Xie Wanyin clutched her face, staring at Yang Ye in disbelief.
Yang Ye said coldly, "Listen well. Even if you're angry, you will swallow it."
Xie Wanyin couldn't understand. "Why?"
"Because she now follows the Crown Prince," Yang Ye replied.
"So what if he's the Crown Prince? The world's not set in stone yet. Who knows what'll happen in the future?" Xie Wanyin said. "In my eyes, you're the one who should inherit—"
"Shut up!"
Yang Ye slapped her and sent her flying. "The future can be discussed later, but as long as he's the Crown Prince, you and I aren't allowed to disrespect him. If you don't understand that, then there's no need for you to follow me anymore."
Only then did Xie Wanyin get scared. She quickly said, "Wanyin will never offend the Crown Prince again."
Yang Ye's expression eased slightly. "Now that's better. Remember this—no matter how young someone in power is, you can't show your resentment. Plan before you move. The dragon that hides in the depths soars higher when it rises. If you start shaking the moment you gain a bit of fat, you're not a dragon—you're a pig."
The next day.
Shen Muxue, ever efficient, arrived at the palace with a list in hand to report to Yang Cheng.
Everyone at Splendid Radiance Hall had already heard about yesterday's events.
The Crown Prince's brilliance made them all feel proud by association.
Yun Liyue felt even more proud, as a mother.
But when they saw Shen Muxue, they couldn't help but chuckle.
The little Crown Prince already had two maids at his age.
And both of them were top-tier prodigies.
Yun Liyue thought, 'At this rate, I probably won't have to worry about Cheng'er's marriage prospects in the future.'
Yang Cheng had no idea what Yun Liyue was thinking.
He was focused on the list Shen Muxue brought him.
There were quite a few names—over one hundred.
But most of them didn't impress him.
With five hundred years of memories, he knew every name on that list like the back of his hand.
Even if they weren't the best now, anyone accepted into the Great Zhou Dao Academy would grow into a force in their own right.
So, Yang Cheng's standard for selection wasn't talent—but character.
Suddenly—
His eyes landed on one name: Zheng Guanbao.
Then he chuckled. "He's on the list?"
Shen Muxue looked nervous. "Your Highness, his talent is really poor. He only got into the Meng Division because his mother paid to get him in. But since he did apply, I had to list him. Should I cross his name off?"
"No need."
A trace of nostalgia flickered in Yang Cheng's eyes.
He could never forget—back when he was just the useless Crown Prince, no powerful heirs ever offered to follow him.
But Zheng Guanbao, also seen as a loser, had been fiercely loyal.
When Yang Cheng was exiled from the capital, Zheng Guanbao died protecting him during their escape.
It was only after that tragedy that Yang Cheng learned Zheng Guanbao wasn't useless at all.
He had the "Vermillion Bird Dao Body."
It could only be awakened at the brink of death.
When they were surrounded by countless enemies, it was Zheng Guanbao who awakened the Vermillion Bird Dao Body and carved a bloody path for him to escape.
But Zheng Guanbao never made it out.
After some time reviewing the list, Yang Cheng handpicked eighteen people.
Each of them had proven themselves in his past life.
In the past few days, since Cheng Junyi had gone out on business, Yang Cheng didn't have to go to Autumn Water Courtyard and had some free time.
So, just a day later, he asked Shen Muxue to gather the eighteen he'd chosen.
He requested a private side hall from Yun Liyue.
That was where he met with the eighteen future tiger generals.
Not long after—
A group of toddlers, the oldest around ten years old, gathered in the side hall.
Among them, ten were older than five and clearly looked unimpressed by Yang Cheng.
They hadn't come of their own will—it was their parents who had pushed them to join.
Yang Cheng sat above, silently observing everyone's expressions.
"Everyone, I invited you here today not to talk about anything serious yet. First, let's drink this cup together."
With that, he raised his cup and drank.
The other kids followed, downing their drinks.
