Contrary to his past life, where he could only stand in silence with a cold expression that earned him cruel nicknames over time, Si had chosen a different approach this time, and a far stronger one. In the past, he had been lost. Now, he knew exactly what he wanted. To become a general, one must first earn the respect of his peers, and for his peers to respect him, they must know him.
A cold and secluded existence would serve him no purpose here.
That was the true reason behind his deliberate interaction with Weijie. He was declaring his ideals and revealing his character openly, allowing everyone to judge him as they pleased.
"Hey, kid. You are really something." Weijie found himself at a loss for words.
Si's statement about relying on his fists until he found a suitable weapon on the battlefield was bold and intoxicating. Weijie was an experienced fighter who could detect false confidence and empty bravado with a single glance. Yet there was no fracture in this youth's heart. Every word Si spoke was supported by unwavering conviction. There was not a trace of doubt within him.
"You know what, kid? I'll do something for you." Weijie's voice carried across the training ground, and the entire yard seemed to freeze.
Every soldier instinctively shifted his attention toward the two, eager to hear what offer was about to be made.
"I believe you are wise and bold enough to lead a squad of your own."
Weijie began speaking as he circled Si slowly, studying him from every angle. Si remained motionless. Around them, shock spread across the faces of the gathered soldiers. They understood the weight behind those words.
"However, wisdom and boldness are not enough to lead a squad. Strength is also necessary."
Weijie stopped in front of Si and met his gaze once more, his expression turning stern.
"We are still assembling our thirty-first squad. I initially handed the leadership position to its first and only member because he is quite capable. But now, I believe you deserve a chance at it as well. Are you bold enough to take the challenge?"
The training ground fell silent. Every pair of eyes fixed upon Si.
The military followed a simple hierarchy. Five-Man Squad Leader, Ten-Man Squad Leader, One Hundred-Man Commander, Three Hundred-Man Commander, One Thousand-Man Commander, Three Thousand-Man Commander, Five Thousand-Man Commander. A General typically commanded ten thousand or more. A Great General stood among the elite tier capable of leading massive campaigns. And above them all was the Great General Under the Heavens, a legendary title reserved for the most extraordinary war leaders.
In this era, the only Great General Under the Heavens still alive upon the central plains was Emperor Fengzu himself.
For now! In the future, during the chaotic era. Many new talents will spring up across central plains. Each vying for the throne of the son of heaven!
The reason for the commotion and envy was obvious. Si had just arrived, yet he was already being offered an opportunity to step onto the leadership ladder despite only being at the fourth tier of the Foundation Realm. He barely met the minimum requirement to enlist in the military, let alone lead a squad.
To those present, a man as knowledgeable as Si should understand his limits and withdraw with grace.
However—
"I accept!" Si responded without hesitation, drawing sharp breaths from the crowd.
'In the end, he is still human…'
Some sighed in disappointment. They had expected better judgment.
'Greed truly makes wise men appear foolish!'
Others shook their heads, disillusioned. The powerful image he had carved into their hearts crumbled in an instant.
Si was not surprised by their reaction. In fact, it was the most logical response considering the identity of the current leader of the thirty-first squad, a sixth-tier Foundation Realm powerhouse known as Qiang, more commonly called Tengen Qiang.
The title of demon had been bestowed upon him on the very day he arrived at the camp. When he first appeared, another slave had arrived as well, a soldier of the Jinshan tribe captured in battle. Leadership of the squad was to be decided between the two, and Weijie had proposed a duel.
At the time, everyone believed the Jinshan warrior would prevail. He was an exalted cultivator at the seventh tier of the Foundation Realm. Yet not only was he defeated, the fight ended so swiftly that he could not even surrender before he was beheaded and reduced to fragments of flesh.
As for Tengen Qiang's origins, no one knew. He was neither from Yunhe nor Jinshan. He had been captured by the army while they marched to battle, and it was assumed he came from one of the many independent villages scattered under the control of the Gan Dynasty.
Why he had been there, what he had been doing, and how he came to be captured, no one could say. But one fact was certain. His martial art and fighting style did not originate from the Gan Dynasty.
He did not speak, communicating only through strange animalistic sounds, which made him unpleasant to approach and further isolated him from the rest. Those disappointed in Si feared not for pride, but for his life. They did not wish to see such a brilliant young man perish at the hands of a beast like that.
Weijie, however, wasn't surprised by how quickly Si accepted the challenge. He knew the threat Tengen Qiang posed. Yet when he had grasped Si's shoulders earlier, he sensed something deeply unsettling. An intense Yin qi coursed through the youth's body, so destructive that even he felt a trace of fear. For someone so young to cultivate such a mysterious power was alarming. It would severely limit the range of martial techniques and legacies Si could pursue. Only arts aligned with strong Yin affinity would suit him. Anything lacking such affinity would be useless.
Still, Weijie understood Si's condition. He knew what became of those who worked among graves and corpses. The only individuals who emerged from such a life intact were those who adapted as Si had. His circumstances were not unprecedented.
More intriguing was the unnatural sturdiness of Si's bones. From a firm grip alone, Weijie deduced that he would need to unleash his full strength to fracture them. Given the vast gap in their cultivation, this made no sense.
At first, he wondered whether the boy had acquired a high-grade bone tempering technique. But considering the density and resilience he felt, it had to be something at least comparable to a dragon bone body tempering method, a treasure typically reserved for the royal family.
How could a slave obtain something so valuable?
The notion sounded absurd upon reflection, and that absurdity shaped his decision. The only way to uncover what Si concealed was to watch him fight someone capable of truly killing him. Under genuine threat, desperation would force him to reveal his hidden cards.
The last time, Weijie had been caught off guard and failed to save the Jinshan warrior. This time, he understood Tengen Qiang's abilities. He was confident that if matters spiraled out of control, he would be able to save Si.