"Liao, don't push it too far!"
Wang Zhi, his injuries still unhealed, yanked out his blade with a harsh glare. "We've been giving you face, and you really think that makes you somebody now?!"
"All this time marching without rest—who'd be carrying a black robe on them?"
Chen Sanshi kept his tone polite. "Why not wait until we enter the city and find a black outfit there? How about that?"
"Hmm, fine then."
Liao Fang seemed pleased with the response. He took another swig of wine, then suddenly had a "brilliant idea." Pointing toward the white horse standing beside Chen Sanshi, he said, "Little Sanshi!
"White robe, white horse!
"Since you're not wearing the white robe anymore, how about letting me have that horse instead?!"
Chen Sanshi froze mid-step. His face remained calm, his voice low and steady. "You're drunk."
"Drunk? I'm not drunk!"
The more Liao Fang looked at the white horse, the more he liked it. His tone grew louder. "Sanshi, I saved the lives of over hundred thousand of you! And you can't even spare me a single horse?!"
"Hey!"
At that instant, a shadowy figure slipped away from the formation unnoticed. Hunched over, he climbed the city wall swiftly. Before the soldiers atop the wall could react, he suddenly burst forward with three quick strides, grabbed the "white-robed strategist" by the collar, and lifted him into the air like a chicken.
"How dare you insult my lord in public!"
"Old Zhu!"
Zhao Kang realized that Zhu Tong was missing and rushed forward in panic. "He's a war hero! Are you insane?!"
"To hell with that—I don't care if he's a hero or a dog!"
Zhu Tong cursed and slammed Liao Fang's head against the city wall.
"You—who are you?!"
Startled, Liao Fang finally snapped out of his drunken haze. Pressed flat against the cold stone, he turned his head in anger. "How dare you! Don't you know I'm about to be enfeoffed as a Marquis of the Great Sheng Dynasty? Disrespecting me is a capital crime!"
"Bastard!"
Zhu Tong yanked him by the hair and growled, "Enough nonsense! Kneel before my lord and beg for forgiveness right now!"
"Seize him!"
Down below, Tong Xiaochu shouted urgently.
No matter how arrogant Liao Fang was, he was still a war hero. If they mistreated him, who else would dare join their cause in the future?
Zhao Kang was already sprinting up the steps.
He knew this wasn't simple insubordination—this was pure brainlessness.
Even now, Zhu Tong still called Chen Sanshi "Shitou" behind his back. They'd spent months trying to fix that habit, only barely managing to make him say "my lord" instead.
"Ahh! Ahhh!"
Liao Fang's cultivation was weak—he couldn't withstand Zhu Tong's strength. His face twisted in pain, his rage boiling over. "Peasant! Even your lord has to show me respect! What right do you have to talk to me like this?!
"If you're so bold, then don't make me kneel—just kill me!
"Go on, kill me! Do you dare? Do you? Hahaha!"
"Crack—"
The laughter cut short.
Before anyone could react, a dull explosion echoed through the air—like a watermelon bursting. Blood and brain matter sprayed across the wall, raining down on the soldiers at the gate below.
On the wall stood the headless body of the White-Robed Strategist—Liao Fang.
A black war hammer hovered in the air before the corpse's neck, drenched in blood.
Zhu Tong had smashed his head to pulp with a single blow.
Silence swallowed the city.
"How dare you?!"
Tong Xiaochu's eyes widened in horror.
He knew Liao Fang's merits had already been reported to the capital. His marquis title was practically guaranteed.
And Zhu Tong? He was just a Thousand-Commander from Hongze Battalion.
A Thousand-Commander had just killed a soon-to-be marquis—a war hero who'd helped reclaim Mount Mang.
This wasn't just suicide—it was the kind that dragged his entire family down with him.
Still, since Zhu Tong was from Hongze Battalion, it wasn't Tong Xiaochu's place to interfere.
"Commander Chen," Tong Xiaochu said, clasping his hands in salute. "How should we handle this matter?"
Chen Sanshi looked at the headless body and slowly closed his eyes. "Take him away," he said quietly. "Await judgment."
"Yes, sir."
Soldiers immediately stepped forward, restraining Zhu Tong and leading him away.
The uproar died as quickly as it began.
The army marched into the city without further delay.
"My lord!"
Later, Zhao Kang and several officers entered the central command tent to plead. "General Tong and the others all say Zhu Tong's crime is punishable by death. Are we really going to kill him? Old Zhu's just… brainless."
"Yeah, that's right," Xiong Qiu'an chimed in. "Besides, wasn't Liao Fang the one asking for it?"
The tent flap lifted, and Wang Zhi strode in briskly. "I went to Liao Fang's quarters just now," he said grimly. "Found several women there—he snatched them after entering the city this morning."
