Under the weight of Qi’s courtly pressure, Fang You was compelled to escalate the war’s fervor.

Yet, with such a multitude of heaven’s chosen gathered upon Star Moon Plain, he offered but ten camp quotas. He then departed the command tent, leaving only the indifferent Lady West Crossing to oversee matters. This was not without a subtle intent, akin to “two peaches killing three warriors.” Of course, such thoughts lingered only in the shadows of suspicion, never to be openly confirmed. On the surface, Fang You was utterly blameless.

However, none who were called heaven’s chosen were truly naive. Though they understood the gravity of this conflict, they approached the competition for the ten camp quotas with remarkable rationality. From beginning to end, perhaps only Gao Zhe became overly engrossed, perhaps too desperate for recognition, too eager to prove himself. Thus, Chong Xuan Sheng doused him with several basins of cold water—a tactic that proved remarkably effective.

The world settled.

As for the battle for the last main general’s quota the previous night…

It need not be mentioned.

Lei Zhan Qian, brimming with arrogance, sought to face three opponents simultaneously. Tian Chang, Wen Lian Mu, and Gao Zhe, exhibiting no politeness, stepped forward shoulder-to-shoulder. Yet, among the three, there was a complete lack of cooperation. Gao Zhe, in particular, was like a sleepwalker on the battlefield, utterly without order, growing only more chaotic as the fight wore on. Ultimately, he was forcefully subdued by Lei Zhan Qian.

Tian Chang, wielding the unseen Chao Xin Blade, did not unleash his full combat prowess, but neither did he suffer an unacceptable defeat. Against the terrifying Lei Realm, he indeed found it difficult to break through. As for Wen Lian Mu, this chaotic three-person collaboration was far less effective than a solitary duel with Lei Zhan Qian amidst a military formation. However, in such a duel, if the subordinate soldiers were too few, he would inevitably be overwhelmed by Lei Zhan Qian’s brute force… And how could Lady West Crossing possibly grant him enough soldiers for such a formation? Thus, it remained an intractable problem, and he could only return to assist Wang Yi Wu.

Fang You, having promised ten camps, had thus filled all the main general quotas. Save for Li Shu Wen, a heaven’s chosen from the host nation of Xu, all those in command were heaven’s chosen from Qi. Fang You allocated five myriad of the main forces, dividing them into ten camps of roughly equal strength, exhibiting not the slightest bias. Li Shu Wen’s soldiers were no different from those under the command of the others, truly a testament to equal strength.

Each heaven’s chosen led their own subordinate soldiers in drill.

As Jiang Wang had not yet arrived, Chong Xuan Sheng’s camp was temporarily commanded by Lin Xian. Chong Xuan Sheng had initially intended to offer this opportunity to Lin Jie, a heaven’s chosen from Yi. Lin Jie had accurately assessed Jiang Wang’s position and was well-suited to be the first deputy of the Inner Mansion. However, Lin Xian’s unwavering support, steadfast and unyielding, achieving a unique and distant aura… ultimately earned Chong Xuan Fat’s recognition.

Lin Jie was not left without recourse; he was taken under Yan Fu’s wing and appointed as his deputy general. With Young Master Yan providing cover, he would face no hardship on Star Moon Plain. His camp, leaving aside other considerations, possessed the absolute finest soldiers, weapons, and equipment in the entire army! Food, drink, and medicine were also in endless supply.

Young Master Yan’s first act upon assuming command was to re-equip the entire army. He discarded all of Xu’s existing military weapons, replacing them with his own purchased and superior armaments. He even had surplus military resources, which he used to support Chong Xuan Sheng and Li Long Chuan. These two young masters from military families happily accepted. They shed not a hint of the arrogance befitting scions of famous generals, instead calling out “Brother Yan Xian” in unison, and even asking for pointers on military strategy…

“Are you just going to completely let go of things now?” Inside the commander’s tent, with everyone having departed, Lady West Crossing asked.

