The mountain peak that had moments ago been a battlefield now felt like the birthplace of something historic.
I surveyed my newly assembled forces—Zhang Wuji standing at attention with the bearing of a career military man, my three wives radiating confidence and power, and over a thousand kneeling cultivators whose loyalty had been forged in the crucible of absolute defeat.
It was a good foundation, but foundations were only as strong as what you built upon them.
"Zhang Wuji," I said, my voice carrying the authority of command. "Your first task as general will be organizational. These cultivators need to be assessed, ranked, and assigned roles based on their abilities rather than their former sect affiliations."
The Blade nodded crisply. "Understood, my Emperor. Traditional military structure, or something more... innovative?"
