The Legend of the Sword God (Part 1)

Chapter 1
Jiang Ze watched the Crescent Moon Kingdom's army retreat like a receding tide, knowing that the arduous

battle of the past six months was finally coming to an end, and his thoughts surged.
As a rising star in the empire in recent years, Jiang Ze, at only twenty-one years old, had become

the youngest commander-in-chief in the empire's history. This victory would propel his fame, fortune, and status to their peak.
The Grand Marshal, who had secretly attacked him several times out of fear of his military talent,

would no longer be able to act so openly after this battle. The Grand Marshal could never have predicted that his strong recommendation of

Jiang Ze as the commander-in-chief of this campaign would actually lead to the successful defeat of the Crescent Moon Kingdom's army.
Jiang Ze breathed a sigh of relief. His father, before his death, had repeatedly admonished him that he must contribute to the empire when he grew up.

At that time, he had firmly remembered his father's words, and now, he had done so.
At this moment, a subordinate general came to report.
"My lord, the large force you ordered to ambush the enemy's retreating troops successfully scattered them. Afterwards, our army

discovered the enemy desperately escorting a man. We guessed it was their general, so we captured him alive and

are now sending him to the front camp."
Jiang Ze, regaining his composure, nodded: "Lead the way."
A moment later, a young man, bound hand and foot, glared at Jiang Ze with venomous eyes.
Jiang Ze was startled. The richly dressed young man before him, tightly bound, was none other than

Prince Ernan of Crescent Moon Kingdom. He was the only surviving heir of the current Crescent Moon Kingdom's ruler and its legally

sole successor. Jiang Ze never imagined that someone of such high status would personally come to the battlefield.
"Bring him to my tent," Jiang Ze ordered his men.
As Ernan was pushed in, Jiang Ze waved his hand: "All of you, get out. No one is to come in without my orders

."
Ernan remained silent, his expression blank.
Jiang Ze walked over, reached out and easily tore the thick rope binding him,

instantly freeing him.
Er Nan's expression changed slightly; he clearly hadn't expected Jiang Ze to untie him.
"Invincible Commander, Jiang Ze. Truly living up to his reputation." Er Nan's expression was blank, but Jiang Ze could hear

the deep sorrow in his voice.
Jiang Ze shook his head, saying, "I am just an ordinary person, not what the prince imagines. Under other circumstances,

I might have pretended not to see you, but right now, your Crescent Moon Kingdom has repeatedly provoked our empire, ultimately

leading to war. Therefore, the prince should be prepared."
Er Nan looked at him with a mocking expression: "Provoke? Haha…

Only we know best the empire's ambitions towards our Crescent Moon Kingdom. It's laughable that the ignorant people of the continent's various countries unanimously believe we are provoking them for no reason;

it's utterly ridiculous…"
Jiang Ze looked at him calmly: "Our empire's head of state has never liked the use of force." " To bully weak

nations. The people have known him for years. If your Crescent Moon Kingdom hadn't constantly tested the limits of the Empire's patience,

His Majesty wouldn't have made this decision."
A deep sorrow flashed in Ernan's eyes: "You're wrong. It's not us testing the limits of your Empire's patience.

It's you testing ours. First, you used trickery to kill my brother, then you

tried to poison my father. If we hadn't discovered your scheme, my father would have been dead long ago. Even if we are defeated, we

will never back down."
A deep doubt flashed in Jiang Ze's eyes. Rationally speaking, what Ernan said was impossible. But

as the supreme commander of the military in this battle, his analytical abilities were exceptional.
Before the war, he had spent considerable effort collecting information on the Crescent Moon Kingdom,

leaving no stone unturned, regardless of its usefulness.
After his research, he came to a strange conclusion. Although the Crescent Moon Kingdom's military strength was weak,

the economic were quite good and very evenly distributed. Compared to the vast wealth disparity within the Empire, it's clear that the Crescent Moon Kingdom

is superior to most countries on the continent in terms of governance and people's livelihood. The
Crescent Moon Kingdom is self-sufficient and adept at trade with other nations, making expansion entirely unnecessary.
Therefore, its provocations become a discordant element. Moreover, the target of its provocations is

one of the most .
Seeing Jiang Ze lost in thought, Er Nan simply said, "My fate is to be sent to

the capital by you, isn't it?"
Jiang Ze snapped out of his reverie and nodded, "That's right. Since you are the prince of the Crescent Moon Kingdom, I will hand you over to His Majesty the Head of State

."
Er Nan shook his head, pleadingly saying, "Could you give me a quick death?"
"Why?" Jiang Ze was immediately surprised. "Given His Majesty's character,

the possibility is extremely small, even though our two countries have just gone to war."
Ernan's eyes flashed with resentment as he shook his head. "Your imperial head might not kill me, but there is

one person who will never let me leave alive. He has successfully provoked a war between our two countries, how could he let go of such a

golden opportunity? Either way, I'm going to die, so a quick death is definitely better than falling into his hands and not knowing

what he will do to me."
Jiang Ze was startled and raised his head. "Who is this person you're talking about, and what is your basis for it?"
Ernan knew his situation, but he still tried to bargain for himself. "If you promise me that

you will finish me off with a single sword strike afterward, I can tell you everything I know."
Jiang Ze closed his eyes and fell silent.
"Alright, I promise you."
Ernan looked relieved. Clearly, what he wanted most right now was to die a quick death.
Ernan calmly said, "This person is your Empire's Grand Marshal Tu Yu. My elder brother was assassinated by his

men , and my father was poisoned by a spy he planted in the castle. Furthermore,

two commanders in our Crescent Moon Kingdom's military are his spies. If we hadn't found a reclusive wizard and obtained a series of clues from

the spies , we would have been utterly defeated long ago. That's the gist of the matter. Tu Yu's goal is

to instigate war between the two countries, but no one knows his true motives."
Jiang Ze's heart surged with turmoil. Grand Marshal Tu Yu, the most ruthless Grand Marshal in the Empire's history, almost...

How could the invincible battlefield commander be him?
Grand Marshal Tu Yu, who assumed the position twenty years ago, was a brilliant strategist, having fought in

nearly a hundred battles, large and small, without a single defeat. In recent years, he had rarely fought on the battlefield, but his prestige still

profoundly influenced the nations of the continent.
A strange feeling arose in Jiang Ze's heart. In his memory, the Grand Marshal held a high position of power,

second only to the Head of State in the empire. He was somewhat gloomy and possessed astonishing martial arts skills; his greatest weakness was his tendency to kill,

making him an enemy no one wanted. However, he had always been utterly loyal to the Head of State, who

trusted him implicitly and entrusted him with many tasks. In recent years, his prestige and influence had long since

extended beyond the military.
Jiang Ze first met the Grand Marshal when he was seventeen. At that time, his martial arts skills

impressed , and for a time, the Grand Marshal held Jiang Ze in high regard. Later, the Grand Marshal not only distanced himself from him but also

secretly tried to severely undermine him several times, seemingly starting from the beginning of last year when he met Yu Ya Yuan, the most beautiful woman in the empire,

fell in love with her, and became engaged.
In fact, most of the empire's people both respected and feared the Grand Marshal. This wasn't just because of his

ruthless killing spree on the battlefield, but also because when he was ordered to purge traitors or criminals within the empire, he

was relentless leaving no one unpunished, no matter how minor.
If it weren't for Jiang Ze's fiancée, Yu Ya Yuan, being a renowned and influential woman on the continent, responsible for tutoring the head of state's

sixteen- year-old son and giving her frequent opportunities to speak directly with the head of state, Jiang Ze

might have truly been crushed by the Grand Marshal.
In short, the Grand Marshal wasn't a vicious person, but he was certainly not a good one either.
However, the information Jiang Ze possessed alone was insufficient to explain the inconsistencies in Er Nan's words.
What was he trying to achieve by plotting to wage war against the Crescent Moon Kingdom?
Jiang Ze couldn't fathom what benefit he could gain.
"I know you must have questions, but that's all I know. The rest, unless you can tie up

your Grand Marshal, will remain an unsolvable mystery. You should keep your promise

and give me a quick death. I've heard you're the Empire's most outstanding swordsman; otherwise, the Empire's most beautiful woman, Yu Ya Yuan,

wouldn't have been engaged to you. To die by your hand is acceptable."
Er Nan's expression was perfectly calm as he said this.
Jiang Ze sighed, "I'm sorry, I don't intend to keep my word."
Upon hearing this, Er Nan's eyes blazed with fury: "Your purpose was just to deceive me."
Jiang Ze shook his head, "No, I'm going to release you directly."
Er Nan was stunned.
Night fell.
Er Nan followed Jiang Ze away from the army, riding towards the forest on the Brown Wasteland Plain.
Upon reaching the edge of the forest, Ernan's eyes widened in disbelief: "You're really going to let me go?"
Jiang Ze smiled slightly: "No one in the army knows you. If anyone asks, I'll just say you're dead

. Returning to Crescent Moon Kingdom from here shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"
Ernan took a deep breath of the cold night air, yet felt a warmth in his heart: "Brother Jiang's great kindness will surely

be repaid in the future. There's one more thing I was hesitant to mention. When you return, Brother Jiang, please be extremely careful of Tu Yu.

We had that wizard perform a divination, and the result showed that the Imperial Grand Marshal Tu Yu possesses an evil seed. When we asked

what meant, the wizard only vaguely said that he is a seed of evil, extremely dangerous. Brother Jiang, please

remember that."
Ernan's words sent a chill down Jiang Ze's spine.
Wizards are a very mysterious race on the continent. They have

existed on the continent since the beginning of recorded human history. They possess mysterious and unpredictable abilities, capable of foreseeing the future. Their numbers are extremely

small , and their lineage is shrouded in mystery; the calculations made by wizards throughout history have never been wrong.
The phrase "seeds of evil" deeply shocked Jiang Ze.
While the Grand Marshal wasn't a good person, he wasn't inherently evil or violent. If this statement

was true, did it mean that the Grand Marshal's evil heart had always been hidden beneath his outward appearance?
This thought sent chills down Jiang Ze's spine.
Back at the army camp, several of his close subordinates inquired about Ernan's whereabouts. Jiang Ze replied that he had killed him,

and they didn't ask further.
This great victory meant that Jiang Ze and his soldiers would receive unparalleled praise from the entire empire.
On their journey home, morale was high, and everyone stood tall and proud. After six months of fighting, these

young soldiers all longed for their warm homes. Even Jiang Ze couldn't help but deeply miss his beloved

fiancée, wishing he could rush to her side immediately.
Finally, after half a month of continuous travel, they returned from the front lines to their familiar homeland.
The whole nation rejoiced.
The people along the way cheered for the heroes.
The Imperial Head of State, personally leading his officials, greeted Jiang Ze outside the capital, instantly bringing the atmosphere to its peak.
All the soldiers, including Jiang Ze, were overwhelmed with gratitude.
The Imperial Head of State was around forty years old, fair-skinned, and appeared very refined. Although he wore a magnificent

brocade robe , he resembled a scholar more than an imperial ruler. He happily comforted Jiang Ze and his troops, and the large

army marched into the vast city.
The city streets were lined with cheering crowds, immersing the entire capital in a sea of jubilation.
Jiang Ze paid special attention to the Grand Marshal, who remained expressionless as always.
Upon arriving at the great castle, the Head of State praised Jiang Ze's success, announced a series of

rewards, and instructed everyone that a celebratory banquet would be held in the castle the day after tomorrow, which everyone was required to attend.
He then told the battle-hardened Jiang Ze and his men to return and rest.
Finally, he could breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Just as he stepped out of the castle, Jiang Ze saw the Grand Marshal approaching him with several of his high-ranking officers and subordinates.
Regardless of how much Jiang Ze disliked the Grand Marshal, and knowing that the man had repeatedly tried to harm him, and

given the vast difference in their power and status, he still had no choice but to take the initiative to bow: "Grand Marshal."
A flash of murderous intent crossed Grand Marshal Tu Yu's eyes, and he nodded, saying, "Congratulations, young Jiang, on your victory in the great battle."

"After this battle, some within the empire believe that Xiao Jiang's achievements on the battlefield will surpass mine in the future."
Jiang Ze caught the cold glint in his eyes and humbly replied, "Compared to the Grand Marshal, I still have

a way to go."
A strange smile appeared on the Grand Marshal's lips: "Xiao Jiang, there's no need to be modest. Everyone has seen your achievements

and has their own opinions. However, being a genius commander isn't easy."
With that, the Grand Marshal laughed heartily and led his men away on horseback. The Grand Marshal was the only official in the empire who

could ride a horse within the castle grounds, demonstrating his immense power.
Jiang Ze was left pondering the meaning of his last words.
Not long after the Grand Marshal left, the Grand Civil Official Tai Chen and his exceptionally skilled son Ji Cheng

approached him.
Tai Chen was the Grand Civil Official of the empire, holding a position equivalent to the Grand Marshal. He was the most powerful person in the entire empire besides the Head of State and the Grand Marshal

. In the past, Jiang Ze had not been worthy of his personal audience, but after today, everything

would be different.
Tai Chen was about sixty years old, with gray hair but bright, piercing eyes. Beside him, Ji Cheng

was tall and imposing, with a rugged face. At the age of twenty-four, he was already one of the top swordsmen in the capital, with astonishing martial arts skills.
Tai Chen looked at Jiang Ze and smiled slightly, "It's rare to see such

a great achievement . Initially, the Grand Marshal decided to recommend you as the commander-in-chief of this battle, but there were many dissenting voices within the Empire. Now it seems that

Commander Jiang truly possesses extraordinary talent."
Jiang Ze quickly bowed, "Elder Tai, you flatter me. The victory in this battle is entirely due to the bravery of my Empire's soldiers. I

merely played a commanding role."
"Commander Jiang is young and yet remains humble in victory. That's truly remarkable. Commander Jiang, if you have time

, why not come to my residence for a chat? I have some things I'd like to discuss with you privately."
Jiang Ze's heart stirred, and he replied, "I have many things to do these next few days.

How about I visit Elder Tai the day after tomorrow?"
Tai Chen stroked his white beard and smiled, "Alright, then I'll be waiting for Commander Jiang."
After seeing off this equally powerful figure, Jiang Ze was astonished to find that many officials, whose positions were usually higher

than his, were now all coming to curry favor. Jiang Ze, who had never dealt with this situation before, felt extremely

disgusted but had no way to refuse.
In the distance, at the entrance of the grand castle, Tai Chen and his son, who were about to board their carriage, witnessed

the scene unfolding .
Ji Cheng's face darkened. "Father, why are you trying to win him over?"
Tai Chen, seated in the carriage, glanced at his young son and said calmly, "Because he's worth our

effort."
Ji Cheng still didn't understand. "He's ultimately someone promoted by the Grand Marshal. If we fail to win him over, it might affect

us ..."
Tai Chen immediately snorted coldly. "You know perfectly well what his relationship with the Grand Marshal is. I understand

you resent Jiang Ze because of that girl Yu Ya Yuan, but you must understand that the bigger picture is

more . As long as the Grand Marshal exists, we will face a serious threat."
Ji Cheng's face flushed red from his father's words, yet he couldn't refute them. After a long while, he lowered his head. "I

understand , Father. From now on, I will prioritize the bigger picture and will no longer secretly sabotage Jiang Ze like before

."
Tai Chen had a son late in life and always doted on his only son. Seeing his expression and his willingness to

admit his mistake, his tone immediately softened.
"I understand how alluring Yu Ya Yuan is. Her beauty is in no way inferior

to the Queen of the Witch Kingdom, whom I met once thirty years ago. The Witch's beauty is like a goddess descended to earth. But

Yu Ya Yuan is no less stunning than the Witch. She and Jiang Ze are only engaged now, and their wedding won't take place for two years.

If we can bring down the Grand Marshal during this time, what is a mere Jiang Ze?"
Ji Cheng's eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed again: "But, only two years...

to bring down the Grand Marshal... sigh..."
Tai Chen sneered: "Don't worry, I have the Grand Marshal's greatest weakness.