"Oh?"
Chen Sanshi set down the military document in his hand. "You're certain?"
"One hundred percent," Wang Zhi said firmly. "I've already brought the women back to camp—they can testify anytime. According to Northern Liang Army law, looting or taking civilian women is punishable by death. Zhu Tong only carried out the sentence early."
"Exactly!"
The others all nodded in quick agreement.
Chen Sanshi paused for a moment, then said, "Even so—he was a titled marquis and a credited strategist. Execution isn't for him to decide. Detain Zhu Tong for now. We'll deal with it once we return to Liangzhou."
As soon as those words left his mouth, everyone in the tent exhaled in relief.
"All right, that's enough. Dismissed."
Chen Sanshi waved them out of the tent.
The war was over.
According to plan, he would remain here until the Shengyun Sect came to take over Mount Mang. Then, he could finally return to Northern Liang.
The Western Qi forces and Falling Leaf Valley had been crushed.
As for the Southern Xu's Lingji Cavern and the Eastern Qing Kingdom, there was still no news.
He also expected a letter soon—from his Fourth Senior Brother, Fang Qingyun, in the capital.
—
Great Qing Dynasty, Imperial Palace.
Inside the Hall of Clear Harmony, all officials knelt in assembly.
"Your Majesty!"
"News from the front lines!"
"Chen Sanshi burned Wucheng in April, and within thirty days, crushed the Western Qi army, slaying countless Immortal Masters. Now, both the Western Qi cultivators and those of Falling Leaf Valley have retreated beyond their borders."
"The Ministry of War recommends that our frontier forces also withdraw to home territory."
"Please, Your Majesty, grant your decree."
The court fell silent.
All officials bowed their heads, waiting quietly for the Empress to speak.
Yet no one in court realized the truth.
Behind the golden-orange curtains, seated upon the imperial dragon throne, was not the Empress, but the Eldest Princess Shen Xizhi.
'Shi ge'er won again, huh.'
Gu Xinlan controlled her tone carefully, mimicking her younger sister's way of speaking. The two sisters' voices were already similar; only their bearing differed. Once she deliberately imitated her sister's calm, regal tone, they were nearly indistinguishable.
"Withdraw the troops."
"Your Majesty's command shall be obeyed!"
"However, before I leave, this old minister has another matter to report."
A martial official in crimson armor stepped forward and bowed. "Though we did not engage the Great Sheng Dynasty in large-scale battle while deploying our border forces, small skirmishes occurred day and night.
"Both sides suffered casualties.
"What's particularly alarming is that a certain Lü Ji from the Great Sheng army has been slaughtering our soldiers to perform blood sacrifices, cultivating an evil art through these killings. The man is now no different from a demon!
"If possible, I humbly request Your Majesty dispatch several Immortal Masters to assassinate him at the first opportunity. Otherwise, he'll surely become a future calamity."
Lü Ji?
Gu Xinlan silently noted the name. She planned to inform her younger sister and Shi ge'er later. Catching the gaze of the nearby palace maid, she gave a subtle signal.
The maid understood immediately and stepped out from behind the curtains to deliver the imperial edict aloud: "If there are no further petitions, the morning court is dismissed."
The officials bowed and withdrew in order.
When the court session ended, Gu Xinlan walked briskly toward the Imperial Study, her face clouded with worry.
Since the Great Sheng and Western Qi war had begun, the sky had been full of Immortal Masters flying about. She hadn't seen her younger sister for a long time now and feared that something serious was about to happen.
Outside the Imperial Study, she heard voices from within—discussing things like "sect," "master," and "Foundation Establishment Pills." The terms were foreign to her; she could barely follow the conversation.
After a long while, a young cultivator stepped out from the study. His expression was proud, his aura sharp, and he flew away into the clouds.
"Elder Sister, come in."
The cold, tranquil voice of the Great Qing Empress came from within.
Gu Xinlan entered the chamber.
Soft incense drifted through the air; golden drapes hung from all sides.
In the quiet and solemn room, a three-year-old boy, Chen Duhe, was chasing and playing with a small spirit beast.
The creature's fur was pure white, its head crowned with golden horns. It resembled a dog, but its movement carried the majestic air of a young lion—clearly a rare spiritual beast caught from some distant land.
"Younger Sister," Gu Xinlan said first. "I overheard some of your talk earlier—are you leaving?"
The Empress's cold, clear eyes shifted from the child and the beast to her sister. "Elder Sister, do you want to come with me? I promised to bring Duhe along."
Gu Xinlan didn't answer immediately, but the Empress already knew her response.
"So be it."