Judging by the white streaks left at the corners of their mouths, it was clear none of them were drinking alcohol—it was all milk.
The palace maids serving them all had to bite their lips to stop themselves from laughing.
In the main hall next door—
Yun Liyue and a few ladies of the court overheard the commotion and burst into laughter.
"Do you know why I picked you all?"
Yang Cheng asked.
"Because we're the best!" came a loud voice.
It was a strong, husky shout from a chubby three-year-old.
Shen Muxue's mouth twitched.
Maybe others had the right to say that, but this chubby toddler definitely didn't.
He was the famously useless Zheng Guanbao.
"Ahem. That's part of the reason, sure," Yang Cheng replied. "But there's something even more important—we share the same ideals."
Before he finished his sentence, Zheng Guanbao chimed in again, all fired up. "Your Highness, I think so too! We're definitely like-minded!"
Yang Cheng raised a brow. "Zheng Guanbao, why do you say that?"
Zheng Guanbao answered confidently, "Because we all love drinking milk!"
"…"
Yang Cheng was speechless for a moment.
The kids under five nodded in total agreement, fully backing Zheng Guanbao's logic.
"So childish," the older ones scoffed.
"I'm not talking about drinking milk—I'm talking about doing big things."
Yang Cheng said, "You all know I entered the ninth floor of the Heavenly Origin Tower. And each of you will become pillars of the empire."
That got everyone's attention. All the kids, big and small, sat up straighter.
"You future pillars of the empire—Northern Yan isn't pacified, Western Luo is still causing trouble. No matter how talented I am, I can't accomplish everything alone."
Yang Cheng stood and declared, "That's why I need your help.
The skies are vast, the land majestic, the wind fierce. Lift your heads—storms rise, but our hearts remain firm. The road ahead is perilous, but with blade in hand and armor on body, our passion remains sharp. Don't hesitate—time flies like an arrow. Hold tight to your ambition."
Soaring ambitions never changed. Duty to country, tied close to the heart. Beneath the frost-lit dawn, the battle banners fluttered. Swords raised to pierce the skies and sweep away the night—marching forward without fear of death. Once the war is won, raise a toast to the heavens, and let the land rejoice.
"As long as we move forward together, what can't we accomplish? What do you all think?"
His words left the younger and older kids stunned.
They'd only come today expecting to eat and drink a bit.
They never imagined the Crown Prince would bring up matters of the nation and the empire.
But the moment they heard his bold, passionate speech, all of them suddenly lit up like someone had injected them with energy. Excitement and adrenaline surged in waves.
If it had been their parents here, Yang Cheng's words wouldn't have had much effect. Those adults were all old foxes.
But these kids were still young. The adults usually saw them as children, and they'd never been through something like this before.
"I'll march forward with the Crown Prince!"
"Swords raised to drive out the darkness, ready to die without hesitation!"
"Trample Northern Yan, point our blades at Western Luo!"
The room was in an uproar—young and older kids alike were fired up.
The palace maids and guards outside the room glanced at each other in disbelief.
Even in the main hall next door, the empress and court ladies were dumbfounded.
They had thought the kids would be talking about snatching bird nests, blowing up latrines, or playing with mud.
Never in a million years would they have expected these children to be talking about charging into Northern Yan or aiming their blades at Western Luo—matters of the nation.
Even they felt stirred by the Crown Prince's speech.
"Are all kids this outrageous these days?"
"When we were their age, weren't we still playing in the dirt?"
After the shock passed, most of them couldn't help but laugh.
If adults were talking about this, maybe it would be serious. But a bunch of toddlers planning to march on Northern Yan and conquer Western Luo?
They probably didn't even know where those places were.
Still, a few of them had thoughtful looks.
Sure, it sounded ridiculous now.
But when you thought about it more carefully, what these kids said today might actually become reality one day.
The Crown Prince was leading the group, and the others were all from powerful noble families. When they grew up, they were bound to become pillars of the empire.
