Chapter 57: All Attributes Break Through 2,000 Points! A Massive Windfall!

The military officer was positioned amidst the chaotic troops, standing at least three hundred paces away from the city ramparts. Arrows could hardly reach him, and he was closely guarded by a phalanx of shield-bearers.

To look at it, it seemed impossible to kill him with an arrow.

However.

That applied only to ordinary men.

With Zhu Zheng's strength, if he were to truly release an arrow with all his might, the range would exceed four hundred paces. Of course, that would also require a truly fine bow; the limit of this five-stone bow was perhaps just over three hundred paces.

"Die!"

Zhu Zheng let out a cold shout.

The bow, drawn to a full moon, suddenly snapped loose.

Swish!

The arrow tore through the air like lightning.

In an instant, it streaked across the heads of countless enemy soldiers.

Almost in the blink of an eye.

"Attack! Attack!"

"Anyone who dares to retreat shall be executed on the spot!" the enemy commander roared frantically.

Yet before his words had even faded.

Squelch.

His voice cut off abruptly.

His entire body was instantly jerked backward by the sheer force of the arrow, toppling straight back and crashing down into a pool of blood.

"The General!"

"This is bad!"

"The General has been shot and killed by the rebel sharpshooter!"

The surrounding personal guards witnessed this scene with utter terror, losing all composure.

At a distance of over three hundred paces—such a range was within the reach of heavy artillery, but certainly not arrows.

Yet their general had been killed by a single arrow piercing his throat.

"Enemy commander killed. Collected 50 points of all attributes, 100 days of lifespan, and rewarded with a Tier-1 treasure chest," the system interface prompted.

"Killing military officers truly yields the most bountiful rewards," Zhu Zheng smiled inwardly.

Following that.

He continued to draw his bow and slay the enemy.

By now.

Zhu Zheng was already marching toward the milestone of 2,000 points in all attributes.

Under Zhu Zheng's terrifying archery.

The enemy forces had no opportunity to defend themselves whatsoever. Even sheltered behind the protection of the shield-bearers, they could not withstand Zhu Zheng's arrows.

For a time.

Officer after officer, general after general, was picked off and slain by Zhu Zheng's arrows.

This threw the enemy's attacking formation into utter disarray.

At this moment.

The enemy forces attacking before the city had completely lost their offensive momentum, falling into complete chaos.

"What is going on?"

"Why are they in such a mess?"

"Attack! Give the order to attack!"

Xu Kai roared loudly, continuing to oversee the battle from the rear of the vanguard forces.

"General."

"This is bad."

"The rebel sharpshooter is far too accurate."

"Every single officer who approaches the city walls dies instantly, and the shield-bearers cannot protect them."

"And... and General Wang of the First Vanguard Battalion has been shot and killed by the rebel sharpshooter."

"The vanguard forces have completely lost their military cohesion."

A panic-stricken general hurried before Xu Kai to report.

"How can this be?"

Upon hearing this news, Xu Kai was left somewhat dumbfounded.

How could the enemy sharpshooter be this formidable?

He had experienced his fair share of wars, but he had never encountered such a bizarre situation.

"General."

"Perhaps we should withdraw the troops first."

"Resume the attack only after reorganizing the ranks."

The general tentatively suggested.

"The Grand General has already given the order."

"To capture the city in a single day."

Xu Kai said coldly.

Looking at the chaotic assault unfolding before the city walls, Xu Kai immediately commanded: "Quickly pull back the First Vanguard Battalion and replace them with the Second Vanguard Battalion."

"I refuse to believe that a single sharpshooter can hold off our entire army single-handedly."

"Move!"

With the order given.

The reporting general had no choice but to relay the command.

Upon the city ramparts.

Under the command of Zhu Zheng, the soldiers tirelessly and frantically released arrows, pouring down boiling oil, rolling logs, and heavy stones.

Relying on the defensive advantages of the city, the enemy was completely unable to breach the ramparts.

Down below at the city gate, though the enemy's battering ram continued its assault, the moment it drew close, it was deluged with boiling oil and a hail of arrows, making it virtually impossible to approach.

Before the city.

It had already become a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, strewn with dead bodies.

The cries of agony were ceaseless.

