High Martial Arts: Slay enemies to become stronger, forge invincibility from billions of corpses.

When Song Chen stood up, the others were still looking at him. There were 220 pairs of eyes, and the emotions in their gazes were varied: shock, awe, curiosity, and a few young martial artists had obvious admiration in their eyes.

He glanced at the stares, but didn't feel anything; he was used to it.

"What are so many of you doing in the Kler Valley?"

He asked directly, without any pleasantries; he just wanted to know the answer.

Zheng Beihe took a step forward. This regimental commander was a prominent figure in the Northwest region, possessing the strength of a fifth-tier lower-level expert, and usually exuded a certain authority in his speech and actions.

But now, facing a young man at the fourth level, his tone unconsciously softened.

"We're after the Snow Marrow Ganoderma, an S-grade elixir that can enhance qi and blood."

Song Chen's eyes flickered. Of course he knew what it was: a top-grade elixir with mild medicinal properties that ordinary people could also take.

I immediately thought of my parents; they must still be struggling in the first stage.

He thought for two seconds, then turned to look at them: "I'll take this medicine."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Beihe's expression froze.

He took a step forward: "Song Chen, our Beichuan Hunting Group has 220 people. We've been staying on this plateau for half a month, just for the Snow Marrow Ganoderma."

"What are you trying to say?"

"My daughter is nine years old this year, and her blood energy level is 0.3. She can't withstand ordinary spiritual medicines. Only Snow Marrow Lingzhi can save her."

"Um."

"So we..."

"I said I want it."

Song Chen's tone remained unchanged—neither high nor low, neither aggressive nor cold—simply stating a fact in a calm and even tone.

Zheng Beihe's words were stuck in his throat.

He wanted to get angry. He was a fifth-level martial artist who had been in the Northwest for over twenty years and had more than two hundred elite brothers under his command. He was entitled to be angry when a student who was not even twenty years old told him to his face, "I want you."

But he didn't.

Naturally, it's because his body is more honest than his mind; he couldn't beat this person.

He and his 220 men might not be able to take down the mid-stage fifth-tier Ice Spine Dragon Lizard, but this guy killed it with just a few blows. What can he, a low-stage fifth-tier, use to compete with him?

The scene fell silent.

More than two hundred people looked at their commander, who in turn looked at the young man in front of him.

The wind howled across the plateau, whipping up snowflakes that stung everyone's faces.

Su Yan stepped in to smooth things over.

"Song Chen, although the Snow Marrow Ganoderma is precious, it has limited effect on improving martial artists above the fourth level. With your current strength, it's not very useful for you."

"You don't need to worry about that, I have my own uses for it."

Su Yan was speechless.

Song Chen glanced at her.

"The medicinal herb grows in the glacier, not in your fields. Whoever gets it keeps it, am I right?"

A moment of silence fell over the room; he was right.

The medicinal herbs in the wilderness are inherently unclaimed; whoever has the ability can take them. This is a common rule in the martial arts circle. They only "know the location," not "own" them.

But with 220 people who had been traveling for half a month, it was impossible for them to return empty-handed.

Zheng Beihe took a deep breath and lowered his voice: "The Snow Marrow Ganoderma is really important to me, could you...?"

Song Chen looked at him. There was something in Zheng Beihe's eyes that he recognized. Back on Yunbo Island, those martial artists who risked their lives to protect their families had the same thing in their eyes.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

How big is the Snow Marrow Ganoderma?

Zheng Beihe paused for a moment, then quickly said, "According to intelligence, this plant is about 30 centimeters tall, and its cap is about 20 centimeters in diameter."

"Enough for a few people."

"The medicinal effects of a single Ganoderma lucidum are mainly concentrated in the core parts of the cap and stem. For ordinary people, a small piece is enough. The whole Ganoderma lucidum is enough for about seven or eight people."

Song Chen nodded.

"I want half. The rest are yours."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Beihe was overjoyed, and his breathing immediately eased, feeling more than halfway relieved.

But before he could speak, Song Chen spoke again.

"I gave up half of the Ganoderma lucidum, and I need to be compensated."

Zheng Beihe's heart tightened again: "What compensation?"

"Fifty billion Great Xia coins."

"What?"

"I said five billion Daxia coins."

Song Chen repeated it.

This money is certainly not for him; he has a system and doesn't need money. It's for his parents' retirement.

A commotion arose in the 220-person team.

Five billion is no small sum.

Zheng Beihe looked into Song Chen's eyes, which were calm and seemed to be stating a condition: either agree or not.

"Half of the Snow Marrow Lingzhi isn't worth five billion," Zheng Beihe said seriously.

"I know."

"and you……"

Was that ice-spine dragon's life worthwhile?

Zheng Beihe was stunned.

"It was stuck at the entrance to the valley for three hours."

"If I hadn't come, at least fifty of you would have died if you had gone into the valley. Fifty lives, is that worth two billion?"

Zheng Beihe fell silent.

Su Yan fell silent.

Zhao Kuo, Zhou Tong, and the other three deputy regimental commanders all fell silent.

Because this account cannot be refuted.

Two hundred and twenty people were fighting against the Ice Spine Dragon Lizard, and at least fifty lives were lost.

The compensation standard for the Beichuan Hunting Corps is 60 million yuan per life, so 3 billion yuan for 50 people, not including the losses from injuries, equipment damage, and subsequent decline in combat effectiveness.

By killing the Ice Ridge Dragon Lizard, Song Chen saved them at least 3 billion yuan.

After hesitating for a long time, Zheng Beihe gave a number.

"Thirty billion, that's all the cash Beichuan has on hand."

"Fifty billion, not a penny less. If you can't come up with it, you can go back."

Song Chen's words were domineering, but no one dared to refute them.

After another moment of hesitation, Zheng Beihe made up his mind.

"Okay, five billion, deal."

Upon hearing this, Song Chen turned and left.

The direction is deep into the Kler River Valley.

Zheng Beihe waved his hand, and the 220 people moved at the same time. The team was divided into five echelons and followed behind Song Chen, marching into the valley in a grand procession.

The entrance to the valley is like a crack cleaved open by a giant axe.

The glaciers on both sides are hundreds of feet high, and the ice walls have a deep blue luster in the sunlight.

The valley is about two hundred meters wide. The ground is not gravel, but ice, solid ice that has never melted for thousands of years. It is so hard that even a full-force attack from a second-level martial artist can only leave a white mark.

Song Chen walked at the front, his Tianjun Blade already drawn.

Zheng Beihe and his men followed him 500 meters behind. This distance was requested by Song Chen, and he was happy to maintain it for safety.

Song Chen's demeanor changed the moment he entered the valley; his steps, breathing, and eyes all entered the same rhythm.

The rhythm of the hunt.

Su Yan lowered her voice and asked Zheng Beihe, "Commander, is he... expecting something?"

Zheng Beihe did not answer.

He could sense it too. The aura emanating from Song Chen was one of excitement, like the taut shoulder blades of a cheetah crawling through the grass, or the moment a knife rubs against its sheath before being drawn.

He was looking forward to the battle.

No, it's not about looking forward to a fight.

It's an expectation of killing.

The first roar of a beast echoed from the depths of the valley.

The ground shook, and shards of ice fell from the ice wall. Everyone gripped their weapons tightly at the same time.