When the time is right, I can use it to send him to hell. Then, we'll be second only to the Grand Marshal.

It will be much easier for you to get Yu Ya Yuan."
"Father, is what you're saying true?" Ji Cheng became excited.
Tai Chen nodded firmly, "Of course it's true. However, Yu Ya Yuan is a famous talented woman in the empire, with

exceptional and intelligence. Such an outstanding beauty is most attracted to men stronger than herself. In terms of literature, you are far

inferior to her. The only way to win her heart is through martial arts. However, according to the information I have,

Yu Ya Yuan not only teaches the head of state's son academic subjects but also martial arts, and he has learned them exceptionally well. If your

Qi cultivation hasn't reached the fifth level or above, it might not be enough to make her fall for you."
Ji Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, "I have absolutely no problem with that. My Qi has already reached the third level, and I have a faint feeling of breaking through

recently . Reaching the fifth level within two years is definitely not a problem."
Tai Chen glanced at him and added, "As far as I know, Jiang Ze's Qi reached the fifth level half a year ago.

This was reported by our spies planted around him. Now you understand

why Yu Ya Yuan, who is the goddess in the hearts of all the young people in the empire, would fall for him, right?"
Ji Cheng's previously excited heart immediately felt like it had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
After a long pause, he finally said, "I will surpass him."
Tai Chen said with satisfaction, "That's right. Father, I recently purchased a Qi Gathering

Pill from a wizard in Crescent Moon Kingdom at a high price. It has arrived. As long as you break through to the fourth level, take it."
Ji Cheng's face immediately lit up with joy: "But a Qi Gathering

Pill that can increase one's Qi level by one level after taking it?"
"That's right, it's this precious thing. I've gone to great lengths for you. Remember,

you can only take it after breaking through to the fourth level, otherwise it will be a huge waste."
"I know, Father, let's hurry back. I need to intensify my cultivation."
...
Back in his courtyard, Jiang Ze looked exhausted.
Dealing with the endless stream of visitors was more tiring than fighting a war. Before he knew it, it was already dark.

He suddenly realized that he hadn't prepared a gift for his fiancée, Yu Yayuan, since returning, and slapped his forehead.
Because Jiang Ze had ordered his guards and generals to go home and reunite with their families, he hadn't brought anyone

with him . However, the capital city was extremely security-conscious, with armored warriors patrolling the streets frequently, so safety

wasn't a concern.
Jiang Ze changed out of his warrior's uniform, wearing ordinary long clothes, trousers, and leather boots, looking

no different from an ordinary person. So, along the way, no one recognized that this young man was

the hero they had so enthusiastically welcomed not long ago.
The Empire was one of the most powerful nations on the continent, with a thriving economy and trade; the capital city was filled with rare and precious items from

various countries . Whatever Jiang Ze gave her, Yu Yayuan
would always accept it with great joy. Since the head of state had specifically requested that Jiang Ze bring Yu Yayuan to the banquet the day after tomorrow, he decided to

pick out an evening gown for her.
"Welcome! How can I help you?" a maid asked respectfully.
This was an extremely luxurious and opulent women's clothing shop, its interior filled with a dazzling array of colorful clothes and accessories,

almost overwhelming.
"Oh, I'd like to help my companion choose an evening gown."
"Of course, please follow me."
A maid led Jiang Ze inside. Soon, a series of magnificent dresses, each separated by transparent glass, came

into Jiang Ze's view, leaving him overwhelmed.
"May I ask how tall your companion is?"
Jiang Ze thought for a moment and said to the maid, "Approximately to my eye level."
The maid, clearly somewhat envious, said, "Your companion is very tall, so she can wear all the dresses here.

Please take your time choosing, and feel free to ask me any questions."
Jiang Ze nodded and began selecting on his own.
After a while, he spotted a light blue dress and called over the maid he had been looking for.
"Please bring me this dress."
The maid replied, "Yes, sir. This is a silk dress from the Western Regions. The material is exquisite, and it's

one of the most suitable evening gowns for women to wear to noble parties." She added with a hint of envy, "No more than a hundred silk dresses are imported from the Western Regions each year

; they're extremely rare. This is the last one this month."
Jiang Ze immediately nodded, "It's this one."
After bringing it out, the maid reminded Jiang Ze, "By the way, compared to our local dresses, this silk dress

is much shorter, usually only reaching the knees. Noblewomen from the Western Regions generally don't wear

long boots , but rather high-heeled shoes, and they don't wear cotton socks underneath; instead, they wear socks with a very special weaving method..." "Would you like to purchase high

heels and stockings separately?"
Jiang Ze was good at fighting, but completely clueless about these things. He could only say, "You know more than I do, so

how about you recommend something?"
The maid replied, "The current aristocratic upper class in the capital is very fond of wearing rare clothing from the Western Regions,

and the effect is indeed outstanding. I recommend it to your female companion; it will definitely be very good."
Jiang Ze nodded, "Then take me to see them."
Jiang Ze selected two pairs of flesh-colored stockings that were quite expensive but as thin as cicada wings, and a pair of

high heels made entirely of crystal. When he took them to the maid to pay, all the dozen or so maids in the shop cast incredibly envious glances at the pair of crystal shoes in Jiang Ze's

hands , which shimmered with a dreamlike hue.
This was definitely an ordinary nobleman.
Because of the upward thrust of the heel, high heels, when worn, would

adjust a woman's unique figure to adapt to their structure, making her walk very graceful and feminine. Therefore, many

noblewomen of the empire have become increasingly fond of this uniquely designed shoe in recent years.
However, the high heels, entirely crafted from crystal, were incredibly expensive. Every

woman had her eyes light up at the sight of them, but their exorbitant price deterred them all.
When Jiang Ze calmly handed over a small, heavy bag of pure gold coins, not only the female attendants but even the shop

owner and several customers inside looked at him differently.
An ordinary citizen of the capital earns only about ten silver coins a year; thirty silver coins are

equivalent to one gold coin. Jiang Ze's small bag contained at least a hundred gold coins, meaning

the price of these crystal shoes was equivalent to the total income of a capital resident for three hundred years without spending a penny.
Even wealthy noblewomen wouldn't dare spend so much on a single pair of shoes.

Otherwise , many would have been tempted by these precious crystal shoes, but no one would have actually bought them.
And who was this man's companion all of a sudden? The fact that a man could so effortlessly spend a bag of pure gold coins on

her clothes was astonishing.
Suddenly, the shop owner, a large, fat man, scrutinized Jiang Ze's face and exclaimed in disbelief

, "You...you are Commander Jiang Ze, Lord Jiang!"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Then, everyone realized at the same time that Commander Jiang Ze's companion was none other than the Empire's most beautiful woman, Yu

Ya Yuan!
So that's it...
yes, only the goddess-like Yu Ya Yuan was worthy of these exquisite crystal shoes.
Jiang Ze smiled slightly at the people in the shop, nodded as a greeting, and left satisfied.
His fiancée always loved beautiful clothes and would surely be delighted with this gift.
As for himself, he was quite familiar with all of this, and naturally, he didn't need to dress too formally the next day.
The following day, Jiang Ze was extremely busy. It wasn't until a servant from the manor informed him that Yu Ya Yuan had arrived that

he finally put down his work and came out to greet her.
To his surprise, the head of state's son, Rong Ke, who had just turned sixteen, had also come.

In since he'd last seen him, the boy had grown much taller, only half a head shorter than Ya Yuan, yet he still looked like a child, still

holding the beautiful woman's hand.
Since the head of state had personally invited the empire's most talented woman, Yu Ya Yuan, to

tutor him when he was eleven or twelve, Rong Ke considered Yu Ya Yuan his closest confidante, and naturally, he would follow

her around whenever he had time.
Jiang Ze walked over and said, somewhat speechlessly, "Future head of state, tell me, how old are you this year?"

" Does she need someone to hold her hand when she goes out?"
Rong Ke, who was as fair-skinned and refined as his father, blushed upon hearing this, but still

refused to let go of Jiang Ze's fiancée's soft hand. He snorted and said, "The reason I held Ya Yuan's hand was because you

hadn't come back for half a year, making Ya Yuan love-sick. To get revenge on you, I deliberately

held your hand. Humph, it's too late now that I'm back. Ya Yuan has already changed her mind, I..."
Before Rong Ke could finish speaking, Jiang Ze and Yu Ya Yuan were already laughing so hard they couldn't say a word.
The beautiful woman suppressed a laugh, released her hand, patted Rong Ke's head, and glared at him with her beautiful eyes: "Now that

your brother Jiang Ze is back, I'm going to abandon my evil ways and join his side."
Rong Ke exclaimed "Ah!" seemingly very angry: "Sister Ya Yuan, how could you do this?"
Jiang Ze shook his head and chuckled: "Come on, come in and let's talk. Don't go back tonight, eat here."
At the dinner table, after listening to Jiang Ze's account of the battlefield, Rong Ke proudly said for him: "Brother Jiang Ze, from

now on, no one will dare to look down on you anymore."
Although Yu Ya Yuan didn't say anything, judging from the relaxed expression in her eyes,

she was clearly overjoyed that Jiang Ze had returned unharmed. As for fame and fortune, she didn't care too much.
Jiang Ze naturally noticed the concern in her eyes, looked at her, and his eyes became slightly heated.
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm the future head of state, Jiang Ze, you should at least tone it down a bit in front of me. You

're really hurting me. Don't you know that Sister Ya Yuan is my goddess? Humph, as long as

I'm here, you can forget about it. Not even a kiss, let alone that."
Jiang Ze was speechless for a moment.
Yu Ya Yuan's beautiful face flushed red, and she glared at Rong Ke: "

Where did you learn all this bad stuff? Are you going to tell the head of state?"
Rong Ke was most afraid that Yu Ya Yuan would tell his father, and he immediately lowered his head: "No... Sister Ya Yuan.

At most, just pretend I didn't say anything."
"Oh, right, I have something to give you." Jiang Ze suddenly called in a servant, gave him a few

instructions , and soon the servant came in with three elegantly designed wooden boxes, one large, one small, and one long.
Jiang Ze first handed the long wooden box to Rong Ke, who immediately perked up and exclaimed, "

What is it ?"
"Just open it and you'll see."
Rong Ke took it and eagerly began to open it.
"Wow, this is... the same as the one you have, Brother Jiang Ze, the Black Gold Sword!" Rong Ke's eyes lit up.
He pulled out the dark, gleaming sword from the wooden box, its chilling aura emanating from it.
This was a renowned sword on the continent, forged from black gold, its sharpness capable of cutting through iron like mud, making it

extremely precious.
Rong Ke was captivated by it.
Jiang Ze handed two wooden boxes to Yu Ya Yuan, whose face lit up with a charming smile: "I guess it's something like

clothes ."
Jiang Ze was speechless: "It's strange, you always guess right."
After Yu Ya Yuan opened the large wooden box, a beautiful lake-blue dress appeared before her eyes.
"So beautiful." Rong Ke's attention was immediately drawn to it. He reached out and touched it, and after a moment,

he concluded, "This should be a silk dress from the Western Regions, right, Sister Ya Yuan?"
Yu Ya Yuan gave him an appreciative look: "Not bad, I only told you once, and you actually recognized it."
Rong Ke was very proud of himself. He then picked up another small box and opened it.
Inside were two exquisite stockings and a pair of crystal shoes.
Rong Ke was dumbfounded, while Yu Ya Yuan stared intently at the pair of crystal shoes

for a long time before looking away.
She understood Jiang Ze's meaning: "You want me to wear this to the banquet tomorrow, right?"
Jiang Ze nodded.
Rong Ke finally snapped out of his daze and chuckled maliciously, "Brother Jiang Ze, are you sure you want Sister Ya Yuan to wear

this you make her wear this

to the banquet, they'll definitely hate you to death."
Yu Ya Yuan playfully slapped Rong Ke on the head, "You little devil, what are you saying?"
Rong Ke immediately protested, "I'm just stating the facts. Who can blame them when Sister Ya Yuan is so beautiful? Those people

are indeed all captivated by you. I dare..." " Definitely, if you wear these tomorrow, those guys will be drooling, and

they'll hate Jiang Ze even more."
This time, Yu Yayuan didn't say anything more to him. Instead, she thought for a moment, shrugged, and said, "At worst,

I'll just wear something ordinary tomorrow."
Jiang Ze smiled and said, "No need for that. His Majesty specifically asked me to bring you along, so

wearing something nice is no problem. Besides, I'm a true warrior, why would I be afraid of others?" He displayed great confidence in the last

sentence .
Yu Yayuan gazed at him intently with her beautiful eyes and smiled, "Then I'll listen to you."
Rong Ke curled his lip, "Be prepared to be attacked by those guys in turns, Jiang Ze. I

offer condolences."
Jiang Ze's strong hand and Yu Yayuan's slender hand simultaneously reached out to hit Rong Ke.
The latter immediately cried out.
The next day, the head of state ordered a nationwide celebration. The entire empire was immersed in a sea of cheers.
The defeat of Crescent Moon Kingdom resulted in the cession of vast territories and the loss of its empire, along with a massive indemnity of gold coins,

nearly ten thousand warhorses, and thousands of cattle and sheep—a double loss. This battle further

expanded , making it the largest nation on the continent.
Upon hearing this news, Jiang Ze recalled what Prince Ernan of Crescent Moon Kingdom had told him that day.
The eldest prince of Crescent Moon Kingdom was dead, and the king's health was extremely poor, almost to the point of inability to govern.

It was said that Ernan had personally negotiated the indemnity with the empire. Currently, morale throughout Crescent Moon Kingdom was extremely low. If

what Ernan said was true, then the Grand Marshal would definitely take further action against Crescent Moon Kingdom; if not,

then his words were completely unfounded.
Having understood this, Jiang Ze decided that he would pay close attention to the Grand Marshal's actions in the coming period.
The large square in front of the castle was already packed with people. At this moment, the head of state and his officials were

delivering a speech from the castle.
Jiang Ze listened and nodded to himself.
His Majesty was indeed a good head of state. Although the Crescent Moon Kingdom had been provoking them recently, he had refrained from

taking action. Only when he had no other choice did he decide to act. After the victory, apart from the due compensation, he made no

demands . He even told them in a gentle manner that the empire did not want to use force to oppress others, and that peaceful development was

the common goal.
Jiang Ze could feel the empire's people's love and respect for this good head of state.
The speech did not end until the afternoon, and the crowd gradually dispersed. As night fell, Jiang Ze took

a carriage to Yu Ya Yuan's residence to pick her up.
...
Ji Cheng followed his father into the castle hall. Everyone they met greeted them

politely . In the past, Ji Cheng would have felt very superior, but after his father's enlightenment

, he finally understood.
He lacked his father's astonishing knowledge but possessed unparalleled martial arts skills. Previously, he had always considered himself

one of the strongest in the capital. However, when his father told him that

Jiang Ze, the fiancé of his goddess Yu Ya Yuan, whom he had always looked down upon, had reached the fifth level of "Qi," he was suddenly jolted awake, realizing

how .
His mindset began to correct itself, and after this epiphany, his spirit was refreshed. He began to

cultivate , and the bottlenecks that had previously held him back suddenly cleared after his enlightenment. In just two days, his "Qi"

broke through to the fourth level. Taking advantage of this opportunity, after consuming a Qi Gathering Pill, he reached

the level of Yu Ya Yuan's fiancé Jiang Ze within half an hour.
He felt no joy, because this was only Jiang Ze's level six months ago. Only by leaving Jiang Ze far

behind would his goddess look at him with new respect.
Tai Chen also clearly felt his son's rapid transformation and was greatly pleased, chuckling

incessantly along the way.
Suddenly, the two of them stopped simultaneously.
The Grand Marshal, exceptionally tall and imposing, comparable only to Ji Cheng in the arena,

strode over with several subordinates.
Looking at the spirited Ji Cheng, the Grand Marshal showed surprise, saying, "I didn't expect Young Master Ji Cheng

to be so unassuming . Elder Tai, you truly have impressive skills."
Tai Chen's old eyes flashed with a fierce light, but he chuckled, "Not at all. At my age, I have everything I could want,

except for one son. Naturally, I give him whatever he has. If the Marshal had an heir, he would understand, but unfortunately, he

doesn't."
Their words were sharp and unrestrained, causing other officials who had intended to approach to strike up a conversation

to . They couldn't afford to offend either of these two.
The three young generals beside Grand Marshal Tu Yu immediately snorted coldly upon hearing this.
Ji Cheng, standing beside Tai Chen, had a glint in his eyes. These three were all experts possessing "Qi," and

of considerable rank. Over the years, countless nobles had attached themselves to the Grand Marshal, and it was common to see these

young working under him. However, it was the first time that three experts possessing "Qi" had appeared beside the Grand Marshal at the same time

.
The Grand Marshal glanced at Ji Cheng, whose fighting spirit was rising, and said with a hint of regret, "It's a pity I can't experience Young

Master Ji Cheng's unique skills tonight, but there will always be opportunities, haha."
After saying that, he left.
"What does he mean?" Ji Cheng asked his father, watching the Grand Marshal leave.
Tai Chen snorted coldly, "Those three young men beside him must have been specially invited by him to challenge

others , so even after I provoked him so much, he still doesn't intend to make a move against you."
Ji Cheng said calmly, "I will give him a big surprise."
Soon, as time passed, everyone took their seats in the hall. The spacious castle hall

was not noisy at all, even though everyone was talking loudly.
Exquisite snacks and fine wines were served by the waitresses like a flowing stream. However, since the head of state

had not yet arrived , everyone only sipped the fine wines and stopped when they felt comfortable.
Not long after, the head of state arrived.
All the officials rose and looked towards the entrance of the hall, many of them taking a deep breath.
Beside the head of state were Jiang Ze, the youngest commander in the empire's history, and his fiancée, Yu Ya Yuan.
But now, standing before them was Yu Ya Yuan, known as the empire's most beautiful woman, truly embodying

the meaning of breathtaking beauty.
She wore a light blue dress, its layers reaching her knees. The well-tailored dress

perfectly showcased her slender figure. When the eyes of every man present fell upon her skirt, their breaths

involuntarily caught.
Her long, shapely

legs feet were a pair of crystal high heels, shimmering like works of art.