She rose gracefully, her black-and-gold gown gliding softly across the floor. "Since Elder Sister's heart belongs elsewhere, I won't force you. You may pack your things. Tomorrow, I'll send you and Duhe back to the Great Sheng's Liangzhou."
Gu Xinlan's eyes flickered in surprise. "You're not coming back, then?"
"After Foundation Establishment, one is bound by the Great Dao's suppression. I cannot step foot again upon the Eastern Divine Continent."
The Empress's tone was calm. "However, once the ancestral veins revive and the seals are broken, I'll be free to come and go. That day shouldn't be too far off."
"I see."
Gu Xinlan understood her sister's obsession with the Immortal Path. She hesitated, then asked, "But if you and I both leave, what will happen to Great Qing? Hand it over to other members of the Shen clan?"
Like other dynasties, the Shen royal family had distant relatives governing various provinces.
"How could those useless fools manage Great Qing?"
The Empress's cold voice held a trace of disdain. "After I leave, I'll appoint one member of the Shen family to maintain stability. Then the sect will assign a National Preceptor to assist in ruling the empire.
"But don't worry.
"I've already told them—once the ancestral vein affairs of the Eastern Divine Continent are settled, Great Qing will belong to you and Duhe. For now, though, the world is dangerous. It's better you don't stay here."
"Hand the rule to… cultivators?" Gu Xinlan asked, still puzzled.
"Yes."
The Empress gazed westward, her expression distant. "The world has changed. Of the four nations on this continent, except for that old emperor of Great Sheng, all have already become puppets of the sects from Heavenly Water Isle."
Gu Xinlan frowned in thought. "Then the old emperor of Great Sheng must be quite capable, huh?"
"He is," the Empress said quietly. "I only fear he'll use that capability against you and your family."
—
Capital City, Zhongjue Hall.
"Victory report!"
In just over a month, everything had turned upside down.
Where once daily dispatches brought only grim casualty numbers, now it was one triumph after another.
"Excellent!"
Prince Jin, Cao Huan, finally vented the frustration he'd carried for over a year. "This western campaign may have cost us dearly, but the Great Sheng Dynasty has preserved its borders and dealt a crushing blow to Western Qi's rebels!"
"Chen Sanshi…"
Minister of Revenue Tian Guang sighed. "Once again, he's performed heaven-shaking deeds."
At the mention of his name, the room's atmosphere shifted instantly.
Minister of Appointments Yin Mingchun spoke gravely. "What honors should we grant the White Robe this time?"
"His merit is too great," Tian Guang murmured. "Any higher, and we'd have to make him a Duke of the Realm."
"Gentlemen!"
Minister of Works Yan Maoxing cut in sharply. "Have you all forgotten something?
"Two years ago, at Wolf Juxu Mountain, Chen Sanshi repeatedly defied military orders.
"After Sun Xiangzong's death, His Majesty summoned him to the capital, yet he made every excuse to delay.
"During this western campaign, he ignored both the Ministry of War's commands and even the imperial golden edict! True, he had his reasons—but shouldn't he at least have given an explanation?
"If this continues, won't Chen Sanshi grow accustomed to disobeying imperial orders altogether?
"When that happens, where will the court's authority lie? Where will His Majesty's divine mandate stand?"
Disobedience.
Since ancient times, it was the gravest taboo among court officials—and for generals, it was the deadliest sin.
No matter how great a man's achievements, if he stopped following orders, it meant only one thing—he was no longer loyal.
A general with his own army who stopped listening to the throne… no dynasty could ever allow that.
"Furthermore,"
Minister of War Ming Qingfeng added, "the front-line reports stated clearly that during the Battle of Wucheng, Chen Sanshi fought the Martial Saint-level Zou Hu using spell arts. That means he's already stepped into the path of an Immortal Master.
"Yet he's never mentioned this in any memorial to the court."
That, plain and simple—was deception of the throne.
In recent years, the mystery surrounding Immortals had gradually faded. To most people, they were no longer untouchable beings. Even if Chen Sanshi had stumbled upon a great fortune, or inherited cultivation methods left behind by Sun Xiangzong, he should have proactively presented them to the court.
By hiding such things, his behavior looked far too deliberate—almost as if he harbored ulterior motives.
And in the language of the court, that bordered on treason—the crime of deceiving the emperor.
"Gentlemen."
Prince Jin, Cao Huan, finally spoke. "Chen Sanshi has rendered immense service to the Great Sheng Dynasty. Even if some of his actions may have been inappropriate, I hardly think it's as exaggerated as some of you suggest.
"In my opinion, we should summon him to the capital first, then decide on his reward."
"Will he even come?"
Minister of Works, Yan Maoxing, asked sharply. "Last time, when Sun Xiangzong died, he delayed every imperial summons with excuse after excuse. If we try to forcibly recall him now, he's at the border—with a massive army under his command."
