Chapter 5: Figure Out the Attribute Panel! Open the Treasure Chest!

At this moment!

A prompt appeared on the panel: "Promoted to the rank of [Squad Leader], rewarded with one Common Treasure Chest."

"Another treasure chest."

A look of joy surfaced on Zhu Ying's face.

Before long, the Thousand-Household Officer Wei Quan finished bestowing rewards upon the soldiers who had performed meritorious service in this campaign.

"This bandit suppression mission is temporarily concluded."

"All soldiers, return to your barracks and get some good rest."

Wei Quan announced in a loud voice.

Following this, the thousand soldiers headed toward their respective barracks.

"Zhu Ying, you kid are truly impressive. This is your first time suppressing bandits, and you actually killed five enemies, and even beheaded the bandit leader."

"I couldn't tell at all. Looking at how scholarly and weak you appear, I never expected you to be so fierce when killing mountain bandits."

"To become a Squad Leader after only two months of enlistment, your future is boundless."

"Congratulations."

A group of soldiers familiar with Zhu Ying came over one after another to offer their congratulations.

"Many thanks." Zhu Ying naturally replied with a cheerful smile.

Of course, many of the new recruits also looked at Zhu Ying with envy.

After all, the new recruits in this Thousand-Household camp had all enlisted at the same time as Zhu Ying. Now that Zhu Ying had been promoted a step ahead of them—even if it was only to Squad Leader—it was still an official rank.

Returning to the barracks.

"Zhu Ying."

"From now on, you are the Squad Leader here."

"These ten new recruits are now under your command."

In front of the barracks, Liu Lei said with a smile.

"Subordinate acknowledges the order." Zhu Ying replied immediately.

Returning to the barracks, Zhu Ying took off his armor, removed his saber and bow, and placed them on the weapon rack.

Many of the ten new recruits in the barracks were looking at Zhu Ying with trepidation.

Before the suppression mission, they were all the same new recruits, but now that Zhu Ying had become their direct superior, they still felt a bit uneasy.

"What are you all standing there like idiots for?"

"Do what you need to do. It’s not like I’m going to eat you."

"Take advantage of this time to get some good rest; who knows when we’ll have to suppress bandits again."

Seeing the reserved demeanor of the soldiers, Zhu Ying smiled and said with a huff.

After speaking, Zhu Ying lay directly on his bunk and closed his eyes to rest.

However, his mind was focused on the panel.

"Attribute panel."

With a call, the panel appeared.

Host: Zhu Ying Age: 13 Strength: 190 points [One point corresponds to one jin of force.] Speed: 156 points [The higher the value, the faster the speed.] Physique: 102 points [The stronger the physique, the higher the defense and the faster the recovery from injuries.] Stamina: 101 points [The higher the stamina, the more inexhaustible the energy and the more abundant the physical strength.] Spirit: 104 points [The higher the spirit, the clearer the mind.] Lifespan: 88 years, 32 days Storage Space: 1 cubic meter

"All attributes have broken through 100 points, rewarded with one Common Treasure Chest." The panel prompted again.

"I think I understand the attribute values now."

"A normal person's attributes should fluctuate between eighty and one hundred. Strength varies from person to person; an adult male over eighteen should be over one hundred. I am only fourteen, so there is some difference in attributes compared to an adult."

"This time, if nothing else, my strength has increased by nearly a hundred points."

"When killing mountain bandits, one bandit provides twenty random attribute points, while picking up attributes from corpses provides one to five points, though lifespan is picked up a bit more."

Looking at his attribute panel, Zhu Ying pondered deeply.

After basically understanding the situation of the panel, Zhu Ying came back to his senses.

"Three treasure chests."

"I wonder what kind of treasures these can open?" Zhu Ying wondered with curiosity.

Subsequently.

"Open all treasure chests." Zhu Ying ordered.

"Host command received, opening all Common Treasure Chests."

"Obtained Yellow-grade high-tier cultivation technique [Hard Qigong]."

"Obtained [Refined Steel Saber]."

"Obtained [Mastery of Horsemanship]." The panel displayed three prompts in succession.

"A cultivation technique?"

Seeing the first reward, Zhu Ying's heart skipped a beat.

Having lived two lives, and with his previous life being in a modernized world where cultivation techniques only existed in novels, he was shocked to actually obtain one from a treasure chest.

"Extract cultivation technique." Zhu Ying did not hesitate.

In an instant, this [Hard Qigong] was infused into Zhu Ying's sea of consciousness.

Hard Qigong: Practicing for one day increases strength by 10 points, physique by 10 points, and stamina by 10 points. [Effect decreases as total attributes increase.]

"This technique is powerful. It should mean that a full day of practice grants 10 points to each of the three attributes. Ten days is 100 points, one hundred days is 1000 points, and a year is 3650 points. Even if I only practice at night, that's still one or two thousand points a year."

"If I practice for a few years, wouldn't I be invincible in this world?" Zhu Ying thought, feeling excited.

If he had several thousand points of strength, what level would a single punch reach?

Even the city gates wouldn't be able to withstand a punch from him, right?

And the same went for physique and stamina.

Especially stamina—he could probably handle a hundred women in one night, right?

"I've hit the jackpot."

"The Shen family."

"Shen Wansan, Shen Rong."

"You all better wash your necks and wait for me."

"In the past, my grandmother did your family a favor, saving your entire Shen family, which allowed your family to become the wealthiest in the Ming Dynasty. But not only did you not think of the kindness, you actually schemed to get me enlisted in the Danning Prefecture military, wanting me to die in the bandit suppression, to die in this most chaotic borderland."

"If you wanted to break off the engagement, you could have just done it. I would have at most cursed you a few times, but you actually wanted to take my life. I will absolutely not let your Shen family off."

Mentioning the Shen family, hatred surged in Zhu Ying's heart.

Since he was eight, he had followed his grandmother and the butler to Beiping Prefecture to settle down.

The reason he went to Beiping was because of an old connection with the Shen family, and a marriage contract had been set with the Shen family's legitimate daughter.

Shen Wansan had four legitimate daughters; the first three were already married, leaving only the fourth.

But merchants value profit.

For the fourth daughter, Shen Yan'er, the Shen family already had a better marriage prospect.

As for Zhu Ying, a fallen descendant, the Shen family naturally looked down on him.

To ensure this marriage was dissolved, they schemed to frame Zhu Ying, colluding with the Beiping officials to register him into the military, and had him transferred to the most dangerous Danning Prefecture, all to ensure his death.

But the situation was different now.

They wanted to kill Zhu Ying, but they had actually paved the way for him.

Picking up attributes.

Cultivating techniques.

Becoming the only cultivator in this world.

Zhu Ying's future was promising.

As for the Shen family, Zhu Ying would never let them go.

"Practice hard, hurry up and become stronger."

"It is now the 20th year of Hongwu. If historical records are correct, Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang should be mobilizing troops against Northern Yuan. As Danning Prefecture is a border region and we belong to the Danning Prefecture garrison, I fear we will also have to go to the battlefield."

"If we really reach the battlefield, it won't be as simple as suppressing bandits."

"I must become stronger quickly so that in the future, I can be promoted, gain titles, and grasp power."

Zhu Ying thought to himself.

"Extract horsemanship." Zhu Ying came back to his senses and extracted this skill.

Unlike the transmission of the cultivation technique, this horsemanship felt like a fully mastered inheritance, directly infused into Zhu Ying's consciousness, allowing him to master it perfectly.

...

PS: Begging for all kinds of support.

(End of chapter)