Northern Border of Liang.
Outside Demon-Suppressing City.
There was a deafening sound of drums.
On the plain outside the city, the Northern Garrison Army of Liang and the Han Kingdom’s army were at war, the ground littered with the bodies of Liang Kingdom martial artists.
After months of battle, both sides had lost their patience for probing.
The battle in the last three days was extremely brutal.
Xiao Yaojin’s armor was stained with blood, holding a long spear, piercing the chest of a Han Kingdom martial artist. But before withdrawing the spear, a cold light flashed from the right. Xiao Yaojin leaned back, the cold light slicing across his chest, leaving a scar on his armor.
Seizing the moment when the opponent’s long saber had just slashed down and hadn’t been pulled back, Xiao Yaojin pulled out the long spear, the spearhead sweeping out like a dragon, piercing the opponent’s throat.
One spear, one kill, but Xiao Yaojin’s expression did not change. Since the battle with the Han Kingdom started, this was the tenth time he had appeared on the battlefield. As the young marquis of the Northern Garrison Marquis, he naturally could not hide within the city.
The Xiao Family managed to hold such prestige in the Northern Garrison Army because they led by example.
His uncle, third uncle, and fourth uncle...
Had sacrificed themselves in battles with the Northern Border Demon Race, while his father, as the new Northern Garrison Marquis, had to remain in the central army to give commands, leaving only him, the son, to be on the battlefield.
On the walls of Demon-Suppressing City, Northern Garrison Marquis Xiao Pingyao and three elders were watching the battlefield. Beside them were dozens of middle-aged men, all middle-grade martial artists, ready to support the battlefield at any moment.
Bang!
Xiao Yaojin had fought his way to the rear, already battle-crazed, continuously thrusting his long spear, with other martial artists, forcibly tearing apart the left wing of the Han Kingdom’s army. The Han Kingdom’s martial artist formation was broken, fleeing chaotically. Xiao Yaojin was about to raise his spear to chase, when suddenly, from the northwest direction, several figures approached in unison.
"Oh, what a coincidence, catching two armies at war. But this scale is rather petty."
A disdainful voice spread across the entire battlefield, and at the same time, a commanding voice rang out, "Halt."
The voice was loud and clear. Xiao Yaojin only felt his spear tremble in his hand, and the other companions around him experienced the same, causing them all to look in shock towards the northwest where the newcomers appeared.
On the city wall, Xiao Pingyao also noticed the figures coming from the northwest. The elders beside him, after hearing the commanding voice, were on high alert, focusing their gaze on a middle-aged man among them.
There were six people, all riding mounts pure white all over and somewhat similar to horses, and the middle-aged man who spoke was wearing an ornate black-patterned brocade robe, leading at the front.
However, after a brief, eerie pause on the battlefield, martial artists from both sides resumed their battle.
Both sides were battle-mad, hearing no drum signals to change, naturally would not stop.
"Insolent fools, I commanded you to halt!"
The commanding voice rang out again. After the middle-aged man’s angry shout, a terrifying aura emanated from him, spreading over the battlefield like a raging sea, causing the ice blades held by thousands of martial artists to tremble simultaneously.
And it wasn’t over. The middle-aged man flicked his finger, transforming into a sword Qi that slashed at the frontline of the two warring armies.
Hundreds of martial artists from both countries hadn’t had time to retreat, and were torn apart by the sword Qi, flesh and blood flying, screams all over.
Seeing this, Xiao Yaojin’s pupils contracted, and at the same time on the city walls, Xiao Pingyao’s expression turned grim, his eyes almost spitting fire.
"Marquis, do not act rashly."
An elder beside him whispered in reminder, "These people seem unusual, and their strength is unfathomable."
The elder was a First-Grade Martial Artist, but in front of that middle-aged man, he felt a threat. Especially those six, although three were young, the two middle-aged martial artists dressed like that middle-aged man were the same.
"I understand."
