The Great Wei border.
The northern wind rolled up yellow sand, sweeping across the cracked Gobi like angry waves.
The vast land had scarcely any greenery.
At the foot of two black mountain peaks resembling camel humps, rows of gray-green tents were pitched.
This was the Great Wei military camp.
The camp was divided into four major divisions, designated as Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding.
Xu Mingxuan was in the Ding division and had even obtained the position of squad leader, with fifty soldiers under his command.
Originally, he thought it was simply a border battle, but only after arriving did he learn that it was actually because a Profound Iron Essence Stone mine had been discovered in this borderland between Great Wei and Da Liang.
The two countries erupted into war to compete for the mineral vein resources.
Profound Iron Essence ore was excellent material for forging mortal iron precious weapons.
It could also serve as material for immortal cultivators' magical artifacts.
Some in Great Wei speculated that this mineral vein was quite substantial and might contain a certain amount of Profound Iron Essence Mother.
Profound Iron Essence Mother was rare and precious, usable as material for Foundation Establishment magical artifacts.
The several people who came from the Xu family were now scattered throughout the four directions of the military camp.
The military camp had strict rules. Even during rest periods, one couldn't leave their own camp area, so in these years, Xu Mingxuan had only seen Li Zhi and Chen Daniu.
They were both in the Yi division.
Chen Daniu was still a soldier under Li Zhi's command.
If not for a chance encounter while mining ore, he wouldn't have even known.
Every day they mined. Starting at the hour of wu, departing after three quarters, returning at the hour of xu.
It was similar to ordinary commoners laboring.
Apart from the first year of frenzied great battles, after Great Wei occupied the mineral vein, battles only erupted once every two or three months.
Through battle after battle, plus occasional medicinal diet sent from the Xu family, Xu Mingxuan had now reached peak Postnatal realm, but in others' eyes, he was only at peak second-rate, approaching first-rate level.
…
Now, it was the fourth year since Xu Mingxuan and the others had arrived.
The third day of the fourth month.
"Back in Qingjiang County, spring flowers should be blooming now."
For once, Xu Mingxuan wasn't practicing boxing but instead looked up at the crescent moon in the indigo night sky, his eyes revealing deep longing.
The border was desolate.
The chill of late winter had not yet dissipated. The Great Wei corner flags flapped loudly in the midnight wind.
"I wonder how Father and Mother are doing. Are their bodies still well?"
"Elder Brother's strength must be even stronger now. I wonder if he's had a second child with Sister-in-law."
"Second Brother must have gotten married. Is he still so busy his feet don't touch the ground, without even time to practice martial arts? Not being diligent in martial practice, I'm afraid he'll get scolded by Father."
The corners of Xu Mingxuan's mouth curved up, "When I return, I should be able to see Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law's children."
"And Xueji. Four years have passed, I wonder what she looks like now."
"Is Yunnu still that cold and aloof?"
"I wonder how the Xu family is doing?"
Thinking of this, he quickly laughed self-mockingly and shook his head, "I'm worrying needlessly. With Father, Elder Brother, and Second Brother there, the Xu family must be flourishing."
"In four years' time, they've definitely surpassed the Wu family and become Qingjiang County's first aristocratic family!"
The second day, routine work mining ore.
The third day, routine work mining ore.
The sixth day, rest period.
Breathing exercises, comprehending heaven and earth power.
In leisure time, drinking and chatting idly with soldiers, mostly revolving around women and future life.
Most talked about returning to their hometowns to become landlords, marrying several wives, having several sons and daughters, continuing the family line.
"Squad Leader Xu, what kind of woman do you like? Looking at you, when you came to the military camp, you shouldn't have been very old. You haven't married yet, right?"
Around the campfire, over a dozen soldiers sat in a circle with Xu Mingxuan.
Alcohol was rare in the military camp. Only during rest periods could they drink a few mouthfuls. Everyone took turns drinking.
"Not yet." Xu Mingxuan smiled faintly.
Xu Chuan's family discipline was very strict. Later, as the Xu family prospered, the brothers were busy practicing martial arts and had no possibility of indulging in pleasure.
If Xu Chuan knew about such things, he'd probably break their legs.
"Haha, Squad Leader Xu must still be a virgin who's never even tasted a woman. When you came, you were about fourteen or fifteen, right? Your family often sends things. This wine is exceptional and probably not cheap.
Your family circumstances must be quite good, yet you've never tasted a woman. You're truly a rare exotic beast among young masters!"
"Want me to teach you? When looking for women, you should look for ones with big chests!"
"Good to touch!"
"Hey, Old Mo, I can't agree with that. Fair skin and long legs are the treasures!"
"I like a nice rear!"
"I like moist ones!"
"I like tight ones, enjoying the feeling of blazing a trail!"
"Blazing a trail? You think you're going to battle!"
"I just like wild ones who let loose! Hahaha!"
Whenever this topic came up, not one of them was sleepy. They got excited like wolves, competing to express their preferences and trying to convince the others.
"Stop, stop, stop! We're talking about Squad Leader Xu. Why are you all getting so worked up?"
Old Mo stopped the others' chaotic clamor, turned his head to look at Xu Mingxuan, and the others were also curious, stopping to look over.
"You want to know so badly?"
"Yes!"
"You're that curious?"
"Curious!"
"Actually, I don't know either. Hahaha~"
"Tsk~"
Old Mo said, "Squad Leader Xu, we're all men, brothers who've been on the battlefield. What can't be said? Right, everyone?"
"That's right, Old Mo is correct." Someone chimed in.
Xu Mingxuan smiled bitterly, "But I really don't know. I wasn't born a young master. Later, when the Xu family developed and life became better, there were quite a few servants and maids at home."
"But my family discipline is very strict. None of my brothers have concubine maids or concubines, so I couldn't possibly either."
"Most of the time, I practiced martial arts."
Seeing Xu Mingxuan speak so earnestly, they no longer pressed him. Instead, they felt sympathetic one by one.
"No wonder you're our squad leader despite being younger than us."
This conscription was strict. Many young masters from various commanderies and counties were sent by their families to become soldiers.
Great families generally had their clan descendants practice martial arts, but those with true perseverance, willpower, and talent were few. Many in their twenties were still only third-rate martial artists.
Their whole lives, they just relied on their families, idling their days away.
"Ah, if I had been as diligent as Squad Leader Xu back then, perhaps I wouldn't have been abandoned by my family and sent to be a soldier."
The Wei-Liang great war was nine-deaths-one-life.
Basically, those sent to be soldiers were cannon fodder.
"Alright, it's getting late today. We still have to mine tomorrow, so everyone rest early."
The soldiers began returning to their tents one by one.
Squad leaders could share a tent with the soldiers or apply for their own small tent.
Xu Mingxuan lived in a small tent. After returning, he sat cross-legged in meditation, breathing exercises, comprehending heaven and earth power.
All martial artists who reached peak Postnatal realm couldn't avoid this stage but heaven and earth power was mysterious and ineffable. Without complete spiritual roots, comprehending it was very difficult. Many Postnatal martial artists never had the opportunity to break through in their entire lives.
But some people might complete drawing qi into the body in three or four months and step into the innate realm.
Several more days of continuous mining followed.
The twin camel peaks were almost mined through.
"Clang~"
Xu Mingxuan's iron pickaxe struck something, producing a clear ringing sound that made his palms tingle.
"This is?"
"Profound Iron Essence Stone?!"