In the Marquis of Martial Righteousness's Residence.
It was a day of rest—no need to go to the military camp at dawn to handle troop affairs.
Last night had gone on for quite a while.
Martial artists really were different from ordinary people.
"Junior Brother."
A soft, delicate touch brushed against Chen Sanshi's ear.
"Wife, why are you up so early?"
"Last night, didn't you keep calling me 'Senior Sister'?"
"It's all the same."
Chen Sanshi pulled the warm jade-like woman into his arms, ready to continue their intimacy.
"Hey—"
Sun Li, cheeks blushing, pressed a finger lightly against his lips. "Later we still have to serve tea to my father, remember?"
"That won't take long."
"Can't it wait till we get back? We have plenty of time."
"Fine."
"Siqin, Mohua!"
At his call, the two maids soon came in, carrying steaming basins of water.
Chen Sanshi and Sun Li washed up quickly.
"Oh, right, Master."
Siqin said, "Yesterday, the bluebird brought back a letter."
"Hmm."
Chen Sanshi opened the envelope from the Qing Kingdom. Inside were only four short characters: 'Safe and well. Don't worry.'
The handwriting was Lan jie'er's.
But the moment he saw it, Chen Sanshi knew she hadn't written it herself.
That Shen Guiyi—eight or nine chances out of ten—hadn't even shown the letter to Lan jie'er.
From the looks of it, that man intended to keep his wife and child all to himself.
"Siqin, grind the ink."
Chen Sanshi picked up his brush and began to write.
The letter's main message was simple: return his wife and child as soon as possible. He even added, half in jest, that if they weren't sent back soon, he might just lead troops straight to the Qing Kingdom to fetch them himself.
The second part was a joke. The first part—deadly serious.
After finishing, Chen Sanshi and Sun Li boarded their carriage and made their way to the Grand Commander's Mansion.
"Where's my master?"
When they entered the main hall, there was no one in sight.
He called over a maid.
"I don't know," she said. "The Grand Commander's been recuperating lately. He told us not to disturb him."
"Buqi!"
Chen Sanshi found Sun Buqi in the courtyard, shooting birds. "Where's your father?"
"My father?"
Sun Buqi thought for a moment. "Probably resting in his room. You can have one of the maids show you the way."
At the Dangui Courtyard, Chen Sanshi knocked softly on the door. "Master? Are you in seclusion, recovering from your injuries? Senior Sister and I have come to serve you tea."
No response.
"Master."
Still silence.
Something felt wrong.
Chen Sanshi used his Qi Observation Technique—but detected no life force within.
Either he wasn't there…
Or—
He shoved the door open. "Master?!"
The room was simple, almost austere.
On the old bookshelf were rows of worn volumes—some martial, some scholarly, but most dealing with Liangzhou's administration. On the cracked wooden desk lay a half-finished document—a plan for redistributing grain to relieve the famine in Fengyang Prefecture.
Sun Xiangzong lay peacefully upon the chipped wooden bed.
"Father?"
Sun Li stepped forward, trembling.
Chen Sanshi said nothing. He knelt beside the bed and whispered, "Master, you've worked your whole life. You can rest now. From here on, your disciple will handle everything."
As soon as he spoke those words, Sun Li—who had been watching for the faintest sign of breath—felt her chest tighten. Tears filled her eyes.
"Father!"
Sun Buqi, who had come just to join in the morning greetings, froze when he saw the scene. Then he fell to his knees with a heavy thud, crying out, "Father! You were fine last night! You even scolded me!"
Before long, the senior brothers and sisters arrived.
They all knelt together in silence.
"Master… go in peace."
The funeral began under a solemn, heavy atmosphere.
Yesterday had been a day of celebration—red lanterns hanging high, laughter echoing through the halls. Overnight, joy turned to grief. The Grand Commander's Mansion was draped entirely in white mourning silk.
Many officials who had stayed behind after the wedding now found themselves attending the funeral instead.
Before the coffin was sealed, Chen Sanshi knelt and bowed deeply, then carefully removed a silver ring engraved with runes from his master's weathered hand. He slipped it onto his own finger but didn't check what was inside.
He had no mood for that.
Together with his senior brothers and sisters, he focused on arranging the burial.
"Grand Commander, may your soul rest in peace."
The Liangzhou Military Supervisor, Eunuch Hou, came to pay respects.
