu Ding certainly wouldn't have been surprised. However, Mairba hadn't been alone; he commanded tens of thousands of soldiers from the Barbarian Clan Army. For Shen Changqing to slay Mairba under such circumstances was somewhat astounding.
Of course, Chu Ding had no doubt about the truth of Shen Changqing's words. After all, Mairba's death could be easily verified with a little investigation later. Since Shen Changqing had said it, it couldn't be false.
When Shen Changqing announced Mairba's death, Chu Ding was shocked, and Zhong Chi, Nie Xu, and the others mirrored his astonishment.
"With Lord Shen having killed Mairba, the Barbarian Clan Army attacking Jincheng is now without a leader," Zhong Chi first voiced his thoughts with emotion, then shook his head regretfully. "It's a pity we only have a little more than two thousand remnants of the Black Tiger Army. If we had tens of thousands, we could retake Jincheng."
What a pity. Such a great pity. If only they had sufficient forces, the lost Jincheng could have been brought back under the Imperial Court's control.
Chu Ding's expression calmed. "There's no rush to counterattack Jincheng. The civilians of Jincheng have all been evacuated, and most of the granaries have been burned. Even if the Barbarian Clan occupies Jincheng now, it won't be of much use to them. Furthermore, although Mairba is dead, the remaining Barbarian Clan Army is still numerous. Capturing Jincheng won't be an easy task. What we need to do now is rendezvous with the others and then make further plans."
Just as Shen Changqing had said, with Mairba dead, the likelihood of the Barbarian Clan continuing their pursuit had greatly diminished. The death of an army's commander would undoubtedly cause significant unrest.
Seeing everyone's expressions, Shen Changqing offered no suggestions. "I was heavily drained in the previous battle and need to rest. If you have anything to discuss, please proceed. I won't join in."
"Lord Shen does indeed need a good rest," Chu Ding nodded in agreement.
Shen Changqing stood up, found a relatively secluded spot, sat down cross-legged, and began recovering from his previous exertion. Physical exhaustion could be alleviated by consuming meat. Mental exertion, however, had to be gradually nourished over time.
Originally, the drain on his spirit wasn't that substantial; a normal night's sleep could restore most of it. However, after he later comprehended the True Intent of the Hundred Battles Saber Method and used his willpower in combat, the mental toll had increased significantly. As of now, Shen Changqing currently felt a throbbing pain in his head, which he was forcefully suppressing.
Sitting cross-legged, he didn't immediately enter a state of meditation but first calmed his mind and delved into his panel.
On the panel, the Slaughter Value remained pitifully low, insufficient to upgrade any Martial Arts further, but other sections of the panel did show some changes. Firstly, in the Martial Arts section, an additional sub-panel named "True Intent" had appeared. Simultaneously, the entry for 'Hundred Battles Saber Method' had vanished from the Martial Arts section, reappearing instead under the new True Intent section.
Hundred Battles True Intent (Ten Percent)
The Hundred Battles True Intent is the Martial Dao True Intent comprehended after the Hundred Battles Saber Method reaches Perfection. This 'ten percent' likely represents my current level of comprehension in True Intent, Shen Changqing pondered.
Ten percent in Hundred Battles True Intent indicated he had just barely crossed the threshold of True Intent.
The deeper one's comprehension of Martial Dao True Intent, the stronger a Martial Artist should become. With my current ten percent in Hundred Battles True Intent, I've barely stepped onto the threshold of the Grandmaster Realm. How much Martial Dao True Intent had Mairba comprehended then? Shen Changqing thought of Mairba, whom he had slain.
Before long, he dismissed the various speculations in his mind.
To be honest, I'm still quite unclear about my own condition, Shen Changqing thought. He wasn't certain what level his power had truly reached. If judged solely by Martial Dao True Intent, I could only be considered to have barely stepped into the Grandmaster Realm. Yet, in terms of actual combat strength, I was clearly capable of overwhelming Mairba, a mid-stage Grandmaster. Besides, the Tiger Leopard Thunderous Roar also seems to be a stage within the Grandmaster Realm.
My understanding of the Grandmaster Realm is ultimately too limited. I must find time to return to the Demon-Subduing Division. All my questions can surely be answered there.
His time in Jincheng hadn't been short. Initially, it was merely to coordinate with the Heavenly Inspection Guard to investigate the strongholds of the Eternal Alliance. No one had anticipated an invasion by the Barbarian Clan at this juncture. Therefore, strictly speaking, his mission in Jincheng was already complete. Returning to the Demon-Subduing Division at this time wouldn't be a major issue.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be so eager to return to the Demon-Subduing Division. However, now that his strength had significantly improved, he had many lingering doubts about Martial Dao. These could only be resolved by seeking answers from the Demon-Subduing Division. Clarifying these matters would also greatly aid his future progress in strength.
Having made his decision, Shen Changqing completely calmed his mind and fully entered a meditative state.
「On the other side.」
Chu Ding and the others were still discussing matters. To them, Shen Changqing's successful breakout from the encirclement was already a joyous occasion. Now, the news of Mairba's death was like a double blessing. With Mairba's death, the threat posed by the Barbarian Clan Army that had breached Jincheng would be significantly diminished. In light of this situation, Chu Ding needed to adjust his initial strategies.
「A night passed without incident.」
Originally, the Black Tiger Army had planned to rest for only a couple of hours before evacuating. This was to minimize the chances of being discovered by the Barbarian Clan. Lingering too long could easily lead to them being surrounded by the Barbarians. However, the news Shen Changqing brought meant the Black Tiger Army no longer needed to rush. They could wait until they were sufficiently rested before departing.
As dawn began to break, Shen Changqing awoke from his meditation. Following his usual practice, he opened his mouth to absorb the first wisp of ambient purple qi from Heaven and Earth. Compared to his current True Qi reserves, that wisp of purple qi, upon entering his body, was like a clay ox sinking into the sea—it caused no ripples whatsoever.