Yan Capital.
The victory came so easily, even the 100,000 cavalry were surprised.
A thousand years of peace had bred nothing but lazy drunks and useless loafers in Yan Capital.
The capital garrison turned out to be a bunch of cowards. The moment they saw the 100,000 cavalry, they crumbled without a fight.
Some even ran the moment they heard Yun Jinghuai's name approaching.
There were certainly martial experts in Yan Capital.
But none of them dared clash head-on with an army of 100,000 cavalry.
With the full power of those 100,000 behind him, Yun Jinghuai could burst forth with the strength of a Martial True God.
Even a peak Martial Emperor couldn't change anything.
The only way to deal with this kind of force was with an army of comparable scale.
But the soldiers in Yan Capital were completely useless. They had no way to hold back Yun Jinghuai's cavalry.
So just like that, the 100,000 cavalry stormed straight into the imperial palace of Great Yan.
"General, doesn't that look like the Yan Emperor, Tuoba Dang?" the vice general said excitedly.
Tuoba Dang was a Martial Emperor, but his vitality had long since withered. His strength was likely worse than many Martial Saints.
"Looks like it really is him. Seize him," Yun Jinghuai ordered. "And the ones next to him—they're probably all royal family. Capture every single one you can."
The Primordial Thunder Bell would remain disabled for only six hours.
Three of those hours had to be reserved for retreat.
If they didn't leave within that time, the Primordial Thunder Bell—this nation-defending treasure—would absolutely hunt them down.
Time was short. After a quick sweep through the palace, they had to leave immediately.
The 100,000 cavalry charged into Yan Capital like lightning and departed just as fast. Not a moment wasted.
Once they were gone, the nobles of Yan Capital let out a collective sigh of relief, feeling like they had barely survived a disaster.
But then they found out the Yan Emperor had been captured.
In an instant, Yan Capital was plunged into chaos again.
Fengtian City.
Evening.
In the imperial study, Emperor Qian Yuan was discussing how to deal with Great Yan alongside a few senior ministers.
Naturally, there would still be peace talks ahead.
But this time, Great Zhou held the upper hand.
If Great Yan didn't pay a heavy price, they could forget about peace.
Suddenly, another urgent report from the border arrived.
The ministers were startled.
They had just received a top-priority report yesterday. Why was there another one today?
Then the contents hit them like a thunderbolt.
"Your Majesty!"
The messenger knelt, voice trembling with excitement. "General Yun… General Yun led 100,000 cavalry into Yan Capital at dawn today. He captured Yan Emperor Tuoba Dang, Crown Prince Tuoba Hui, three Yan princes, and two Yan princesses."
"Ridiculous."
One minister instinctively said, "I know General Yun is incredible, but the Primordial Thunder Bell guards Yan Capital. How could he possibly break through?"
"I don't know how," the messenger replied, "but that's what happened. General Yun and his 100,000 troops are now on their way back to Great Zhou. It won't be long before they arrive at the capital with the captives."
The room fell silent.
The story sounded like nonsense. But the messenger had laid it all out so clearly. Even if they didn't want to believe it, they had no choice.
If it were a lie, it would be too easy to disprove.
The army would return in no more than two days.
If they came back without Tuoba Dang and the others, Yun Jinghuai would be done for.
Even his past achievements would be completely wiped out.
"For real?" Emperor Qian Yuan asked, stunned.
Before Yun Jinghuai departed, he had discussed much of the plan with him.
He had expected a big win.
But not this.
The fact that Yun Jinghuai had already taken seven cities had exceeded expectations and delighted him.
He never imagined there was an even greater surprise waiting.
The messenger didn't respond and simply presented the letter.
This time, Emperor Qian Yuan's reaction was more subdued than before.
But that didn't mean he felt calmer.
On the contrary, the shock was so overwhelming that he had to hold back—otherwise, he feared he'd lose composure right there.
