Chen Mo stroked the millstone, looking into Xiao Ya’s eyes: "Doesn’t Xiaoya like Brother Mo?"

"Ah, no." Afraid of being misunderstood by Chen Mo, Xiao Ya quickly explained, then lowered her head and murmured softly, her face flushed: "Brother Mo, it’s still daytime, and I... I haven’t even entered the door yet."

"Don’t be afraid, I just..." Chen Mo grabbed Xiao Ya’s wrist, the two of them exchanged gazes.

She was a bit shy, scared, yet also something expectant.

Her eyes darted around, and her trembling lips showed her rapid breathing. Chen Mo slowly leaned in and kissed her.

...

Boli Kingdom.

An island two hundred li long, shaped like a gourd, sat in the vast sea. The white waves surged, and the blue boundless sea was dotted with hundreds of ships, densely anchored on the shore.

On the shore, the people of Boli Kingdom held up baskets woven from vines, eagerly waiting for the people on the ships to come down and exchange goods with them.

The baskets were filled with colorful, crystal-clear gems, which were just ordinary stones to the people of Boli Kingdom, plentiful on the island.

If they could exchange these stones for cloth, green porcelain bowls and plates, and tea leaves from the ships, it would be a very worthwhile trade.

There were also soldiers sent by Boli Kingdom to maintain order on the shore.

However, not a single one of these soldiers was armored, and they didn’t even wear shoes; they stood barefoot, wielding weapons that were merely sharp blades tied to wooden sticks.

They watched the ships approach without a hint of vigilance, but rather with much joy.

Because every time the fleet arrived, the people on the ships would give them abundant wealth. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

They thought this time would be no different, eagerly waving and greeting Zhang Feng aboard the ships.

They knew Zhang Feng.

However, as the fleet steadied at the shore, what greeted these soldiers were arrows laced with death.

In an instant, the soldiers on the shore of Boli Kingdom were all shot dead by archers on the ships, and even many civilians were affected.

In no time, chaos engulfed the shore, with the populace throwing down their baskets and fleeing in all directions.

"Land the island."

Zhang Feng ordered.

Gangways were laid down from the decks, and the Nangong Army poured down in an orderly manner. They were well-trained, armed with bows, long spears, round shields, and some wore iron armor.

Quickly, over eight thousand soldiers assembled on the island.

"Our mission this time is to educate them, so we’ll go straight for the royal capital of Boli Kingdom, capture their king alive, and try to end this swiftly, with minimal or no harm to civilians." Zhang Feng said.

"Understood." They responded in unison.

Zhang Feng stood on the shore, gazing at the sky where seagulls occasionally flew past, the salty sea breeze brushing against his face. Then his eyes turned cold as he looked at everyone, saying, "Advance."

Boli Kingdom was only discovered during the time of the Great Song Taizu Emperor by the Central State. In the dynasties before the Great Song, although they ventured to sea often, they never discovered this small island.

Because it was too far from the Central State, reaching it required crossing several dangerous sea areas. Before the Great Song, maritime technology wasn’t as advanced.

And the military level of Boli Kingdom was still in an undeveloped stage compared to the Central State. According to Chen Mo, they weren’t even comparable to the Warring States period of the Lianpenji, genuinely at the level of village brawls.

In fact, it was only after coming into contact with the Great Song that Boli Kingdom truly began to have a "history" of cultivation.

So, there were very few martial artists on the island.

Faced with the invasion led by Zhang Feng, an upper-grade martial artist, Boli Kingdom had virtually no capacity to resist, and within less than half a month, the Nangong Army had reached the outskirts of the royal capital with unstoppable force.

At this rate, barring any surprises.

Within a month, Boli Kingdom would be annihilated by Zhang Feng.

...

The First Year of Yong’an, July 20th.

Jiangnan, Yangzhou, the ancestral residence of the Xiao Family.

On the bed in the main bedroom of the other courtyard, Yue Ruyan sat in Chen Mo’s embrace, and Chen Mo caressed her silky leg.