Afterward, he lingered. Approaching the man in white, he sighed. "When I was young, I'd already heard of Grand Commander Sun's name. He was my idol. I once dreamed of joining the army because of him.
"Unfortunately, my father fell ill, and we had no money for treatment. I was sold to the palace instead—first to the Western Depot, later to the Directorate of Ceremonial Supervision…
"But in my heart, I always admired the Grand Commander deeply.
"Even after being sent here as Military Supervisor, I've always regarded him as an elder—never dared show the slightest disrespect…"
"Eunuch Hou," Chen Sanshi interrupted curtly. "If you have business, please speak plainly. There are still many matters to handle today. I don't have time for idle talk."
"Ah, Master Chen, please accept my condolences," Eunuch Hou said quickly. "To be honest, there is a small matter. Everyone knows that although you entered late, you were Grand Commander Sun's final disciple—and his favorite one. Surely, before he passed, he must have entrusted you with his legacy, yes?"
"Eunuch Hou," Chen Sanshi said coldly, "Master treated every one of us equally. Your words are inappropriate.
"As for his legacy—if you mean the Dragon Gall Silver Spear, then yes, it's in my hands. Tens of thousands of soldiers witnessed it themselves not long ago."
He was already growing impatient.
His master hadn't even been buried yet, and these vultures were already here, sniffing for inheritance.
"No, no, not just that," said Eunuch Hou, lowering his voice.
Eunuch Hou leaned closer and said, "Master Chen is a clever man—you should already understand what I'm hinting at. Allow me to remind you then? Silver Pine Cliff, Hulao Pass, Wolf Juxu Mountain… and since Grand Commander Sun entrusted you with his weapon, surely he also passed down the matching cultivation method, did he not?"
"Eunuch Hou," Chen Sanshi replied calmly, "today is my master's funeral. Isn't this conversation rather inappropriate?"
"Master Chen," Hou continued with a thin smile, "some matters are better handled early rather than late."
"I said," Chen Sanshi interrupted, his voice low, "today is my master's funeral. This can wait."
He paused for a moment, then raised his head and met the eunuch's gaze directly. His eyes were cold as steel. "Do you not understand what I just said?"
In that instant, Eunuch Hou felt a chill crawl up his spine. For a moment, it was as if he stood once again on a battlefield facing an enemy general—his breath caught, his knees nearly buckled. Quickly, he bowed and forced a laugh. "Master Chen speaks truly. It was presumptuous of me. I'll take my leave for now. But… there are some things you should think over carefully."
With those words, he bowed toward the coffin, then turned and left.
"Damn eunuch!"
Wang Zhi spat the words through clenched teeth. "Our master devoted his entire life to the Great Sheng Dynasty—loyal and tireless. Yet all his life, he was watched, restrained, and suspected. Even after death, they won't let him rest in peace."
He turned to Chen Sanshi, eyes sharp. "Sanshi… that ring on your hand—your master publicly handed you the Dragon Gall Silver Spear, and you've already earned unmatched military achievements. Right now, in all the world, no one in the Way of the Soldier has greater prestige than you. Knowing how the court works, you can be sure that from this day on, they'll start doubting you too."
Chen Sanshi's voice was calm. "I know."
In truth, even if his master hadn't publicly given him the Dragon Gall Silver Spear, the court would still have come knocking.
It was simple logic.
A man dies—his legacy must go somewhere.
"The time has come."
Senior Brother Lü Ji, overseeing the funeral rites, withdrew his hand from the coffin and said solemnly, "We may begin."
The mournful sound of the suona horn filled the air.
The disciples lifted the coffin.
The funeral procession stretched long and vast.
Tens of thousands of common folk joined the line.
Ever since Sun Xiangzong had come to Liangzhou City, no one dared oppress the people anymore. Taxes had dropped each year, and families no longer starved or froze to death in winter.
That day, the entire city wore mourning white.
Men, women, children—all wept openly in the streets.
Though Sun Xiangzong's title was Duke of the Nation, and his funeral could have been grand beyond measure, his will had been clear before death: keep it simple. Aside from the sheer number of mourners, there was no extravagance at all. Only the coffin, insisted upon by Senior Brother Lü Ji, was made of the finest timber.
The burial site was chosen atop Huangyun Mountain.
Below the mountain lay Huangyun Village—Sun Xiangzong's birthplace.
