Hou Jingshu’s orders went out immediately. She had allowed Yu Chenguang use of the royal family’s private airship to arrive on the border near the Ming Province quickly. It still took several days, but if they went under the assumption that the Four Great Pavilions were gathering an army to invade, then it would take them at least several weeks even if they already had the necessary logistics for such an endeavor.

Only so many people could enter the Shang Kingdom at a time.

The Shang Kingdom and Ming Province were separated by a mountain range, and the only way through it was to travel through Zhiong Pass, a narrow passageway that could fit at most four carriages in a row. An army would not be able to pass through quickly.

Of course, this was assuming they would attack with an army. Hou Jingshu had also considered the possibility they would send their strongest only, but she dismissed the idea because the Burning Flame Pavilion’s ancestor had been killed while he was in the Shang Kingdom. She believed that would make them wary of sending their elites since there was someone in the kingdom with the power to kill Deva Realm cultivators.

Yu Chenguang had traveled from town to town, issuing orders to the people. Sometimes they were to head west and sometimes east, but either way, they had to abandon their homes. Some people complained. However, Yu Chenguang had forced the city lords to make an announcement about how invaders from the Ming Province were coming. It was enough to keep even the worst complainers from doing more than grumble.

However, even with Hou Jingshu’s orders in effect, it would still take some time for the citizens to pack their belongings and leave. That was why Yu Chenguang had stationed several guards near Zhiong Pass, while he remained at the border town. They were to remain on the lookout for enemy forces and report back if they saw anything. Yu Chenguang had already sent his people to the beacon system so they could deliver news faster than a normal person could on horseback.

The border town was called Biānjiè. It was a small town of about twenty-two thousand as of the last consensus. It wasn’t known for anything in particular outside of being the town nearest Zhiong Pass. Yu Chenguang planned to make this their first line of defense.

He stood in the city lord’s manor, located in the center of town, though he did not think the word manor was suitable. It was a simple two-story house. The decorations might have been nicer than the average commoner’s, but it lacked the sheer size and refinement of a true manor. He appreciated it. His own house was not much bigger than this, so he felt more comfortable here.

Hua Xue and Mei Xilan were with him. They sat at a small table and sipped tea, looking for all the world like they weren’t awaiting war. He was not surprised by Hua Xue’s composure. That woman seemed unflappable no matter the circumstance, and he now understood her true power, but he was surprised Mei Xilan could act so calm. Though her powers were great, she was still just a young woman.

None of them spoke; Hua Xue and Mei Xilan were not the type to fill the silence, and Yu Chenguang had nothing to speak to them about. Perhaps if he were younger, more reckless, and not married, he would have attempted to flirt with Hua Xue, but he understood that would be a bad idea now. This woman had no interest in him. She might just decide to freeze him if he tried something.

A knock stole his thoughts.

“Lord Chenguang, I bring news,” said someone from the other side.

“It’s the city lord,” Hua Xue mumbled.

“Come in,” said Yu Chenguang.

The other man opened the door and entered the room with the slow, cautious steps of a man out of place. Though this was his home, he acted like the guest. That was how power worked in this world. This man even had to bow in his own home because someone of higher status and power currently dwelt within.

“My Lord… the beacons are lit. The enemy is coming.”

Yu Chenguang stood and moved to the window. He opened it to reveal, in the distance, a bright red glow. Even more glows could be seen further past it, though not by the average human.

The first emperor of the Shang Kingdom had set up those beacons long ago to notify them of an invasion. It took less time to light several beacons than it did to travel on foot. The faster the kingdom could be notified of invading enemies, the more time they would have to prepare.

“They moved faster than we expected,” Hua Xue said from directly behind him. He hadn’t noticed her approach. A shiver crawled down his spine, though he suppressed it.

“Indeed. They must have already gathered the necessary troops and provisions before you killed their elder. It should have taken them at least a week or two otherwise.”

“What should we do?”