Those closer could even clearly see her delicate toes encased in stockings inside the crystal shoes.
Those with discerning eyes immediately recognized these as one-of-a-kind

crystal shoes, crafted by a master crystalr from the Western Regions.
The once flamboyantly dressed noblewomen and young women in the hall

paled in comparison the moment Yu Ya Yuan appeared. Not a single man's gaze could leave her.
But soon, these men realized their lapse and began

to feign respect by bowing to the head of state. The women they had brought with them didn't even feel a hint of jealousy.
Yu Ya Yuan's beauty was breathtaking. Both men and women were captivated by her elegant, goddess-like countenance

.
Rong Ke, standing beside the head of state, looked at the officials in the hall with disdain. He hadn't expected that he

, too, would be so captivated when he first saw Yu Ya Yuan.
Only Jiang Ze felt a slight pang of regret. He truly hadn't anticipated the overwhelming power of Yu Ya Yuan's attire

. Even he could hardly believe his eyes when he saw it. Now he was in a bind, with no

way to back out.
He could feel the gazes from the men around him, filled with intense jealousy.
Ji Cheng was stunned speechless by the beautiful goddess who appeared before him. His eyes were glued to her

until his father patted him on the shoulder, bringing him back to his senses.
"Sit down," his father said.
Ji Cheng sat down blankly, his eyes still drifting towards Yu Ya Yuan.
His heart was in turmoil. Why did this beautiful goddess, dressed in such an elegant manner, evoke such a

strong reaction in him? When he saw the alluring legs encased in stockings beneath Yu Ya Yuan's skirt, his manhood

involuntarily hardened. In the past, the thought that these alluring legs would one day belong only to her fiancé

would have driven him mad with jealousy. But now, with a more composed mindset, he felt only bitterness and disappointment.
Yu Ya Yuan and Jiang Ze sat opposite him, facing each other from a distance. Watching their intimate interaction, Ji Cheng felt

deeply uncomfortable.
As time passed, the banquet gradually reached its climax. Toasts were frequently exchanged among the guests.
Suddenly, the head of state clapped his hands. A moment later, a group of graceful young women, their faces veiled in

thin white gauze, entered the center of the hall and performed an incredibly captivating dance.
Noticing the surprise on Jiang Ze's face, Yu Yayuan leaned closer and said with a strange expression, "These girls

are from the Witch Kingdom. This style of dance, so bizarre compared to other countries on the continent, is unique to the Witch Kingdom. It

's could even invite them."
Jiang Ze nodded, "It is indeed surprising. The warriors of the Witch Kingdom are all capable of taking on ten men each. Although their numbers are small,

they are the largest on the continent. I've heard that their highest ruler is called the Witch, and she hasn't appeared

before the world for nearly twenty years. It's truly a mysterious country."
When the dance ended, everyone was still reluctant to leave.
Yu Yayuan suddenly said, "I noticed the Grand Marshal's gaze lingered on me for a long time."
Jiang Ze was speechless. "You're wrong. Apart from the dance just now, at least half the men in the audience

had on you the whole time."
Yu Yayuan rolled her eyes at him. "You still have the mood to joke around."
Suddenly, the two noticed that the entire audience had fallen silent. Looking back, they realized that the Grand Marshal had

stood up from his seat.
"Hehe, Your Excellency, such a grand event would be a pity if we didn't add some excitement. Recently, three exceptionally talented young men

around have improved their swordsmanship so much that I can't help but itch to join in.

How about I suggest that they go down and spar with the renowned masters present? What do you think, Your Excellency?"
"Oh?" The Grand Marshal immediately became very interested. Martial arts were prevalent in all countries on the continent, and martial arts

competitions were common before banquets. Moreover, since exchanges between countries couldn't be based on military competition, these competitions became another form

of competition. Winning greatly enhanced the prestige of that country. Therefore, the more masters a country had, the better.
"In that case, let my personal bodyguard, Gou, fight the first match."
Standing beside the head of state, a cold-faced middle-aged man bowed to him and then walked to the center of the spacious

hall .
Everyone's spirits lifted.
The head of state had ten personal bodyguards, each of whom was extremely powerful. Many

people had seen Gou fight, and many speculated that his "Qi" had reached the third level. If

the three young men beside the Grand Marshal could defeat him, they would become famous overnight.
"Grand Marshal, Fu Ji wishes to fight first."
"Granted."
Fu Ji was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a steady gait and resolute gaze, indeed possessing the demeanor of a master.
Rong Ke, who had insisted on sitting next to Yu Ya Yuan, was now uninterested. Having witnessed Jiang Ze's amazing swordsmanship,

how could he believe that these two could be stronger than Jiang Ze? Moreover, he had a feeling that

Fu Ji under the Grand Marshal was definitely more powerful than his father's guards.
At this moment, the two men in the arena bowed to each other and drew their longswords.
Rong Ke watched for a short while before losing interest. Turning his head, he saw Jiang Ze watching intently, while Yu Ya

Yuan was also absorbed in the spectacle. Yu Ya Yuan was closer to him, so he quietly leaned over and said, "It's a bit

boring, Sister Ya Yuan. Don't watch anymore, I'm sure Fu Ji will win."
Yu Ya Yuan was initially very engrossed in the game; the two men's swordsmanship was astonishing, especially the leader's close bodyguard, Gou,

whose attacks were always at particularly tricky angles. Coupled with his rich experience and solid killing intent, he seemed to have a better chance of winning. However,

what this young man next to her said was both laughable and exasperating.
Yu Ya Yuan rolled her eyes at him: "Your Qi has only reached the first level. This is a great

opportunity , not for you to spout nonsense."
Rong Ke immediately objected: "Nonsense? Humph, Sister Ya Yuan, do you dare to make a

bet with me?"
Yu Ya Yuan said irritably: "What's there to bet with you about?"
Rong Ke snorted softly: "If I lose, for the next three months,

unless I will absolutely not disturb your time with Brother Jiang Ze. How about it, dare you?"
Yu Ya Yuan looked at him, her beautiful eyes narrowing into crescent moons: "So you know you're like a leech. Okay, then

let's make a bet. You think the Grand Marshal's men will win, but I think the Head of State's guards have a better chance of winning."
Rong Ke He quickly said, "Then it's settled. If you lose, Sister Ya Yuan, what will you give me?"
Yu Ya Yuan clearly didn't think he could win, but she still answered him, "What do you want? If I really lose,

as long as I can do it, I will definitely keep my promise."
Rong Ke chuckled and quietly leaned close to Yu Ya Yuan's ear, whispering, "My request is very simple.

If I win, Sister Ya Yuan, you have to let me kiss you a few times."
A blush crept onto Yu Ya Yuan's beautiful face. She looked at the grinning boy in front of her,

first glaring at him fiercely, then said, "Looks like this was premeditated, wasn't it?"
Although Rong Ke looked clean and refined, he was quite shameless, acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.

"Never mind that, all you need to do is answer whether you accept or not. You can let Jiang Ze kiss you,

why can't I? Besides, aren't you very confident in your judgment? Are you scared?"
Yu Yayuan's blush deepened, but her tone became calm: "Okay, I accept. Let's see who wins

."
Rong Ke chuckled, glancing over at Jiang Ze, who was completely oblivious to the two of them, his mind racing.
Yu Yayuan, noticing his expression, said irritably, "Just keep being smug."
"Heh, of course! Watch closely."
The two on the field were locked in a fierce battle.
Gou Chengming was famous in the military; he had once single-handedly withstood

attacks , saving the life of his commanding general. After that, he was transferred to the capital to become the head of state

's personal bodyguard, a position he held to this day.
His rank, swordsmanship, and experience were all superior to the younger Fu Ji.

Everyone on the field favored him, but what surprised Yu Yayuan was that the Grand Marshal, not far away in the hall,

appeared relaxed, seemingly unconcerned about Fu Ji.
Yu Yayuan couldn't help but wonder.
The answer was soon revealed.
Suddenly, Fu Ji's swordplay in the arena intensified, and his movements became sharper and more agile.

Everyone in the arena who cultivated "qi" sensed that Fu Ji's aura had surged dramatically,

surpassing Gou's.
Hidden strength!
This phrase flashed through their minds simultaneously. Even Yu Ya Yuan, who had been watching the fierce battle , was utterly

astonished.
Gou's defeat was inevitable; anyone could see he would be defeated within ten moves.
Rong Ke was even more smug.
Yu Ya Yuan rolled her eyes at him: "Blind cat catches a dead mouse."
Rong Ke immediately retorted, "That's skill, it's my keen eye." He then changed the subject: "

If you're not convinced, Sister Ya Yuan, let's make another bet, dare you?"
Seeing his smug expression, Yu Ya Yuan was furious: "Why wouldn't I dare? You

just wait ."
If there weren't so many people in the hall, and his father wasn't up there, Rong Ke would have jumped out and danced with joy.

Yu Ya Yuan had always been the most learned woman in the capital, and her swordsmanship was exceptional. From childhood to adulthood, he had only ever obeyed her

, never surpassing her in anything. But today, he finally seized the opportunity to defeat this great

beauty . Best of all, she willingly let him kiss her a few times—it was simply wonderful.
At this moment, Gou, realizing he was no match for his opponent, frankly admitted, "I concede."
Having witnessed the exciting duel, everyone in the arena applauded simultaneously. Fu Ji's resounding victory in his first battle brought

immense joy to the Grand Marshal's side.
The Grand Marshal asked another person beside him, "This round, Fu Bu will challenge that kid."
Fu Bu's eyes gleamed brightly as he strode confidently into the arena.
He first bowed respectfully to the head of state above, then said loudly, "I've heard that Commander Jiang Ze's swordsmanship is unparalleled

in the capital. I've recently had some questions about swordsmanship; I wonder if Commander Jiang could offer some guidance?"
In court martial arts competitions, those who challenge others first are always confident in their abilities.

Fu Bu's words were polite and appropriate; essentially, he wanted to challenge Jiang Ze, but he phrased it as if he were asking for

guidance . Everyone present nodded in agreement
. Jiang Ze quietly rose and walked into the arena. His expression was calm, revealing nothing.
Everyone watched intently. Jiang Ze was a renowned swordsman in the capital,

undefeated . Only those with considerable skill dared to challenge him. Coupled with Fu Ji's astonishing performance earlier,

the surrounding crowd had high expectations for Fu Bu.
Especially the young noblemen in the arena, since Yu Ya Yuan was their goddess, they all

hoped Fu Bu could defeat Jiang Ze.
Fu Bu caught a glimpse of Yu Ya Yuan casting a concerned glance at Jiang Ze, and a flicker of jealousy crossed his eyes. But it vanished

quickly , and he stared intently at Jiang Ze approaching.
Jiang Ze bowed to him: "I wouldn't presume to offer guidance, please."
The two drew their longswords, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Rong Ke, standing only inches from Yu Ya Yuan, frowned: "The second match is actually Jiang Ze's

turn? There's no need to bet, Jiang Ze will definitely win."
Yu Ya Yuan nodded in agreement.
Jiang Ze attacked with all his might.
His fifth-level "Qi," when unleashed at full power, was astonishing.
The longsword in Jiang Ze's hand moved so fast it almost left afterimages; the clanging of swords

filled spacious castle hall. Everyone stared at Jiang Ze in shock, never expecting

such overwhelming power.
Even more surprising to everyone was Fu Bu's formidable strength. Faced with Jiang Ze's overwhelming

swordplay , Fu Bu not only blocked all of them but also had the power to counterattack.
However, even the least perceptive person could see that Fu Bu was at a disadvantage, and his chances of winning against Jiang Ze

were extremely low.
Fu Ji and Lu He, standing beside the Grand Marshal, watched in shock.
Fu Bu's strength was comparable to theirs, perhaps even slightly superior, but against Jiang Ze, he was completely overwhelmed

. If they were in his place, they would probably have lost even faster.
The Grand Marshal watched Jiang Ze's figure in the arena, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. Turning to

the two men beside him, whose faces were somewhat pale, he said, "Jiang Ze cultivates the Sunset Sword Technique, hailed as the best sword technique on the continent in ancient times

. You must be extra careful when dealing with him in the future."
Soon, the sound of a longsword breaking echoed through the arena, followed by Fu Bu's helpless voice: "

Commander Jiang's martial arts are indeed extraordinary. This humble official concedes defeat."
The head of state laughed heartily: "Good! Commander Jiang truly deserves to be called a fine man of my empire. General Fu's swordsmanship is also exceptional; though defeated, he

is still honorable. It seems that Commander Jiang's position as the capital's number one swordsman is untouchable."
The young men in the arena, having witnessed Jiang Ze's formidable swordsmanship, all had grim expressions. Was it really that difficult to defeat him

?
At this moment, a deep voice rang out: "Your Majesty, General Lu He was thrilled just now

and would like to experience Commander Jiang's extraordinary swordsmanship. Please grant me permission, Your Majesty."
The leader laughed and said, "Very well. Usually, almost no one dares to challenge Commander Jiang. I didn't expect

two to appear today. I hope General Lu can bring us a surprise."
Hearing this, Yu Yayuan, who was not far away, changed her expression.
Although Jiang Ze appeared calm on the field, Yu Ya Yuan, who possessed "Qi," was acutely aware of

the immense energy he had just expended. His current Qi was likely less than 40%, making him certain of defeat against Lu He, another general

under .
However, if Jiang Ze were to offer an explanation now, it

would appear as weakness and a reluctance to fight, severely damaging his reputation. Furthermore, given her relationship with Jiang Ze, speaking up might only

intensify their resentment towards him.
Time was also limited to explaining to Rong Ke beside her; by the time she finished, the two would already be locked in combat. Despite

her exceptional intelligence, this was the first time Yu Ya Yuan had faced such a dilemma.
Watching Jiang Ze bow to Lu He in the distance, she bit her rosy lower lip, about to

speak , when a deep, resonant voice rang out.
"Your Majesty, Commander Jiang has just fought General Fu, and his internal energy has been greatly depleted. Although

Commander , his combat strength has actually decreased by at least half.