"In that case…"
Prince Jin thought deeply before replying, "I'll report this to Father first and let His Majesty decide."
—
Wanshou Palace.
Inside the tranquil hall, an ancient melody drifted through the air.
The chime bells sang with pure, profound resonance, as if their sound had crossed from the ancient ages themselves. The tolling mixed with moonlight, weaving a harmony that filled the entire palace. The notes flowed like water—cool, serene, and endless.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty of the Great Sheng Dynasty, on your army's victory!"
By the lakeside behind the hall, within a pavilion, two cultivators stood bowing in joy at the news.
One was a Qi Refining stage cultivator above the fourteenth layer, the other a True Force Realm martial cultivator in the early stage.
Usually, reaching the ninth layer of Qi Refining was enough to attempt Foundation Establishment. But some sought to increase their success rate by continuing to cultivate to the twelfth layer—or even higher.
Both of these cultivators had been hired by the Shengyun Sect.
They were originally meant to assist the Great Sheng army in securing the ancestral vein of Mount Mang, but they'd arrived too late. Still, it didn't matter—the battle was already won. Now, their only task was to proceed there, hold the ground, and wait for the ancestral vein's revival. Once that happened, they would set up a teleportation formation so that the main sect could take over this region.
"We share in Your Majesty's joy."
The Great Sheng Emperor, Longqing, showed no excessive courtesy toward the so-called "Immortal Masters." He treated them the same as any other minister—calm, measured, and without flattery.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty," said one cultivator respectfully. "When the teleportation array opens next time, someone will personally deliver the Foundation-Building Pill to you. Our sect will absolutely keep its promise."
"Mount Mang's ancestral vein may have been secured," said Emperor Longqing in an even tone, "but those thieves from Falling Leaf Valley are unlikely to give up so easily. I'm about to enter closed-door cultivation and will not be able to personally oversee the situation."
"There is no need for Your Majesty to worry," replied the cultivator. "Our sect has already hired an entire martial clan. They'll soon arrive at Mount Mang to garrison the area. They'll be more than enough to handle the remnants of Falling Leaf Valley or the cultivators of Lingji Cavern."
"Very good."
Emperor Longqing waved his horsetail whisk. "Attendants—see the two Immortal Masters to their quarters."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Two eunuchs from the Western Depot stepped forward and led the cultivators away.
As they left Wanshou Palace, the martial cultivator muttered, "He's that eager for a Foundation-Building Pill? Once he breaks through, won't he have to abandon the empire he's ruled for over sixty years?"
"Not quite," said the Qi cultivator, shaking his head. "It's said he possesses a treasure that shields him from the suppression of the Heavenly Dao. Even after Foundation Establishment, he'll be able to remain safely within this world."
"Such a treasure exists?!"
The martial cultivator looked shocked. "If he achieves Foundation Establishment, wouldn't he essentially stand atop the very path of immortality?"
"He already does," said the Qi cultivator. "That man reached Qi Refining Perfection many years ago. But without a Foundation-Building Pill, he kept stacking his cultivation, deepening his mana to unfathomable levels.
"This time, when Mount Mang's vein revived, he couldn't personally go because his meridians were damaged by demonic miasma. Otherwise, the victory would've come much easier.
"If he weren't extraordinarily capable, do you think our sect would choose to cooperate with him instead of simply subduing him?"
"Incredible," said the martial cultivator, sighing up at the night sky. "To think such a genius could exist in a land so barren of spiritual energy."
As the two spoke in low voices, a eunuch passed by, supporting an elderly official. The pair brushed shoulders, and the old man made his way slowly toward Wanshou Palace.
It was Grand Secretary Yan Liang, helped along by Chief Eunuch Huang Hong of the Directorate of Ceremonial Supervision. Trembling, he reached the pavilion and sat down on a small stool. After catching his breath, his aged voice rasped out,
"Who could've imagined it?
"At the very brink of starvation, Chen Sanshi turned defeat into victory—and even broke through beyond the Martial Saint Realm itself."
Emperor Longqing recited softly:
"When the flying general guards Dragon City,
No barbarian horse dares to cross Yin Mountain."
"Not only the northern tribes," he said with quiet pride, "even Western Qi must now fear the White Robe. To have such a commander is a blessing to the empire itself.
"Two years ago, he sealed victory at Wolf Juxu Mountain.
"Now, he's slain the War Immortal and taken Mount Mang's ancestral vein.
"Yan Liang, tell me—how should I reward him?"
"Your Majesty," said the frail Grand Secretary after a pause, "this man's merits deserve the highest honor. I recommend we bestow upon him the title Duke of Wei—and proclaim it across the land, so that all may see the Emperor's boundless grace toward the White Robe. Then, summon him to the capital and conduct the official ceremony before all civil and military officials."