"My ministers, today's discussion ends here," Emperor Qian Yuan said at once. "The war has taken a dramatic turn. Let's wait for General Yun's return before deciding how to deal with Great Yan."
The ministers left the hall in a daze, still shaken.
The news spread quickly through the inner palace.
Radiant Sunlight Hall.
Noble Consort Zhuang was fuming with rage.
Just days ago, she had felt triumphant after the peace talk news arrived.
Now, in only three days, everything had flipped upside down.
Why was that wretch Yun Liyue so lucky?
She had almost won this time.
Yet Yun Liyue had a freak of a younger brother who somehow pulled off a miracle.
At the same time, a deep sense of despair crept over her.
It felt like fate was toying with her. Like no matter what, she was destined to lose to Yun Liyue.
Yang Xiu was feeling the same despair.
"Senior, why did this happen?"
He told Lin Xinglan everything he knew about Yang Cheng.
"I had your help, and I never slacked off. Why am I still being crushed by him?"
This defeat hit Yang Xiu hard.
Even Lin Xinglan was surprised.
She hadn't paid much attention to Yang Cheng before. In her eyes, a so-called genius from a backwater little world wasn't worth noticing.
But now, even she had to admit Yang Cheng was something else.
Still, so what?
Lin Xinglan quickly regained her calm. "A genius? A freak? Do you know how many so-called geniuses and freaks I've seen?"
Yang Xiu looked at her in confusion.
"As many as the sands of the Ganges—countless."
Lin Xinglan said coolly, "So-called geniuses are a dime a dozen. But how many actually leave a mark on history? Not many. No matter how dazzling a genius may be, if they can't survive the grind of time, they'll eventually fade into dust. So, do you want to be a flashy genius, or become someone who can endure the test of time?"
Yang Xiu answered quickly, "Senior, I want the latter."
"You're being hasty again."
Lin Xinglan said, "If that's what you want, then the first thing you need to do is fix that impatience of yours. Stop losing your head every time you take a hit. Look farther ahead. Don't focus on what happens in just a few months or years. Think in terms of centuries. Calm down. Become a foundation stone. Build slowly. That way, a lot of those so-called geniuses won't even need you to beat them—they'll fall on their own."
Yang Xiu felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. He finally calmed down.
"Senior, I understand now," he said.
Then he sat down cross-legged.
In less than a quarter of an hour, a wave of breakthrough energy surged from his physical body in the real world.
He had broken through the Houtian realm and stepped into the Xiantian realm.
Even so, he stayed calm and steady. "Yang Cheng," he muttered, "one day, I'll surpass you."
Splendid Radiance Hall was the complete opposite of Radiant Sunlight Hall.
The atmosphere here was joyful and relaxed.
With Yun Jinghuai's incredible achievement, the one who benefited the most was Splendid Radiance Hall.
From now on, as long as nothing drastic happened, no one in the palace could threaten Yun Liyue's position as Empress.
Two days later.
Yun Jinghuai returned in triumph.
Emperor Qian Yuan personally led the entire court, civil and military, to welcome the army ten li outside the city.
When they saw Yan Emperor Tuoba Dang in a prison cart, Emperor Qian Yuan and all the ministers were visibly stirred.
Great Yan had been Great Zhou's nemesis for two thousand years.
To capture the emperor of Great Yan and bring him to Great Zhou—none of the past emperors had ever dared imagine such a thing.
But Yun Jinghuai had done it.
This alone placed Emperor Qian Yuan's legacy above all previous rulers.
Then, Emperor Qian Yuan personally offered to hold Yun Jinghuai's horse reins.
Yun Jinghuai was startled. "Your Majesty, you mustn't."
"Why not?" Emperor Qian Yuan chuckled. "Today, there's no emperor or minister here—just a brother-in-law and a little brother-in-law. What's wrong with me leading your horse?"
Yun Jinghuai still looked uneasy. "But…"
"Jinghuai," Emperor Qian Yuan said, "I've reaped all the rewards while you did the work. Let me do this one thing to feel a little better."