It would be unfair for him to fight General Lu, whose swordsmanship is equally extraordinary, again. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to allow Commander Jiang to rest for a while, and I will test

General Lu's swordsmanship myself."
To everyone's surprise, the one who spoke was none other than Ji Cheng, the son of the Grand Civil Official Tai Chen.
The President was taken aback upon hearing this: "I had indeed not considered this. Then, Commander Jiang, please take your seat. Tonight's banquet

has already broadened our horizons with Commander Jiang. The rest of you are not allowed to challenge him again tonight. Now, Ji Cheng, the son of the Grand

Civil Official , will fight General Lu He in place of Commander Jiang."
In the room, some young nobles who knew Ji Cheng

were .
"Why is Ji Cheng helping that guy?"
"That's right, didn't he once pursue the talented Yu Da Nü? Jiang Ze should be his biggest rival in love."
"That's right, he's lost his mind. He

ruined ."
"Hmph, he'll regret it..."
Not to mention these young nobles who knew Ji Cheng well, even Tai Chen, who knew him best,

was stunned by his actions.
But soon, he realized what was happening. When he saw the Grand Marshal's gloomy expression not far away, a relieved

smile . This usually thick-skinned kid had finally seen the light today.
Lu He stared at Ji Cheng in front of him, his face unfriendly.
If it weren't for this guy's interruption, he would already be fighting Jiang Ze. In recent days,

the Grand Marshal 's prestige had been overshadowed by that guy. The martial arts competition at this banquet was personally selected by the Grand Marshal for the three of them

to fight. It was all this guy's fault...
On the other side, Yu Ya Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't help but

cast a strange glance at Ji Cheng, who stood calmly and imposingly in the arena . He had once pursued her, but Yu Ya Yuan disliked his character

and had always been cold to him. With Jiang Ze's appearance, Ji Cheng had disappeared. Unexpectedly,

he had spoken up for Jiang Ze this time.
Rong Ke, standing beside her, exclaimed excitedly, "Sister Ya Yuan, we can continue betting! Tell me,

who do you bet on to win this round?"
Yu Ya Yuan snapped out of her reverie, a smile appearing in her eyes. "I bet on Lu He to win."
She was quite familiar with Ji Cheng's strength. Two years ago, when he pursued her, his "Qi" had just entered

the second stage. Based on the timeline, he was most likely at the third or fourth stage now. However,

judging from the strength of the other two generals under the Grand Marshal, both were at the fourth stage, approaching the fifth. No matter how you looked at it,

Ji Cheng had no chance of winning.
Rong Ke chuckled, "It's settled then. I bet on that tall Ji Cheng to win. Hey,

what's the stakes this time?"
Jiang Ze no longer needed to participate, and Yu Ya Yuan was in a good mood. Hearing this, a smile appeared on her lips. "If I win,

I won't owe you anything. If you unfortunately win, you tell me what you want to bet."
Upon hearing this, Rong Ke took a deep breath, mustering his courage as if going into battle, and said, "Let's go all the way!

If you lose, Sister Ya Yuan, I have to touch your legs as much as I want, dare you?"
Even with Yu Ya Yuan's familiarity with him, hearing this still made her ears turn red. She couldn't help

but regret dressing up so beautifully today; it seemed

this guy was completely captivated by her. Now, if she refused, she would still have to let him kiss her. Anyway, she was already in a bind; even if she lost, having him touch her legs was

n't unacceptable.
"Okay, then let's see how it goes."
Rong Ke was incredibly excited upon hearing this.
Just then, Jiang Ze returned to his seat and, seeing the two talking, casually asked, "What are you two talking about?"
Yu Ya Yuan's pretty face flushed slightly, and she replied, "This kid and I are betting on who will win. What do you

think?"
Rong Ke, standing nearby, immediately perked up his ears.
Jiang Ze pondered for a moment and said, "I think Lu He has a better chance of winning. Ji Cheng's Qi is probably only at the third or fourth level.

However, I'm still grateful to him for standing up for me earlier."
Yu Ya Yuan raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Rong Ke beside her. What surprised her was that this kid, upon hearing Jiang

Ze's words, still had a grinning expression, seemingly very confident in his own opinion.
Soon, the two clashed.
Ji Cheng's aura suddenly surged, directly pressuring Lu He. In no time, the latter was

forced .
Everyone in the arena was horrified.
"I concede!" Lu He exclaimed in shock. He had always possessed extraordinary strength, but his slightly trembling right hand

reminded him that his opponent's strength was astonishing, far beyond his imagination.
"Bravo!" The head of state led the applause, moved and cheering for the two's amazing contest. Everyone present

was then surprised and began to cheer for the two.
On the Grand Marshal's side, everyone's expression was not good.
But the smile on the old face of the Grand Civil Official Tai Chen was like a blooming chrysanthemum.
After fighting with the Grand Marshal for so many years, this was the first time he had won a contest, and it was against his own son.

How could he not feel gratified at this moment?
Jiang Ze was also taken aback. The momentum of Ji Cheng and Lu He's battle was no less than that of his own battle just now.
He gave a wry smile: "I actually misjudged him. Ji Cheng's Qi cultivation has reached the fifth level; otherwise, with his

swordsmanship, which is on par with his opponent's, he wouldn't have been able to suppress him."
Yu Ya Yuan immediately cast a shocked glance at Ji Cheng, who had just taken his seat. The latter's gaze also happened to drift over;

he was taken aback at first, then nodded slightly to Yu Ya Yuan. Yu Ya Yuan, remembering his actions in helping Jiang Ze

out of the predicament earlier, also gave him a kind smile. The latter's gaze shifted away, slightly hesitant to meet hers.
Rong Ke looked excited, and Yu Ya Yuan could feel his gaze occasionally lingering on her calves beneath her skirt.

She thought to herself that she must never wear such a skirt in front of him again.
She spent two hours every day teaching Rong Ke, and he was currently at the age of budding romance,

easily attracted to beautiful women. He would become the head of state in the future, and she had to correct his mindset during this period.

After satisfying his request this time, she had to properly restrain him.
Next, it was time for the ball. This was the moment for the noblewomen present to shine.
At banquets across the continent, the final moments often included a free dance. During this time,

every man could extend an invitation to any woman, and the woman could accept or decline.

This was always the most lively moment of the banquet.
Several noblewomen arrived together, and one of them, a rather pretty girl, timidly approached Jiang Ze,

saying, "Commander Jiang, I... may I invite you to dance?"
"Ah," Jiang Ze said awkwardly, "I can't dance." His gaze drifted pleadingly to Yu Ya Yuan

beside him .
Yu Ya Yuan smiled lightly, "You can teach me, go ahead..."
Jiang Ze stood up awkwardly and was pulled away by the girl. The latter still turned back:

"Thank you, Sister Yu."
Another rather pretty young woman approached Rong Ke, still a little shy, and said:

"Lord Rong Ke, may I... ask you to dance?"
"Uh." Rong Ke was taken aback. He looked at Yu Ya Yuan beside him, then at the noblewoman in front of him,

hesitating about what to say.
Seeing this, the girl stammered: "Ah... if Lord Rong Ke doesn't want to... that's alright

..."
Yu Ya Yuan glanced at him and said casually: "If you dare to refuse, hmph,

I'll renege on the bet."
Rong Ke immediately stood up as if he had been injected with chicken blood: "Let's go, let's go right now."
As soon as Rong Ke left, Yu Ya Yuan's side immediately quieted down.
Inside the room, there were still many people, holding fine wine, looking around, searching for their favorite dance partners. Yu

Ya Yuan noticed that many young men's eyes were occasionally cast in his direction, but none of them

dared to muster the courage to come over.
A bunch of cowards.
But soon, a tall figure approached her—it was Ji Cheng.
This tall and imposing young man, his rugged face now showing caution, tentatively

asked Yu Ya Yuan, "Um, may I have the honor of inviting Miss Yu to dance?"
Yu Ya Yuan gave him a charming smile: "Sure."
Ji Cheng was stunned; his mind hadn't processed it yet, and he stood there dumbfounded, looking somewhat comical.
"What are you still standing there for? Come on."
"Oh, oh." Ji Cheng finally came to his senses, his heart filled with joy.
Reaching the center of the hall, Ji Cheng cautiously placed his large hand lightly on the beautiful woman's shoulder, afraid that his movements

would be too large and offend this talented woman of the empire.
His stiff, bear-like appearance immediately amused Yu Ya Yuan: "Look at how nervous you are,

relax ."
With that, she generously took Ji Cheng's hand in hers, gently pulled his right hand behind her back with her left

, and then gracefully began to dance with him.
The young noblemen present were all incredibly envious. Yet, none of them had the courage

to step forward each fearing rejection from this stunning beauty.
"I haven't thanked you yet for helping my fiancé out of that predicament," Yu Ya Yuan suddenly said softly.
Normally, the word "fiancé" would have made Ji Cheng feel utterly disappointed. But now, he was

embracing his goddess, the fragrance emanating from her, and her obvious change in opinion of him had lessened

his disappointment considerably. He couldn't help but feel grateful for his earlier actions; otherwise, he certainly wouldn't have left

such a good impression on this beauty.
"I used to hang out with those scoundrels all the time, and looking back, I caused Miss Yu

quite a bit of trouble. I must apologize to you
for that," Ji Cheng said sincerely, his eyes earnest.
Yu Ya Yuan smiled and said, "You surprised me quite a bit today. To be honest, I

haven't , and besides, you look much more pleasing to the eye now."
Ji Cheng blushed slightly, but inwardly he was overjoyed. How could he not tell that the stunning

beauty had completely changed her opinion of him? At that moment, he only wished time would slow down,

so that he could dance intimately with her—something he had always longed for.
However, time doesn't change according to his wishes. In the blink of an eye, the music ended, and Ji Cheng reluctantly

released Yu Ya Yuan. At the same time, he caught a glimpse of Jiang Ze approaching from not far away.
Jiang Ze approached. He had just seen his fiancée dancing with the tall, strong young man, so as soon as

the first dance ended, he came over to thank him, saying, "I haven't thanked you enough for what you did earlier, Brother Ji."
Ji Cheng quickly waved his hand, "Brother Jiang, you're too kind. It was nothing."
Jiang Ze's opinion of him changed considerably. "Why don't we go over there? I'll offer Brother Ji a few drinks."
"I'd be delighted, please."
"I won't join you. You two can have a few drinks; too much alcohol is bad for your health."
Ji Cheng was overjoyed. The beautiful woman's words had clearly affected him as well. He quickly replied,

"We'll just have a few drinks."
The two left the center of the room, and soon, many noble young men came over to invite Yu Ya Yuan to dance.
However, whenever Yu Ya Yuan saw something else in their eyes, she would refuse

without hesitation .
Before long, she had rejected invitations from at least twelve noble youths. In the end, only one

boy with clear eyes and a shy expression won the honor of dancing with her. This

greatly embarrassed the group of young men who thought they could win the favor of the empire's most beautiful woman.
Time flew by, and the banquet came to an end.
When Rong Ke came to Yu Ya Yuan's side, he still looked like he hadn't had enough.
He leaned close to Yu Ya Yuan's ear and whispered, "Tonight, Sister Ya Yuan, why don't you sleep in the castle? It'll save you from

having to come over tomorrow morning."
Yu Ya Yuan glared at him fiercely and said irritably, "I think you're just being lustful. Humph, since

I agreed, you don't need to worry about me going back on my word."
Rong Ke chuckled.
Jiang Ze approached the two, and Yu Ya Yuan asked curiously, "You and Tai Chen's son get along so well?"
Jiang Ze smiled calmly, "Don't you dance with him too?"
Yu Ya Yuan rolled her eyes at him, "That was to thank him. However, Ji Cheng has changed a lot now, he

's a completely different person from before. I feel he's worth befriending now."
Jiang Ze nodded, "That's right, and we also need to unite his power to guard against the Grand Marshal."
Rong Ke, standing to the side, was taken aback, "Brother Jiang Ze, what, does the Grand Marshal have a grudge against you?"
Jiang Ze patted... He nodded, saying, "The Grand Marshal has tried to harm me several times."
Rong Ke's expression changed immediately. "No way, Brother Jiang Ze."
He looked around and noticed that the Grand Marshal was talking to someone in a corner of the hall, unaware of

their presence . He then whispered, "Brother Jiang Ze, you absolutely mustn't provoke the Grand Marshal. I've had a special

ability since I was little—I can sense the strength of everyone."
When Yu Ya Yuan heard this, she realized that his previous winning bets were actually true;

she had been tricked. However, she was currently captivated by Rong Ke's serious tone and decided against punishing

him for the time being.
Jiang Ze was taken aback, glanced at him, and said incredulously, "I once heard my master say that there are a very

few who are born with the ability to see through the strength of others. I never thought it would actually exist.

Did you sense anything wrong with the Grand Marshal?"
Rong Ke nodded, "I asked my father, and he said that the Grand Marshal once told him that his Qi had reached the fifth level. But

after observing him, I found that although his Qi has reached the fifth level, it is very different from others, carrying a kind of...

a kind of..."
Jiang Ze tentatively asked, "A cold and evil aura?"
"Yes." Rong Ke nodded quickly, "It's evil aura, so I've always been afraid of the Grand Marshal since I was a child."
Yu Ya Yuan frowned as she listened, while Jiang Ze was shocked.

What Prince Er Nan of the Crescent Moon Kingdom had told him didn't seem like a lie.
A thought struck him, and he asked Rong Ke, "Based on your judgment, who is more powerful, me or the Grand Marshal?"
Rong Ke replied without hesitation, "The Grand Marshal gives me a very dangerous feeling. Although you are also

very powerful, Brother Jiang Ze, I still feel that you can't beat the Grand Marshal."
Jiang Ze and Yu Ya Yuan exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
At this moment, the head of state above clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Before the banquet ends, I have something to announce."
The more than two hundred people present held their breath, listening intently to the head of state's announcement. Many guessed that it was something like rewarding Jiang Ze, a major contributor to the victory

in this war.
As expected, after the hall fell silent, the head of state spoke: "

Commander Jiang's contribution to defeating the Crescent Moon Kingdom's 50,000-strong army is paramount. From tonight onwards, Commander Jiang is promoted to Grand Commander, commanding 20,000 troops. It is hoped that Grand Commander Jiang

will continue to make great contributions to our empire."
Jiang Ze, prepared for this, immediately stepped forward, bowed deeply, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Your Majesty." A great

weight was finally lifted from his heart.
From this moment on, he became the only general in the entire empire, besides the Grand Marshal, to command

an army . From tonight onwards, the Grand Marshal's apprehension towards him would reach its peak. However,

although the Grand Marshal commanded 50,000 troops, his power was now vastly different from before. It wouldn't be

so .
Nevertheless, Rong Ke's words still lingered in his mind, and he secretly resolved to focus on

his training in the days to come.
Now that his "Qi" has reached the fifth level, ordinary poisons are no longer effective against him. The Grand Marshal can

only strike him with force. He knows that if he were to face any two of the three men the Grand Marshal sent tonight

, he wouldn't be able to win. If all three attacked at once, he wouldn't even have a chance to escape.
But if he could reach the sixth level, he could retreat calmly even if surrounded by all three. Therefore, he

needs to intensify his cultivation
now. The surrounding officials came to congratulate him.
Although these people were also very jealous that Jiang Ze had such a beautiful fiancée as Yu Ya Yuan, it

was just Having been in officialdom for so long, they naturally knew that the current head of state intended to cultivate Jiang Ze and suppress

the Grand Marshal. They wanted to take this opportunity to build a good relationship, because in the future, they might have to rely on Jiang Ze for survival.
Tai Chen approached with a smile, and Jiang Ze said to him, "I will visit Lord Tai tomorrow evening."
Tai Chen chuckled and said, "Very well, I will await the arrival of Commander Jiang."
At this moment, the tall and imposing Grand Marshal arrived before him. He glanced at Tai Chen first, then

said in his usual tone, "Congratulations, young Jiang, on obtaining the position of Grand Marshal. Within the Empire, you are now the second most powerful figure in the military

."
Jiang Ze could only feign compliance.
Tai Chen, however, had no such reservations and said bluntly, "Commander Jiang is only twenty-three years old this year, yet he has

become the third most powerful figure in the Empire after His Majesty the Head of State. I suppose that with the reputation of a genius, the Grand Marshal is

nothing more than this at this age."
A cold glint flashed in the Grand Marshal's eyes, but his tone remained calm: "I heard that Elder Tai is planning to go to Bog City

to repair the ancestral temple, is that right? Be careful on the road, lest you accidentally fall off the carriage, that would be troublesome."
Anger flashed across Tai Chen's old face, he snorted coldly, and said no more.
The Grand Marshal then laughed heartily and left contentedly.
Only then did Jiang Ze realize that the two imperial elders, Tai Chen and Tu Yu, had reached the point of no return.