"Very well," said Emperor Longqing, closing his eyes slowly. "You will see to it."
Yan Liang rose and bowed deeply before withdrawing.
"Grand Secretary Yan," said Huang Hong as they walked. "If we issue the imperial decree and Chen Sanshi acts as he did before—finding excuses to refuse, like when he was mourning Sun Xiangzong—what then? If we try to compel him, he still commands more than one hundred thousand troops at the frontier."
"Ah, Eunuch Huang," Yan Liang said between shallow breaths, "you still don't understand the human heart.
"The Commander's Army is nothing to worry about.
"First, every civil and military post within that army is appointed by the court. Even when the grain ran out, only a few defected; the vast majority remain loyal to the dynasty.
"Second, they've just survived a life-and-death war. Having clawed their way back from the gates of hell, do you think they'd now risk being branded rebels and thrown back into the jaws of death?
"And lastly—"
"Let me put it bluntly," said the old man.
"Even the Hongze Battalion—it's hard to say whether Chen Sanshi can truly keep it under control. Don't forget, men like Chu Shixiong were personally handpicked by you and me."
"You're thorough as always, Grand Secretary Yan," said Huang Hong with a nod. "So, what's the next step?"
After a long pause, Grand Secretary Yan Liang, who had never personally commanded a battle in his life, began laying out a plan—one so careful and calculated it could rival even the famed War Immortal Han Xiang. His tone was slow and measured as he spoke.
"If I'm not mistaken," he began, "two groups of Immortal Masters are currently en route to Mount Mang. We'll have them deliver the imperial decree.
"The decree will order Chen Sanshi to step down from command under the pretense of recovering from his injuries, and hand over leadership to Tong Xiaochu.
"Then, we'll dispatch Immortal Masters to Liangzhou, where his family still resides. He wouldn't dare disobey with his family under our watch.
"After Dongqing withdraws its forces, we'll pull our own army back to Liangzhou as well, just to be safe.
"Once all that's done… only then will we issue the official imperial edict, summoning him to the capital.
"If he still refuses—then we act by force.
"And we needn't fear him lashing out. The moment he slaughters too many of the Northern Liang soldiers, he'll lose their loyalty. Without their hearts, he'll never rise again.
"With this plan, we should be able to draw him into the capital within a few months. Once he's here, with His Majesty personally present, he'll be nothing more than a tiger without claws.
"Whether he wants to serve as a loyal subject or not—he'll have no choice but to obey."
"Grand Secretary Yan's plan is airtight," Huang Hong said sincerely. "If you had given up your scholar's robe for armor, I wager you'd make a fine general."
"Haha… I'm too old for that," Yan Liang chuckled faintly. "Soon I won't even have the strength to write the emperor's ceremonial verses."
He added quietly, "And one more thing—make sure the business with the Three Offices is handled cleanly."
"Don't worry, Grand Secretary," said Huang Hong, his voice low and confident. "This humble servant will see it done swiftly."
—
Mount Mang.
Two months passed in a blur.
While waiting for the imperial decree, Chen Sanshi never stopped cultivating.
After several sleepless days and nights, he finally lowered his Dragon Gall Silver Spear, drenched in sweat. Despite dozens of days of focused training, he hadn't managed to awaken another Divine Aspect.
Once a martial cultivator steps into the True Force Realm, the difficulty of progress increases exponentially. Advancing further would be equivalent to a cultivator of the Immortal Path breaking into Foundation Establishment—no easy feat.
Among Immortal cultivators, reaching Foundation Establishment was already enough to establish an entire cultivation clan. It wasn't something achieved in mere days or months.
According to the records, even those with excellent martial talent typically needed five to ten years to advance from the early to the middle stage of True Force Realm. With the aid of pills, the process could be faster.
But martial-cultivation pills and materials were incredibly rare.
At least, Chen Sanshi hadn't seen many for sale in Daze Market.
Because the martial path consumed vast resources while offering no increase in lifespan, its decline was inevitable. Worse still, those who reached its higher realms often found themselves facing an impenetrable wall.
"True Force Realm…" Chen Sanshi muttered.
His thoughts drifted to the Bai Clan he had met in Yulong Town—a family devoted to the martial path.
Every generation of theirs produced at least one True Force expert. Clearly, they had special methods—perhaps unique pills or secret techniques.
He decided he'd find time to refine the True Martial Pill they needed, complete their deal, and pay them a visit afterward.
[Technique: Swallowing Fire Art · Qi Refining Layer 3 — Progress: 355/800]
By the time he reached the third layer, the low-grade pill Yellow Dragon Pill was becoming less effective. Soon, he'd need to refine the middle-grade Clear Spirit Pill to continue advancing.