It was fitting.
The fallen leaf returns to its roots.
When the coffin was lowered and the dirt began to fill, Chen Sanshi suddenly felt something stir.
He drew the Dragon Gall Silver Spear.
From within the silvered shaft, a faint golden light emerged—a thread of spirit essence drifted up, circling gently above the coffin before dispersing into the wind.
The spear spirit.
His master had once said that all things possess spirit—and weapons were no exception.
Over time, they could develop consciousness, a spirit of the spear.
Clearly, with his master's passing, the last trace of spirit within the Dragon Gall Silver Spear had departed with him.
Now, the weapon was fully his.
On the tombstone, the inscription was simple:
Grave of the Honored Father, Sun Xiangzong.
Beside the line were the names of his disciples, including Chen Sanshi.
No record of his achievements was carved upon it.
A hundred years of life.
Was that long?
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
By afternoon, the endless stream of mourners had gradually dispersed.
Only his family and disciples remained on the mountain, lingering in silence.
Eventually, Sun Buqi turned away without a word and walked down the slope alone.
"Now that the war's over," Rong Yanqiu finally spoke, "what do you all plan to do?"
"Amitabha."
Fifth Brother Meng Guangxin folded his hands. "The master has gone to the Western Paradise. I suppose it's time I returned to Lingyin Temple—chant sutras, strike the temple bell every day, live in peace. It's not such a bad life."
"I've got things I need to take care of," said Ye Fengxiu, gripping the sword in his hand. "Our master once said—those who live by the sword belong to the rivers and lakes, not the court. I'll return to the jianghu. That's why I first took up the sword."
"Hey, don't say that," Wang Zhi protested. "What, you bastards planning to disband already?"
"There's no feast that doesn't end," said Second Brother Cheng Wei quietly. "If they're leaving, I might as well go too. All the wealth and rank I worked for these years—gone with a single imperial decree. What's the point of staying? I'll head south, find some old friends, maybe go into trade. When that time comes, I hope you brothers still serving the court will lend a hand."
He had once commanded the White Tiger Battalion.
But after the army's reorganization, he was reassigned to a Liangzhou garrison post—and made to take orders from Zhao Wuji.
That humiliation, he'd swallowed long enough.
"Second Brother's right," Meng Guangxin snorted. "The master was gravely wounded years ago, and before he was even buried, that eunuch came sniffing around for treasures. This kind of court—I'll leave it to those who enjoy bowing and scraping."
Chen Sanshi blinked. "Master… was injured?"
"He was," Meng Guangxin replied. "Why else do you think he didn't make a single move for so many years? He was nursing wounds all that time. Otherwise, he could've lived a few years longer. As for how he got hurt—figure it out yourself."
"And Fourth Brother's leg," Rong Yanqiu added. "And Junior Brother Buhui too. Over the years, that damned Cao clan's used and betrayed us more times than I can count. I'm done serving them."
"Little Junior Brother."
Cheng Wei patted Chen Sanshi on the shoulder. "You're probably going to hold a high position one day. Just… be careful, all right?"
"Big Brother!"
Meng Guangxin said bluntly, "Don't act like you're not convinced! Let's be honest—Little Junior Brother has the best martial aptitude among all of us. Just from that alone, Master passing down his legacy to him makes perfect sense. Once we leave, you'll still be in the court—look after your junior brother for us!"
Lü Ji didn't respond. He just knelt silently before their master's grave. A faint, strange laughter echoed in his mind.
"Little Junior Brother."
"We'll be going now."
"We'll come back to see you again someday."
"Senior brothers, senior sister—go do whatever you want," Chen Sanshi said softly. "If you're not in a rush, stay for tonight. I'll host a farewell dinner for everyone."
"Sure!"
"Yeah, we should gather one more time."
"Who knows when we'll meet again."
"All right then, we'll go pack up and see you tonight."
"I've got something else to handle this evening," Lü Ji said suddenly. "I'll have to pass."
He said this, gave his junior brother a firm pat on the shoulder, and vanished from sight.
"Senior Sister, let's go back," Chen Sanshi said, helping Sun Li up. "Let Master rest."
"Mm."
She nodded softly.
Just as they turned to leave, Chen Sanshi stopped in his tracks.
In front of the tombstone, a figure had appeared out of nowhere.
