Sheng Yuanyao traversed the Gobi Desert, swift as a leopard.

As an eagle soared overhead, Sheng Yuanyao hushed her breath and pressed herself against the rock face. Once the eagle glided past, she crouched and darted out again.

After only three months in the army, the once valiant Sheng Yuanyao, a formidable warrior of Zhenmosi, had shed her spoiled, aristocratic demeanor, transforming into a sharp spear.

Military life was an excellent trainer of character. Even among the less impressive members of the Huo family, Huo Zhang was relatively the most decent, let alone Sheng Yuanyao, who already had a strong foundation.

The aura of a Third-Rank cultivator faintly emanated from her, on the verge of breaking through. Even without any extraordinary fortune, it would only be a matter of time.

At the very least, she had accumulated the necessary experience and insights for the Tengyun Realm in these three months. The bloody struggles she had faced were incomparable to her previous experiences in the mere Xia Province Zhenmosi, let alone her period of idleness in the capital.

She called him a brother, but Sheng Yuanyao knew why she could only be brothers with him; it wasn’t pride or stubbornness.

It was because there was no contest.

Come to think of it, she had known Lu Xingzhou even before Shen Tang. If one didn’t count Liu Yan’er, Sheng Yuanyao was the first woman Lu Xingzhou had met after leaving Yanluo Dian.

But knowing him early was useless; back then, Lu Xingzhou was just a clever suspect in her eyes.

By the time she realized he was a decent person, she had already heard rumors of his ambiguous relationship with Shen Tang. At the time, she didn’t think much of it, but looking back now, it might have been the most bitter gossip this “Gua Mei” had ever consumed.

Shen Tang was a princess, beautiful, and highly talented, having reached the Third-Rank early on. Sheng Yuanyao herself had written about her Third-Rank status in a Zhenmosi report.

She and Lu Xingzhou had supported each other from humble beginnings, saving each other. Sheng Yuanyao had practically witnessed Lu Xingzhou transform from a calculating, brooding murderer into a cheerful person, even having the leisure to perform chivalrous deeds and help her investigate demons. Sheng Yuanyao knew this change was due to Shen Tang.

Sheng Yuanyao knew she couldn’t compete, not from any angle.

Even if she couldn’t compete with Shen Tang, perhaps excellent people always gathered excellent people around them. Everyone who appeared in his life was so outstanding.

That insufferable “green tea” Pei Chuyun, the legitimate daughter of the Pei family, with impeccable status. Even her potential other identity was not one that ordinary people could hold: the Saintess of Chan Nü Hehuan Zong. Even putting all that aside, her cultivation talent alone sent a chill down Sheng Yuanyao’s spine.

She effortlessly thrashed the top ranked newcomer without even revealing her true skills. A few days later, she also reached the Third-Rank.

The most terrifying thing was that such an outstanding woman, whom any woman would consider a major rival, was also shamelessly clinging to the man all day, wishing he would just “get in” already.

What kind of woman was that? How could one possibly compete with her?

And then, Dugu Qingli… the direct disciple of a sacred land, the only disciple of the world’s foremost cultivator, Tinglan Zhenren.

What was there to even compare?

It was a true gathering of heroes, just as the poem he left in Qingyao Yuan described: “At this moment, heroes reach a hundred feet into the sky.”

How could she, a common gossiping bureaucrat from the capital, sit at the same table with these people?

Even Lu Xingzhou himself, whose cultivation was initially inferior to hers, had seen his cultivation soar like an airship after his leg was healed. He had even beaten the number one newcomer…

And Sheng Yuanyao knew she couldn’t beat Qi Tuizhi; she dared not challenge him.

She dared not challenge him. The opponent Lu Xingzhou and the other two had taken turns defeating was the only one she dared not fight. Unwittingly, she had become the weakest among all those involved, including Lu Xingzhou himself.

If not brothers, what else could they be?

Only brothers.

He was going out for trials; he would surely make progress upon his return. By then, she feared she wouldn’t even be qualified to be his brother.