Aside from that, he kept up his spell practice as well.
[Spell: Ten Thousand Swords Descend · Tier 2 — Progress: 587/2000]
[Spell: Thick Earth Art (Mastery) — Progress: 218/1000]
[Skill: Archery · Perfection (Limit Break Stage 3) — Progress: 516/2000]
When his training session ended, Chen Sanshi walked into a clearing deep in the mountains. He took out his Storage Bag, tipped it over, and poured a pile of loot onto the ground with a clatter.
After the war, he'd ended up with no fewer than twelve storage bags. To anyone else, he'd look less like a general and more like a bandit king of the cultivation world—an Immortal bandit, even.
Most of the items were middle-grade magic weapons, primarily flying swords. They came in all shapes and sizes—some brand new, others chipped and broken, and a few downright bizarre.
There were plenty of flying artifacts too.
After sorting through them, Chen Sanshi chose a leaf-shaped flying artifact and stored it away for his personal use. The rest he'd take back for Ning Xiang and the others to pick through later.
As for pills, there were a few Clear Spirit Pills, but nothing of higher grade.
After all, the more precious the pill, the rarer it was to find. Most cultivators consumed them immediately after buying, and once they reached the Eastern Divine Continent, they couldn't cultivate properly anyway—so there was no point in hoarding them.
Next, he examined the techniques.
Sect cultivators were forbidden from carrying or sharing their sect's core techniques, but rogue cultivators were a different story.
Among the spoils from a slain Western Qi elder, Chen Sanshi found two cultivation manuals.
One was the Golden Yuan Technique, but it only covered the Qi Refining stage, and since his Fire Spiritual Root had already advanced beyond Foundation Establishment, it was useless to him.
The second was the Sword Control Art—a method suitable for any spiritual root type, mainly used by sword cultivators. Not very helpful for him, but it might be useful for Little Daigua.
What intrigued him most, however, was Han Xiang's legacy—an entire set of talisman arts titled True Talisman Codex. It contained detailed drawings and formulas for countless first-tier talismans, along with materials and talisman brushes. He could start studying it anytime.
'The more skills, the better,' he thought. 'As long as it doesn't interfere with cultivation, every craft of the Immortal path is worth mastering.'
He packed away the rest—the chessboard left by Han Xiang, Zou Hu's Divine Vajra Ring, and other odd items.
If he couldn't find use for them, he'd simply sell them at the black market later for a good haul of spirit stones.
By the time he finished sorting everything, dawn had arrived.
Chen Sanshi dusted off his sleeves, slung the storage bag over his shoulder, and prepared to descend the mountain—back to the camp.
Just then, a bluebird swooped down and landed on Chen Sanshi's arm, a sealed letter tied to its leg — a secret missive from the capital.
He slowly opened it. The moment his eyes scanned the contents, his body went cold. Though he cultivated the Fire Breathing Method, an icy aura spread from him.
It was a reply from his Fourth Senior Brother, Fang Qingyun.
Only six words were written:
"Return home first, then act later."
There was no denial, no explanation — that alone said everything.
He had risked his life at the front, while the people behind him not only failed to help but even drove a knife into his back — scheming to bury him and the hundred-thousand-plus troops under his command at Guandu.
And the reason?
Chen Sanshi didn't even need to think.
Foundation-Building Pills.
Wasn't that what all these so-called cultivators fought and killed for?
Back then, when Guandu was on the verge of falling, that person in the capital — likely Cao Kai — must've feared losing his chance to gain favor from Shengyun Sect, so he betrayed them.
He sold them out to Falling Leaf Valley in exchange for Foundation-Building Pills.
Just like during the Ten Days of Yunzhou!
Back then, he and his brothers had led tens of thousands of refugees fleeing from Poyang.
And now, once again — he'd been sold out.
In Cao Kai's eyes, the entire realm was his personal treasury. Whenever he needed something for his cultivation, he'd trade away the lives of others to get it.
Once, twice… and there would surely be a third and a fourth.
This time it was the Foundation-Building Pill. Next time, when he hit another bottleneck, who knew what precious elixir he'd trade for — and how many more lives he'd sacrifice to get it?
Absurd!
Even a man would grieve over a dog dying at home.
And yet—
They were out here dying for him on the battlefield!
"Boom!"
True Force roared from his body. Flames flared around him.
The letter turned to ashes.
Red light flickered in Chen Sanshi's pupils before slowly dimming. At last, he exhaled, turned, and started down the mountain back toward the city.
He knew what would come next.
Soon, he would be stripped of command, and Immortal cultivators would replace him, taking control of the Mount Mang army.
The western front was short on grain and supplies; there was nothing he could do to change that.
