"This Yang Cheng is really cold-hearted."
"Qin Qiansheng may be a female general, but her looks are the same as mine before crossing over—she's a campus goddess-level beauty."
"And with the aura of a general, she's even more charismatic. She followed Yang Cheng in war for a hundred years, yet even that couldn't move his heart."
"But now that it's me instead, I definitely won't walk the same path as the original."
Qin Qiansheng's gaze was full of disdain, thinking the original was far too foolish.
What's so good about men?
As a female general, holding military power in her hands, she should stand alone and shine.
"According to the Book of Destiny, I will meet Yang Cheng in three days."
"That's when the original started falling for him."
"Just wait, Yang Cheng. Three days from now, I'll make sure you learn a lesson."
Qin Qiansheng's eyes grew firm.
Her transmigration was different from ordinary ones—she had inherited Qin Qiansheng's memories and martial cultivation.
At thirteen, she was already a peak Martial King.
That gave her absolute confidence.
Even if she wasn't enough, there were plenty of experts in the Dragon Spear Army.
When the time came, she would give Yang Cheng a proper show of force.
Besides, the Book of Destiny was mainly told from the original's perspective, describing her inner thoughts, almost like a diary.
That meant she didn't know much about Yang Cheng himself, only that he was described as wise, heroic, and unparalleled.
Qin Qiansheng didn't believe it. She thought it was just the original being blinded by love, exaggerating his image.
At this moment, Yang Cheng had already set out to return to Fengtian City.
He naturally couldn't stay in Chanzhou forever.
But he had already placed the Divine Mountain Stone within the vast Nanqiao Mountain Range of Chanzhou.
The Nanqiao range stretched for ten thousand miles, yet it was nothing special. There weren't any notable sects there, only a few common bandit groups.
But in the future, it would be different.
Within the Nanqiao range, a Divine Mountain would rise.
One day, its name would shake the heavens.
The master of Divine Mountain—was his incarnation.
Three days later.
Yang Cheng returned to Fengtian City.
News of his slaying of Chu Chen had already spread through the city like wildfire.
Four months ago, an otherworldly genius had issued a battle challenge to Chu Chen.
At that time, countless Great Zhou citizens first learned that beyond the Wasteland Realm, there were other worlds.
And countless rumors painted Chu Chen as almost godlike, making the people of Great Zhou deeply worried for Yang Cheng.
Many of the older generation of martial artists even recalled events from seventeen years ago.
Back then, the otherworldly genius Su Lingchen descended upon Great Zhou and, in one battle, killed three of the most famous young talents of the dynasty.
That fight plunged Great Zhou's martial world into gloom.
From then on, whenever Great Zhou martial artists heard the words "otherworldly genius," their hearts would tremble.
Until today.
Yang Cheng's glorious victory shattered their fear.
What otherworldly genius?
Before the Crown Prince, they were nothing.
Three swords.
With just three swords, the Crown Prince crushed Chu Chen. Then he pursued him into the Azure Emperor's Tomb and finished him off completely.
"Truly satisfying!"
"Long live the Crown Prince! He has raised Great Zhou's prestige!"
When Yang Cheng's golden dragon chariot appeared, crowds surged along both sides of the streets.
The people cheered in excitement.
Amid such an atmosphere, Yang Cheng returned to the imperial palace.
At Jinghua Hall, he found both his father and mother waiting.
"Cheng'er, you did very well in Chanzhou."
Emperor Qian Yuan said, "You pacified the vassal rebellion, slew Chu Chen. Now, even your father's own prestige might not match yours."
"But I am Father's son."
Yang Cheng replied, "No matter how outstanding I am, it only proves your bloodline is excellent, and your teaching even more so."
These words made Emperor Qian Yuan burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! Well said. Cheng'er, you don't know how jealous your uncles are of me."
Right now, he didn't feel much fear toward Yang Cheng.
First, Yang Cheng was still young, only ten years old.
Second, he himself was a Martial Sovereign, and could still suppress Yang Cheng.
