My Cultivation Starting from Archery

"Bad news!"

Xu Wencai began to pace in place, "If that's true, the Red Eyebrow Army with thirty thousand, Ming State with eighty thousand; add to that possibly a portion of the West Qi Kingdom's troops, we're looking at an army of over a hundred thousand easily. Devouring our forty thousand would be a piece of cake!"

Under this possibility.

Chen Sansi started to search for logic from the inside again.

He said, "Old Xu, do you remember the information about Dong An?"

"I remember, obsessed with military strategy."

Xu Wencai pointed with his feather fan to the city that served as Dong An's main base: "Many years ago, he participated in the Selected Point competition alongside General Fang, but that year he came in second. He outright refused the Inner Sect Disciple position and went to take part in the civil service examination instead, becoming the Martial Arts Top Scholar the following year. His Majesty promoted him step by step to his present position. The Governor of Ming State, also holding the post of General, controls the military and political power of the entire state."

"It's clear that this person would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail. He might be envious and jealous of Brother Fang in his heart. If he's petty, he might bear a grudge, but that's still not enough, not a sufficient reason for a rebellion."

Chen Sansi tapped his finger against the map and analyzed, "Failing in Selected Point and then rejecting the status of an Inner Sect Disciple to take the civil examination is tantamount to a clean break from the Eight Camps. His Majesty would be more than happy with such a person, naturally he would be given important positions. Cultivated thereafter, he would become a loyal force restricting the Governor Mansion."

"So, bestowed with so many favors from His Majesty and with such a high position, in a few more years he might breakthrough to the Martial Saint Realm and even become an ennobled Lord. There's simply no reason for him to betray the country."

"But he..."

"Is still a military fanatic!"

"You're right, Sir!" Xu Wencai exclaimed as if having an epiphany: "General Fang mentioned to me that this man once competed with him to see who could reconstruct the Nine Palace Eight Diagram formation first. In the end, Dong An was a step behind. It's said that he got so angry during training that he made a mistake and fell seriously ill."

"If we follow this train of thought, then everything makes sense!"

"There are those kind of people who only wish to win, and don't care about anything else—name, wealth, it doesn't matter. As long as they can win, they're willing to pay any price, to do whatever it takes."

"For a military fanatic, what could be more tempting than the Miracle Soldiers Heavenly Book? A treasure of the immortals represents the ultimate variable!"

"If the Commander of the Red Eyebrow Army, Liang Jinian, offered a treasure he possesses as a bargaining chip, and West Qi Country made promises, such as ennoblement and granting of land, it would be entirely possible to pull him over."

"Really?"

Bai Tingzhi stood to the side, confused along with Zhao Kang and the others.

"Sir!"

Xu Wencai saluted, "What should we do next?"

"I'll write down my thoughts and submit them to General Zhao and the others, but I doubt they'll listen, especially since it's only speculation with no concrete evidence, and also because this guess is a bit too... far-fetched." Chen Sansi and the old scholar were purely speculating based on the certainty of West Qi's victory and our inevitable defeat.

Even they weren't sure if such a scenario would actually occur.

Having written the letter,

he blew a whistle, summoning Hai Dongqing to carry the intelligence to the front lines.

Then, everyone rested for the night in Bai Gou County.

By the next day at dawn, Yu Song sent an Order Officer who took them about two hundred li outside Yangchun Prefecture to gather, thereafter setting up camp on the spot, beginning to secure the transport of food and supplies.

War isn't an overnight affair, especially when it involves a battle configuration as large as an entire state.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen days passed.

After Chen Sansi filled his stomach, he found a secluded place to practice with his spear. Since arriving at Ming State, his preparedness meant his progress hadn't suffered at all.

In the Blood Explosion state, he continuously fostered power through the blood of the Dragon Elephant, used it up, then fostered more, repeating this cycle day by day, tirelessly refining the strength and purity of his power.

He could feel that, as time passed, there was a force in his power that seemed about to burst from his body, but each time before it could leave the skin, the power would dissipate. He could only grit his teeth and persist, continuing the monotonous repetition.

Finally,

just before Chen Sansi was completely exhausted, a stream of power flowed along his arm, transmitting through the spearshaft to the man, unleashing an unprecedented force.

He had broken through the Outer Strength!

[Cultivation Technique: National Guardian Dragon Spear. Hua Jin (Proficient)]

[Progress: 0/1000]

[Utility: ..., Storage]

A new effect was added to the original entry.

[Storage: Accumulate power for a single explosive burst.]

After reaching proficiency in the Hua Jin realm cultivation technique is the Intermediate Hua Jing's "Outer Power," which is a transitionary stage within the overall realm, laying the groundwork for the "small achievement" of "Jinli Holding Weapon."

Its main purpose is to enable power to leave the body.

To put it simply, it's striking from a distance.

Chen Sansi plunged his long spear into the ground and threw a punch. Although his fist didn't make contact with the tree trunk, he still effortlessly broke a tree that was as thick as a bowl in half.

At this realm, wielding a weapon would typically be just average for martial artists,

since their Outer Strength couldn't be sustained and was similar to firing arrows, one by one, which were also not very powerful. But if one could store power, that would be a totally different story.

Chen Sansi clenched his fist, feeling the power gradually accumulate on his arm. It soon far exceeded the strength that the Outer Strength realm should possess. Given enough time to build up power, he could unleash a shockingly effective attack at any given moment.

"The spirit sand is used up."

He hadn't neglected his spellcasting, either, building up another Sword Qi Skill.

[Magic: Sword Qi Skill (Entry-level)]

[Progress: 35/500]

But the progress in proficiency was pitiful.

The spirit sand had been completely depleted and reduced to a pile of ordinary and lusterless sandstones.