“We have no choice but to meet them,” Yu Chenguang sighed. “They won’t let their army fight just yet. They’ll most likely send their two strongest members to fight.”

Hua Xue nodded. “I agree. They will want to avoid exhausting their forces, but they will also want to remove any obstacles in their path quickly. Sending their ancestors to fight is the most logical choice.”

Water-Moon Pavilion had refused to partake in this operation, which meant they would only have to fight the ancestors from the Martial God Pavilion and Wind-Lightning Pavilion. Of course, saying they would only have to fight those two made light of their situation. The ancestors were all Deva Realm cultivators.

“The two ancestors we’ll be fighting are Fēng Yi of the Wind-Lightning Pavilion and Lì Liàng of the Martial God Pavilion,” Yu Chenguang said.

“Who among those two is the strongest?”

“Fēng Yi,” Yu Chenguang answered immediately. “He is a peak Deva Realm cultivator. Lì Liàng is only at the Deva Realm’s first subrealm.”

“Understood. Then I shall leave Lì Liàng to you and Mei Xilan. Even with the two of you combined, defeating him is likely impossible, but you need not win. You just need to hold him off long enough for me to deal with Fēng Yi,” instructed Hua Xue.

He would normally never take orders from someone who wasn’t Hou Jingshu or His Majesty, but these were strange circumstances he found himself in. This woman before him was an unfathomable existence. Her power was undeniable. The strong made the rules and the weak obeyed, and she was much stronger than him.

“Yes, ma’am,” Yu Chenguang said with a wry smile.

***

Yu Chenguang, Hua Xue, Mei Xilan, and a force of one thousand Asura Realm cultivators stood before Biānjiè’s gate. Standing across from them was none other than the opposing army from the Ming Province. Their forces were not large, which explained why they were able to move through the pass so quickly. There were maybe five thousand people total, and they were all cultivators, though most of them were at the Anima Realm or below.

At the head of this invasion force were several people he recognized and several he didn’t but could guess their identities. He, of course, knew Huo Yi, Xao Wen, and Duo Long. They were the sect masters of the Burning Flame, Martial God, and Wind-Lightning Pavilions.

Standing beside Duo Long was an older man with shock white hair reminiscent of a lion’s main. His eyes glowed like lightning was passing through them, and they were set upon a face that seemed oddly amiable. He looked like a kind grandfather. Yu Chenguang did not let this man’s kindly appearance fool him. He could not sense the older man’s cultivation.

That must be Fēng Yi, which means the man over their is Lì Liàng.

Lì Liàng looked younger than his counterpart from the Wind-Lightning Pavilion. His black hair was cropped short and spiked. He had gray eyes like burnished steel and a face that screamed masculinity. The sleeveless training gi he wore did little to cover his muscular physique. Not only was he tall, easily towering over Yu Chenguang, but he was covered in a layer of muscles so thick they appeared impractical. How could this man fight when his biceps were bigger than a regular person’s torso?

“It appears you expected us,” said Fēng Yi. “I expected as much, but I didn’t think you’d act so quickly.”

Yu Chenguang remained in place, feigning fearlessness. “Her Highness is very decisive. Once we learned that Yi Fu had infiltrated the Burning Hand Sect, we knew you would come.”

Fēng Yi stroked his beard. “I have heard much about Her Highness, Hou Jingshu. She seems quite capable. It is unfortunate, but we’ll have to cut her life short. We’ve no need for someone capable of ruling to sit on the throne.”

It was just like they thought. These old men wished to conquer the Shang Kingdom and install a puppet ruler, but the question was, who did they plan to place on the throne? The Heavenly Sword Sect would not stand for just anyone sitting upon that throne. The Four Great Pavilions needed a member of the royal family to become king to avoid retaliation from the Heavenly Sword Sect, but Hua Xue had already rescued Hou Chao… unless they had finished brainwashing him before she rescued him?

Now is not the time to think about that. All I can do now is complete the task before me. I must buy enough time for our civilians to withdraw and our soldiers to set fire to our farmlands.