Xiao Pingyao forcefully suppressed his anger. He was now the Northern Garrison Marquis, and his every move concerned the life and death of tens of thousands of the Northern Garrison Army. The identity of these few was unknown, and their strength was terrifyingly strong. For the safety of the Northern Garrison Army, he had to be cautious.
"We have come from the Flame Dynasty. This seat doesn’t care what grievances you have, both sides are to retreat and send the one in charge to meet us."
The middle-aged man, with a flick of his finger that stopped the battle between the two countries, acted as if he had done something insignificant, his expression unchanged, but these next words made the faces of Xiao Pingyao and several elders change drastically.
People from the Flame Dynasty!
"Lu Lixin of Han Kingdom greets the Upper Officials."
Before Xiao Pingyao could make a move, four elder figures flew from the Han Kingdom’s side, appearing in the center of the battlefield without caring about the face of a First-Grade Martial Artist, bowing to the group of middle-aged men in front of the martial artists of both armies.
"Marquis."
An elder reminded Xiao Pingyao. Xiao Pingyao nodded and left the city wall with three elders straight to the center of the battle.
"Xiao Pingyao of Liang Kingdom greets the esteemed lords."
Xiao Pingyao clasped his fists in salute, yet a young man from the Flame Dynasty seeing Xiao Pingyao merely clasped his fists, immediately snorted softly, "A martial artist from these isolated lands, how rude, should be punished."
With these words, the young man struck with his palm, causing gusts of wind and thunder, but apart from clothes being blown, Xiao Pingyao and his three accompanying elders remained unmoved.
This sight made the young man’s face turn unpleasant.
The Northern Garrison Army on the battlefield, seeing someone make a move against the Marquis, directed their gaze in this direction.
"This old man, on behalf of my Liang Kingdom, welcomes the esteemed lords’ arrival."
Eventually, an elder standing next to Xiao Pingyao bowed in greeting.
The Marquis must not bow, for the Marquis is the backbone of the Northern Garrison Army. Unlike the four First-Grade martial artists of the Han Kingdom, these four did not lead the army day-to-day, thus not affecting the army’s morale.
Liang now faces both the Han and Zheng Kingdoms, and if it offends a force from the Flame Dynasty again, it would become extremely difficult to manage, even possibly facing the calamity of national destruction.
The Marquis must not bow; he could.
"Hmph."
The young man saw the elder bowing and snorted once more, somewhat unwillingly, but did not say anything further.
"This seat doesn’t care how many kingdoms this island has, or what grievances exist. According to the decree issued by the dynasty, if the martial strength of this barren martial terrain does not meet the requirements, this seat will report to the dynasty. Now, I want you to notify all the monarchs on this island to come and see us."
The middle-aged man who made a move earlier spoke coldly. Hearing this, Lu Lixin immediately replied, "The request of the Upper Official, our Han Kingdom will certainly cooperate. The Upper Official might as well go to our capital. Our Han Kingdom is the strongest among the Nine Kingdoms. By then, the Upper Official can summon the monarchs of the Nine Kingdoms in our Han Kingdom."
Upon hearing Lu Lixin’s words, Xiao Pingyao and his companions’ expressions changed instantly, but the middle-aged man had already agreed, "Alright."
"Please, Upper Official!"
Lu Lixin heard the other’s agreement and had a face full of smiles. As for the conflict between the Liang Kingdom and the Han Kingdom, it was no longer important.
The entry of the Flame Dynasty’s forces into the Nine Kingdoms will definitely rewrite the fate of the Nine Kingdoms.
The Liang Kingdom might not see this clearly, but he does.
The strength of the Nine Kingdoms cannot be compared with that of the Flame Dynasty. Just the strength exhibited by this person alone can change the outcome of the battlefield, let alone the fact that there are two more of such strong individuals.
The Han Kingdom withdrew its troops and left with the people of the Flame Dynasty.
"Marquis, this matter must be reported to the Imperial Court immediately."
"I will write a letter now and send it to the capital at once."
Xiao Pingyao nodded. He also knew that the most important thing now was not the conflict with the Han Kingdom, but this sudden appearance of the martial artists from the Flame Dynasty.