It was a scholar, dressed in a long robe so old it had faded white from countless washings. His shoes were plain cloth, his clothes simple yet clean and neat. He stood quietly before the tomb, gazing at the carved words.
"Mr. Mei?"
Chen Sanshi cupped his fists respectfully. "You came too."
"Just to take a look."
Mei Xiao's voice was calm, almost nostalgic. "I watched Xiangzong grow up."
Those words… sounded strange to Chen Sanshi's ears.
"Who are you talking to?" Sun Li asked.
"You don't see him?"
"What do you mean?" she said, puzzled. "There's no one there. Junior Brother, you've been through a lot. Don't let grief cloud your eyes."
Mei Xiao smiled faintly. "Only those with fate can see me. You and I are connected by fate, little brother. We'll meet again."
He nodded once—and disappeared.
Before long, just like the last time at the Grand Commander's residence, his figure appeared somewhere else nearby.
This time, it looked as though he was leading someone, full of vigor and fiery conviction.
Then, he vanished completely.
"What a strange thing," Chen Sanshi muttered. He decided not to dwell on it. Taking Sun Li's hand, he led her home to rest.
After several days of mourning, the world suddenly felt quiet. Only then did he return to his study in the back courtyard to examine what lay inside the ring.
He poured a thread of spiritual power into it—and saw its contents clearly.
The interior was a dark, empty space, with a few spirit stones scattered about. Not many. There was also a single spirit pearl, though it was filled with baleful energy—likely the remnant of a sealed Sha Meridian.
Then there was a bow without a string, along with a few arrows.
A mid-grade magic weapon.
Chen Sanshi had spent plenty of time wandering the Daze Market; he could tell its quality at a glance.
He drew out the bow.
At first sight, it looked like an ordinary recurve bow. But upon closer inspection, he noticed that the wood was no mundane timber—it was spiritual wood from the cultivation world, etched with intricate runes.
Not a common weapon.
The arrows too looked plain, yet each could carry spiritual power and true qi.
Only one thing was missing—the bowstring.
Likely, his master hadn't finished preparing it before his death. That was why it had never been presented.
A mid-grade artifact—suited for a cultivator in the middle stage of Qi Refining. It matched his current martial level perfectly. More than enough for now.
He continued searching through the ring's contents.
There was a talisman—a formation charm meant to conceal spiritual energy.
His master had warned him before: Someday, cultivators might enter the Eastern Divine Continent. When that happens, you must be careful when drawing upon spiritual veins. Choose a fixed place to use as your cave dwelling, and use the formation talisman to hide your aura. Never change locations too often.
Lastly, he found two plaques—one jade, one wooden.
The jade plaque bore three characters: Qingxu Sect.
His master had left a message engraved upon it: this was one of the few sects in the cultivation world that still preserved a body-tempering lineage. If Chen Sanshi ever found himself with no other choice, he could take the jade plaque and seek out True Person Yu Ling—but only as a last resort.
The wooden plaque, however, was different.
It looked like wood, but when he touched it, it felt like smooth jade. Carved upon it were three bold characters: Zhen Shoushi—Guardian Envoy.
This, most likely, was the very identity token his master had once mentioned—the Guardian Envoy of the Eastern Divine Continent.
And yet…
His master had never said where this title came from, nor how he'd obtained his cultivation inheritance.
Perhaps… it had something to do with the far northern lands his senior brother once spoke of.
Chen Sanshi carefully put everything away.
Then he packed up his things and went to Immortal Crane Pavilion to host the farewell banquet for his senior brothers and sister.
The gathering lasted until midnight.
Worried for Sun Li, he returned home early.
"Let's head out as well," someone sighed.
"Master's only been gone a few days. No one's really in the mood to drink."
The mood throughout the feast had been heavy from start to finish. Even the wine felt bitter.
Then suddenly—
"Wait!"
A voice cut through the silence.
Throughout the banquet, Fang Qingyun had been quietly drinking, saying nothing. Then suddenly, he spoke—his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Brothers and sisters, are you truly planning to just walk away like this?"
"Otherwise what?"
Meng Guangxin snorted. "You expect us to stay and keep serving the damn court?"
"Exactly," Cheng Wei said, already drunk. "That bastard in the capital outlasted Master—no one can challenge him now. But just because we can't win, doesn't mean we can't hide, right?"
"You're right about that," Fang Qingyun said coldly.
