Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Cultivation
"Isn’t this a standard mission assignment? Why the long face?" Ning Xuan guessed the new recruits had already heard from various sources that they would face dangers far greater than usual during a thunderstorm.
"Everyone’s saying a huge thunderstorm is on its way. If we’re stationed outside then, we could easily get killed," the squad leader said, his face filled with apprehension.
"They’re saying the base recruits new soldiers every year because so many die. Some are even saying Lieutenant Huo got himself injured at this exact moment just to dodge the storm," the squad leader said, his head hung in despair.
As Ning Xuan listened to the squad leader, a grim smile touched her lips. Her sharp gaze swept over his anxious face.
"What, afraid of dying?" Her voice was quiet, but it sent a shiver down the squad leader’s spine. "No, I’m not."
"Don’t lie. Life is precious. Isn’t it normal to be afraid of dying? Just looking at you, I can already see the sagging morale of the whole unit."
"If you’re afraid of dying, then you should be training even harder. The only way to increase your chances of survival is to increase your own strength, not to tremble in fear and lose heart over a few rumors," Ning Xuan reprimanded sharply.
’I have to find a way to boost the soldiers’ morale,’ Ning Xuan thought. ’Otherwise, they’ll be at a huge disadvantage in the coming battle.’
’But the storm is almost here, and our company is scheduled to garrison the Ninth Mining Zone tomorrow. There’s not enough time to raise morale.’
"Yes, Commander Ning is right," the squad leader responded, immediately straightening his posture.
"I have a mission for you. Go back and spread the word. Tell everyone that if they can survive the first wave of the storm, their strength will increase, and they’ll be better equipped to handle the crises to come," Ning Xuan instructed.
"Yes, ma’am. But... is that really true?" the squad leader asked, looking at Ning Xuan with hopeful eyes.
"Of course. The Thunder Energy can temper the constitution of a Spirit Controller, which will naturally increase their strength," Ning Xuan told him with absolute certainty.
’When the time comes, I’ll absorb the Thunder Energy to awaken my Companion Spirit. The purest Thunder Energy will naturally be drawn to me, which should also lessen the storm’s damage to some degree. If they still can’t survive after that, then there’s nothing more I can do.’
Ning Xuan stepped forward and stopped right in front of the squad leader, looking him straight in the eye.
"Tell them this: true warriors aren’t forged by hiding in safe places. Only by walking the line between life and death can you temper yourselves into something stronger." Ning Xuan’s gaze was firm and powerful. Her voice echoed in the squad leader’s ears, and he felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of strength welling up inside him.
「The next day.」
As expected, Ning Xuan received the appointment to temporarily assume Huo Shan’s duties. She was ordered to lead her company and immediately garrison the Ninth Mining Zone.
Ning Xuan’s company had just arrived at the Ninth Mining Zone when a loud CRACK of thunder exploded. A deep RUMBLE rolled in from the distance, growing steadily closer. A bolt of lightning tore across the sky, illuminating every face.
"Are you scared? Afraid of dying? Fear is useless. This storm is dangerous, yes, but what’s even more dangerous is the Thunder Beast that might appear with every bolt of lightning. If you want to live, you’ll need an iron will. Work closely with your teammates. Just survive this first wave of the storm, and you’ll have the strength to protect yourselves afterward," Ning Xuan shouted, encouraging her soldiers.
There was a camp in the Ninth Mining Zone, but it was crudely built. It consisted of just over a dozen structures made from massive, solid boulders. Rolled-up straw mats covered the doorways, a flimsy attempt to keep out the driving wind and rain.
Each building could hold thirty to fifty people. Ning Xuan divided her ten squads into two groups to rest in shifts.
Ning Xuan ordered the first group to patrol the perimeter and prepare for battle, while the second group was to rest for now.
KR-CRACK!
A blinding flash of lightning tore through the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that seemed to make the very ground tremble. Howling gales swept in with a torrential downpour. Raindrops hammered against the soldiers’ helmets and armor like bullets, creating a deafening PATTER.
"First group, prepare for battle! Second group, on standby!" Ning Xuan’s voice was still clear above the storm, but it was quickly swallowed by another thunderous boom.
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from the distance.
"Report! Three soldiers were struck by lightning to the southwest! They’re all seriously wounded!" a soldier yelled, his voice nearly torn to shreds by the howling wind.
"Get the medical team over there to provide aid, now!" Ning Xuan narrowed her eyes, peering out through the curtain of rain. Suddenly, another bolt of lightning struck, this time hitting the metal fence on the camp’s perimeter.
Blinding electrical arcs slithered along the iron railing like silver snakes. A few soldiers who were too close were instantly struck by the current, collapsing to the ground in convulsions.
"Spread out! Everyone, spread out—!"
BOOM!!
The ground exploded, sending shards of ore flying. A few soldiers who couldn’t dodge in time were knocked off their feet by the shockwave, crashing hard to the ground. The air filled with the smell of scorched earth, and the painful groans of the injured could be heard.
The storm continued to rage, but now things were worse: the Thunder Beasts, capable of controlling lightning, had appeared. The bolts of Thunder were no longer random. They now had direction and purpose, striking down specifically at the soldiers.
The Thunder Beast was covered from head to tail in long, snow-white fur, as fluffy as a cloud and shimmering with a faint silvery light in the flashes of lightning.
The tip of the Thunder Beast’s tail was wreathed in a faint electrical glow. Whenever the storm unleashed a bolt, its fur would bristle slightly, silently neutralizing the lightning that struck it.
It was about a meter long and shaped like a snow ferret, but its body was more slender and agile. Its every movement was coiled with explosive power.
Its eyes—the pupils were a pale gold, flashing with tiny electrical arcs in the darkness, as if they held the very essence of Thunder Power.
This was a larval Thunder Beast. In their larval stage, Thunder Beasts were only moderately strong, and their ability to control Thunder was still developing. However, once they evolved and matured, their threat level would increase exponentially.
Ning Xuan pinpointed where the Thunder Beast had landed. Executing a movement technique, she closed the distance in an instant. With a wave of her hand, black Vine Silk shot out, enveloping the Thunder Beast in a large net.
Ning Xuan’s eyes were sharp, her movements swift and agile. Often, before the others had even spotted the creature, she had already captured the larval Thunder Beast.
While capturing the Thunder Beasts, Ning Xuan was also drawing massive amounts of Thunder Energy into her body. She had no time to refine this energy, instead simply funneling it all into her blue meridian for storage.
Soon, she felt a faint, bloating pain from the meridian. This meant the blue meridian’s capacity was insufficient, but its resilience hadn’t yet reached its limit.
Ning Xuan didn’t stop. She continued to draw vast amounts of Thunder Energy into her body, performing her unique method of Cultivation.
