Three days under Yi Xingchen’s guidance in mystic arts passed swiftly.

Yet, the two days spent with Chongxuan Chuliang, learning the art of killing, dragged on endlessly.

It was a torment spanning twenty-four hours.

This seemingly kind, short, stout old man subjected the three national prodigies to an all-encompassing combat碾壓 (crushing superiority).

It wasn’t entirely accurate to say he constantly hurled insults.

But his verbal abuse never ceased…

If not for the extraordinary resilience of these three national prodigies, they would have crumbled halfway through the “sparring.”

When Chongxuan Chuliang finally stepped back, ending the grueling two-day “exchange.”

Jiang Wang, Chongxuan Zun, and Ji Zhaonan saw the same look of relief on each other’s faces…

To journey to the Yellow River Meeting and contend with the heroes of the world.

They all possessed unparalleled confidence.

But Chongxuan Chuliang, with a strength level similar to theirs, showed them their “imperfections.”

Truth be told, to have grown into the top figures of Qi’s younger generation, each had their own thoughts and persistence, and were acutely aware of what suited them best.

A powerful expert’s guidance was like adding brocade to the flowers, adding hair and fine details to a solid skeletal structure.

Each of them could fully unleash their strength, and often, in battle, exceed their limits. But when it came to the matter of “killing,” the Butcher truly broadened their horizons.

These five days of cultivation at the Commander’s Platform were certainly not a complete transformation for them. But each had gained considerable insights.

This was most evident in Jiang Wang, who had the weakest foundation.

The reason for saying “weakest” instead of “worst” is that Jiang Wang’s foundation wasn’t truly poor. He had come this far by taking every step steadily and surely, each step firm and powerful. It was only due to his origins, lacking guidance from famous masters, that there were still some incomplete aspects.

If cultivation were compared to building a tower, his foundation was very stable, and the tower was tall, but it might not be as perfectly shaped or as exquisitely beautiful as the towers of other renowned cultivators.

Jiang Wang also paid close attention to making up for these deficiencies, always seizing opportunities to seek guidance from powerful experts. Even with peers like Li Longchuan, Chongxuan Sheng, and Zuo Guangshu, whose combat strength he had gradually surpassed, he often communicated and discussed with them.

Carefully reviewing every battle was also a way of summarizing his own experience and lessons.

The guidance from experts like Yi Xingchen and Chongxuan Chuliang was more like a high-level systematization, allowing him to integrate and master his understanding.

The five-day period ended, and the three cultivators who had come to the Commander’s Platform for training dispersed.

From then on, it was their individual cultivation time. Qi had provided all the support they could. Two experts, one from the Hall of Political Affairs and one from the Hall of Military Affairs, had set aside their official duties to guide them, a treatment of utmost generosity.

Both Yi Xingchen and Chongxuan Chuliang were very time-conscious for them. They started when they arrived, left when they finished, without a single wasted word.

In short, it was a very “enriching” five days.

Upon returning to Xia Mountain Manor, before he could even showcase the results of his training at the Commander’s Platform to Chongxuan Sheng, he was once again stunned by the news from the front lines…

Speaking of which, the last news he had received about the front lines before going to the Commander’s Platform was that the God of War of Great Qi, Jiang Mengxiong, had ascended Sword Peak Mountain alone, repelling the siege of Xia State’s powerful experts with only his fists, and even slaying a True Person on the spot.

At that time, Xia State was continuously increasing its forces, and the subsequent detachments of the Spring Death Army, ranked second among the Nine Troops of Qi, had also arrived in time. One hundred thousand elite Qi soldiers were arrayed on Sword Peak Mountain. A national war that would shake the world seemed about to directly enter the decisive stage…

After Jiang Wang left the Commander’s Platform, the result of this war, where Qi took the initiative to advance south, had already emerged.

Xia State, with an army of 500,000, launched a fierce assault for three days and nights, yet failed to break through Sword Peak Mountain, which was personally led and defended by Jiang Mengxiong.

It is said that at that time, the Winter Solstice Army among the Nine Troops of Qi was also fully assembled and ready to march towards Xia State at any moment.

Facing Qi’s demonstrated determination to fight a total war if necessary, and the stubbornly unyielding Sword Peak Mountain, Xia State finally halted its continued recruitment of troops on the fourth day.

And on the fifth day, Xia State directly sent a Divine Ascension cultivator, bound hand and foot, to Sword Peak Mountain.