“Otherwise, what?” Fang You leaned back in the commander’s chair, his eyes slightly closed.

“Perhaps there are other methods, perhaps you could personally command them…”

“Don’t be childish,” Fang You interrupted. “This is precisely the situation those people desire. We can only give them what they want.”

“Then, life and death on the battlefield…” Lady West Crossing sighed. “They are, after all, my Xu Country’s sons!”

“Things without choice from the outset, to have dragged them on until today, should already be a source of satisfaction,” Fang You’s tone was calm. Calm, even possessing a coldness that suggested detachment.

Lady West Crossing also suppressed her brief moment of vulnerability, her face once again becoming cold. She and Fang You were the only two Divine Arrival stage powerhouses in Xu. As the pillars of Xu Country, there was absolutely no room for weakness.

“Is it that to be a general, one must possess a heart like iron and stone? Otherwise, one cannot become a renowned general?” she asked coolly.

Fang You was expressionless. “Emotions are for after the war. In war, we only have gains and losses.”

“I just received news,” Lady West Crossing said. “The Army God has also arrived.”

“Arrived where?” Fang You asked.

“He also went to Wan He Temple to observe the stars!”

This answer was truly unexpected, yet it also felt… like something Jiang Meng Xiong would do!

Yu Que’s movement to Wan He Temple in Xiang Country was, in itself, a deterrent to the Star Moon Plain battlefield. By common sense, Qi should also dispatch a True Monarch level powerhouse to remotely confront him somewhere in Xu. Only then would the situation on Star Moon Plain be balanced. Xu had even made preparations to welcome such an arrival…

Who could have imagined that Jiang Meng Xiong, upon arriving, would simply sit down right beside Yu Que?

During the Star Moon Plain war, Xiang Country was practically considered Jing Country’s territory. For Jiang Meng Xiong, while not quite venturing into the tiger’s den, it still held some risks. Truly, he viewed ten thousand armies as nothing, possessing the heroic courage to venture alone into another country.

“Truly breathtaking…” Fang You murmured.

“And Your Majesty?” After a moment of silence, Lady West Crossing asked.

Fang You opened his eyes and gazed at the tent’s ceiling. “He is old,” Xu Country’s Grand Commander thus said.

That country lord who had not achieved Golden Body Jade Marrow cultivation was indeed aging at a visible pace. The power of time was the most ruthless.

Thereafter, the tent remained silent.

Xiang Country’s largest spirit worship temple was named “Wan He,” signifying “all matters harmonious.” The colossal elephant stationed here was the “holy spirit” spoken of by the people of Xiang Country. The giant elephant worshipped at Wan He Temple was named Song Shan, and it was also the leader of all the giant elephants on the borders of Xiang Country. Its body was immense, possessing power approaching that of a Cave True realm cultivator. Its nature was gentle, and it never actively harmed people. The people of Xiang Country built a temple to worship it, in exchange for Song Shan’s protection. For thousands of years, they had coexisted in this strange manner. Wan He Temple was also regarded as Xiang Country’s national temple, a place of incomparable sacredness in the hearts of its people.

At this moment, within the temple, a man wearing a Two Instruments military uniform, his hands clasped behind his back, leaned against a railing, gazing at the distant giant elephant Song Shan, which resembled a small mountain. So-called “appreciating the elephant.” Though his feet were firmly on the ground, he seemed to be amidst the clouds. Though his face was uncovered, it was impossible to see it clearly. Only his Two Instruments military uniform, rolling into view, possessed a tangible sense of dignity.

At this time, Song Shan was lowering its head, swallowing a large tree, its movements slow and leisurely, imbued with a sense of peaceful contentment. But suddenly, its massive body knelt down! Its elephant trunk lay pressed against the ground, unmoving. The large tree remained clutched in its mouth, but it dared not continue to swallow, nor did it dare to spit it out. This existence with terrifying power, revered as a holy spirit by the people of Xiang Country, dared not even make a gesture of resistance.