Chen had an intention to win him over.
However, even knowing this, Jiang Ze wouldn't refuse. His foundation was too weak; although he had accumulated considerable military achievements over the years,

he ultimately couldn't compare to the Grand Marshal. He had always disliked being bullied, and since the Grand Marshal had tried to kill him several times, he

naturally had to retaliate. Cooperating with the Grand Civil Official Tai Chen was the best choice.
After the banquet, Jiang Ze found Yu Ya Yuan, who told him, "I'll sleep here in the castle tonight. You

can go back by yourself. Also, have all my servants outside the castle go back first."
"Okay," Jiang Ze nodded.
Yu Ya Yuan was the only person in the entire empire who could freely enter and leave the castle and even had a room to rest inside

. This was something even the Grand Marshal and the Grand Civil Official couldn't imagine. In addition, she taught Rong

Ke every morning and often spent the night here, which was one of the privileges granted to her by the Emperor.
As night deepened, the castle became spacious and quiet.
Yu Ya Yuan was helplessly led by Rong Ke towards his quarters in the upper part of the castle. The maids in the castle were used

to this and would bow respectfully upon seeing the two.
Rong Ke's room was very large, especially his bedroom. Not only was it spacious, but it was also

lavishly . Two maids were making the bed on his large bed at the moment, and they were very cautious when they saw the two enter.
Rong Ke waved his hand: "You two go out, and lock the door. No one is allowed to come in without my permission."
Thinking about how this young man was about to take advantage of her, even Yu Ya Yuan, who was usually composed in all kinds of situations,

couldn't help but blush slightly.
The two maids respectfully withdrew, leaving only Rong Ke and Yu Ya Yuan in his room.
"Finally, I can kiss Sister Ya Yuan openly! Great!" Rong Ke cheered.
"You're so smug, aren't you?" Yu Yayuan stared at him intently. "Looks like you've had your eye on me

for a long time, haven't you?"
Rong Ke realized he'd gotten too carried away and stammered, "Sister Yayuan, we've known each other for so

long, and you've only let me hold your hand. But with Brother Jiang Ze, you'd let him kiss me. That's so unfair!"
Yu Yayuan rolled her eyes at him. "Brother Jiang Ze is my fiancé, and you're not. You can't compare them."
"Of course I know that, but you and I have a deep relationship, and I have to win a bet with you

to get even a little bit intimate with you. You're not even really willing to do that. That's why I said it's so unfair." Rong Ke

seemed a little sullen.
Yu Ya Yuan's gaze softened: "I didn't say I didn't want to. I'm angry at you for setting

a trap for me. If I didn't want to, I wouldn't have agreed to bet with you."
Hearing this, Rong Ke's mood improved: "I'm sorry, Sister Ya Yuan, I didn't mean to. Because

without this method, I couldn't kiss you. Actually, I really like Sister Ya Yuan, but I also admire

Brother Jiang Ze. Only he is worthy of you, Sister Ya Yuan. I know this, so I used this method

..."
Yu Ya Yuan took his hand, looking at the refined young man who was now only half a head shorter than her, her gaze gentle

as water : "Actually, Sister Ya Yuan also quite likes..." "You rascal, you come from the most illustrious family, yet you haven't been tainted

by a single trace of court corruption. But you must understand, you will be the future head of the empire, and the most important thing now is

to learn the ways of governing. Sister Ya Yuan promises you, as long as you are willing to work hard, I won't

refuse a little bit of affection."
Rong Ke was completely stunned, but quickly he reacted: "Sister Ya Yuan means, kisses and hugs,

you won't refuse?"
Yu Ya Yuan's face immediately turned red, and she corrected him: "Just a little bit, don't forget I have a fiancé. Although I

started teaching you when I was sixteen, and we have such a good relationship, I treat you more like a younger brother,

understand ?"
"Understood, Sister Ya Yuan, then I can start reaping the rewards..."
Yu Ya Yuan patted his head: "Look at how eager you are."
Rong Ke took Yu Ya Yuan's soft little hand, came to the bedside, and sat down on the edge of the bed together. Rong Ke's

eyes kept looking at Yu Ya Yuan.
What attracted his gaze most to Yu Ya Yuan was her alluring legs beneath her pale blue dress.
Rong Ke had seen many beautiful aristocratic women, many of whom also loved wearing such elegant dresses from the Western Regions,

but none had captivated him like Yu Ya Yuan. Her calves, shapely and

long , were unlike anything he had ever seen before, exuding a sensuality he had never witnessed. Even more alluring was the

effect of the sheer stockings and the gleaming crystal shoes beneath her feet, amplifying this attraction.
Rong Ke carefully lifted Yu Ya Yuan's left leg, shifting his body to the side and placing her entire left leg

on the edge of the bed. Yu Ya Yuan did not resist, allowing him to place her leg there. The skirt, which had been covering her knees,

slipped down, revealing her fair thigh.
When Rong Ke gently removed the crystal shoe from Yu Ya Yuan's left foot as if handling a work of art, his small foot, encased in

the thin stockings, was immediately grasped in his hand.
"Sister Ya Yuan, your feet are so beautiful." Rong Ke's face was full of admiration.
The foot he held in his hands was well-proportioned, fair, moist, and small. Although it was wearing stockings,

there was not a single flaw in it; it was exquisitely beautiful. The area around her small toes, covered by the stockings, was a much darker color.

This sight struck him like a heavy hammer, making his breath catch in his throat.
He had only noticed that Yu Ya Yuan's legs were beautiful before, but she usually wore deerskin boots and

thick . Or she would wear long skirts that covered her calves. Unlike today, her skirt was short,

and he could take off her shoes and play with her small feet. So it wasn't until today that he realized how

beautiful .
Seeing this young man's hands carefully stroking her feet, from the soles to the insteps, and then to her

rounded calves, Yu Ya Yuan felt a strange sensation. It seemed that being touched by him wasn't so bad

after all.
Yu Ya Yuan rolled her eyes at him: "You've taken advantage of me, you little rascal. Even your brother Jiang Ze has never touched it

like this . If he finds out, he'll be so jealous. Ah, how could you kiss it?"
she exclaimed. It turned out that Rong Ke was so engrossed in touching it that he lifted her foot even higher, leaned down, and

kissed the instep of her arched foot.
Yu Ya Yuan blushed deeply. "If you keep doing this, I'll take back what I just said."
Rong Ke snapped out of his daze and quickly said, "No, Sister Ya Yuan. I'll just kiss you one more time, and that'll be enough."
"So you know it's late now. I thought you were out of your mind."
Rong Ke exhaled and said, "Well, Sister Ya Yuan, here I come..." He then leaned in to kiss her.
"Mmm..." Yu Ya Yuan's eyes widened suddenly, staring in disbelief at the face pressed against hers. She had always

thought that when this guy said he wanted to kiss her, he meant to kiss her cheek. She never expected that he intended to kiss her lips directly.
When Yu Ya Yuan came to her senses, he still wouldn't move away. She slapped his head, and only then did

he reluctantly pull his lips away. When their lips parted, Yu Ya Yuan's pretty face was already bright red.
Rong Ke said with a satisfied expression, "I've never felt so good before, Sister Ya Yuan, you're so beautiful."
Yu Ya Yuan was helpless against him and knew that it was late and she had to go to rest. A slender hand gently patted his face:

"Alright, you've gotten your share of the benefits, you should be satisfied now. It's getting late, get some rest."
"Wait, Sister Ya Yuan, let me help you put your shoes on."
Once again, the boy grabbed her foot, and Yu Ya Yuan helplessly let him do as he pleased.
After she was dressed, Rong Ke saw her to the door of the room, and Yu Ya Yuan leaned over and

gave him a light kiss on the forehead: "Get some rest."
Rong Ke, still in a daze, savored the moving experience of the night.
The next day, Yu Ya Yuan discovered that the boy was indeed much more diligent than before. He studied what he was taught

very seriously and kept asking questions. This was something that had never happened before, and Yu Ya Yuan was delighted;

the boy had finally grasped the point.
At this time, Jiang Ze had already arrived at the residence of the Grand Civil Official Tai Chen.
His arrival was met with great respect by the guards, who immediately rushed inside to inform their master.
Tai Chen, beaming with joy, welcomed Jiang Ze inside. They had barely sat down when Ji Cheng entered

the room, his face beaming. "Brother Jiang, you've arrived early!"
Jiang Ze smiled and said, "I had nothing to do this morning anyway, I hope I didn't disturb your sweet dreams, Brother Ji?"
Ji Cheng smiled and sat down, saying, "I've been practicing swordsmanship in the East Courtyard for half an hour now, and my Qi has reached the fifth level

. How can I not work harder?"
After their conversation yesterday, the two found themselves surprisingly compatible,

feeling as if they had known each other for a long time.
Jiang Ze had heard that Ji Cheng had pursued his fiancée and often

caused trouble . But yesterday, when talking about himself, Ji Cheng had frankly admitted that he had only recently come to his senses

and felt ashamed of his past actions. Thus, Jiang Ze's impression of him changed drastically.
Ji Cheng, on the other hand, had previously been blinded by Yu Ya Yuan, harboring a one-sided resentment towards Jiang Ze. But

after being awakened by his father, he suddenly realized that if he didn't fundamentally change himself, even if he killed Jiang Ze

, Yu Yayuan wouldn't fall in love with him. It would be better to become a truly useful person from now on, and

if there was no possibility with Yu Yayuan, it would be fate. When he truly met Jiang Ze, he was shocked to realize that Jiang Ze was a true

man , far inferior to him.
Meanwhile, the high-ranking civil official Tai Chen was very pleased.
After returning home last night, his only son spoke for the first time, earnestly requesting that if he could successfully

eliminate the Grand Marshal in the future, he should not go after Jiang Ze. He didn't understand why, but after asking carefully, he was gratified

to find that his son had finally grown up.
He agreed without hesitation. To be honest, Jiang Ze was now the Grand Commander, second only to

the Grand Marshal , and commanded as many as 20,000 soldiers. Even if he wanted to eliminate him, it would be very difficult.

It was best not to take action if possible.
Tai Chen coughed and tentatively asked, "Does Commander Jiang know how your squad

was exposed for leaking military secrets last year, and how that got to the head of state?"
Jiang Ze replied, "Old Tai, you can just call me Xiao Jiang or Xiao Ze. I have some leads on this matter, and

it seems to be related to the Grand Marshal. Not only that, but there are

also several incidents where I was almost convicted by the head of state, and the Grand Marshal was behind it all. I've come here today to discuss the Grand Marshal's

affairs with you."
Tai Chen was very satisfied with his frankness and said, "Good! Then let's lay it all out. To be honest, this

time I want to cooperate with Xiao Jiang to deal with the Grand Marshal. He sees not only you as a thorn in his side, but also me as

a thorn in his flesh, and wants to get rid of both of us as soon as possible. Moreover, the Grand Marshal is deeply entrenched and powerful within the Empire. If we

don't cooperate , he will definitely eliminate us one by one."
"How to cooperate? Please advise, Old Tai."
"According to the intelligence I possess, the Sand Kingdom, whose strength is no less than our empire's, is likely

to invade the empire soon. At that time, the opportunity will arrive. His Majesty will soon be aware of this,

and he will certainly inform you."
Jiang Ze's expression shifted. The Sand Kingdom was a major power north of the empire. Nearly 70% of its territory was

desert and wilderness, resources were scarce, competition was fierce, and everyone was brave and fierce in battle. Among the dozen or so countries on the continent,

the Sand Kingdom's expansionist ambitions were the strongest. Half a year ago, it was reported that due to insufficient rainfall and water scarcity,

a violent conflict in the Sand Kingdom resulted in the deaths of thousands, with thousands more dying of thirst.
If any country on the continent was most likely to invade the empire, it would undoubtedly be the Sand Kingdom.
Jiang Ze frowned: "The warriors of the Sand Kingdom are all exceptionally skilled in martial arts.

Compared to are still slightly weaker. According to intelligence, the Sand Kingdom has over 80,000 combat-ready soldiers

, which is quite different from the weak troops of the Crescent Moon Kingdom. It's highly likely that the Grand Marshal will personally lead the troops."
Ji Cheng chimed in: "Brother Jiang, there's no need to worry about that. Now, Brother Jiang's prestige is approaching that of the Grand Marshal. In

His Majesty's consideration, he will definitely have you two fight together. At that time,

it will be the best opportunity for the Grand Marshal to deal with us, and for us to deal with the Grand Marshal. During this period, whoever is better prepared will have a higher

chance ."
Tai Chen added solemnly: "Moreover, based on my investigations over the past ten years, I have finally

found the most terrifying piece of information about the Grand Marshal—his mysterious origins."
Jiang Ze's heart sank upon hearing this, and he suddenly remembered what Er Nan had told him: "The Grand Marshal claims to be an orphan..."