Her father said that the Sheng family’s ancestral military methods were most potent in battle formations, and cultivation was similar, progressing faster through insights gained in combat.

So, she joined the army.

At least earn a Third-Rank, then meet him again.

If she could compete then, she would fight for it. If not, then being brothers for life would be fine.

A’nuo said that female brothers were the most invincible existence, didn’t she?

Initially, Sheng Yuanyao didn’t know what military formations in the world of cultivation would be like.

Logically, once one reached the Third-Rank and above, they could fly and burrow. What use would an army below that level be?

It turned out that numbers still mattered.

A Fourth-Rank cultivator couldn’t fly on their own, but they could use magical artifacts to fly. A hundred Fourth-Rank cultivators attacking together could overwhelm any Third-Rank.

Moreover, on the Northern Border battlefield, the number of troops was in the hundreds of thousands.

The number of cultivators above Third-Rank was actually very small. The list of heroes only included a few hundred, though there were certainly more who weren’t listed. Sheng Yuanyao only realized she had compiled a list of nobodies after coming here and seeing many unfamiliar Third-Rank cultivators.

Chief Editor Sheng expressed her disdain for her previously beloved work.

However, even if there were many unlisted cultivators, there was a limit. Furthermore, most Third-Rank cultivators in the world were distributed among various forces. Even if they all converged on the Northern Border, what significant use would they be on a battlefield of hundreds of thousands?

There were flying restrictions everywhere and anti-magic traps at various locations. Let alone Third-Rank cultivators, even Second-Rank and First-Rank cultivators who acted recklessly relying on their cultivation would suffer here.

Only those of the Super-Rank could move freely and wantonly among such vast armies. That’s why they were called “Super”; it wasn’t just about transcending the rules of the Nine Ranks, but also about being above all mortals.

But going back, in the past few months, let alone Super-Rank cultivators being nonexistent, even First-Rank cultivators were extremely rare, serving as commanders stationed in headquarters. Battles were usually small-scale skirmishes, not even reaching the level of sieges. Sheng Yuanyao had barely encountered any Third-Rank cultivators in previous battles, making it an excellent training ground. She was on the verge of breaking through to the Third-Rank.

Just as she saw the light of breakthrough, rumors suddenly changed.

The demon race was massively reinforcing its troops, and powerful cultivators from various races were flooding towards the border city. The news was not concealed; it was said that the Demon Emperor had personally arrived, preparing to declare war on Da Gan.

As a scout, she had to keep an even closer watch on enemy movements during these times. Sheng Yuanyao led the scout camp and took charge. However, a routine patrol unexpectedly ran into Third-Rank cultivators on the enemy side.

Even Third-Rank cultivators were handling such minor patrols. From afar, she could sense numerous powerful demonic auras emanating from the distant city.

Fortunately, Sheng Yuanyao made an immediate decision to retreat from afar, but she was still almost caught.

When a large number of powerful demon cultivators arrived, this battlefield no longer seemed like a place for Fourth-Rank cultivators to play.

Sheng Yuanyao didn’t know how that great war was fought. With Super-Rank cultivators participating and large numbers of First-Rank cultivators clashing, was there still room for those below Third-Rank to act? Would they just be cannon fodder?

Should she retreat?

Though “Gua Mei” was brave, she didn’t have much loyalty to the emperor. Ever since she discovered that the emperor might have known about the prefectural demon case all along, Sheng Yuanyao’s loyalty to Da Gan had crumbled, which was why she returned to the capital to be an idle noble. She was willing to fight to the death for the safety of humanity, but if it was to be cannon fodder in the emperor’s game, she would run as far as possible.

As she pondered returning to her own city, she noticed that the city’s defenses had also changed.

On the surface, everything seemed normal, but the scout commander, who had been stationed here for over three months, could sniff out the unusual gossip without even using his nose. It was clearly a facade of relaxedness covering internal tension, and the atmosphere felt several shades heavier.