And that man in the Two Instruments military uniform only wrinkled his brow. “Why have you come?”

A voice, flat yet sweeping with endless dignity, thus descended—

“This giant elephant, Jing Country people can appreciate, but Qi Country people cannot appreciate?”

Yu Que, Commander of Jing Country’s Dou E Army, slightly turned his head and saw a man with a short beard, his hair pinned up, already leaning against the railing beside him. This person appeared to be middle-aged, his face calm, possessing a vast quality. His eyes gazed far into the distance, naturally resembling an abyss, a sea.

“Why are you everywhere?” Yu Que asked rudely. “Does Qi have no other people?”

“Wind and rain are hitting the children, idling is also idling,” Jiang Meng Xiong said casually.

“Uninvited guests are thieves,” Yu Que said.

Jiang Meng Xiong lightly smiled in response. “Those who break down mountain gates are the royal army. Those who guard poor strongholds are mountain bandits. When the royal army suppresses bandits, do they still need to be invited by the mountain thieves?”

Yu Que said coldly, “From ancient times, the royal army has always come from the center.”

Jiang Meng Xiong said, “Now it has come from the east.”

Yu Que looked at him, his eyes holding a certain severity. “Do you think that after descending Sword Peak Mountain, you can go anywhere in the world?”

Jiang Meng Xiong waved both hands, saying freely, “It doesn’t hurt to try.”

Yu Que’s face was one that ordinary people could not see clearly, but in Jiang Meng Xiong’s eyes, it was laid bare without omission. It was a very young face, with thin lips, a high nose, and sword-like eyebrows. The years had only flowed through his eyes, leaving no traces elsewhere.

“You, ah, you,” Yu Que shook his head, withdrawing the atmosphere of drawn swords and taut bows, returning his gaze to the giant elephant’s body. “So many years have passed, and there is still no change.”

“Actually, I have changed,” Jiang Meng Xiong said.

“Oh?” Yu Que asked.

“I am stronger,” Jiang Meng Xiong said lightly.

If Wen Lian Mu were present, he would certainly understand. Wang Yi Wu’s punchable tone, exactly who did he learn it from?

Yu Que was stunned for a moment, then laughed. Towards the Xiang Country holy spirit elephant prostrate on the ground, he lifted his chin. “Even if you are stronger, you shouldn’t scare small animals, ah. Look at how you’ve scared it.”

A terrifying giant beast with strength approaching the Cave True realm was merely “small animals” in Yu Que’s mouth.

“I, a little friend not yet twenty years old, chased by you Jing Country people to the ends of the earth, at that time. I may not see this kindness of yours,” Jiang Meng Xiong also looked towards the giant elephant named Song Shan, his words, however, were not polite. “What, do beasts especially make you empathize?”

As he looked over, the small mountain-like elephant body immediately cracked, fresh blood surging wildly! Song Shan’s divine intelligence was complete; it fundamentally dared not resist, only enduring in silence. At this moment, a hand reached out, blocking Jiang Meng Xiong’s front, cutting off his gaze. Within Yu Que’s clean and dry palm, a faint whistling sound was emitted. There was the roar of a tempest, the surge of an angry sea, the movement of startling thunder, and all gradually drowned in silence.

“This matter may have nothing to do with me,” Yu Que said with a smile. “You’re venting your anger on me… Isn’t that quite inappropriate?”

While speaking with Jiang Meng Xiong, he transmitted a thought towards the giant elephant Song Shan. The giant elephant, receiving support, hurriedly crawled up and staggered away. Although its movements were quite earth-shaking and mountain-moving, each step was actually quiet and soundless, afraid of provoking the displeasure of the powerhouse behind.