When that day came, today's "joke" might just become their oath.
In the side hall—
Ding!
[Host has once again successfully recruited eighteen great figures. Their weakest is at the Martial Saint level, and the strongest is at Yin God.]
[Among them are Yang Xiu's trusted aides, some who've wandered across realms, and some who have already died.]
[What methods has the host used to revive nine of the fallen?]
[Congratulations, host has overturned fate and achieved a monumental feat. Reward: Nine-Star Dual Pupil "Divine Bloom Eye."]
[Would the host like to claim the reward now, or continue the mission?]
Divine Bloom Eye?
For a moment, Yang Cheng was tempted to take the reward immediately.
He'd heard of the Divine Bloom Eye before.
When cultivated to the limit, it could create an illusionary world of countless realms, trapping enemies in an eternal dream.
But he held back.
If the Nine-Star Dual Pupil was already this terrifying, then the Ten-Star one would be even more unimaginable.
He turned his gaze back to the group of kids.
"So, are you all willing to share this grand journey with me?"
"I am, Your Highness!" Zheng Guanbao was the first to shout.
"I, Wang Lun, wholeheartedly admire His Highness and will follow wherever he leads!"
"Give us your command, Crown Prince!"
The rest all chimed in.
"Let's go! Follow me!"
Yang Cheng immediately led this small but spirited group outside.
Yun Liyue and the other court ladies didn't stop them.
They didn't think a bunch of little kids could actually stir up any real trouble. Just let them have their fun.
They'd been wild in their own childhood too—there was no need to interfere too much.
And so, Yang Cheng successfully took the kids and left.
The eighteen new recruits, plus Shen Muxue, made up a group worthy of the name "Nineteen Tiger Generals."
They didn't just leave Splendid Radiance Hall—they walked right out of the palace.
The palace guards followed closely behind, terrified something might happen.
After all, every single one of these kids came from elite families. Even one mishap would be a disaster.
Yang Cheng was leading them to a very special place.
The Divine Machinery Battalion of Great Zhou!
Once famous across the empire, the Divine Machinery Battalion had become a sensitive topic after the defeat three years ago.
Back then, they'd suffered a massive loss against Northern Yan. The reason? The enemy had cracked the secrets of the Divine Machinery Battalion's famous crossbows.
That defeat severely damaged the reputation of Great Zhou's military.
Since then, many court officials had questioned the Divine Machinery Battalion's competence.
But it didn't stop there.
Soon after, the battalion's commander, Xiao Yurong, defected to Northern Yan.
That betrayal completely shattered the battalion's credibility in the eyes of the court.
Once a symbol of military glory, the Divine Machinery Battalion had become a cursed name.
If Yang Cheng had come here alone, even as the Crown Prince, he would've faced enormous pressure.
But with nineteen "Tiger Generals" backing him, it was different.
Each one of them carried weight.
Yang Cheng had come here for a reason.
He knew the truth: Xiao Yurong hadn't really defected.
His betrayal was fake. He was secretly investigating the real reason behind their defeat three years ago.
Someone inside the court had stolen the blueprints of the battalion's crossbows and sold them to Northern Yan.
That's how the enemy figured them out.
Besides—
Within the Divine Machinery Battalion was a once-in-a-generation genius: Xiao Yurong's son, Xiao Jingchuan.
Xiao Jingchuan was only ten years old now. But in the near future, he would design the legendary "Five-Star Divine Crossbow."
The original Divine Crossbow could only fire one arrow at a time.
The Five-Star model could fire five, each with terrifying power.
And that was just the start.
Xiao Jingchuan would later upgrade the crossbow again and again—up to Seven-Star, then Nine-Star.
By five hundred years later, the Divine Crossbow had evolved to the Hundred-Star level, powerful enough to kill even True Gods.
At that time, the world would say: Xiao Jingchuan alone was equal to a million soldiers.
Yang Cheng's goal today was simple—
Recruit Xiao Jingchuan.