The power of this technique could instantly freeze a first-rank wild beast, but that soldier, Jason Clark, merely shivered and was fine. He cursed angrily as he climbed up: “Damn cheater, if I get the chance, I’ll chop off your remaining three fingers!”

A long, narrow scar ran across his face, passing over his left eye, nearly gouging the entire eyeball out. His upper body was bare, and his broad chest and back were covered in ferocious claw marks, making him look fierce and formidable.

Sergeant had already kicked and broken one of the bed legs of another soldier, Eric King, with a crack, and Eric King tumbled off the bed.

Even after falling to the ground, he was still lazy, rolling over as if to keep sleeping. Maybe it was because of his laziness that he was so fat. Sergeant stepped forward and stomped on his head, his round head squashed flat like a rice dumpling, his facial features grotesquely squeezed together.

Eric King let out a grunt from his flattened mouth, discontentedly pushing Sergeant’s foot away: “Alright, alright, I’m up, okay?” As soon as Sergeant lifted his foot, his head bounced back into shape.

He shook his head, his eyes bleary, grumpy from being woken: “Hope you lose your pants next time you gamble!”

Sergeant was furious: “You two blockheads, compared to that scholar, you’re as lazy as donkeys!”

There was another youth in the barracks, about fourteen or fifteen years old. Because of years of training, he was taller than his peers, his face bearing traces of the northern wind and sand, but his features were clear, and there was a scholarly air between his brows. Amidst his heroic spirit, there was a touch of refinement.

Such a person seemed quite “out of place” in this barracks full of oddballs. He was the “scholar” Brian Cooper that Sergeant had mentioned.

When Sergeant came in, he was reading a book called “Zhe Lei Method,” also a secret manual of the Ministry of War. Hearing Sergeant’s words, he smiled, closed the ancient book, and began to put on his armor, saying, “Mr. Hill, are we still on duty until midnight today?”

“Same as always.” Sergeant Ethan Hill replied as he helped him fasten the copper buckles on the back of his leather armor, patting him on the shoulder: “Alright, grab your blade and wait for those two blockheads to get ready.”

The other two soldiers were also putting on their armor. Ethan Hill and the others cursed and bickered as they helped each other get dressed. Then Ethan Hill stood in front of the three, striking a pose like Sergeant and shouted: “Weapon check!”

The four of them all extended their right hands and slapped their left chests hard—Ethan Hill’s hand was missing two fingers, making it look a bit comical.

“Zzz—”

Spiritual energy was activated, from the leather armor to the war blades and swords in their hands. The simple formation linked together, spiritual light gradually brightening, proving their equipment was intact. Ethan Hill waved his hand: “Let’s go!”

But Jason Clark ran to the side, unfastened a pile of iron chains from beside the bed, wrapped them around his hands, and with a tug, dragged out four huge Nether Soul Hellhounds from the shadows in the corner!

Chapter 0002: The Supernatural of Northern Frontier (Part 2)

All four Nether Soul Hellhounds were made from the souls of wild beasts, infused with the power of fierce energy, and refined by secret methods. Each was half as tall as a man, shrouded in black mist, eyes glowing red, looking ferocious and menacing.

This guy always took the chance to walk his dogs during patrols, and everyone was used to it by now. As for Eric King, he was both lazy and afraid of death. Besides the standard dynasty-issued leather armor, he also carried a giant shield the size of a door on his back. His lower body was clad in loose lantern pants, swaying as he walked.

Unexpectedly, among the four-man team, Brian Cooper was at the rear, which indicated his status in the squad—second only to Sergeant Ethan Hill.

In a patrol squad, the front and rear positions were the most important and dangerous. Those in these spots not only needed outstanding strength and quick wits, always alert to their surroundings and ready to handle sudden changes, but also had to have the absolute trust of the whole team.

Brian Cooper had only been in the Huangtai Fort garrison’s Wolf Battalion for two years, yet had already risen to his current position, surpassing the other three soldiers—not by luck. This was the Northern Garrison, tested by countless brutal battles, where everything was determined by strength.

His father was a scholar, but unfortunately, though he held the title of “jinshi,” in these turbulent times he couldn’t even secure a ninth-rank county magistrate post.

In this world, scholars could become officials, but above scholars were cultivators!

All trades are inferior, only cultivation is supreme.

So his father always hoped his son could cultivate, but as a poor scholar, he had no connections. He taught his son to read while traveling everywhere, hoping his son might get lucky, join a sect, or be noticed by a great clan. Even when Brian Cooper was eleven and passed the county-level exam, he still hadn’t set foot on the path of cultivation.

With nowhere left to turn, his father decided to take his son to try their luck in the Nine Towns of the Northern Frontier. Though enlisting as a lowly soldier was dangerous, they would be taught the Ministry of War’s secret techniques and have a chance to become truly powerful martial cultivators!

But upon arriving at Huangtai Fort, he found that even joining the army wasn’t easy. The garrison was hereditary, and the officers above wanted to pocket the pay for empty posts. For an outsider to join was nearly impossible.

Brian Cooper’s father was bitterly disappointed, and with his health always poor, he passed away after just a year in the harsh northern lands, leaving Brian Cooper all alone.

After burying his father, he was left penniless, but a single obsession remained in his heart: he must fulfill his father’s wish!