Not only were others astonished, but even the Yuan family themselves hadn't anticipated that joining the Xia Empire would lead to such formidable strength.
To win battle after battle, engaging in different places against various enemies without suffering a single defeat, was a level of power that seemed unimaginable.
However, the truth was right before their eyes. The territories of the Yuan family, once lost, had been reclaimed by the Xia Empire and restored to the Yuan people.
Those who had been displaced due to the attacks by the eight major forces were able to return to their homes.
Although this brought about a strange feeling for many of the Yuan family members, they also felt a great sense of relief.
The Yuan family, as the guardians of humanity, had always been the protectors. They had never experienced what it was like to be protected. But now, they had felt it firsthand.
Being protected by others was a new and comforting experience for the Yuan family, and they were deeply grateful to the Xia Empire.
As a result, the Yuan family members no longer resisted the idea of becoming part of the Xia Empire. In fact, many felt that joining the Xia Empire was not a bad choice at all.
In the Northern Region, amidst the icy snowfields, news of the recaptured Yuan family territories spread, lifting the spirits of the Yuan disciples who fought tirelessly to defend the borders.
But what reassured them even more were the hovering metal warships and the mighty Imperial Army and Warbeast Army. Their ferocious might perfectly demonstrated to the Yuan family what true war was.
To be more precise, it showed them what war looked like for soul warriors.
It was a complete and overwhelming crush. Whether in terms of individual strength, coordination, superior equipment, or intelligence gathering, they surpassed their enemies in every aspect.
And in battle, the goal was to annihilate the enemy with swift and overwhelming force, unleashing the greatest power in the shortest amount of time.
While exceptional individual strength could be a bonus, it was the collective might and flawless coordination that drove the enemy into the abyss.
This was the lesson the Xia Empire's Imperial Army and Warbeast Army delivered.
Gradually, the Yuan family disciples who followed the Xia Empire began to learn from the generals. They realized that in battle, they could no longer charge recklessly without regard for their comrades. They had to understand the strengths of those around them and work together, complementing one another.
In combat, they had to advance and retreat in an orderly fashion, understanding that they were part of a team and that their collective strength was far more powerful than individual prowess.
After training with the generals, the Yuan family members discovered that this new way of fighting not only increased their combat effectiveness but also significantly reduced their casualties.
"Still, it's been quite peaceful these past few days. I hear the alien army that attacked from the north has been retreating," a soul warrior standing on the northern human border walls remarked to a nearby Yuan family member.
This soul warrior was a volunteer from the Northern Region, who had come to aid the defense against the alien forces. But when he arrived, he was shocked to find that the situation was already under control by the Xia Empire, and the alien army had been pushed back over three thousand miles, with no signs of stopping.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, thunderous explosions echoed from the distant mountain peaks. Moments later, beams of concentrated soul power erupted from the mountaintops, shooting toward the horizon.
"Can they still hit the enemy from that distance? Looks like our Yuan family has found itself a powerful backer," the Yuan family member said with a chuckle, gazing up at the peaks. "Seems like the aliens will have to retreat even further."
Meanwhile, the Northern Region volunteer warrior had his eyes wide open in disbelief as he stared at the beams of light. "Can they really hit the enemy from here?"
"They wouldn't fire the cannons for no reason if they couldn't," the Yuan family member replied, patting the soul warrior on the shoulder. "You haven't been here long, so you wouldn't know, but those aliens don't know what hit them."
Indeed, they were utterly bewildered.
Looking out toward the northern horizon, the Yuan family members couldn't help but feel grateful that they weren't the ones facing the Xia Empire as enemies.
The Destruction Shock Soul Cannons, as they were called, could obliterate the alien forces before they even had the chance to advance. Their attacks were devastating and far-reaching.
Moreover, the soldiers from the Xia Empire's Imperial Army, particularly the ones known as Strongfeather and Lightfeather, were terrifying.
Strongfeather warriors fired massive arrows that streaked through the air like beams of light, cutting down enemies from afar, using the soul cannon's brilliance to mask their deadly strikes.
Lightfeather archers, on the other hand, unleashed continuous volleys of arrows, raining down upon the enemy like a torrential downpour, giving them no chance to escape.
With such coordination, most of the alien forces were decimated before they could even come close.
And even if they did manage to charge forward, they would find themselves slammed back by the massive warriors with their imposing shields.
At that moment, the Yuan family members often saw the look of despair in the eyes of the aliens as they were driven back into the sea of attacks.
Hovering above them, the metal warships gleamed with cold light, their soul cannons unleashing relentless firepower without mercy.
"As long as the Xia Empire is here, the aliens from the north are nothing to worry about. The future should be much easier for us," the Yuan family member said, stretching lazily. He had never felt so relaxed saying these words.
His companion, the soul warrior, was puzzled. "Brother, even if things get easier, there's no need to… cry, right?"
By now, the Yuan family member was already wiping his tears, sobbing uncontrollably as the cold air froze the drops on his cheeks.
"You... don't understand. In the Yuan family, anyone with talent never knows what it means to relax or let their guard down," he choked out, covering his face. "Back in the clan, we trained relentlessly, honing our skills without a moment of respite."
"When we were out here, we had to stay vigilant every moment, preventing the alien races from infiltrating human territory. We couldn't afford to relax. If the aliens made a move, we would be failures in the eyes of the Yuan family, failures to all of humanity. We didn't rest. Every day and night, we trained, always on guard against the aliens in the north, constantly battling them."
"I'm so tired, so very tired…"
The volunteer warrior from the Northern Region fell silent. Suddenly, he felt a deep respect for the man before him, understanding that his tears were not a sign of weakness or shame.
"Thank you for guarding us all these years," the warrior said, lifting the exhausted Yuan family member onto his back and carrying him toward the camp.
"I'm heading back home from out of town today. Been busy these past few days, so I wrote this chapter before I set off. I'll write more when I get home this evening.
First time taking a high-speed train—so excited! I hear there's a typhoon coming. Maybe it'll sweep me away, and I'll wake up as a chosen one in another world?"