These stockings belonged to Xiao Yunxi, and Chen Mo had Yue Ruyan wear them.

Yue Ruyan’s legs were long; wearing the black stockings together, they were slender yet well-proportioned, with calves that were firm, the muscles typical of a female general, and toes encased in the stockings had a hazy beauty.

Chen Mo couldn’t resist giving them a squeeze.

"Are you... done yet..." Yue Ruyan said softly.

Chen Mo ignored her words, his hands gliding over every inch of her silky leg.

Although Yue Ruyan said such words, her body was greatly enjoying Chen Mo’s touch, even finding her soul a bit more joyful.

Chen Mo kissed her neck while exploring her lovely form, whispering in her ear, "I’ve been roaming around Qinhuai lately, delaying my cultivation. Recently, I’ve touched upon a breakthrough opportunity. Ruyan, you must help me well."

Originally about to become a pile of mush, Yue Ruyan suddenly perked up and instinctively blurted, "What, you’re breaking through again?"

How could Yue Ruyan not be shocked? He’s but slightly over 23 years old and already a divine power realm martial artist.

At this cultivation speed, it’s unprecedented and likely never to be surpassed.

If he breaks through again, he would reach the second-grade divine transformation realm.

A 23-year-old divine transformation realm.

Oh my god, is this still the world she knows?

"I’ve been stuck at the divine power realm for over two years now, only now touching upon a breakthrough opportunity. What’s strange about that?"

Chen Mo turned Yue Ruyan around to face him, kissing the corner of her mouth.

Yue Ruyan, wrapping her arms around Chen Mo’s neck, now instinctively so, said somewhat crossly, "Do you know what you’re saying?

Some people remain as middle-grade martial artists their whole lives, never stepping into the upper grade. If it weren’t for the special nature of the Yue Family’s bloodline and the matriarch passing down cultivation to me, I wouldn’t know when I’d enter the upper grade.

Take the Patriarch of the Xiao Family and Patriarch Wu who we met in Huai State, they’ve been stuck at the third grade for at least ten years, and how long has it been for you? From what you say, two years is already too long?"

"It’s been a bit too long." Chen Mo slipped off Yue Ruyan’s dress, revealing her fragrant shoulders, collarbone, and the dudou beneath her collarbone.

"Such a good girl." Seeing that she wasn’t wearing a chest wrap anymore, Chen Mo contentedly kissed her collarbone.

Yue Ruyan blushed and said nothing.

"By the way, do you have any martial arts that can resist or reduce poison?" Chen Mo suddenly thought of something and asked.

If he could train a body immune to all poisons, he wouldn’t have to worry about daring to eat when invited by strangers.

Yue Ruyan shook her head and said, "I don’t, but I’ve heard of a poison technique that requires using poison to conquer poison, consuming various toxins, enduring countless poisonous stings, and once perfected, one can become immune to all poisons. But those who cultivate this poison technique don’t live long."

Chen Mo, his hands reaching around Yue Ruyan’s back to untie the strap of her dudou, said, "Then forget it."

"By the way, I heard from my mother that in Baiyue there’s a poison insect called Taotie Gu, which is the king of poisons among poisonous insects. As long as you possess it, not only can you become immune to poisons, but poisonous insects will avoid you, and its blood can even prolong life and enhance beauty," Yue Ruyan suddenly remembered and said.

"Taotie Gu?"

Chen Mo paused: "There’s such a thing? Where is Baiyue? Is it part of the Great Song’s territory?"

Yue Ruyan shook her head: "Baiyue is a small country, and it’s a land of poison swamps. For thousands of years, no one has looked favorably upon this place. It borders the Shu Residence..."

Before she could finish, Chen Mo buried his face in the broad embrace.

Chen Mo mumbled, "If there’s a chance in the future, we can take a trip to Baiyue... Is this Taotie Gu very rare?"

"Indeed, it’s rare. Each one must be carefully nurtured, and the juvenile Taotie Gu is very picky about its environment, making it extremely difficult to survive."