Smack!
He slammed a folded letter onto the table. "This came from the palace. Read it yourselves."
He pointed one by one.
"Seventh Brother—you said you'd return to the jianghu. But your enemy already made ties with the court. The moment you resign and go after him, do you know what'll happen? Do I need to spell it out?"
"Fifth Brother—you won't be going to Lingyin Temple. You're being reassigned to the Chengtian Temple in the capital. The instant you step down, you'll be ordered to take the post of abbot."
"Second Brother—you can forget about doing business down south. You've never gotten along with the Prince of Zhen'nan. Once you arrive, do you think he'll let you prosper?"
"And Sixth Brother—your recovery during the northern war has been exposed. You'll get rewarded, yes, but soon you'll be transferred south under the Prince of Zhen'nan's command. Don't dream of Martial Saint-level resources anytime soon."
"And Ninth Junior Sister—you're being summoned to the palace to serve as a court lady. From now on, every palace maid will report to you. How's that? Happy?"
At those words, silence filled the room.
Then—
"Ahhh!"
Meng Guangxin roared and flipped the table over.
"Damn their ancestors!" he bellowed. "Master's only been dead a few days, and they're already tightening their leash on us? What, do they think we're livestock now—to be fenced in and watched?"
"Bastard!" Wang Zhi cursed, brushing food off his mourning robes. "You spilled dishes all over me! These are Master's mourning clothes, you dog!"
"This is too much… far too much!"
Cheng Wei crushed his wine cup in his hand, shards scattering. "When Master was alive, I understood the court's fear—they worried we'd amass too much power. Fine. I could accept that.
"But now? We've got no military authority anymore!
"Out of ten Northern Liang soldiers, eight already belong to them!
"Master's gone, no one left to stand against the Emperor.
"And still, he won't let us go?"
"We can't leave."
Rong Yanqiu's eyes widened as realization struck. "Don't you all see? If this is how they're treating us, imagine how they'll treat Little Junior Brother. He inherited Master's legacy—his days ahead won't be easy.
"If we all walk away, he'll have no one left in the Northern Liang Army to back him.
"Master left behind only Li Senior Sister and Buqi as his bloodline.
"Even if it's not for Little Junior Brother's sake, we can't abandon them."
"But…"
Second Brother Cheng Wei had sobered up a bit, frowning deeply. "But even if we stay, what then?
"For years, Master reduced the taxes of all five northern prefectures. The court hated him for it.
"Now he's gone. If we don't toe the line, the court will crush us sooner or later."
The room went still.
Master was gone.
And with him, the only shield that had stood between them and the capital's wrath.
"No," Fang Qingyun said suddenly, eyes sharp. "Someone else still can."
He glanced around the table. "Have you all forgotten whose hands the Dragon Gall Silver Spear rests in?"
"You mean…" Cheng Wei sat up straight. "Little Junior Brother?"
"Little Junior Brother's young," Rong Yanqiu said, shaking her head. "Yes, he's earned prestige among the Northern Liang troops—but even if we combine our influence, we barely control one-fifth of the army. And though he's a Martial Saint, he's still far from what Master was."
"He can't stand alone yet," Fang Qingyun said firmly, "but with us behind him—he just might."
His voice hardened. "You all might not like reading, but you're not fools. From the moment Master held command and defied the Emperor's will, our fate was sealed.
"All the blood feuds and grudges since then—just because they've never been spoken aloud doesn't mean they're forgotten. Not by us, and not by the capital.
"And let's not pretend—many of the messes you caused, Master cleaned up for you. Do you really think you can just walk away now?
"Master passed his legacy to our junior brother because he believed he could uphold our lineage.
"He's still young.
"That means it's our duty—as his senior brothers and sisters—to support him until he grows strong enough to stand on his own."
"Fourth Brother's right," Wang Zhi said, nodding. "Running won't solve anything. We were all commoners once—don't forget why we followed Master in the first place."
"Of course," Fang Qingyun continued, his tone softening. "But our words alone mean nothing. Whether our sect stands or falls depends on Little Junior Brother's own will."
"What if…" Cheng Wei hesitated. "What if he doesn't want to fight the court? The Cao family never wronged him. Why risk everything? If he just keeps his head down, gives up some power, he could live a life of luxury without trouble."