"No one knows his origins. What exactly did Elder Tai discover?"
"After extensive investigation, I finally found a clue. Before joining the army, the Grand Marshal was

the leader of a group of petty thieves on the empire's border, committing all sorts of evil deeds. That must have been over thirty years ago. Back then,

the Grand Marshal already possessed astonishing martial arts skills. He and his group constantly wandered the border, seemingly searching for something. Later,

the person who provided the clue, his former thief companion, told us that the Grand Marshal found several fist-sized black

crystals. Not long after, he left the thief group. Little Jiang, do you think of anything?"
Jiang Ze's face immediately turned extremely ugly: "Obsidian! The Grand Marshal is a barbarian!"
Ji Cheng, standing beside him, was clearly hearing this news for the first time and was equally shocked and speechless.
Barbarians were an incredibly brutal race. In the history of the continent, there had been several barbarians

who could directly absorb the energy of a crystal called obsidian, directly increasing their "qi." These barbarians

didn't appear at the same time, but in different eras. Without exception, they all possessed

power akin to demonic gods, invincible and unstoppable.
Each appearance of the barbarians made life on the continent feel like hell. They used demonic

methods to directly rule the nations of the continent and wage war against other nations. No one knew

where these barbarians came from; they only knew that they all gained power in human society through powerful means before gradually

revealing their true forms.
The power of the barbarians was so immense that they were difficult to defeat. Even the two most powerful

swordsmen , couldn't defeat them.
Tai Chen nodded and said, "The Grand Marshal's appearance hasn't changed at all in the past twenty years, which is highly

suspicious . Furthermore, the barbarians emerge to cause trouble approximately every hundred years—the timing is unbelievably coincidental. I'm

absolutely certain the Grand Marshal is that barbarian who hasn't yet become a demonic god."
Jiang Ze suppressed his shock and suddenly remembered something:

the probability was much higher than in other countries. Moreover, Crescent Moon Kingdom was one of the few countries that discovered obsidian but didn't destroy it; instead,

they kept it. Could it be that the Grand Marshal's real purpose in provoking war between the two countries was this?
After thinking about it, Jiang Ze suddenly felt that this possibility was too high.
No wonder the shaman from Crescent Moon Kingdom said that the Grand Marshal was a seed of evil. And Rong Ke, who had the talent to read people,

also pointed out that the Grand Marshal's aura was evil.
A chill rose in Jiang Ze's heart.
After returning, Yu Ya Yuan came in the evening.
Jiang Ze told her about cooperating with Tai Chen and that the Grand Marshal might be a barbarian, and the latter was immediately

horrified .
When she heard that Jiang Ze might take this opportunity to form an assassin group with the experts from Tai Chen's side to assassinate the Grand Marshal amidst the chaos of

battle , she turned pale and said, "I don't agree to you taking the risk. You can

organize or recruit skilled swordsmen, but I can't accept you going with me."
Jiang Ze patiently explained to her, "The Grand Marshal himself has reached the fifth rank, or even the sixth rank. In

this situation, adding me, another fifth-rank expert, will increase our chances of victory. Moreover, my master said that my Sunset Sword

Technique is the number one sword technique on the continent. Even if I can't successfully assassinate the Grand Marshal, I'm sure I can protect myself."
Yu Yayuan bit her rosy lower lip and said after a long while, "I will send a letter to my teacher and ask her to send experts

over . But you must promise me that no matter what, you must keep your life."
Jiang Ze nodded resolutely.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
"You two should rest for a while and have some water,"
Yu Yayuan's gentle voice rang out. Hearing this, Jiang Ze and Ji Cheng, who were sparring in the courtyard, simultaneously

sheathed their swords.
Since learning that the Grand Marshal might be a barbarian, Jiang Ze had trained even harder. Ji Cheng did the same;

he had been sparring with Jiang Ze every day. These two equally skilled fighters, training so diligently,

had both made rapid progress.
While their swordsmanship had improved, what pleased Ji Cheng most was their interaction over the past two weeks. He had not only

become sworn brothers with Jiang Ze, but also developed a good relationship with Yu Yayuan. She treated him like Jiang Ze's brother,

which greatly encouraged him.
"It's getting late, Ji Cheng, why don't you join us for dinner later?" Yu Yayuan

said, handing him a glass of water.
Ji Cheng quickly said, "No need to trouble yourself, I can eat at my residence."
Jiang Ze put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Hey, this time it's me who's begging you to stay. Since Ya

Yuan asked you to stay, it means she's going to cook for me herself. I'm only able to enjoy this meal thanks to you." Ji Cheng looked at Yu Ya Yuan, who was always dressed elegantly, with a flattered expression. The latter said, "Please don't think my cooking is bad
." 　　Ji Cheng hurriedly shook his head, "No, no, it's my honor ." 　　Yu Ya Yuan responded with a charming smile. 　　... 　　The next day, Jiang Ze, who was just about to head to the castle, met Ji Cheng on the road. 　　His eyes were red, and his face was filled with undisguised grief. Jiang Ze was shocked: "Ji Cheng, what happened?" 　　Ji Cheng's face was filled with shock and anger: "My father was on his way to Borg City three days ago when he was attacked by three He was injured, and the news only just came. I had no idea about my father 's current condition." 　　Jiang Ze's expression immediately darkened: "It was the Grand Marshal. Not long ago at the banquet in the castle, the Grand Marshal knew your father was going to Borg City and said some strange things, reminding your father not to fall off the carriage on the way. The Grand Marshal struck first." " 　　I'm going to kill the Grand Marshal! " Ji Cheng's face was filled with rage. "I must kill the Grand Marshal!" 　　Jiang Ze stopped him and said, "Ji Cheng, calm down. The most important thing for us now is to check on Elder Tai's condition . Youlin Valley is not far from here. It has been three days since the incident, and your father's caravan is expected to return to the capital within the next day or two. I want to ask you, how many experts were in your father's caravan?" 　　Ji Cheng calmed down a bit. "There was one fourth-level bodyguard, three third-level experts, and the rest, although they did not cultivate Qi, were still quite skilled."

Jiang Ze patted his shoulder, letting out a sigh of relief, "It seems Elder Tai was always on guard against the Grand Marshal.

With this lineup, it would be very difficult to seriously injure Elder Tai. Don't worry too much."
Ji Cheng's expression finally softened: "Thank you, Jiang Ze. I hope Father will be alright."
The next evening, Tai Chen's convoy finally returned to the capital.
Tai Chen's injuries looked quite serious; he was in very poor spirits and had to be carried out sitting up, but

at least he had survived. Ji Cheng was furious but still felt fortunate.
The Emperor was extremely angry after learning of this. He ordered a nationwide investigation into the whereabouts of the three assassins, sparing no

effort to find them.
But Jiang Ze understood very well that the Grand Marshal was the instigator of this incident, and the Emperor would definitely not find anything.

The former knew the Emperor's style of doing things too well. This was precisely why Tai Chen dared not tell

the Emperor that the Grand Marshal was a barbarian, because if he did, the Emperor's first action would be to question the Grand Marshal, which would only alert the enemy.
Because of this incident, many officials came to visit and offer their condolences at Tai Chen's residence, all of whom were received by Ji Cheng.
When Jiang Ze and Yu Ya Yuan came to offer their condolences, Ji Cheng quietly led the two to the small courtyard where his father was recuperating

. There, they saw Tai Chen, whose complexion was incredibly rosy.
"Old Tai, you..."
Tai Chen looked at their stunned expressions and chuckled, "Actually, what I looked like that day was an act

. The Grand Marshal didn't know that I had healing medicine concocted by a sorcerer. Although I was seriously injured that day,

the medicine almost healed me in three days. It's a pity that such a bottle was wasted. Now the Grand Marshal thinks I'm seriously injured and

will definitely not care. This is a good time to let him show his true colors."
Jiang Ze sighed, "Old Tai's ability to adapt to changing circumstances is truly remarkable."
Yu Ya Yuan, standing to the side, secretly thought to herself, "Old fox," while also feeling relieved.
Grand Civil Official Tai Chen, as the only person in the empire who could rival the Grand Marshal, if he fell, the Grand Marshal

's arrogance would become even more rampant.
In Tai Chen's quiet courtyard, he brewed fragrant tea for Jiang Ze and Yu Ya Yuan, saying, "

The army of the Sand Kingdom has already begun to assemble at the border. Has His Majesty already told you about this?"
Jiang Ze nodded, "That's right. His Majesty plans to have the Grand Marshal and I split into two armies to take

the left and right flanks of the Sand Kingdom, and then reunite at the Yellow Earth Wasteland. Although the Grand Marshal doesn't particularly agree with this, he has no choice

."
Tai Chen's old face lit up, "This plan is brilliant. The Grand Marshal's original plan was definitely to place you under his command

and then find an opportunity to deal with you. But this way, he simply can't make a move against you in the early stages of the war.

Moreover , you are now essentially two armies, each with its own supreme commander. Even if we were to assassinate him..." "She can arrange things calmly."
Ji Cheng, standing to the side, smiled at his father, "This was a plan devised by Yu Ya Yuan. She personally spoke to His Majesty the Emperor

, and His Majesty made a decision the next day. If we were to find someone His Majesty the Emperor trusts most in the entire Empire,

it would have to be our talented Yu Ya Yuan."
Seeing Ji Cheng praise her so highly, Yu Ya Yuan smiled and said, "Ya Yuan only did her best. More importantly,

we still need you. My teacher has already replied to me. She has decided to send her three best fighters to help

reduce the Grand Marshal's strength."
Tai Chen's cloudy old eyes immediately lit up: "The experts sent by Lady Baihua must be extraordinary.

This will greatly increase our chances of victory."
Just three days later, the army that had gathered at the border of the Sand Kingdom numbered as many as 50,000.
At this time, Jiang Ze had already set off on his way to the border. The assembled experts included

his three subordinates who had reached the third rank, two fourth-rank and five third-rank from Tai Chen, plus

two fourth-rank and one fifth-rank sent by Yu Ya Yuan's teacher from You Quan Kingdom, totaling thirteen experts.
Adding Jiang Ze and Ji Cheng, both fifth-rank, their strength was terrifying. This gave the two great confidence in their mission to assassinate

the Grand Marshal .
Due to his status as Tai Chen's son, his relationship with Jiang Ze, and Ya Yuan's recommendation, Ji Cheng directly

became Jiang Ze's deputy, accompanying him on the journey.
The Sand Kingdom had long planned this invasion and was well-prepared. Once the personnel were assembled, they immediately launched

their attack .
The first target was the largest city closest to the border, Wu Yan City.
The Grand Marshal had already arrived in the city. This well-fortified city had withstood over a dozen major

wars . Its thick walls, tens of meters high, made it extremely difficult to breach. Therefore, the Sand Kingdom had undoubtedly prepared

large siege weapons to break through it in one fell swoop. Once the city falls, the enemy from the Sand Kingdom will be able to advance unimpeded.
Jiang Ze's mission is to attack the enemy from the flank.
The army bypassed the city by taking a route through a large forest on the side of the wasteland. When scouts reported that the first wave of the Sand Kingdom's attack

had ended, they all emerged from the forest and arrived at the wide plain outside Wuyan City. Jiang Ze gave the order to begin the attack.
The horns blared, and the warriors surged towards the Sand Kingdom's enemy like a tidal wave.

The thousand cavalrymen leading the vanguard were particularly imposing.
Caught off guard, the enemy
was thrown into chaos. Jiang Ze's timing was impeccable. The enemy was exhausted after their first wave of attack, while Jiang Ze's

army was full of energy. With a single charge, the enemy's ranks collapsed.
That night, Jiang Ze's army suffered only two hundred casualties but killed over three thousand enemy soldiers, a resounding victory.
After entering the city, he met the Grand Marshal, and the two sides engaged in another round of polite formalities.
Jiang Ze had dispersed his elite guards throughout the army, keeping them away to avoid detection

by the extraordinary Grand Marshal.
Upon arriving at his lodgings, arranged by the Grand Marshal, Jiang Ze wondered if the Grand Marshal would attack him that night.
It was an inn in the city; due to the impending war, the civilians had been evacuated.

His high-ranking officers were staying there, all highly skilled. Logically, the Grand Marshal wouldn't

attack him under such circumstances. Reassured, he decided not to summon his assassin group for now, lest they be exposed

prematurely .
Late at night, Jiang Ze, who had been sleeping soundly, was awakened by a stifling heat. He immediately

cried out .
He jumped out of bed; the entire room was engulfed in flames. The flames were almost upon him.

As he approached the bed, thick black smoke billowed up from the collapsed door. Even amidst the scorching heat,

Jiang Ze felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
The generals inside the inn were beyond saving.
A flash of pain crossed Jiang Ze's eyes. He had no time to regret his carelessness tonight; if he didn't

escape, he too would be suffocated.
With a whoosh, he drew his black gold sword from his waist, his "qi" filling the blade,

instantly giving it a faint yellow glow.
Jiang Ze reached the wall of the room and slashed upwards from the middle. After the yellow glow faded, the window shattered into pieces.

Jiang Ze leaped, jumping from the window several meters high.
As he landed, he noticed several people carrying buckets of water rushing towards him in a panic.
Shortly after, the sound of a window shattering echoed, followed by a tall figure leaping down. It

was Ji Cheng, who had slept on the second floor with him.
The two exchanged a glance, both filled with undisguised killing intent.
"Grand Marshal, I swear I will never forgive you!" Ji Cheng's face was filled with murderous intent. These past few days, he had gotten along extremely well with the generals

under . He had learned a great deal from them; in just a

few days, his military skills had improved dramatically, largely thanks to these easy-going generals.
They often said that a true man should die a glorious death on the battlefield. But now, in the blink of an eye, they had all perished in the flames, killed by the Grand Marshal in the most despicable and shameless way. Ji Cheng's rugged face was now burning

with murderous intent.
Jiang Ze's throat tightened slightly: "It's all my fault for being careless. I thought the Grand Marshal wouldn't act so quickly. My

brothers ..."
Ji Cheng walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Jiang Ze, don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault. In fact, we

didn't expect the Grand Marshal to be so despicable either. He must have sent experts to release a hypnotic smoke to keep everyone from waking up before

setting the fire. Only the two of us, whose Qi reached the fifth level and weren't affected by the hypnotic smoke, were able to

escape ."
Jiang Ze remained silent.
A short while later, the Grand Marshal arrived at the scene with over a hundred soldiers.
Seeing his pretentious expression, Jiang Ze and Ji Cheng wanted nothing more than to kill him, but they had to suppress their murderous intent.
The Grand Marshal said calmly, "I never imagined that a traitor had infiltrated the Sand Kingdom. This is truly my fault. From

this moment on, I will impose martial law on the city to prevent a recurrence of this tragedy. Commander Jiang, you can rest assured."
The Grand Marshal then went through the motions of arranging another place for Jiang Ze and his companion, but the two were in no mood

to rest . They stared at the charred corpses being carried out one after another, speechless.
By dawn, their eyes were bloodshot.
The two ate their breakfast in silence when Jiang Ze suddenly spoke up: "The Grand Marshal set fire to the inn last night, most likely

to test how many experts are in our team."
Ji Cheng immediately agreed: "That's right. After reaching the third level of Qi cultivation, one is immune to ordinary poisons or

sleeping gas. He must have had the fire set and then sent men to guard the area to see how many people could escape safely.

Those people are definitely experts of the third level or above."
A fierce killing intent flashed in Jiang Ze's eyes: "Our only advantage now is to give the Grand Marshal the wrong

information, making him think that there are only you and me as experts. Hmph, the city is practically full of his spies; we can't make a move.

Once the city falls, and the Grand Marshal has to personally lead the attack, that will be our moment to strike. Starting tonight, you

'll sleep with me, so we can look out for each other."
"Alright, I've never wanted to kill the Grand Marshal like this before."
Wuyan City lived up to its reputation as one of the empire's most fortified cities. It took the Sand Kingdom's warriors eight days of relentless attacks

to breach its defenses. For a time, the warriors of both countries fought a fierce and brutal battle.
No matter how much Jiang Ze and his men wanted to kill the Grand Marshal, the crisis in the Sand Kingdom still needed to be addressed first. Fortunately

,

the Grand Marshal hadn't made any moves since that night, but even while dealing with the Sand Kingdom's army, Jiang Ze and his men remained vigilant against him.
Finally, tonight, their opportunity arrived.
Under the combined attack of the Grand Marshal and

Jiang Ze, the enemy suffered repeated defeats and scattered in two directions. The Grand Marshal personally led ten thousand elite troops to pursue their main force. The majority of the remaining soldiers joined Jiang Ze in pursuing the other fleeing group.
After the Grand Marshal had caught up, Jiang Ze immediately handed over command to his most trusted subordinate. He then

immediately assembled his assassin group.
Including himself and Ji Cheng, fifteen top assassins rode swiftly in the night towards

the direction the Grand Marshal was pursuing.
Suddenly, Jiang Ze raised his hand, and the dozen or so men behind him, seeing his gesture, immediately stopped their horses.
"We'll change clothes here, then abandon our horses and sneak over. There are people in the army

listening for ; if we go any further, they'll discover us. When I give the signal, everyone, don't hold back; you must

kill the Grand Marshal."
The men behind nodded in unison, quickly changing into their night clothes. After releasing their horses into the woods, they made

their way under the cover of darkness towards the Grand Marshal's large encampment.
Fifteen men emerged from a small hill. It was nearly four in the morning; the Grand Marshal had pursued them for a long distance and

likely didn't have enough time to return to Wuyan City, so he ordered his soldiers to camp and rest in this small valley.

Looking down, the campfires flickered, and only occasional shadowy figures could be seen—the perfect

opportunity .
With Jiang Ze's exceptional eyesight, he easily located the commander's tent, where a faint

light still shone.
After designating the targets, he gave the order: "Move!"
Even the weakest among them had reached the third level of "Qi," far surpassing ordinary soldiers.

