A strong wind blew, raising a curtain of dust that clouded their vision. Seeing an opportunity, the remaining foreigners stealthily moved, guns at the ready.

Neither side could see the other, and as long as they didn't collide head-on, the foreigners could make their escape.

But after only a few steps, they began to feel their bodies grow heavy and their minds sluggish, as if they were suffocating. Yet, their helmets were equipped with anti-toxin and oxygen systems. As long as there was air, they shouldn't be suffocating.

"What's happening... Is that a tornado?" Even their own men couldn't comprehend the sudden appearance of the tornado. Could it be divine intervention favoring these foreigners?

"The air feels off. My internal energy seems to be malfunctioning," Cheng Suyan said, trying to summon his energy but finding it hard to control. The sensation was familiar, indicating a lack of spiritual energy.

The decline of ancient martial arts was because of the low concentration of spiritual energy in the air. Now it felt like they had returned to those old times.

After gazing at the tornado for a while, Shao Qi clenched his palm and assured everyone, "Don't worry, someone must be leveling up."

"What? Who'd break through and level up at a time like this? And why does leveling up cause such a disturbance? Weren't our upgrades always quiet?"

"Everyone is different."

Zhou You never expected to break through here. He hadn’t experienced any significant growth in his internal strength for a long time. After acquiring the latter part of the Taiyi Heart Method, though it was severely incomplete, he had been training mostly correctly. Perhaps frequent use of his internal strength had unleashed his potential.

Chapter 185: From now on, I'll rely on you to protect me.

The amount of spiritual energy Zhou You required for his upgrade was immense. The tornado’s radius grew, making those at its center feel increasingly short of breath.

Zhou You felt as if he would burst from the rapidly circulating internal energy within him. He immediately found a place to sit cross-legged and meditate.

Shao Qi was one of the few affected the least. His unique vital energy and the protection of his life stone made him fare much better than the others.

He rushed to the vehicle where Xuan Jue was held. The car's occupants hadn't started it yet. A man lay slumped over the driver's seat, and Xuan Jue was pinned in the back, pale-faced. The man pinning him, likely thinking they were responsible for the disturbances, was relentlessly punching Xuan Jue.

Luckily, he ran out of strength; otherwise, Xuan Jue would have been beaten to death.

Shao Qi became furious, forcefully opened the car door, dragged the aggressive man out, and crushed his right hand beneath his foot. He then pulled Xuan Jue out, handed him to Qin Li Feng, and ran to look for Zhou You.

With such commotion, Zhou You must be in a critical phase of a breakthrough. If someone carelessly interrupts him, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Shao Qi struggled to move at the center of the storm. Strangely, while the storm appeared fierce, it mainly drained spiritual energy and didn't possess significant force. Any ordinary storm of this magnitude would've swept away people and objects.

Shao Qi had an idea of Zhou You's whereabouts, making the search easier. Upon arrival, he found Qin Xun and several soldiers surrounding Zhou You. They immediately cleared a path for him.

Qin Xun spoke nervously, "Sir, when I arrived, he was already sitting here. Given the situation around him... I assume he's advancing in rank and created this barrier to prevent disturbances."

"Thank you."

Qin Xun didn't expect gratitude. He glanced again at the man sitting with closed eyes. The man was stunningly handsome, his age indiscernible, appearing delicate. However, the surrounding turmoil affirmed his strength, which is why Qin Xun chose to guard him.

Shao Qi stared at Zhou You for a moment, finding nothing amiss, then whispered to Qin Xun, "He's my beloved."

The statement was shocking. Though Qin Xun was removed from the central military corps, he had heard rumors. Everyone believed Marshal Shao preferred solitude, showing no interest in relationships. It was quite a revelation to learn of Shao's partner during their first encounter.

After dismissing Qin Xun, Shao Qi sat beside Zhou You. Although on a battlefield, he felt an encompassing silence, sharing the moment solely with Zhou You. Their quiet companionship was deeply comforting.

An hour later, Zhou You completed his practice, the storm ceased, and as he opened his eyes, he met a familiar gaze. Stretching, he grinned, "That felt incredible! I feel invincible."

Shao Qi felt Zhou You's pulse, sensing his robust vitality, and held him close, whispering, "Then, as the best in the world, I'll rely on you for protection." He kissed Zhou You's cheek, adding, "I've always believed you're unparalleled."

Zhou You chuckled, "I'll continue being your bodyguard, but remember you owe me."

"Everything I have, including my wealth, is yours. Just name your price."

They didn't linger too long in the moment. After celebrating Zhou You's achievement, they quickly returned to the battlefield to witness an astonishing scene: countless soldiers, friend and foe alike, seated everywhere. If not for their erect postures, they might have believed all had perished.

Some soldiers stood at the perimeter, weapons raised, having come upon seeing the disturbance.

They kept their distance from the eerie scene, fearing some magical force had drained the soldiers of their essence. So they stood vigilant, aiming at foreign soldiers.

Xue Yang Chen was also at the perimeter, with medical staff treating Xuan Jue, who had three broken ribs and a dislocated arm, indicating the brute force used against him.

Seeing Shao Qi and Zhou You return hand in hand, the tension eased. The end of the storm indicated a successful advancement, and Zhou You's radiant presence left little doubt he was the one.