Fang Qingyun coughed heavily, his voice hoarse. "In a few days, the court's rewards for the northern campaign will arrive.
"By then, we'll see where our junior brother stands.
"If he doesn't want to follow Master's path—if he just wants peace and can at least protect Sun Li and Buqi—then that's enough.
"As for the rest of us, we'll follow orders quietly. Maybe that way, we'll live a little longer."
In the backyard, Chen Sanshi stood before a mirror, his face shifting shape again and again.
He hadn't neglected a single one of his skills. Whenever he had free time, he practiced and improved them—reading, medicine, weapon forging, and now, the Art of Disguise.
After returning from Tianya Haijiao, Chen Sanshi realized how vital it was to have an ability that could conceal one's cultivation. From that moment, he never stopped practicing. He had already advanced twice, reaching the stage of mastery, but until now, the technique only altered his appearance and aura.
Fortunately, the skill could still break through its limits.
After changing his face once again—this time into the imagined likeness of a completely new person—the familiar panel appeared before his eyes.
[Skill: Art of Disguise (Limit Break - Stage One)]
[Progress: 0/2000]
[Effect: … Conceal Qi]
[Conceal Qi: Hides cultivation level.]
At once, a special meridian circulation pattern surfaced in his mind, a method that could suppress spiritual aura and deceive enemies.
He immediately used it—compressing his spiritual signature from the early stage of Qi Refining all the way down to zero—then called for Ningxiang to test it.
"Ordinary mortal," Ningxiang said with certainty. "There's no sign that you've ever absorbed the energy of heaven and earth."
It worked.
Chen Sanshi smiled faintly. From now on, moving around would be much easier.
He stored the spirit pearl away and prepared to head out.
Suddenly, the supply of spiritual energy to Zhao Zhao was cut off, and the little one woke up from meditation with a start, slamming her forehead on the edge of the table. "Ow—ow ow ow!" she cried, rubbing her head in pain.
During this time, every cultivation session included Qianxun's presence, and the bluebird perched by the window always absorbed stray spiritual energy too.
And Qianxun's progress was astonishingly fast.
Using the Observation Technique, Chen Sanshi could see that the white-hoofed horse's inner aura was already far stronger than an ordinary beast. Judging by its growth, it was about to step into the proper realm of a spiritual beast, though he still didn't know exactly how that realm was divided.
"Qianxun, take me up the mountain."
He mounted Qianxun, and instead of leaving through the main gate, leapt over the courtyard wall in one bound. In moments, both disappeared from sight, galloping straight toward the Luotian Mountains.
He already had the bow and arrows. All he lacked was a bowstring.
Three days later, after a long journey, Chen Sanshi reached the twelfth layer of the Luotian mountain range's deep interior.
Since the Sha Vein had been sealed, the mountains and forests had gradually returned to normal. Many of the beasts tainted by the foul energy had died without its support, and only a few remained alive.
One of them—a gigantic serpent—was impossible to miss.
Its scales gleamed like black armor. The creature stretched over 100 zhang in length, its head faintly crowned with the beginnings of horns, though its bloodline was unclear.
By his estimation, its power was at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
For the martial hunters of the Eastern Divine Continent, where spiritual energy was scarce, encountering such a creature would surely make them mistake it for a dragon.
"Hissss—"
Before Chen Sanshi could approach, the serpent sensed hostility and lunged forward with a furious hiss.
Silver light flashed.
The Dragon Gall Silver Spear manifested in his hands, qi surging wildly. The weapon roared like a living dragon descending upon the world.
Just before they collided, the serpent opened its jaws and spewed a dense cloud of purple venomous mist.
A beast with cultivation—no longer a mere animal, but a spiritual monster—naturally possessed its own protective methods.
Chen Sanshi had already anticipated it. He immediately cast the Thick Earth Art, summoning a wall of earth in front of him.
But the technique was not an all-directional defense—it formed only a barrier straight ahead. The poisonous mist struck it, spread sideways, and began to engulf the area.
In a flash, Chen Sanshi's figure vanished from its path. He appeared at the serpent's flank, leapt into the air, and brought the Dragon Gall Silver Spear crashing down like a divine dragon descending from the heavens.
The spear pierced through black scales, tore open flesh and bone, and drove the monster's massive body into the ground.
"Hissss—!"
The serpent shrieked in agony, writhing violently.
"Clang—"
Zhen Yue flashed out of its sheath.