They moved stealthily through the vast military camp undetected.
Soon, the Grand Marshal's tent was in sight.
Two soldiers stood guard before the tent, and Jiang Ze gave the order to kill them without hesitation. Eight days ago,

the Grand Marshal had ordered his men to burn his comrades alive, and this rage had been burning within him. Only

Ji Cheng among those present could truly understand his feelings—the urge to tear the Grand Marshal to pieces.
The two guards, suddenly seeing a group of masked men in black appear in the camp, immediately recognized it as

an enemy attack. One of the more alert ones immediately shouted: "Enemy…"
He only managed to utter one word before Jiang Ze's longsword silenced him forever.
The quiet night was instantly shattered. Various sounds began to emanate from the surroundings. Jiang Ze made a gesture, and Ji Cheng,

already at the forefront, cleaved the entire tent in two with his greatsword.
With a hiss, the white tent's roof was ripped open, revealing

a bald, burly man wielding a giant axe. The bald man seemed utterly unfazed by their numbers,

grinning , and an extremely dangerous feeling rose in everyone's hearts.
Jiang Ze's heart skipped a beat: "Damn it, we've fallen into a trap."
The bald man's giant axe was already coming at him. A flash of yellow light appeared on Jiang Ze's longsword, and with a whirlwind, sword and axe

clashed.
With a loud "clang," Jiang Ze felt an immense force that made his wrist numb, and he almost dropped

his sword He was terrified.
However, the shock in the eyes of Ji Cheng and the other experts who witnessed this scene was even more undisguised.

Jiang Ze was already the strongest among them, yet he

nearly lost his grip on his sword after merely parrying the bald giant's seemingly effortless attack. The bald giant's strength…
"Retreat." Jiang Ze issued the retreat order without hesitation. In
an instant, he immediately judged that the bald giant's "qi" was at least at the sixth level, perhaps even the seventh

.
The seventh level…
Jiang Ze even suspected that the bald giant alone could kill them all one by one.
A long laugh reached everyone's ears, followed by the Grand Marshal leading a large number of imperial warriors to

surround Jiang Ze with fifteen men.
"Finally, they've shown their true colors. All soldiers, listen to my command! Kill all these assassins!"
Jiang Ze finally realized his biggest mistake: underestimating the Grand Marshal's wisdom.
His apparent pursuit of the deserters from the Sand Kingdom was a trap to lure him into an assassination attempt. Now, everyone was

dressed in black and masked, behaving like assassins. Even if he were to tear off his mask and claim to be Commander Jiang Ze, no

one would . Moreover, the Grand Marshal didn't give them a chance at all, directly ordering everyone to kill.
Jiang Ze gritted his teeth, knowing the opportunity was fleeting. A yellow light flashed in his eyes, and he

unleashed .
Ji Cheng and the others were delighted to discover that Jiang Ze hadn't been using his full strength all along.

Now, with his sword technique in full force, no one could withstand a single

blow . Fourteen men rushed towards him, and for a short time, no one could stop them.
A cold light appeared in the Grand Marshal's eyes: "Sunset Sword Technique, humph." He looked at the bald, burly man, who

caught his gaze, nodded, and instantly disappeared from his spot.
The Grand Marshal glanced at his wife, Fu Bu, and Lu He behind him, seeing the deep

shock , and said, "Don't let the assassin escape. Remember, I don't want them alive."
The three of them then came to their senses and immediately used their movement techniques to rush forward.
The bald, burly man's speed surpassed everyone's expectations. They couldn't believe that a human could

move so fast; in the blink of an eye, he pounced on them like a ferocious beast, his momentum overwhelming.
"Scatter and escape!" As soon as Jiang Ze finished speaking, the fifteen people scattered like birds, fleeing in different directions

.
Ji Cheng's eyes caught the bald, burly man abandoning everyone else and chasing only Jiang Ze

. He gritted his teeth, retraced his steps, and ran back towards Jiang Ze.
Jiang Ze was shocked. Had Ji Cheng gone mad? Running towards him! Didn't he see that the bald,

burly man's strength far surpassed anyone else's? But at the same time, his heart warmed. Ji Cheng was a true brother; at this

critical moment, he still came to him without hesitation, wanting to save him.
But how could Jiang Ze let this hard-won brother die in vain?
The next moment, he spat out a mouthful of blood, forcibly unleashing the Sunset Movement Technique, a skill only usable at the sixth level.
This movement technique complemented the Sunset Sword Technique; legend has it that when both were mastered, they could eclipse

the sun . In an instant, he gestured for Ji Cheng to flee, then transformed into a phantom,

escaping towards the desert, while the bald giant, relying on equally astonishing speed, relentlessly pursued him.
Ji Cheng's face turned deathly pale. Suppressing his grief and anger, he used his greatsword to send the surging

imperial warriors flying one by one.
At the same time, his only hope was that Jiang Ze could successfully escape the bald giant's clutches.
After a bloody battle, Ji Cheng finally escaped. Meanwhile, five of his companions ultimately succumbed to the relentless

attacks and perished in the Grand Marshal's camp. Their first direct confrontation with the Grand Marshal ended in a crushing defeat.

If Jiang Ze died, it would be an unbearable blow for them.
On the third day, the Grand Marshal finally returned to Wuyan City and met Ji Cheng
, whose face was deathly pale. The Grand Marshal spoke in a strange tone, "Several of my scouts

saw Commander Jiang riding a fine horse with a small bundle on its back one night a few days ago, galloping non-stop into the depths of the desert

. On the same night, a small packet of obsidian we obtained from prisoners of war from the Sand Kingdom also

disappeared . General Ji, can you tell me what happened?"
In an instant, Ji Cheng's heart sank into an abyss.
Jiang Ze was certainly in grave danger.
The Grand Marshal was very pleased with his expression and laughed heartily, "I won't disturb General Ji's rest any longer,

hahaha ..."
Yu Ya Yuan had been waiting for Jiang Ze's return. As news of the battle at the front lines poured into the capital,

her anxiety grew. Later, news of a great victory arrived from the front, and her heart finally settled. But

something was strange; there was no news indicating that the Grand Marshal was in trouble. Had their mission

failed ?
Today, her maid practically rushed into her room, and Yu Ya Yuan jumped up in surprise: "

Has the army returned victorious?"
The maid, breathless, said, "They've arrived... the army has entered the capital. However... Young Master Ji Cheng

is outside, and we haven't seen Commander Jiang with his entourage."
For some reason, a bad premonition suddenly arose in Yu Ya Yuan's heart. She put on her soft boots and almost

ran to the courtyard.
Upon seeing Ji Cheng's expression, Yu Ya Yuan's heart sank: "Ji Cheng, where is Jiang Ze?"
Tears welled in Ji Cheng's eyes: "The mission was a complete failure. Six people, including Jiang Ze, perished

. The Grand Marshal was unharmed."
Yu Ya Yuan felt a sudden darkness engulf her, the world spinning, and she lost consciousness. Only Ji Cheng's exclamation echoed

faintly .
...
Rong Ke found it strange. His father rarely sent him to the castle hall so early. Usually, he would discuss policies with

the officials . Although he had learned a lot from Yu Ya Yuan, he seemed too young to participate in politics.
Yesterday, he went to Jiang Ze's courtyard and found he hadn't returned. Asking around, he discovered that no one else had seen

Jiang Ze either. Even stranger, Yu Ya Yuan was nowhere to be found. What was going on?
When he arrived at the castle hall, he was immediately taken aback by the somber atmosphere.
What was happening...?
He sat down beside his father and saw many people below with puzzled expressions. It seemed they didn't

know what his father wanted to say either. Rong Ke wanted to ask a question, but seeing his father's gloomy face, he shrank

back.
Only the Grand Marshal stood silently in the center of the hall.
A short while later, when the Grand Civil Official and his son entered the hall with grave expressions, the Führer finally spoke.
"I'm sure everyone is puzzled as to why Commander Jiang didn't return after this great victory. Let

me, Elder Tu, explain everything."
The Grand Marshal turned to the crowd, his face calm. "That was the night we crushed the last of the Sand Kingdom's forces.

We found a small bag of obsidian on one of their high-ranking generals. I planned to melt it

down upon our return, so I ordered it to be stored in a tent. That same night, three of our scouts inadvertently

discovered Commander Jiang riding his steed towards the desert under cover of darkness.

There was a small bundle hanging on the back of his horse. When he returned, his servants reported this to me. I found it strange, so I ordered someone to

check obsidian was still in the tent, but the small bundle had vanished."
As soon as the Grand Marshal finished speaking, the previously silent castle hall erupted in uproar, everyone's faces filled

with fear.
"Marshal, is everything you say true? You can't just make things up without concrete evidence...

"
"Obsidian, barbarians..."
"How could that be? Commander Jiang, they don't look like barbarians at all..."
"If you don't believe me, you can have the three scouts and the warriors who went to Obsidian come and confront them. And that

's not all." The Grand Marshal continued, "Not long ago, when Jiang Ze led his army to a great victory over the Crescent Moon Kingdom's army, did you all know that

the Crescent Moon Kingdom's only prince, Ernan, was also in the army at the time, and was even captured by Jiang Ze? Later, Jiang Ze secretly released

Ernan back to the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Many warriors witnessed this, but many of them didn't

know at the time that the prisoner was actually the prince of the Crescent Moon Kingdom."
Everyone in the room gasped in shock.
"The Crescent Moon Kingdom is the only country on the continent that hasn't melted the obsidian. Jiang Ze captured

their prince and then released him; his purpose is obvious. What's even more terrifying is that he hasn't mentioned it

a single word ."
The middle-aged official spoke with shock, echoing the thoughts of everyone present.
Ji Cheng felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. The Grand Marshal's methods were truly ruthless. He felt utterly powerless.

The Grand Marshal had not only killed his good brother but also completely destroyed his reputation after death. A hero would become a demon, and even if he

were to be resurrected, he would face attacks from all the countries on the continent.
Barbarians were the common enemy of all the people on the continent, and before he grew into a demon god, everyone would

kill him without hesitation.
Rong Ke listened blankly to the facts before him, unable to believe it.
Everything that had happened completely overturned his previous worldview. Yu Ya Yuan had naturally told him

about the barbarians, but how could those ferocious and evil barbarians, like demon gods, possibly be Jiang Ze?
He didn't believe it.
He was determined to find Yu Ya Yuan and get a clear answer.
...
Jiang Ze struggled to open his eyes, his bones feeling like they were about to break apart. The sharp pain in several parts of his body

reminded him that he was still alive.
He seemed to be in a small tent, lying on a small wooden bed inside. He

turned his head with difficulty and saw his black gold sword, which had withstood dozens of blows from the bald giant's axe without a scratch,

resting quietly on a small table in the center of the tent. He finally felt relieved.
He hadn't been captured by the Grand Marshal.
A short while later, light filled the tent, and a beautiful, alluring woman from a foreign tribe opened the tent flap,

carrying a small basin of water. When she saw the awakened Jiang Ze, her large blue eyes

lit up. She gently placed the basin on the table, then walked over and began speaking to him in a strange language that Jiang Ze had

never .
Jiang Ze looked bewildered and asked, "What are you saying?"
The beautiful woman in warrior attire paused, then tentatively spoke a few more words. After confirming that Jiang Ze

could n't understand her, she got up, fed him some water, and left the tent.
For the first time, Jiang Ze regretted not having studied the language more with Yu Ya Yuan. If it were her, she might very well have

spoken such strange language.
Jiang Ze was in considerable pain and could only barely sit up. He then noticed that all the painful areas of his body

were bandaged, and he felt immense gratitude towards the person who had rescued him.
The beautiful woman returned shortly after, accompanied by a dozen or so people, men,

women , and children, all crowding in and staring curiously at Jiang Ze.
An elderly man with white hair approached, first examining Jiang Ze's injuries, then

nodding and asking him a few questions in that strange language.
Jiang Ze honestly replied, "I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand what you're saying."
The old man's cloudy eyes immediately lit up, and he slowly asked in a not-so-standard tone, "What's your name?

Why are you so badly injured and unconscious in the desert?"
Overjoyed that the old man could speak the mainland language, Jiang Ze exclaimed, "Sir, I am a member of the Empire..."

"Officer, I've been chased by the enemy into the desert. Where am I?"
"The Empire? You're from the Empire?" The old man seemed to have heard something unbelievable. "We are the Blue-Eyed Clan, one of the many tribes in

the desert . We've lived on this land for generations.

No outsiders have entered here for over fifty years. Only the most experienced hunters can safely leave this desert.

The place where you collapsed is very close to our territory; that's impossible."
Jiang Ze honestly replied, "I was swept away by a tornado. It must have brought me here."
The old man's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "A tornado! The Wind God brought you here. It seems this is fate. The Wind God

is the only deity worshipped by all our tribes. His bringing you here must have a meaning. Imperial citizen,

rest and recuperate here."
It seemed this was a kind tribe. Jiang Ze thanked him, saying, "Thank you, sir. My name

is Jiang Ze. May I ask how you are addressed?"
The old man stroked his white beard and smiled as he replied, "My name is Erxian, the most learned elder in our tribe.

After your injuries heal, I hope you can stay in the tribe for a while longer. You are a gift from the Wind God, and we

hope you can bring blessings to our tribe."
Jiang Ze felt embarrassed. "Elder Erxian, you are too kind. I should be the one thanking you for saving my life

. After I recover, I will stay here for a while."
Jiang Ze had already noticed that whether it was the beautiful woman, Elder Erxian, or

the young men who were curiously observing him, he could sense that they had all cultivated

"Qi," which was extremely shocking.
The probability of someone cultivating "Qi" is about one in every two thousand people. Among the more than twenty thousand

warriors , no more than one hundred had cultivated "Qi." From this, we can see that the primary

condition is talent, followed by acquired effort.
However, the current situation seems to indicate that the Blue-Eyed Clan might have a method that allows everyone to cultivate

"Qi."
Jiang Ze's heart, which had sank due to the Grand Marshal's astonishing strength, suddenly became active again.
If he could grasp the method...
It wasn't until seven days later that Jiang Ze's injuries were fully healed. This was

the first time he had suffered such a serious injury since cultivating "Qi" to the fifth level, and it took a full seven days to recover.
The bald giant's strength was terrifying.
Jiang Ze couldn't help but feel a lingering fear. If it weren't for the tornado that night coming too quickly, he would definitely have died at the hands of that bald giant, as he was being cleaved down

the sand dune .
Inside the tent, a beautiful woman walked in.
Her magnetic voice reached Jiang Ze's ears: "Wu Yunda heard that your injuries have healed, and he wants to see you

. He sent me to tell you."
This beautiful woman spoke the language of the Blue-Eyed Tribe. For the past seven days, Jiang Ze had been constantly learning their language from her.

With his amazing memory, Jiang Ze had managed to learn about 70-80% of their language in just seven days.
"Wu Yunda? Is that the leader of your Blue-Eyed Tribe that you told me about, Gina?" Jiang Ze asked, surprised.
Gina sat down beside him, kissed him on the cheek, and said, "That's right, Wuyunda is not only

the leader of our tribe, but also our strongest warrior. He's very interested in you."
Jiang Ze said helplessly, "Gina, I've heard that you're Wuyunda's woman.

It wouldn't be good for him if he heard about this kiss."
Gina blinked her bright eyes and said, "In our tribe, as long as a man and woman are mutually attracted, they can

be together. Wuyunda once told me that I can leave any man I like at any time, so

he won't blame me."
Jiang Ze sighed. The customs and practices of the Blue-Eyed Tribe were unimaginable in other countries on the continent. He didn't

deny that Gina was an exceptionally beautiful woman, even slightly inferior to Ya Yuan, but her fiery passion

and alluring eyes added a unique charm to her, making her very attractive to Jiang Ze.
However, he already had someone in mind and didn't intend to dwell on the topic: "Then let's go. Take me to see Wu

Yunda."
Wu Yunda's camp was in the very center of this oasis, and it was also the largest.
When Ji Na opened the tent door, Jiang Ze, who walked in, couldn't help but be taken aback.
Inside, a middle-aged man sitting at the head of the tent was enjoying a gentle massage from four or five beautiful women.