Jiang Meng Xiong also did not stop it, only looking at Yu Que and saying, “Nothing to do with you? Provoking the dignity of my Great Qi, actually not needing the nod of an existence of your level… Jing Country is truly impressive, ah.”

Yu Que withdrew his palm, his tone lightly saying, “A thousand-year-old tree inevitably has rotten branches. A ten-thousand-li domain, where is there no rotten soil? Jing Country is too ancient a country, it cannot be denied that in some aspects it is indeed somewhat stagnant.”

“No relation. Incorrect cognition always requires time and external forces to correct,” Jiang Meng Xiong said lightly. “My Great Qi doesn’t mind providing a little help.”

“Then you all may need to work a little harder,” Yu Que laughed. “How is this level enough?”

“Very simple!” Jiang Meng Xiong said straightforwardly. “If you all say it’s not enough, my Great Qi will simply raise the stakes. Keep adding, keep adding, add until you all say it’s enough and stop.”

“Do you all have that many chips?” Yu Que turned his head to look at him.

Jiang Meng Xiong smiled. “It doesn’t hurt to try.”

He had said this sentence twice now, each time so composed and confident. Invincible confidence was already deeply ingrained, no need to flaunt it, yet visible everywhere. Two True Monarchs facing each other, like one piece of sea crashing into another piece of sea. The power to destroy heaven and extinguish earth was hidden within the still sea.

This immensely vast Wan He Temple, sacrificing its holy spirit, its fate, whether it would be destroyed or exist, perhaps lay in a single thought. For two True Monarchs, this was how brief their confrontation was. But for the entire Xiang Country, it might be a shift in destiny.

“What do you all want?” Yu Que finally asked.

“Qi Country seeks not much, only the two words ‘justice’,” Jiang Meng Xiong said. “First, the Mirror World Platform must publicly apologize to my Great Qi’s heaven’s chosen, restore its clear reputation, and compensate its losses. Second, since the ancient demon-extermination alliance cannot be fairly used in Jade Capital Mountain, then my Great Qi’s Star Observation Tower is willing to enshrine it. In the great righteousness of the human race, my Qi Country is never willing to lag behind.”

“These two conditions, one is more fanciful than the other, ah,” Yu Que said indifferently. “You know this is absolutely impossible.”

Jiang Meng Xiong said, “I enjoy the process of turning the impossible into the possible.”

Yu Que had a mind to mock him a few times, but then had to admit that Jiang Meng Xiong was indeed such a person. Finally, he said, “Then I will wait and see.”

“Oh, I forgot to remind you,” Jiang Meng Xiong said. “These two conditions are only limited to now.”

“Having confidence is a good thing,” Yu Que curled his mouth. “Then we’ll just look at the result of the Star Moon Plain war.”

“These next few days, I’ll accompany you here to watch,” Jiang Meng Xiong said composedly.

“No need,” Yu Que said. “If you have matters, just go and attend to them elsewhere. Rest assured, I won’t go to the battlefield and bully the little ones.”

Jiang Meng Xiong only said, “If I left, how would you all display your drawn swords and taut bows posture?”

Yu Que avoided answering this, only suddenly asking, “Is Zhao Xuan Yang alive or dead?”

Jiang Meng Xiong shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Hehe,” Yu Que laughed. “You all don’t even dare to give a result?”

Jiang Meng Xiong looked at him very strangely. “Don’t know what to give? Jiang Wang awoke from his coma, and Zhao Xuan Yang just disappeared. Where do you expect a little child of the Inner Mansion realm to give you the answer?” He paused for a moment, then asked again, “This matter is very strange, ah. Is it an internal problem within your Jing Country?”

“Whether this answer can convince Jing Tian Fu, I don’t know,” Yu Que completely ignored Jiang Meng Xiong’s probing, lightly shaking his head, his tone still very relaxed. “I will temporarily pretend to be convinced.”

Jiang Meng Xiong only smiled—

“The answer is only this one. Whoever is dissatisfied, let them come find me.”