Hearing this, Yun Jinghuai no longer resisted.
The other ministers exchanged glances. Just this scene alone showed how high Yun Jinghuai's status had risen.
The army marched into Fengtian City.
Crowds filled the streets on both sides.
People cheered wildly, eager to catch a glimpse of the Yan Emperor and his captured princes and princesses.
The members of the Yan royal family felt a shame unlike anything they had ever known.
That same day.
Yun Jinghuai was granted the title "Marquis Champion," given fief rights to 10,000 households, and appointed "Grand Marshal of All Under Heaven."
His subordinate soldiers were rewarded as well—his two top vice generals were both granted noble titles.
At the same time, Emperor Qian Yuan declared three days of celebration across the realm.
While the outside world was still celebrating Yun Jinghuai, he quietly took a small child to his army camp.
That child, of course, was Yang Cheng.
He had followed Yun Jinghuai this time to check in on his 1,000 Blood Shadow Guards.
When they arrived at the barracks, Yang Cheng's eyes lit up immediately.
The aura of the 1,000 Blood Shadow Guards had completely transformed since before the campaign.
Back then, they were only at the Xiantian realm. Now, all of them had stepped into the Martial Master realm.
"These Blood Shadow Guards get stronger by killing. That's insane," Yang Cheng murmured with excitement.
Without question, these 1,000 Blood Shadow Guards would become one of his trump cards in the future.
"I won't ask where you got them from," Yun Jinghuai said, "but they've got serious potential. As long as you can keep them under control, you should train them with everything you've got."
As he spoke, Yun Jinghuai suddenly let out a sigh.
"Why the sigh, Uncle?" Yang Cheng asked.
"Now that I've returned to court, they're bound to break up my elite force of 100,000 troops. It's to avoid any risk of me holding too much power and threatening the throne," Yun Jinghuai said. "I get it. I don't mean any harm to the imperial power, but still… I can't help feeling reluctant."
Yang Cheng went quiet for a moment.
He couldn't change that either.
After a while, he said, "Uncle, when the day comes that I hold real power, I'll make sure you can lead the army again—without worry."
"You're not afraid I'll become a threat to you?" Yun Jinghuai smiled.
Yang Cheng looked up at the sky. "If my sights were only set on the Eastern Wastes, then yeah, maybe I'd be worried. But I know there's a much bigger world out there."
Yun Jinghuai raised an eyebrow. "Who told you that?"
Before Yang Cheng could answer, he added, "Ah, right. Your teacher is Lady Cheng. Her background's a mystery, but she probably came from beyond our world."
"Uncle, just wait," Yang Cheng said. "Crushing Great Yan is nothing. One day, you and I will fight side by side and point our swords at the heavens."
"Hahaha! I'll be waiting!" Yun Jinghuai laughed boldly.
Right now, he clearly didn't take Yang Cheng's words seriously. The kid had made even more outrageous boasts when he was younger.
"Oh, right. I've got a gift for you."
Yun Jinghuai clapped his hands. A servant led a carriage forward.
Yang Cheng was surprised.
The horses pulling it were ordinary, but the carriage itself was built from dragon bone!
He had seen dragon bone in his past life, which is how he recognized it instantly.
Most of the dragon bone was wrapped in a golden-colored metal.
But that wasn't actual gold—it was Celestial Star Iron.
"This carriage," Yun Jinghuai grinned, "was something I seized from the Yan imperial palace. If I'm right, this should be the legendary Golden Dragon Chariot of Great Yan. At first, I thought the name was just a fancy title. But when I saw it with my own eyes, I could feel a faint trace of dragon might. That's why I believe this chariot really was made from dragon bone. And now, I'm giving it to you."
Yang Cheng was visibly moved.
The Golden Dragon Chariot!
In his previous life, this had been Tuoba Xiao's personal carriage. It followed him into every battle and became famous across the world.
This chariot was priceless.
And Yun Jinghuai knew its value. Yet he still gave it to him.