Seeing Jiang Ze and Ji Na arrive, the man waved his hand and instructed the beauties, "Distinguished guests have arrived

. Go and prepare some food."
Then he stood up, his tall, slender figure, half a head taller than Jiang Ze, walked over, and laughed, "Brother Jiang

, please sit down. Make yourself at home here. Don't feel uncomfortable."
His generosity greatly impressed Jiang Ze.
Soon, the four or five beauties brought out platters of fresh fruit and delicacies, while the blue-eyed tribe

leader poured fragrant sake for Jiang Ze and Ji Na.
After doing all this, the beautiful women sat back down beside him. They didn't speak, but their eyes

boldly scanned Jiang Ze, making him quite uncomfortable.
Wu Yunda smiled and introduced them to Jiang Ze: "These are all my wives. I originally had eight wives.

Two were given to friends from neighboring tribes, and my most beloved wife, after saving you, fell in love with someone else and

abandoned me. You must have enjoyed my wife's passion these past few days, Brother Jiang?"
Wu Yunda's blunt and direct words left Jiang Ze feeling overwhelmed. He also realized then that the Blue-Eyed Tribe was

so open-minded; no wonder Ji Na had been so eager to please him these past few days.
Gina blinked her beautiful blue eyes and pouted, saying, "But Jiang Ze hasn't even touched

me these past few days. Am I not attractive at all?"
"Oh?" Wu Yunda, upon hearing this, also found it strange. "Gina is not only the most beautiful woman in our tribe, but also a

fourth-tier warrior. Many young men in the tribe are fond of her. How can Brother Jiang remain unmoved?"
Gina's words left Jiang Ze speechless. "It's not like that. It's just that I already have a fiancée, so

I have the heart to refuse you."
Wu Yunda asked, "How many wives does Brother Jiang have?"
"One," Jiang Ze honestly replied.
"Ah!"
Everyone in the tent was stunned. Gina said incredulously, "Jiang Ze must be very dissatisfied

with Gina, otherwise, why would he reject me if he only has one wife?"
Jiang Ze was at a loss for words, and could only explain to them that the customs of the Empire were very different from theirs.

Finally , he explained, "It's not that I don't like Gina; on the contrary, Gina has a great attraction for me. It's just that

I only intend to marry my fiancée, and she won't accept Gina as my woman."
Gina's eyes lit up immediately: "That's easy. Before you marry your fiancée, I

'll be your mistress, right? When the time comes, when you want me to leave, Gina will obediently leave you and never bother you again.

Isn't that great?"
Gina's bold approach made Jiang Ze's heart pound.
At this moment, Wu Yunda spoke up, "If Brother Jiang refuses to accept Gina, it will be considered disrespectful to her.

Once the others in the tribe find out, they will definitely challenge you, and I will find it difficult to intervene."
Jiang Ze immediately felt a headache coming on: "I plan to return in another month. In such a short time, why don't you

let Gina return to your side, Brother Wu?"
Wu Yunda was taken aback: "Brother Jiang plans to return? I'm afraid that won't work. This season, not only are tornadoes rampant, but the sand

wolves are also in their breeding season. Even if I send hundreds of warriors to escort Brother Jiang, it will be difficult to safely cross the sand sea."
"Then... when would be the best time to leave?" Jiang Ze pondered.
"At least eight months from now. By then, the sand wolves will have retreated into the depths of the desert to withstand the severe cold. That will be the only time

to cross the sand sea."
Jiang Ze gasped. Eight months from now, there would be too many variables within the empire.
If he didn't return in eight months, Yu Yayuan would definitely think he was dead. What would he do then? Moreover,

what if the Grand Marshal obtained a large amount of obsidian during this period? He only regretted that he had no

way .
Seeing his extremely pale face, Wu Yunda asked in surprise, "Brother Jiang, is there something urgent that requires

your return? We'd like you to stay here a little longer."
Jiang Ze sighed, "I do have very important matters to attend to, Brother Wu. Is there really no other way for

me to return as soon as possible?"
Seeing his pale face, Ji Na said with pity, "This is

the only safe way to cross the desert that we've developed through hundreds of years of experience. If we force our way through now, we'll only perish at the hands of

sand wolves or be swept away by tornadoes."
Jiang Ze took a deep breath, knowing the situation was like this. Even if they were willing to send warriors to take him back, he

wouldn't accept. He said, "Since there's no other way, then this is the only option. Brother Wu, there's something I'd like to ask you.

Could you please tell me?"
Wu Yunda politely replied, "Please, speak freely."
"I've seen that over half of the noble youths have cultivated Qi, which is

unimaginable Brother Wu, could you enlighten me?"
Wu Yunda smiled and said, "So that's how it is. It's quite simple. Our various

tribes have lived on this vast land for thousands of years. To fight against the desert and the dangerous sand wolves,

we must possess great strength to survive. Over the centuries, our ancestors discovered that whether a child

has the talent to cultivate Qi depends on his parents. If one parent possesses Qi, their child has a

20-30% chance of inheriting it. Therefore, various tribes have a long-standing tradition of intermarriage. My two wives, for example, both possessed

second-tier Qi. After bearing me two children, they were exchanged to another tribe."
Jiang Ze was stunned. So that's how it is.
Only a tribe with such an open-minded approach could create such a large number of people with Qi.

This is unimaginable in the countries of this continent, because the number of women who have cultivated "Qi" is extremely small. Furthermore, ordinary people

are only allowed monogamy, and only nobles have the right to take concubines. Therefore, those with the talent to cultivate "Qi"

are so few.
"Thank you, Brother Wu, for clearing up my doubts. This is truly unexpected,"
Wu Yunda laughed. "Now that Brother Jiang knows this method, he can't refuse Ji Na even more.

Her Qi has reached the fourth level. If Brother Jiang can persuade her to have your child, then you'll have another treasure

with limitless . It's a pity that Ji Na has been with me for so long, but she has never been willing to have my child."
Ji Na covered her mouth and laughed, "I see you have a lot of opinions about this. But as long as Jiang Ze is willing to accept me,

I'm willing to have his child anytime."
"Brother Jiang, what are you still hesitating about?"
Looking at the expectant Ji Na, Jiang Ze reluctantly said, "Alright then."
Ji Na cheered and planted a sweet kiss on Jiang Ze's lips. This caused Wu Yunda and his several wives

to giggle.
Wu Yunda laughed and said, "The night is long but short, Brother Jiang, you must seize the opportunity."
Ji Na seemed unfazed, and proactively pulled Jiang Ze back to her tent.
Jiang Ze had only been intimate with Yu Ya Yuan, but neither of them had gone all the way. But Ji Na was different; she

was experienced and passionate, quickly making Jiang Ze abandon all restraint. His greatest wish now was to forget

about the Empire and what the consequences would be when his fiancée discovered he had disappeared.
Passion and revelry completely overwhelmed the couple.
As the rising sun shone on the tent, illuminating it, Jiang Ze awoke.
Looking at Ji Na, curled up like a kitten in his arms, completely naked, he felt a pang of guilt towards

Yu Ya Yuan. He stroked Ji Na's alluring back, thinking that after returning, this beauty would no longer be his concern

, and felt a sense of loss, and also a pang of guilt towards Ji Na.
Just then, the mournful sound of horns echoed through the Blue-Eyed Clan's camp.
Gina, who had been sleeping like a kitten, suddenly opened her eyes.
"Yellow Sand Bandits!" Her beautiful eyes revealed deep shock.
Jiang Ze immediately knew something was wrong, jumped out of bed, grabbed his clothes from the floor and gave

them to Gina, who quickly dressed.
Soon, the two, dressed in warrior attire, arrived outside the tent.
The camp was in chaos as the Blue-Eyed Tribe warriors rushed towards the sound of the horn. Jiang Ze saw in the distance that

Wu Yunda was directing his tribe's warriors to evacuate the elderly and children to the rear of the camp.
Jiang Ze asked, "What are the Yellow Sand Bandits?"
The gentleness of last night was gone from Ji Na's beautiful face, replaced by a chilling killing intent. She

answered rapidly, "They are a large band of bandits who live by plundering in the desert. There are about two thousand of them, almost

all of them possessing Qi cultivation. Their leader is called Lone Wolf, and his cultivation is as high as the sixth level. Even if all the warriors in our tribe were

gathered , we couldn't stop them."
"What!" Jiang Ze was shocked. When did bandits become so powerful? And sixth level

at that? Even if he had fully recovered from his injuries, he still wouldn't be able to defeat him.
"What do they want to plunder?"
Gina pulled him towards Wu Yunda, saying, "They'll plunder anything, and women are their

primary target."
Wu Yunda had already seen them and shouted to the two of them, "Gina, quickly mount your black horse and go to

the nearest mountain tribe for reinforcements."
Gina had just nodded when Jiang Ze said to her, "Go quickly. My strength is at the fifth level, and if necessary, I

have a way to temporarily gain the strength of the sixth level. I'll stay here to protect the tribesmen."
Gina's beautiful eyes immediately lit up: "Then be careful."
"Okay."
As Jiang Ze gripped his black gold sword, the Yellow Sand Bandits had already charged in from the front of the camp.
They were a mighty force, and even Jiang Ze felt his scalp tingle just looking at them.
"How many warriors with Qi cultivation do we have here?" Jiang Ze asked Wu Yunda.
"About nine hundred and fifty people, most of them at the first or second level, and a few at the third level. The Yellow Sand Bandits

can't . As soon as reinforcements arrive, they'll have to retreat obediently. Oh no, they've discovered that Gina is going to

ask for help." Wu Yunda's expression changed drastically.
Jiang Ze was startled. Looking ahead, he saw seven or eight riders suddenly break away from the large band of Yellow Sand Bandits,

heading towards Ji Na's direction.
"Brother Jiang, here's my horse. Go and kill them."
Without further ado, Jiang Ze mounted Wu Yunda's horse and galloped towards the seven or eight riders.
After riding for about two or three miles, they arrived at a sand dune. The seven or eight riders ahead were almost catching up with Ji Na, but Jiang

Ze was already not far behind. Immediately, four of the riders broke away and galloped back towards Jiang Ze, leaving only three to

relentlessly pursue Ji Na.
A moment later, just as the two sides were about to pass each other, Jiang Ze swung his black gold sword. Caught off guard, one of the bandits' swords

snapped in two, a trickle of blood appearing on his throat. The next moment, he fell from his horse.
The remaining three bandits immediately cried out in unison, "This is bad! The captain went after that woman;

we can't beat him!"
Another bandit roared, "The three of us against one! Are we afraid we can't win? Attack!"
The clash of swords echoed incessantly. Jiang Ze was secretly alarmed; these three were only at the second tier of strength, but

combined , they were an obstacle he couldn't overcome in a short time.
When the last bandit, Huangsha, who had been terrified by his attacks and was preparing to flee, was pierced through the back by a sword he had thrown, at

least three quarters of an hour had passed. He prayed that Ji Na could escape the pursuit of the remaining three bandits and hurried along

the tracks .
Soon, a cluster of barren rocks appeared ahead, densely packed in the distance. When he reached these boulders, Jiang

Ze's exceptional hearing suddenly picked up Ji Na's voice. He immediately dismounted, gripped his sword, and swiftly

weaved through the rocks, approaching the source of the sound.
Soon, a series of intermittent groans reached Jiang Ze's ears.
His heart skipped a beat; it was Ji Na's voice.
He knew Ji Na had fallen into the hands of those three bandits and was currently enduring their humiliation.

A surge of murderous intent rose within Jiang Ze.
Quickly, he silently climbed a boulder, using it for cover, revealing half his face as he looked down

. What he saw almost made him act rashly.
At that moment, Ji Na and two Yellow Sand Bandits were directly beneath the boulder where Jiang Ze was standing. Ji Na had been

laid on a rock, her upper body half-open, revealing her round, alluring breasts. Her lower body was

completely naked, even her boots were gone. Her and another Yellow Sand Bandit's clothes were scattered on the ground.
The Yellow Sand Bandit who was thrusting on top of her was extremely rough; each

thrust caused Ji Na to groan. The other Yellow Sand Bandit held Ji Na's hands tightly, preventing her from

moving.
Soon, the Yellow Sand Bandit on top of her could no longer hold on; with a tremor, he collapsed onto Ji Na.

After a while , he withdrew his limp penis, lightly holding a long sword to Ji Na's fair neck.

At this moment, the bandit holding her hands began to undress. Soon, he too was naked

. A large, erect penis stood before Ji Na.
He thrust forward, and Ji Na cried out "Ah!" involuntarily tilting her pretty face upward, her gaze

meeting Jiang Ze's above.
Jiang Ze's face was filled with murderous intent. He pointed at the man on top of her, making a "kill" gesture.

But Ji Na shook her head slightly. Just as Jiang Ze was puzzled, Ji Na winked at him,

then let out a series of alluring moans. What puzzled Jiang Ze even more was that she pulled the man's large hand off her and guided it to her soft, full breasts beneath
her half-open clothes .

The bandit on top of her grinned, "Haha, I told you,

a woman is still a woman. No matter how strong she is, she's only good for being fucked by us men."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gina beneath him offered a passionate kiss, their kiss lasting a long while. Only

after a long while did the man on top of her
release his grip, satisfied. At this moment, the other bandit, who had just held a sword to her neck, leered and planted his sword

in the ground beside him, now relaxed and enjoying his companion's performance.
Gina's full, elastic thighs rubbed against the bandit on top of her, until he

couldn't take it anymore. He lifted Gina's firm,

alluring legs and placed them on his shoulders, enjoying the sensation.
Jiang Ze above had been waiting, waiting for the moment Gina below would make her move.
"I can't take it anymore, this beauty is too seductive." The sand bandit on Gina began to speed up,

even with her beautiful legs on his shoulders, the beautiful woman still rubbed her supple calves against his face.

She caressed him, constantly stimulating him, and now it was almost time for him to ejaculate.
"Ah...ah ah...ah..." Gina moaned incessantly, while the man on top of her accelerated.

Then, the sand bandit let out a low growl, pressing hard against Gina beneath him.
Gina, who had been half-closing her eyes while being fucked, suddenly opened them.
Her long, slender, fair legs, which had been resting on his shoulders, suddenly clamped around the sand bandit's neck .

Instantly, she spun around with the agility of a female leopard, and the sand bandit, who was in the throes of ejaculation,

didn't even have time to react before her neck snapped.
The other sand bandit, who had been watching from the sidelines, was terrified. He was only a few steps away from the woman in front of him. He

quickly pulled the sword he had stuck in the ground, and just as he took a step forward, an incredibly fast figure

pounced down from above. He felt a sharp pain in his chest and fell to the ground.
Jiang Ze drew his longsword and walked over, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"
He had been able to kill the sand bandit quickly, but Ji Na's sudden action had caught him off guard

, causing him to slow down. He had also finally witnessed a

fierce .
Ji Na smiled sweetly at him, "It was just those two guys taking advantage of me, nothing serious.

The tribe needs you now, you should go back quickly, I also need to get to the mountain tribe's village as fast as I can."
Jiang Ze nodded, helped her pick up her clothes and boots from the ground, and Ji Na kissed him reluctantly on the cheek

before galloping towards her horse not far away.
Jiang Ze, sword in hand, also rushed back to where he had come from. Seeing Ji Na fall into

the hands of , he would never let the Blue-Eyed Tribe suffer the same fate.
The sun had just risen in the distance, yet this land was about to be stained with blood—what was the purpose of all this?
Suddenly, he felt his internal energy circulating rapidly. The brutal plundering by the Yellow Sand Bandits

had completely ignited the emotions he had long suppressed. His energy, which hadn't progressed in six months, finally

advanced at this crucial moment

.

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