If he'd kept the food stockpiled at Wucheng, Western Qi's army would have gone mad with desperation. Hunger drives beasts to bite harder than fear ever could — burning half the grain had been the only way to minimize casualties.
If one fewer soldier died, that was one more life saved.
But the most important thing was this—
Sun Li, Chen Yunxi, and nearly a hundred people from the Grand Commander's Residence were still in Liangzhou.
His Senior Brother was right.
Return home first. Then act.
As expected, no sooner had Chen Sanshi returned to the barracks than Zhao Kang came running up. "My lord, two more 'Immortal Masters' just arrived! They've got military orders from the Ministry of War."
"I know."
Chen Sanshi replied calmly and continued toward the city.
Outside the central command mansion, Eunuch Guo Fengjie, the court's military overseer, was already waiting with six cultivators standing behind him — all at the Perfection stage.
Among them were Wang Jun and Qu Yuanxiang.
The other four were late arrivals — two of them Qi Refining above the twelfth layer, one likely at the fourteenth, and another a True Force Realm martial cultivator.
"Champion Marquis Chen Sanshi, receive the decree!"
Eunuch Guo's shrill but powerful voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Champion Marquis Chen Sanshi, for your exceptional achievement in the Western Campaign, the war has concluded victoriously. You are to immediately surrender your command seal, lead your troops back to Liangzhou to recuperate, and await imperial rewards. You are to depart at once — no delays permitted."
"I obey," Chen Sanshi replied evenly.
He reached into his Storage Bag, drew out the command seal, and handed it over.
Eunuch Guo motioned for a young eunuch to present a tray and take the seal away, his face plastered with a smile.
"Commander Chen, no need to look so grim," he said in a falsely cheerful tone. "You should be packing up for your return to Liangzhou. The court knows you were injured at Wucheng, so this order is to let you rest and recover properly.
"And here's a bit of inside news—
"With this victory, Marquis Chen, it won't be long before you're promoted to Duke of the Realm!"
"Is that so?"
Chen Sanshi's tone was flat. "Then I'll take my leave."
He turned and walked away, white robe fluttering.
Once the White Robe Strategist was gone, Eunuch Guo turned to the cultivators behind him, bowing respectfully. "Gentlemen, we'll need two of you to accompany him to Liangzhou — as official military supervisors. May I ask who's willing?"
"That dump?"
Qu Yuanxiang slurred as he gulped spiritual wine brought from the cultivation world. "Why the hell would I go there?"
"Supervision," Guo explained with a forced smile.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Qu frowned. "You mean we're supposed to keep an eye on him?"
"Exactly."
Guo Fengjie nodded earnestly. "The duty of a supervisor is to watch and report on them. And if necessary, to… well, intervene. Only Immortal Masters like you have that power.
"His Majesty has promised that any cultivator willing to serve as a supervisor will receive five hundred spirit stones as a reward."
"Heh, not bad."
Qu Yuanxiang burped. "Alright then, I'll go — maybe I'll find some fun there."
"Brother Qu," Wang Jun said quickly, grabbing his arm, his eyes warning him not to.
But Qu only laughed. "Five hundred spirit stones, brother! That's enough to buy a good batch of pills — why turn it down?"
Qu Yuanxiang didn't take it seriously.
"I'll go with him," said Wang Jun, his tone calm but firm. "I don't need the spirit stones."
"Immortal Master, there's no need to refuse. Everyone who volunteers will receive spirit stones," said Guo Fengjie, arranging everything neatly. "The Hongze Battalion departs tonight. Please, both of you, go and make preparations with Lord Chen."
"Brother Qu, it's not too late to change your mind," Wang Jun murmured as they walked away. "Can't you tell something's off?"
"What could possibly be off?" Qu Yuanxiang muttered through drunken lips, clutching his wine flask. "We fought and bled all the way here, and that brat Chen pocketed all the good loot in the end. Why shouldn't I earn a few spirit stones for myself?"
Just mentioning it made his blood boil.
When Chen Sanshi had first taken command, he'd threatened to punish him by military law, just to make an example out of him. The humiliation still burned.
And after the war, most of the storage bags from fallen enemies had ended up in Chen Sanshi's possession.
Qu Yuanxiang had only scavenged a few scraps from paupers—barely worth mentioning.
He'd long fantasized about ambushing that "White Robe" and running him through, taking every last storage bag for himself.
But, bound by the strict regulations of sect missions, there was no chance.
By dusk that day, Chen Sanshi led the Hongze Battalion out of Chongming Prefecture.
"Old Zhu, we're moving out!"
In the prison, Zhao Kang pushed open the iron door and dragged Zhu Tong, whose whole body was shackled in heavy chains.
"Moving out?" Zhu Tong glanced up warily. "To where?"