Of course.

The impact of Zhu Zheng's arrows was immense.

Standing atop the elevated watchtower, everything below was laid bare to his sight. To systematically pick off and kill the commanding officers—one could only imagine what kind of casualties this would inflict upon the enemy.

The enemy's assault continued.

While Zhu Zheng continuously released his arrows.

Slaying frantically.

As time wore on.

Finally.

"Enemy garrison commander killed. Collected 40 points of all attributes, 40 taels of silver, and 40 days of lifespan. Awarded an ordinary treasure chest."

"Congratulations to the host for breaking through 2,000 points in all attributes. Rewarded with a Tier-1 treasure chest," the interface prompted.

Along with the prompt from the interface.

With his overall attributes breaking through, his entire body underwent an unimaginable transformation from the inside out.

Strength, physique, agility, and even internal energy ushered in an explosive growth.

This was a sensation that could only be clearly experienced when achieving a breakthrough in all attributes.

Today.

Relying on the defensive advantages of the city and the enemy's all-out assault, the attributes he gained far surpassed those from personally leading a charge on the battlefield.

The number of enemy officers who died beneath Zhu Zheng's arrows was countless—ranging from generals down to battalion commanders, the number definitely exceeded a hundred. This was the exact reason for Zhu Zheng's breakthrough in all attributes this time.

"Exhilarating!"

"My overall attributes have broken through 2,000 points."

"The attributes gained from specializing in killing officers accumulate far too quickly."

"No, I must petition General Zhang to continue defending the city tomorrow. The growth this brings to my overall attributes is simply too massive," Zhu Zheng thought to himself secretly.

In just over half a day, Zhu Zheng had thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of battle, especially the euphoria of breaking through his overall attributes.

Under his volleys.

The enemy's offensive had completely crumbled into disarray.

The effect of specifically targeting and killing officers proved to be extraordinarily pronounced.

Looking across the entire realm.

Perhaps only Zhu Zheng was capable of achieving such a feat.

"General."

"This subordinate has been through many battlefields."

"Yet defending a city like this, where the General picks off enemy officers and reduces their forces to utter chaos—this is truly the first time this subordinate has witnessed such a battle result."

Beside him.

Tan Yuan expressed his utmost admiration to Zhu Zheng.

Zhu Zheng smiled and immediately said: "Hold your ground well. This is only the first day."

"Commander Wei."

"Trouble yourself to inform General Zhang of our defensive achievements today."

"Also, kindly request General Zhang's permission: should our forces suffer no heavy casualties, request authorization to continue defending the city."

"If our soldiers grow exhausted, I, Zhu Zheng, will naturally petition to be relieved," Zhu Zheng turned his head to instruct Commander Wei, who was overseeing the battle nearby.

The Commander of the Garrison!

Responsible for tallying military merits and recording battle achievements.

He also served the role of overseeing the battle.

Every garrison post had its own commander, every vanguard battalion necessarily had one, and regional military commands had their regional commanders.

Though serving in the military, their duties differed.

"This subordinate will go immediately to report to General Zhang."

Commander Wei answered loudly and clearly to Zhu Zheng.

At this moment.

The gaze he directed toward Zhu Zheng was filled with exceptional reverence.

Zhu Zheng's actions in defending the city, and his miraculous archery in picking off enemy officers, had all unfolded right before his eyes. Such a defense and such tactical execution were sights he was encountering for the very first time.

Aside from awe.

There was only more awe.

This garrison commander finally understood why Zhu Zheng had risen from a logistics soldier to a general commanding tens of thousands of troops in mere months.

Everything he had achieved was earned entirely through his own exceptional capabilities.

"Brothers."

"Let there be no lapses."

"Today."

"We hold this line to the very end."

"To hold it for a day is a day of military merit."

"To hold it for ten days is ten days of military merit."

"I, Zhu Zheng, stand alongside every single one of you," Zhu Zheng shouted loudly, gripping his bow and arrows.

"We will follow you to the death!"

"Kill! Slaughter these treacherous scum!"

"Charge..."

The soldiers upon the ramparts were utterly impassioned, roaring frantically and unleashing their boundless killing intent upon the enemy forces below the city.