Third, Great Zhou had now discovered the Abyss of Heaven. Its territory was vast, even broader than Great Zhou's lands, which had drawn away much of his focus.
Then Emperor Qian Yuan spoke, "I am constantly opening new lands within the Abyss of Heaven. In the future, I fear I will have less and less energy to govern Great Zhou's court."
"Cheng'er, you are the Crown Prince. You must gradually take on the burden of Great Zhou."
"And the most crucial piece of Great Zhou is the Dragon Spear Army. What do you think of the Dragon Spear Army?"
"The Dragon Spear Army?"
Yang Cheng replied, "Its combat strength is the finest among all Great Zhou's armies."
"Now the great clans hold immense power. When you ascend in the future, you will inevitably face them, just as I do now."
Emperor Qian Yuan said, "In such circumstances, securing the Dragon Spear Army is extremely important."
"General Qin of the Dragon Spear Army has a granddaughter named Qin Qiansheng. I intend to have you take her as your Crown Princess. What do you think?"
Yang Cheng was taken aback. He truly hadn't expected such a thing.
In his previous life, when he was a useless waste, Emperor Qian Yuan naturally wouldn't have allowed him to marry Qin Qiansheng.
As for Yang Xiu, backed by the great aristocratic clans, he would only form marriages with other clan daughters, and likewise would never marry Qin Qiansheng.
But now that he had completely crushed Yang Xiu, the ripple of changes seemed to be growing ever larger.
"Father, I believe it is unwise."
Yang Cheng said.
He had no interest in relying on marriage to expand his influence.
Marriage might bring help, but it would also bring shackles.
With his current talent, if he still needed marriage as a tool, that would mean he was a failure.
Moreover, Qin Qiansheng was a stranger to him.
If he truly chose a wife, Qin Qiansheng would never be among the candidates.
Of course, he couldn't say this directly to Emperor Qian Yuan. Instead, he said, "The Dragon Spear Army is already strong. If I marry Qin Qiansheng, that will only make it grow even stronger."
"By then, whether I can solve the threat of the clans or not, one thing is certain—a terrifying external family force will arise."
Hearing this, Emperor Qian Yuan also realized that marrying Qin Qiansheng was indeed unwise.
"If you don't marry Qin Qiansheng, then there is only one other option—conquer the Dragon Spear Army yourself."
Emperor Qian Yuan said, "In the end, you must choose one of the two."
"Father, I choose to personally conquer the Dragon Spear Army."
Yang Cheng said.
At this moment, outside the palace.
Two warhorses stood waiting.
Beside them stood a man and a woman.
Both wore armor, their bodies carrying a fierce battlefield aura, regardless of gender.
"General Meng, is it true? His Majesty actually wants His Highness the Crown Prince to serve in our Dragon Spear Army as Commander Instructor?"
The woman was in her twenties, with a tall, proud figure. Her brows furrowed as she spoke.
"That's right."
The man replied, "With the Crown Prince's identity, we cannot refuse."
"But this is far too reckless."
The woman was clearly displeased. "I know His Highness is talented, but he's only ten years old. What qualifications does he have to serve as Commander Instructor of the Dragon Spear Army?"
In Great Zhou's military system, the Commander Instructor position was equivalent to the martial instructor of the army.
If the Crown Prince were merely entering the army to gild his resume, she would have no objection.
But the martial instructor was truly responsible for training the soldiers. That required real skill. Otherwise, it would delay the army's growth.
That was why she was upset.
The previous Commander Instructor, Sun Xiangsheng, was a sixth-realm Martial Saint whose spear skills had reached perfection.
Unfortunately, Commander Sun was close to the Southern Guardian Prince.
After the rebellion of the Southern Guardian Prince Palace was crushed, Commander Sun was dismissed as well.
She had expected the new instructor would be chosen from the many generals within the Dragon Spear Army itself.
General Meng beside her had even been one of the strongest candidates.
Who could have guessed His Majesty would parachute the Crown Prince into the post?
How could she possibly accept that?