Poyang County.
Lin Chen followed his teacher back to Poyang County.
"Village Chief, Lin Chen is back!"
Zhao Canghe was lying under the big tree in the village, cooling off. Hearing the villagers’ shout, he opened his old eyes somewhat bewilderedly. Lin Chen is back?
"Oh dear, the coffin I ordered from the coffin shop hasn’t been made yet, and he’s back already?"
"Coffin?"
Big Brother Xu heard the words of his village chief, and his face was full of confusion. What does Lin Chen’s return have to do with making a coffin?
Could it be that the village chief plans not only to sell burial plots but also to crazily sell coffins to the nobles?
"Who sent Lin Chen back?"
"No one sent him. Lin Chen came back by himself. He just entered the village entrance."
"By himself?"
The expression on Zhao Canghe’s old face changed from bewilderment to confusion, and finally to ecstasy, "You mean Lin Chen is still alive?"
"He’s alive, village chief?! What’s happening with you today?"
Big Brother Xu was at a loss for words at his village chief’s questions. Lin Chen is alive and well, could he have returned as a corpse?
"Quick, quickly help me... Forget it, I’ll walk myself. Go call your second brother to clean the ancestral hall."
"Are we going to worship the ancestors?"
Big Brother Xu was even more perplexed. Every time Lin Chen returned, the village chief would worship the ancestors. Isn’t that a bit too much? The empty spaces in the village were nearly fully occupied now.
"I told you to go and call him, why so much nonsense? The ancestors manifested and protected Lin Chen’s safety, of course, we have to pay respects."
Zhao Canghe glared with his old eyes, and Big Brother Xu dared not ask more. He went reluctantly to notify his second brother.
Every time Lin Chen returned, his second brother would be busy for quite a while.
At the village entrance, Lin Chen greeted the villagers with a smile, while his teacher went back to the Lakefront Villa on his own.
Soon, Lin Chen also saw the old village chief hurrying over.
"You’re back, and that’s good."
Seeing Lin Chen standing perfectly undamaged in front of him, Zhao Canghe’s eyes reddened slightly. After he had heard about Lin Chen’s uncertain life or death, he had secretly cried for quite some time and hadn’t dared to tell Father Lin and Mrs. Lin about it.
"Yes, I made the village chief worry."
Lin Chen stepped forward to support the old village chief. On the way back, his teacher had also told him about the uncertainty of his life or death, and the old village chief knew about it too.
"In the future, don’t take risks. Being alive is the most important."
Zhao Canghe patted the back of Lin Chen’s hand, unable to say much with so many villagers present: "Quickly go home and see your parents; they’ve missed you."
"Alright."
Lin Chen let go of the old village chief’s hand and looked ahead, seeing his elder brother and sister-in-law holding a swaddled baby.
With a few strides, Lin Chen arrived in front of his elder brother and sister-in-law, nodded to his elder brother first, and then looked at the baby in his sister-in-law’s arms.
"Uncle, this is Zhao’Er," sister-in-law Chen Ting spoke up actively.
"So this is our Lin family’s little princess."
Lin Chen took the baby girl from his sister-in-law’s arms. The little one was sucking her fingers at the moment, her big eyes wide open as she curiously and freshly stared at him.
"Zhao’Er usually is very shy and doesn’t let outsiders hold her. She cries the moment they do. I didn’t expect she wouldn’t cry when you held her, Uncle, seems like she’s a materialistic eye."
Chen Ting joked, and Lin Chen smiled softly. It’s not about being materialistic; he understood why Zhao’Er didn’t cry when he held her. As a martial artist, his Qi Blood is more vigorous than ordinary people’s, like a warm baby; naturally, the little girl felt comfortable and wouldn’t cry.
"Come on, Uncle will take you to meet your grandparents."
Lin Chen carried the little girl and walked towards home. This trip to the Li Fire Path and the life-and-death crises he encountered made him miss his family even more, which is why he returned to Poyang County with his teacher. This time, he planned to stay in the village for a good while.

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