A streak of sword light cut through the air.
The serpent's enormous head separated cleanly from its body. It tumbled down the slope with a thunderous rumble, vomiting purple venom all the way. Wherever the poison touched—beast, plant, or soil—it decayed instantly into rot and ash.
The toxic fog lingered for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, after which everything within several dozen zhang around was completely corroded.
Done.
The serpent's body, tainted by the Foul qi, couldn't be eaten. But many parts of it could still be used to craft weapons.
Neither his storage bag nor his storage ring could hold raw flesh.
Bags capable of storing living beings or fleshly matter were far more expensive.
Even bringing the carcass down the mountain was exhausting work.
He sent Qianxun ahead to fetch men to wait outside the Luotian Mountains.
"Good heavens!"
"My lord!"
"Did you slay a dragon or a serpent?!"
In the end, it took over ten men, pushing ten carts, to haul the massive body away.
When they entered the city, crowds swarmed the streets.
"A dragon!"
"General Chen slew a dragon!"
"He cut down a dragon!"
All of Liangzhou City erupted in uproar.
From the upper floors of a roadside pavilion, Xu Wencai—who had been drinking with two officials—saw the spectacle, stood abruptly, and rushed home.
There, he personally ground his ink and wrote for three days, composing a new storybook:
The Legend of the White-Robed Dragon Slayer.
Before long, the tale made its way into every teahouse storyteller's hands.
"Now, it was said—"
"On that day, when Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong passed away, the white-robed Chen Sanshi drank himself into oblivion. He woke to find himself alone amid wild mountains and dark woods!"
"There he met a flood dragon… that spoke human words!"
"And the dragon said—"
"What nonsense…"
Passing by a teahouse, Chen Sanshi stopped to listen to a few lines and nearly laughed out loud.
Hunting in the mountains somehow turned into a two-day, two-night adventure with talking dragons?
The whole thing was ridiculous—so twisted it almost sounded believable.
And yet, it was dangerous.
Rumors like these could kill.
That night, Chen Sanshi finally found time to visit the forge.
He took out the serpent's tendons he had preserved earlier and began crafting them into a bowstring.
As he expected, the materials were no different from those of a true spiritual beast—tough, flexible, and perfectly suited for his weapon.
Because the serpent's tendons had been tainted by Foul qi, a dark, unpurifiable miasma constantly flowed through them. Even after being crafted, the bowstring remained black. Chen Sanshi decided to wrap the entire bow in the serpent's own scaled skin—curious whether it might yield some unique effect.
Inside the forge, he had already set up a target—a full set of black iron armor.
He took out the arrows left to him by his master. Each arrowhead had been coated in the giant serpent's venom; once infused with spiritual power, it would vaporize into a poisonous mist.
Placing the arrow on the string, he slowly drew the bow and circulated his mana.
At once, the intricate inscriptions hidden beneath the snake skin lit up. Power flowed through the bowstring, converging into the arrowhead. When he released the string—
Boom!
The black flash pierced clean through the black iron armor!
And beyond that—
It carried Foul qi.
Poisonous mist leaked from the arrow.
Foul qi. Poison. True qi.
That arrow—
Even a Martial Saint brushing against it would end up dead or crippled!
The entire weapon was black as ink.
Chen Sanshi looked at it for a long while, then nodded to himself.
"Black Serpent Bow."
The name fit perfectly.
"Not bad."
He was satisfied.
Even among mid-grade magic weapons, this one was top-tier. For now, it would do perfectly. If he wanted to go further… he'd need to get that golden bow and silver bolts from the Daze Market.
But there was no rush. One step at a time.
He packed up his things, planning to handle some military duties.
But as soon as he arrived at the barracks, he saw Eunuch Hou leading a group of Jin Yiwei in the training grounds. Lü Ji and the other generals were already present.
Almost all of his senior brothers and sisters were there.
The imperial rewards for the Northern Campaign had arrived.
Eunuch Hou's sharp, nasal voice rang across the grounds as he unfolded the imperial decree.
"By Heaven's Mandate, His Majesty proclaims:
'Marquis of Might, Lü Ji—led from the front, recaptured Youzhou's Licheng Prefecture and Zhutu Pass, fought on despite grave injuries, and joined the Golden Guard and Black Armored Army in crushing the barbarian forces. Enemy slain: 30,000. Prisoners captured: 50,000. For extraordinary merit, promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Progress, appointed Governor of Liangzhou, rewarded with 10,000 taels of gold and 2,000 bolts of silk.