The anomalies were concentrated at the main general’s residence, where there seemed to be more unfamiliar guards.

Sheng Yuanyao subtly observed with her peripheral vision as she headed towards her superior’s quarters.

The main general here was originally a member of the Huo family. After Huo Xingyuan retreated to the capital, his trusted confidants were left in charge of the Northern Border. There were several deputy generals, with people from various families. Sheng Yuanyao’s direct superior was Zhao Jiayong, an old brother of Sheng Qingfeng. So, Sheng Yuanyao’s scout camp and intelligence camp duties were tasks she enjoyed, naturally with her family elders’ support.

Seeing Sheng Yuanyao return, Zhao Jiayong let out a long sigh of relief. “I was worried something happened to you. How dare you scout alone?”

“Precisely because there’s danger, acting alone is more flexible. Don’t worry, I’m not stupid; I ran when things looked bad.”

“What use is it whether you’re stupid or not? Your strength is only so much! You’re not even Third-Rank yet!” Zhao Jiayong said, “Starting today, your scout camp duties are also suspended.”

He expected Sheng Yuanyao to be upset, but she merely responded with a calm “Oh.”

Zhao Jiayong looked her up and down for a while as if he didn’t recognize her. “Why aren’t you anxious?”

She had already planned to be a deserter, so who would be anxious about such things? Sheng Yuanyao didn’t say that. She looked around, then lowered her voice: “Of course, it’s because powerful cultivators have come to take over my work. The current situation is beyond what we Fourth-Rank cultivators can handle.”

Zhao Jiayong narrowed his eyes: “What do you know?”

“I wanted to ask Uncle Zhao what gossip he’s hiding from me first!”

“But I don’t know either!” Zhao Jiayong stamped his foot: “Those bastards said it was classified, but what kind of classified information can even I, a ‘Dang Kou Jiangjun,’ not hear? Are those Huo family members trying to monopolize command? How are we supposed to fight like this!”

“This war was never one that ordinary people could fight.” Sheng Yuanyao looked at Zhao Jiayong with some sympathy. She was a nobody, her authority had been stripped, and she could leave anytime. At worst, she’d be accused of desertion later, but her good father at home would cover for her. But Zhao Jiayong couldn’t leave; he absolutely had to fight to the death here.

Fighting to the death was fine, but at least let one die knowing what’s going on! What kind of situation was this, where even Zhao Jiayong, a Second-Rank general, was kept in the dark!

Zhao Jiayong thought for a moment, then whispered, “Something’s not right. Yuanyao, you should immediately withdraw to Guiyuan City in the rear-flank and oversee the flow and usage of magical artifacts and talismans. If things look bad, leave on your own.”

Sheng Yuanyao was very touched: “Uncle Zhao…”

Zhao Jiayong thought she was going to say she’d stay and die with him, so he sternly said, “This is a military order!”

Sheng Yuanyao said, “I will take good care of Zhao Erya.”

Zhao Jiayong: “?”

Sheng Yuanyao pursed her lips, then suddenly lowered her voice: “Uncle Zhao, based on my twenty years of gossip-eating experience, the Emperor has probably, possibly, perhaps arrived. You should be prepared.”

Zhao Jiayong was stunned, his face turning very grim.

Before he could even ponder what the Emperor’s arrival might mean, Sheng Yuanyao added: “Also, according to my scouting results just now, the Demon Emperor is likely in the city ahead, only seventy or eighty *li* away. If the Demon Emperor intends to attack the city, it could happen in an instant, yet Marquis Huo still hasn’t brought the Imperial Army to direct the battle. What does that mean?”

“…It means that if the Demon Emperor wants to take the city, he can take it anytime.”

Before he could finish speaking, a dragon’s roar suddenly echoed from afar. A wild and unparalleled demonic aura surged from distant, arriving in an instant.

“Demon Emperor!” Zhao Jiayong’s face changed drastically: “You must leave quickly, before her gaze falls upon you. Retreat to Guiyuan City at once, lest it be too late!”