He would, of course, prefer to kill everyone there, but he didn’t believe that was possible. He was not strong enough, and Hua Xue would not be able to use her full power for another two days.

“You two shall take the big man. He’s the weakest among the ancestors,” said Hua Xue, stepping forward. “I will deal with Fēng Yi.”

“Very well,” said Yu Chenguang.

“I’ll do as you command, Head Elder,” added Mei Xilan.

The three of them prepared for battle, but they paused when the two ancestors did not step forward to attack. Yu Chenguang frowned.

“Are you not going to fight?” he asked.

Lì Liàng crossed his arms and snorted. “Do you think we’d bother with you? This isn’t a sparring match. It’s war. And in war, there’s no need for individuals to battle.”

Duo Long stepped forward, summoned a sword, and raised it high. The sword burst into flames that rose into the air. It was impossible for everyone not to see it.

“Attack!”

“OOOOOUUUUHHHHH!!!”

The loud roar of several thousand echoed across the grassy plain and mixed with the stamping of feet as the invading army rushed forward. Yu Chenguang growled as he realized they had been tricked. He raised his sword and swung it down.

“Men! Attack!”

Unlike the enemy forces, who raced forward to close the distance as quickly as they could, his men launched techniques that arched through the sky. After graduating from the Shang Kingdom Imperial Academy, all cultivators joined the military, where they learned military tactics and battle strategies. One of the things they taught was how to use coordination techniques.

Fire was the most effective element when combating large groups of enemies. Several of his cultivators launched a fire technique, while several more used a wind technique to fan the flames. The result was an inferno of white hot fire that scorched the ground as it flew through the air.

Yu Chenguang expected it to simply sweep over the enemy forces, but a wall of earth suddenly sprang up from the ground. The flames slammed into the wall. It turned molten red but held firm. Standing atop the wall was Lì Liàng, arms crossed and a dauntless grin on his face.

“Bwa ha ha ha! Did you think I’d let you take out our forces just like that?! Think again!”

Yu Chenguang gritted his teeth. “Mei Xilan, you and I are going after that man! We need to stop him from using his techniques!”

“Hmmm.”

Mei Xilan followed behind Yu Chenguang as he flew through the air toward Lì Liàng. He wanted to reach the man quickly. Yet before they could reach him, another person stood in his way. This man hovered in the air with his thick as tree trunk arms crossed. Hands so large they looked capable of crushing a person’s head were lined with scars. He had short hair, a thick beard, and beedy black eyes. Palpable lust for battle radiated from him.

“You don’t truly believe you’re worthy of fighting my ancestor, do you? Has your brain gone soft? If you wish to court death, I alone will be enough to defeat you.”

“Xao Wen… fine, if you wish to stop me, I’ll just go through you before fighting your ancestor.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

The man tucked his elbows into his torso and, upon releasing a powerful scream that shook the air, unleashed his chi as well. A shockwave blasted out from the man. Yu Chenguang and Mei Xilan were pushed back. He even felt his insides churning. It was like the power this fiend was unleashing had caused his organs to jostle.

So this is what it feels like to go against someone who’s half a step into the Deva Realm…

Yu Chenguang was unable to rid himself entirely of fear. His body was shaking. But he used the knowledge that his kingdom would fall if he faltered to bolster his flagging courage. Beside him, Mei Xilan stared at the enemy with a placid gaze. Was she not frightened by this man’s incredible strength?

An aura not unlike a flame covered every inch of Xao Wen’s body. This was the so called Martial God Battle Aura. It was a unique technique only the Martial God Pavilion sect master could learn, and it relied on burning through a cultivator’s chi to produce an aura that heavily bolstered and enhanced all aspects of a person’s physical capabilities. Strength, speed, dexterity, reflexes, and durability were all greatly enhanced.

“Let us see how you handle someone granted the title Martial God. Come! One on one or two on one, it doesn’t matter. I’ll slaughter you either way!” Xao Wen grinned as he arrogantly gestured them over to him.