'Sleeping Dragon Xu Wencai—held command at Youzhou, loyal and diligent, rendered repeated contributions in follow-up battles, promoted to Senior Second Rank, Minister of State.'"
Before the Blood Sacrifice Array was destroyed, most had little chance to distinguish themselves.
But afterward, with more than 100,000 barbarian soldiers still lingering along the border, many who joined the pursuit were rewarded—though modestly.
Everyone waited.
All for the final name.
The one who had won the greatest victory.
The one who drove the barbarian hordes beyond Yinshan.
At last, after a dozen generals had been named, the eunuch's voice struck like thunder:
"Marquis of Martial Valor, Chen Sanshi—at the outbreak of the Northern War, led 800 scouts of the Hongze Battalion deep into the desert, slew over 10,000 foes near Tiger Hill, and captured Prime Minister Yuwen. Later, with 15,000 men, he fought to the death at the Agate River, killed the Four Sages' King Yuwen Jingwen, seized the entire Agate Basin, and pressed north to the barbarian capital. There, he executed five Martial Saints, slew over 10,000 enemies, and destroyed the Great Priest of the Witch God Sect, shattering the enemy's core array and saving Liangzhou. He then raised the banner upon Wolf Juxu Mountain, sealing his victory.
'For unrivaled valor, hereby promoted to Marquis of Champion! Additionally granted the rank of Senior Second Grade, title of Grand Cavalry General, and position of Grand Commander. Rewarded 200,000 taels of silver, 20,000 taels of gold, and 10,000 bolts of silk.'"
Marquis of Champion!
At twenty-one, a Marquis!
Not by inheritance—but by merit!
The entire training ground fell silent for a moment, then erupted into roars.
Tens of thousands of soldiers heard every word.
And the one phrase that struck hardest—
Grand Commander!
Not long ago, Grand Commander Sun himself had, before tens of thousands of troops, handed the Dragon Gall Silver Spear to Chen Sanshi.
And now—
Barely days after Grand Commander Sun's burial—the imperial edict officially named Chen Sanshi as his successor.
From this day forward, he was Grand Commander Chen.
"Did you hear that?!"
Zhao Kang and the others whispered excitedly among the ranks.
"Our lord's not just a Marquis—he's the new Grand Commander!"
"What does a Grand Commander even oversee?"
"Everything! Military and political affairs alike. If he wants to manage it, he can."
"So… he's like a regional emperor?"
"Shut your mouth, fool! You want to get him in trouble?"
"Fine, fine! We'll talk at my place later—bring wine."
"Done. I'll cook. And for once, we're not short on coin!"
The men from Poyang were ecstatic.
Lü Ji's face, however, was unreadable.
The other senior brothers and sisters wore expressions of surprise and cautious joy.
None of them had expected the capital to actually approve it. The title of Grand Commander carried enormous weight—especially in the northern frontier.
But before the murmurs could settle, Eunuch Hou's shrill voice continued:
"Furthermore!"
He paused dramatically, raising the scroll higher. "A marquis's residence is hereby granted in the capital! Marquis of Champion Chen Sanshi shall travel with his household to the imperial city—effective immediately!"
A marquis's mansion.
Effective immediately. Travel to the capital.
"What… what does that mean?"
"Didn't they just make him Grand Commander? Why send him to the capital?"
"Does it mean he'll be stationed there permanently?"
"What about us?"
"So who's commanding the border then?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"Chen Sanshi, receive the decree!"
Chen Sanshi stood still, face calm as still water—but within him, a slow, heavy anger rose.
He understood perfectly.
This so-called "honor" was nothing but a gilded cage.
Marquis of Champion. Grand Commander.
Empty titles.
The final command revealed the truth.
A mansion in the capital. Bring your family. Move immediately.
It sounded glorious—living just outside the Imperial Palace, basking in wealth and status.
But under imperial law, any official stationed in the capital could not leave without royal permission.
Once he entered that city, whether he could ever leave again would no longer be up to him.
It was a velvet chain—a soft prison.
He had fought through deserts and mountains, slain saints and armies, and saved an entire province.
And this was how the Emperor repaid him—by trying to control him.