Some soldiers who had completed their missions returned to the Tianqi Legion base. Seeing the base bustling with activity and excitement, they were puzzled. They approached someone and asked,
"Brother, what's going on here? Why is it so lively?"
The soldier replied, "Our legion has a new instructor, and he's incredibly powerful!"
"He single-handedly subdued the company and platoon leaders from all our legion's regiments."
"See that huge crater on the ground? That was created by a single strike from our new instructor."
The soldiers who had just returned looked at the ground and gasped, "To create such a large crater with one strike, one must at least be a Grandmaster. Where did our general find him?"
While the Dragon Country's legions surely had many martial artists, most were at the Profound Realm, with very few at the Earth Realm. This was due to cultivation methods, resources, and talent.
For instance, Deng Zun, Chen Jiuyang's subordinate, was in his thirties or forties and still only at the mid-Yellow Realm.
The cultivation methods mastered by the Dragon Country's legions might not suit everyone within the army.
For various reasons, there weren't many Earth Realm Grandmasters in the Dragon Country's legions.
Therefore, a condition for being enfeoffed in the Dragon Country was to have made contributions to the nation. To achieve this quickly, most Grandmasters would choose to join the military and serve the country.
Naturally, some information would leak out during this process, but it would be minimal. Currently, most individuals who could reach the Earth Realm Grandmaster level were from martial arts sects or noble families.
For numerous reasons, the Dragon Country's legions did not have many powerful martial artists.
This time, the Tianqi Legion managed to invite such a formidable Earth Realm Grandmaster as an instructor, rather than a peer. The soldiers of the Tianqi Legion were all very pleased.
When serving the country, the stronger one's strength, the better.
Inside a room at the base, Chen Jiuyang had already changed into a military uniform. He was now the Chief Instructor of the Tianqi Legion, with the rank of Major.
The crisp military uniform fit Chen Jiuyang perfectly, making him look like a sharp sword.
"Instructor, here is the information on our Tianqi Legion."
A middle-aged man with a bruised and swollen face, wearing a military uniform, stood before Chen Jiuyang, holding a stack of files.
For secret legions like the Tianqi Legion, any information or archives could not be stored on electronic devices as it could easily be leaked. Using the most basic paper records was more reliable. If anything went wrong, they could simply burn it.
Chen Jiuyang took the Tianqi Legion's files and began to read them carefully.
The Tianqi Legion had a total of just over thirteen thousand men, divided into four regiments, with each regiment having more than three thousand soldiers.
The Tianqi Legion had selected several cultivation methods for the soldiers to train with, primarily organized by regiment.
After reviewing the files, Chen Jiuyang requested paper and pen and quickly wrote down three cultivation methods. He then stated, "These three cultivation methods are called 'Hua Yu Gong,' which can make the consumption of true qi more efficient; 'Zhao Yang Fa,' which allows one to absorb the first ray of purple qi in the morning to strengthen true qi and invigorate the blood, while also expelling impurities from the body."
"The last cultivation method is called 'Zhan Yi.' It consumes one's own vital blood and can temporarily enhance one's strength and speed."
Not every martial artist was like Chen Jiuyang, possessing a Pure Yang body, immune to medicinal or pill toxins.
Similarly, consuming the same medicinal herbs or pills repeatedly would lead to the body developing resistance and accumulating residual medicinal toxins. This could cause a martial artist's cultivation to stagnate or even regress.
Chen Jiuyang's three cultivation methods were designed to address the weaknesses of the Tianqi Legion.
Li Fenghu's voice trembled, "Jiuyang, aren't these cultivation methods too precious?"
Upon hearing the descriptions of these cultivation methods, Li Fenghu was filled with excitement.
Cultivation methods were the foundation of a martial arts sect or noble family's existence. Such techniques were not easily passed down.
Chen Jiuyang replied, "They are not precious when given to the soldiers of my Dragon Country. Pass them down and let the soldiers begin cultivating to see the effects."
The Elite Blade Legion primarily consisted of ordinary elite soldiers, not martial artists. Chen Jiuyang had left them methods to enhance physical fitness and close-quarters combat.
The Tianqi Legion, however, was composed almost entirely of martial artists. Therefore, Chen Jiuyang had chosen to impart cultivation methods.
"Good." Li Fenghu was not one to procrastinate. He simply remembered this favor and then instructed his adjutant, "Gather all the soldiers and pass down these three cultivation methods from Major Chen to see their effects."
Two hours later.
Sounds of surprise echoed through the Tianqi Legion base:
"My hidden injuries have improved!"
What were hidden injuries? They were wounds that ordinary treatments could not heal.
More surprised voices chimed in:
"I can feel my cultivation bottleneck loosening!"
"This 'Zhan Yi' cultivation method can at least temporarily boost my strength by thirty percent!"
Excited voices continued to erupt.
Then, sobs could be heard, "If we could have learned these cultivation methods just half a month earlier, my brothers would surely have survived."
Following that, the choked sobs of many iron-willed warriors could be heard.
Li Fenghu's face flushed, and his expression was filled with emotion.
Chen Jiuyang's expression was calm, "It seems I chose the right cultivation methods."
The Tianqi Legion was always a legion. Its strengths were its large numbers, disciplined training, strong coordination, and ability to use firearms.
Its weaknesses were also obvious. Unlike disciples of martial arts sects or families, they lacked individual cultivation methods or medicinal baths, and their innate talents varied.
If Chen Jiuyang's provided cultivation methods were too advanced, it might cause some individuals to be unable to cultivate, leading to physical harm.
Considering all factors, it was better to pass down cultivation methods that everyone could practice.
Li Fenghu, having served in the military his entire life, was unable to calm his emotions at this moment. As the general of the Tianqi Legion, he understood the importance of the three cultivation methods Chen Jiuyang had imparted better than anyone else.
They would enhance strength, reduce casualties, and so on.
Li Fenghu took a deep breath, stood up, and walked with his hands behind his back, "Major Chen, come with me."
A look of confusion appeared in Chen Jiuyang's eyes. He then stood up and followed Li Fenghu.
As they walked, Li Fenghu said, "Do you know why the Tianqi Legion's base was established here?"
Chen Jiuyang pondered, "Suzhou and Hangzhou have strategic importance. Establishing the base here offers many advantages."
Li Fenghu nodded slowly and then said, "But that is not the most important reason. The most important reason is that there is a Dragon Country spirit脉泉眼 (Lingmai Quanyan) here."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiuyang's heart trembled.
Spirit脉泉眼!
Where spiritual herbs could be found, besides uninhabited areas with concentrated spiritual energy, were spirit脉 or areas near spirit脉泉眼.
Spirit脉 were not fixed entities but would randomly appear within a country's territory.
Regarding spirit脉, even the inheritance of the Medical Immortal only contained fragmented information.
However, Chen Jiuyang knew that cultivating near a spirit脉泉眼 would lead to rapid progress!
Li Fenghu said, "I presume you have heard of the importance of the spirit脉泉眼 from the Chen family of Mount Shu. Jiuyang, in return for leaving such important cultivation methods with my Tianqi Legion, I, Li Fenghu, and the Tianqi Legion have no way to repay you."
"The spirit脉泉眼 that our Tianqi Legion guards can be lent to you for cultivation."
Chen Jiuyang's face was filled with ecstasy. Coming to the Tianqi Legion this time was indeed the right decision; he never expected such a benefit.