Cultivation Begins with Skill Points-Chapter 130: Night Raid

A troop of people and horses took the main road, trying to avoid some remote paths as much as possible. However, sometimes the small roads are unavoidable; the long journey always has some sparsely populated paths.

As night fell, the convoy ultimately failed to reach the post station before dark and had to camp in the wild.

A group of soldiers busily set up tents while Zhong Lin remained in the carriage, still breaking through the aperture in the Meridian Passage Realm.

The "Silkworm Silk Strength" indeed helps with breaking through the points. Normally, people use the vast power of their inner breath to continuously impact the acupoints, slowly wearing them down until they break open and the meridians clear.

However, the "Silkworm Silk Strength" uses a clever method, first opening a crack in the acupoint and then continuously washing it away until it completely opens.

The speed increased by many times over. In just one day, Zhong Lin broke through the three acupoints in the Middle Mansion, Yunmen, and Tianfu, efficiency that left even Zhong Lin amazed and excited.

"Young Master Zhong, the tent is set up."

A respectful voice came from outside the carriage, prompting Zhong Lin to slowly open his eyes, push aside the curtain, and step down from the carriage.

Looking around, a forest was not far away. As the saying goes, ’don’t pursue a desperate enemy’ and ’avoid entering the woods.’ This camping position was located nearby the forest, with wide-open surroundings, making a stealth attack impossible.

Piles of dry wood were stacked up, not only for lighting but also to deter large beasts.

After setting up the tents, some people went out to hunt while others stayed in front of the tents to guard.

Just before the sun set behind the mountains, all the soldiers returned with their game.

The leading man walked towards Zhong Lin, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Young Master Zhong."

"General, no need for formalities."

The man’s expression was momentarily shocked, and he stroked his beard in confusion, saying, "Is it that obvious?"

Zhong Lin smiled without speaking. From the moment he met this team, he recognized them as military men; the distinctive military style was too unique.

"May I ask the general’s honorable name?" Zhong Lin asked with a smile.

"My humble surname is Niu, Niu Dali," the general replied.

Zhong Lin raised an eyebrow, full of mirth, and said, "The general’s name... is indeed straightforward."

Niu Dali blushed and laughed awkwardly, "For Young Master Zhong to know, I can handle small-time bandits with these soldiers, but it’s the martial arts experts I’m afraid of. If there truly are powerful enemies, I hope Young Master Zhong can help protect the Princess."

Zhong Lin nodded, "Naturally, under the order of my sect elders, I am to do my best, especially since the Princess is my junior sister. General Niu can rest assured."

"Thank you, Young Master Zhong."

"Hmm!"

Under Niu Dali’s guidance, Zhong Lin walked towards the tent prepared specifically for him. The tent next door was Jiang Yuan’s, and the two tents were so close that any slight noise would be noticeable.

The purpose of placing the two tents close together was self-evident.

Zhong Lin couldn’t be bothered to care about it; after dinner, he turned around and entered the tent to continue meditating and practicing.

Feeling his martial arts cultivation gradually improve, the sense of power made Zhong Lin lose himself in satisfaction, paying no attention to other matters.

Jiang Yuan also was very considerate, no longer trying to win over Zhong Lin, presumably fearing the Sect Master more than anything.

Time passed slowly by, with half a month spent on the road.

During this half month, the days were spent traveling. Zhong Lin stayed mostly in the carriage, only stepping out for necessary activities like eating and drinking.

The results were evident, having fully opened the twenty-nine acupoints of the Hand Three Yin Meridians in the First Layer of the Meridian Passage Realm, consolidating the inner breath in his dantian by a solid one percent. Moreover, with the Hand Three Yin Meridians opened, Zhong Lin could clearly feel that when wielding the Spirit Rhinoceros Sword Finger, both the speed of inner breath circulation and its power increased dramatically.

Within half a month, the convoy had already moved far from the Sword Cauldron Sect’s mountain range, crossing over four prefectures.

This night, while meditating, Zhong Lin suddenly opened his eyes.

At the fourth watch, the camp was silent except for the crackling of the blazing fire.

Scanning the distant darkness, he muttered softly, "I thought it was just an easy task, but it seems we’ll have to act."

With a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, he reached for the Black Rosewood Bow beside him, suddenly stood, lifted the tent flap, stepped out, and shot an arrow into the endless darkness with lightning speed.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Two screams shattered the night, achieved with a single arrow through two targets.

The sudden screams awakened the battle-hardened soldiers, who swiftly emerged from their tents, wielding broadswords.

"There’s an enemy attack, everyone be on guard."

Niu Dali, with a stern expression, loudly ordered the soldiers to prepare.

Zhong Lin raised his bow and arrow once more, this time placing three arrows on the bowstring. With a sharp sound of them breaking through the air, several more screams came from the distance.

The attack plan of the incoming attackers was thwarted by Zhong Lin’s arrows, exposing their position, forcing them into a frontal assault.

"Fire the arrows."

A roar came from the darkness, followed by the whizzing sound of arrows slicing through the air.

"Sword Shield Hand, form the formation."

Niu Dali snorted coldly, and with a single command, numerous soldiers rushed forward, pulling shields from their backs and interlocking them to form a defensive formation.

The soldiers were protected by the shields all around, every dead angle was blocked, forming a solid grid.

"Clang clang."

Arrows thudded against the shields, the sound of metal clashing rang incessantly, yet no one was harmed.

With no opportunity left in the darkness, it had to turn into a real armed confrontation.

Those in the dark were also decisive, straightforwardly ordering, "Charge, leave no one alive."

The cries and shouts echoed through the night, countless voices screaming simultaneously; if these were ordinary soldiers, they might have fallen into panic, overtaken by fear.

Yet unfortunately for the enemy, these were seasoned elite soldiers, unfazed by loud threats.

Zhong Lin stood calmly on the side, listened to the chaotic footsteps emerging from the forest, estimating that there were not a few hundred people, definitely more than the convoy.

With a wave of his right hand, Niu Dali commanded a soldier at his side to pour kerosene over the piles of dry wood, and with a whoosh, the wood caught fire and blazed fiercely. Surrounding fires lit up the area like several high-watt bulbs, making a stealth attack impossible.

Zhong Lin quietly praised Niu Dali’s reliability, confirming that not just anyone could reach a general’s rank without competence.

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Jiang Yuan emerged from his tent at this moment and stood by Zhong Lin’s side, his face carrying an extremely grim expression as he looked at the attackers.

"Recognize them?"

Jiang Yuan nodded grimly.

"Though they are masked in black, they attack without chaos and work in perfect coordination. Niu Dali’s men are battle-hardened soldiers, and to match them without falling behind, these attackers must also be from the military; it seems one of my brothers has made his move."