Zhao Kang exchanged a look with Liu Jinkui, and both sighed in sync.
"You two…" Zhu Tong frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I've got a flask of good wine," said Liu Jinkui, pulling a gourd from his belt. "Drink it before we go."
"Go where?" Zhu Tong's expression turned grim. The strength drained from his face, but after a moment, he only said quietly, "I understand."
"Ah, Old Zhu, you're just too impulsive!" Zhao Kang slapped him on the shoulder. "No matter what, that Liao Fang was still a marquis. The imperial decree naming him was already written. You went and killed him — there's no saving you now."
"Exactly," Liu Jinkui added, shaking his head. "Our lord tried to protect you, but he even lost his command seal for it."
"Then it's my fault."
Zhu Tong grabbed the gourd, drank it dry in one long pull, and said hoarsely, "I'll take responsibility myself. I won't drag the lord down with me."
Seeing him like that, Zhao Kang couldn't help but tease, "You're not afraid of dying?"
At that, Zhu Tong slammed the empty gourd to the ground with a loud crack. "Afraid of what? Give me another life, and I'd still smash that bastard's skull! Go ahead, do it here and now. Better by your hands than anyone else's!"
"What a fool," Liu Jinkui chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax, we're messing with you."
"Messing with me?" Zhu Tong blinked. "You're not here to kill me? Then where are we going?"
"The war's over," Zhao Kang said with a grin. "We're going home."
Half an hour later, the Hongze Battalion marched away from Mount Mang, heading toward Liangzhou City.
In this campaign, five thousand of Hongze's soldiers had fallen in battle.
But after the war, many elite troops from the Commander's Army volunteered to stay behind, restoring their full strength to fifteen thousand men.
Those fifteen thousand… half of them were new faces, completely different from when the camp was first raised.
"Damn it!" cursed Wang Zhi, riding atop his Blackwind Horse. "The war just ended, and they're already kicking us out! Not even a moment to breathe. They're stripping our lord's seal and shoving us aside like used beasts — it's slaughtering the donkey after it grinds the mill!"
"If they're so capable," he growled, "next time they fight a war, they can do it without the Hongze Battalion!"
"They won't," Chen Sanshi said quietly.
"Won't?" Wang Zhi frowned. "What do you mean?"
"From now on," Chen Sanshi said, voice low and measured, "no one will ever command us again."
Wang Zhi's eyes widened as he caught the meaning. Rage burned across his face. "So it really was the court's doing?"
Chen Sanshi didn't answer, but his silence was enough.
Wang Zhi's fists tightened on the reins; more than once, he nearly turned his horse toward the capital.
"Let's go back to Liangzhou first," Chen Sanshi said. "We'll plan after that."
"Alright," Wang Zhi said through clenched teeth.
As they spoke, two fast horses appeared on the horizon, galloping toward them under the orange glow of the setting sun.
They weren't strangers — it was the couple Wei Xuan and his wife, whom Chen Sanshi had met back in Daze Market.
"Old Wei?" Chen Sanshi reined in his horse. "Why aren't you heading back to the market? What are you doing here?"
"Not going back," Wei Xuan said with a relaxed smile. "Our blood contract mission is done, the bounty's claimed. I'm getting old, and if I go back to the cultivation world, I'll probably never break through the True Force Realm in this lifetime. So I plan to stay and rest for a while.
"I was hoping to visit you in Liangzhou — you don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not," Chen Sanshi replied, then added seriously, "But I'll be frank — these days aren't exactly peaceful."
"Hah!" Wei Xuan laughed. "Young man, we've fought side by side on the battlefield. You can't even let me crash at your place for a few days? Or are all you people from the Eastern Divine Continent this stingy?"
Before Chen Sanshi could refuse, Wei Xuan and his wife urged their horses forward, riding alongside him.
"Don't worry," Wei Xuan said with a smirk. "We won't slow you down."
Hearing that, Chen Sanshi immediately understood what he meant.
Wei Xuan had once mentioned that he'd defended a city himself — technically a martial general, though unaffiliated with any court.
Now, with Chen Sanshi stripped of command and two cultivators assigned as supervisors, Wei Xuan had clearly sensed the danger. He wanted to follow them, just in case things went wrong — to lend a hand if needed.
What a man, Chen Sanshi thought. There really are heroes left in this world.
Wei Xuan continued, "After you killed Lu Boqin, the Law Enforcement Hall realized how bad it looked for them. It would've hurt business in the market, so they compensated me with a Spirit Vision Fruit."
"Once we reached Mount Mang, my wife got one too.
"The two of us have been Martial Saints for decades. We've built up our foundations for a long time. Give us a bit of time, and we'll break through to the True Force Realm ourselves."