Half a month had passed since Li Xuancang became the 5-Man Leader.

The border was temporarily calm, but everyone knew this was just a fleeting peace.

The Barbarians could return at any moment, and demonic creatures roamed the deep mountains, ready to ambush at any time.

Li Xuancang's body had fully recovered and even advanced further.

After becoming a 5-Man Leader, he gained access to information previously beyond his reach.

What he valued most was the knowledge about cultivation.

Upon stepping into the Body Tempering realm, he became a cultivator.

For the full version, visit [ pawℝead.com ].

With a single punch, he could unleash hundreds of pounds of force, and barehanded, he could easily kill a dozen people.

"I should now be comparable to the Initial Body Tempering Stage. If I encounter a Demon Hound, I can face it head-on."

Li Xuancang silently assessed his combat strength. If he met a Demon Hound now, he wouldn't be as embarrassed as last time.

Beyond the Body Tempering realm are the Bone Forging Realm, Blood Condensation Realm, Astral Qi Realm... Each realm is divided into Early Stage, Middle Stage, and Late Stage.

According to the information he gathered, Camp Commander Wang Xuanshan was a strong practitioner in the Bone Forging Realm.

Hundred-Man Commander Zhao Changlin was at the Late-stage Body Tempering Realm, just a step away from the Bone Forging Realm.

According to the previous regulations of the Great Yan Dynasty, only those at the Initial Body Tempering Stage could serve as a 5-Man Leader, the Middle Body Tempering Stage as a Ten-Man Commander, and the Late-stage Body Tempering Realm as a Hundred-Man Commander.

However, due to the Great Yan Dynasty's years of warfare and countless combat soldier losses, the requirements for 5-Man Leaders and Ten-Man Commanders had been lowered.

Yet, the requirements for Hundred-Man Commanders and above remained unchanged.

It was for this reason that Li Xuancang could be exceptionally promoted.

Three days later, Li Xuancang received a military order.

He was to lead his five subordinates deep into the border's outer mountains and forests for routine patrols, to clear out scattered demonic creatures, and to watch for signs of Barbarian scouts.

The five subordinates were fully equipped, waiting outside the camp.

All five were veteran soldiers of the border, having survived years of slaughter and seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood, yet their eyes still held an instinctive fear of demons and monsters.

"5-Man Leader."

The five saluted in unison.

Li Xuancang, clad in scale armor and holding a long spear, exuded an even colder and more composed aura than before.

His gaze swept over the five, his voice low but carrying undeniable authority.

"Patrol the mountains, each to their duty, and stay alert to the surroundings."

"If you encounter Barbarian scouts, kill them on the spot."

"If you come across low-level demonic creatures, don't panic. Follow my orders."

After giving simple instructions, Li Xuancang stepped forward.

The five soldiers followed closely behind, forming a defensive line as they entered the rolling wild mountains and forests.

The forest was thick with fog, the air filled with a faint demonic aura and the stench of earth.

The closer they got to the deep mountains, the heavier the demonic aura became, with eerie beastly roars occasionally echoing, sending chills down their spines.

Throughout the journey, the veteran soldiers remained tense, gripping their weapons, eyes darting around nervously.

"5-Man Leader, this forest is not peaceful. In past years, patrol teams have often disappeared mysteriously, mostly dragged away and devoured by demon beasts..."

The scar-faced veteran Zhou Xing spoke in a low voice, unable to hide his panic.

The others echoed his sentiment, their faces pale.

They could fight Barbarians, but they were deeply afraid of demonic creatures.

Li Xuancang did not stop, his tone calm.

"Low-level demonic creatures are nothing more than sharp claws and slightly greater strength. As long as we're careful, we can handle them."

This was his first time leading a mission, and he couldn't stop because of danger.

He was ambitious and knew that to rise, he had to fight with his life.

Day by day, the accumulation of 1% strength had steadily increased his physical prowess, allowing him to handle low-level demon beasts.

Li Xuancang continued forward, and although Zhou Xing and the others were afraid, they dared not disobey orders, quickly following his pace.

After traveling several miles, a low growl suddenly emanated from the Rubble Valley ahead.

Immediately, a foul demonic aura assaulted them.

"A demon!"

The group halted instantly, their spines tingling with fear, instinctively gathering together and gripping their weapons tightly.

In the overgrown, dark cave ahead, shadows moved, and a pair of crimson eyes flickered in the darkness.

"Be careful, it's a Blackspine Demon Wolf, thick-skinned and tough, with poisonous fangs, far more ferocious than a Demon Hound."

Upon seeing the demonic creature, their faces changed drastically. The demon wolf was even more formidable than a demon hound.

"It's a Blackspine Demon Wolf. We're doomed; our small team can't possibly stop it!"

The veteran soldiers turned pale, retreating in their hearts, their legs trembling slightly.

Facing such a creature, the only option for a small patrol team was to flee for their lives.

At this moment, not only were they panicked, but they also resented Li Xuancang. If he had heeded their warnings and not ventured deeper, they wouldn't be in this peril.

"Awooo!"

The Blackspine Demon Wolf slowly emerged, its body robust, black fur like needles, a row of pitch-black bone spurs protruding from its back, exuding a menacing aura.

It bared its fangs, drool dripping, its gaze fixed on the six of them.

"Don't panic."

Li Xuancang shouted, stopping the five who wanted to retreat.

His spear tip gleamed coldly, pointing directly at the demon wolf, his eyes full of gravity.

"How can we outrun a demon wolf in the forest? If you don't want to die, fight it."

Li Xuancang's words were like a wake-up call, snapping the terrified soldiers back to reality.

They indeed wanted to flee desperately, but how could they outrun a demon wolf known for its speed? Now, their only chance was to fight head-on.

"The 5-Man Leader is right, let's fight the demon wolf."

Zhou Xing roared, dispelling his fear, gripping his spear tightly, ready for a life-and-death struggle.

The others also calmed down, gripping their weapons, their eyes fixed on the advancing demon wolf.

They formed a formation, with Li Xuancang standing at the most dangerous spot, facing the ferocious demon wolf directly.

"Awooo!"

Sensing the challenge, the demon wolf's ferocity erupted, letting out a skyward howl.

With a powerful push of its four paws, it turned into a black shadow, carrying a foul demonic wind as it charged.

Its sharp claws gleamed coldly, capable of tearing through ordinary combat soldier armor with a single strike.

The soldiers' hearts leaped to their throats, their palms sweaty with fear.

Just as the demon wolf was about to pounce, Li Xuancang unleashed his full power, his muscles bulging and taut.

Explosive strength surged through his limbs, his skin and flesh tightening, his blood and energy flowing fiercely.

He neither dodged nor evaded, holding his spear with one hand, swinging it horizontally.

"Bang!"

A dull, thunderous sound erupted.

The sturdy spear shaft struck the side of the demon wolf's head with immense force, sending its massive body flying sideways, crashing heavily into a pile of rubble, stones scattering.

"This, this..."

Li Xuancang's single strike sent the demon wolf flying, leaving Zhou Xing and the others dumbfounded, disbelief in their eyes.

They knew Li Xuancang could fight to severely injure a Demon Hound, that he was strong, but they hadn't expected him to be this powerful, sending a demon wolf, stronger than a Demon Hound, flying with one strike.

"Could it be that the 5-Man Leader has broken through recently?"

Their eyes sparkled with excitement, speculating that Li Xuancang had become a cultivator during this time; otherwise, he couldn't have sent the demon wolf flying with one strike.

Thinking of this, they were thrilled. With Li Xuancang leading the way, they were certain they could escape this danger.