For the people at the bottom, they truly aren't afraid of hardship, as long as life has hope, as long as it's not a matter of life and death. They endure, and it passes.

Chen Mo's training is arduous, but it's not deadly.

After the first day passed, on the second day, Chen Mo did not reduce the intensity of the training; it remained the same as the first day.

Chen Mo wanted them to get used to and adapt to this level of training.

If the intensity was like this on the first day, then reduced on the second day, and returned on the third day, accidents would happen.

As for whether they would resent him in their hearts, Chen Mo didn't care.

What is the army?

It's a giant millstone; it doesn't matter what demons or monsters come, even if you're a dragon, if you've got to coil, you coil.

Absolutely can't show special care just because you can't bear it.

The current batch of Divine Brave Guard is what Chen Mo is cultivating as core members.

If changes occur in the future, these soldiers can turn into grassroots officers and quickly raise a combat-capable army.

Later, he will pass on the Blood Nourishing Technique to the seven squad leaders in the army.

Over the next three days, they gradually adapted.

Chen Mo's own cultivation was not hindered.

Because his cultivation improvement relied on absorbing Solar Purple Qi and consuming meat, and for sword technique, it was enough to swing his saber with full force, which did not conflict with training the troops.

As of April 11th.

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Age: 17.]

[Cultivation Technique: Purple Sun Transformation Skill (Entry Level 2563.4/3000).]

[Realm: Refining the Viscera (Seventh Grade).]

[Power: 135.]

[Skills: Demon-breaking Saber Technique (Perfection 968743/1000000).]

As long as it stays clear over the next few days, within ten days, his cultivation will break through.

As for sword technique, no more than two days.

In the afternoon.

Zhang River returned triumphantly with his people.

This time, besides goods, they also bought two plow oxen.

Zhu Yongzhi proved reliable; not only did he find plow oxen, but also sold the 2000 pounds of coarse salt he had accumulated to Zhang River.

And it was sold at fifty cents per pound.

Moreover, the price for procuring refined salt was increased by fifty cents by Zhu Yongzhi.

Previously, Zhu Yongzhi bought refined salt from Chen Mo at 800 cents per pound.

Now, Zhu Yongwen procured it at 850 cents per pound.

Last time, the 500 pounds of coarse salt were refined into 440 pounds of refined salt, earning 374 strings of money.

After deducting the cost of plow oxen and coarse salt, most of the remaining money was used to buy food.

As bags of grain were unloaded from ox carts and mule carts, the villagers watching were full of excitement.

After all, it concerns whether they can eat.

After dispersing, only Zhang River and Hu Changsheng stayed behind.

Chen Mo led them inside, Zhang River sat down, took off his bundle, and opened it on the table, saying, "Brother Mo, here's the sugar you wanted. This stuff is incredibly expensive, nearly twenty thousand coins per tael."

"What, twenty thousand coins per tael?" Chen Mo knew sugar was expensive, but not this pricey; what he bought before in the county wasn't even one-tenth of this price.

Zhang River nodded: "This was Zhu Yongzhi, who went to great lengths to help us buy it. This sugar is hard to buy."

Chen Mo nodded and lightly tapped the table with his fingers, then said, "Why is Zhu Yongzhi suddenly so generous, first lowering our buying price for coarse salt, then raising the price to buy our refined salt, now even getting us sugar?"

"Brother Mo, we explained our background, so Zhu Yongzhi did this. He said he wants to be friends with you, hoping we sell all our future refined salt to him," Zhang River said.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, understanding Zhu Yongzhi's intent, realizing he's aiming for monopoly.

"How bold, who's behind him that can handle such a big business?" Chen Mo asked.

Then, Hu Changsheng spoke up: "I heard the county magistrate of Quanyang County's favorite concubine is Zhu Yongzhi's cousin."

With these words, Chen Mo pondered for a long time.

Somehow, both expected and unexpected.

Expecting, as he anticipated smugglers would have some background.

Unexpected, as the person is the county magistrate of Quanyang.

But this also showed how corrupt the bureaucracy under the Great Song Dynasty had become.

Official-business collusion in selling private salt, and knowingly transacting with him as a rebel, is clearly aiding the enemy!

This also reminds him of the northern rebels; without involvement from court officials, he wouldn't believe it.

However, this is certainly good news for Chen Mo.

The more greedy the opponent, the happier he is.

"Next time you ask during a trade if they sell armor?" Chen Mo said.

Since the opponent is this bold, selling some armor should be no problem.

Upon hearing Chen Mo's words, Zhang River and Hu Changsheng were shocked.

Even ordinary folks know that hoarding armor is a capital crime for treason, let alone selling it.

But considering the opponent dared to trade knowing their identity, maybe armor can indeed be procured.

"Understood." Zhang River and Hu Changsheng responded.

"By the way, reward each Divine Brave Guard who went for the transaction with Quanyang County this time... five pounds of millet." Chen Mo said.

Since he decided to be clear on rewards and punishments, those who went as guards this time certainly couldn't lack rewards.

"Understood."

...

Chen Mo had a large pool dug around the sulfur factory, and all the urine collected these days was poured into it.

Once the pool is filled, saltpeter can be refined.

Two days later, at the mountain stronghold.

[Saber strike count +1, Demon-breaking Saber Technique experience +1.]

Meanwhile, a vast amount of memory surged into Chen Mo's mind.

It was still that young man, still standing under the waterfall, tirelessly training. Finally, one day, his sword technique reached new heights: one slash split the waterfall into two, with the separated part temporarily appearing as a break in flow.

[Name: Chen Mo.]

[Age: 17.]

[Cultivation Technique: Purple Sun Transformation Skill (Entry Level 2701.3/3000).]

[Realm: Refining the Viscera (Seventh Grade).]

[Power: 135+75.]

[Skills: Demon-breaking Saber Technique (Perfected, upon reaching Qi Refining realm, saber strikes can break tiers.]

"This time, the additional power increased by only 10 points."

Chen Mo's gaze slightly focused, as he looked at a large tree with a hefty trunk in the distance, and swung his saber.

With a loud "boom," the tree was cut down at the waist, especially the central section, which burst into fragments, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

"Immortal Master Chen, no... bad news..."

At this moment, Hu Qiang, who came to report, was speechless upon witnessing this scene, gulping down saliva.

Turning around, Chen Mo sheathed his saber: "What happened?"

"Reply to Immortal Master Chen, a group of refugees has arrived at the village entrance and has been stopped by the Divine Brave Guard," Hu Qiang said.

"Refugees?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow: "Where did the refugees come from?"

"They claim to be from Impatiens,"

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