This Divine Ascension cultivator had a significant background.

He originated from an organization called the “Equality Nation.”

It was this organization that had been causing frequent disturbances in Qi during this period.

After the incidents of “Cui Zhu assassinating the monarch” and “Zhang Yong weeping at the shrine,” there were naturally subsequent moves. This was a series of actions that were terrifying just to think about, prepared for who knows how long, hidden for who knows how long, and they had even secretly contacted Xia State…

But the Qi Emperor, with a single move like moving a mountain, directly attacked Xia State, shattering this game.

The final result… was that this Divine Ascension powerful expert who had contacted Xia State was directly handed over by Xia State.

Xia State proved its “innocence,” demonstrating that Cui Zhu, who had shouted the 神武 (Divine Martial) era name, was indeed not a person of Xia State. The organization called the Equality Nation also surfaced from then on.

Jiang Mengxiong then withdrew his troops.

However, before withdrawing, he left eight words on Sword Peak Mountain, which were:

“Minor chastisement, significant warning, returned by imperial decree.”

Xia State was, of course, not innocent. It was only after losing a True Person, and then failing to take Sword Peak Mountain for three days of fierce assault, and facing Qi’s attitude of not hesitating to escalate the war, that they were finally forced to compromise and sever ties with the “Equality Nation.”

It is imaginable that, given Xia State’s status, in the Equality Nation’s original plan, it must have occupied an extremely important position. The two sides were at least in a cooperative relationship.

And the eight words left by Jiang Mengxiong were intended to emphasize once again that Sword Peak Mountain was not fought back by Xia State. Rather, it was “returned” by the Qi Emperor’s “decree.”

Sword Peak Mountain, which was established as the border by the Yang State back then, is now something the current Qi monarch can take when he wants, and release when he wants.

The taste of this can only be savored by the people of Xia State themselves.

For the people of Qi, it was, of course, “boosting our national prestige and inspiring our people.”

When Jiang Wang first came out of the Commander’s Platform, he saw festive decorations in many places, which must have been due to this matter.

And for the Qi court, the most important matter now is probably the large-scale cleansing targeting that “Equality Nation” organization.

How thoroughly it can be cleansed, whether it will be as clean as a vast expanse of white snow, or a chaotic mess of flying chickens and barking dogs, depends on how much information the military can obtain from that Divine Ascension cultivator of the Equality Nation…

With a living Divine Ascension cultivator in the hands of the Qi military, there is almost no possibility of keeping secrets.

Of course, regarding this last part, even with Chongxuan Sheng’s status, he couldn’t get any useful information.

He didn’t even know the philosophy of this “Equality Nation” organization, let alone more specific details such as the organization’s strength, the number of powerful experts, or the organizational structure.

Those probably only existed in the minds of the individuals handling the case.

Chongxuan Sheng and the others could only speculate based on some known information, but it was also confusing and without any clear threads.

“Thinking about it now, this decision was truly simple and direct. Given the situation around Great Qi, the countries that can truly pose a threat to our Great Qi are none other than Jing State, Mu State, and Xia State.

The former two are also among the top six powers in the world. Once friction occurs, it’s no small matter. It’s not a wise choice to provoke either side without sufficient preparation, especially at the critical juncture when the Yellow River Meeting is about to be held.

After much deliberation, the only country that truly posed a potential threat and could be immediately attacked was Xia State.

The only thing is… making this decision immediately after the assassination case, directly disregarding the domestic situation and focusing on areas beyond the Eastern Region, truly requires immense courage. Only a heroic ruler could achieve this!”

When saying these words, Chongxuan Sheng was practicing a secret technique.

Nine iron spheres the size of fists were shuttling back and forth under his control.

“I wonder what kind of organization this ‘Equality Nation’ is…”

Looking at the iron spheres flying around Chongxuan Sheng, Jiang Wang suddenly thought of that troublesome Green Badge Constable Lin Youxie, for some reason.

Zheng Shangming said that Uriah, in order to protect Lin Youxie, had the Inspection Office conceal Lin Youxie’s contribution in verifying Zhang Yong.

Looking at it now, it was indeed a mature move.

Equality Nation…

What does this organization want to do?

(Today is a big recommended push. Brothers and sisters, this is the first time “Crimson Heart Patrol Heaven” has received a recommendation of this level.

This is what we worked hard for together!

We must have momentum.