An invisible wave of Potential Energy surged from the Maple Forest, enveloping the entire Thousand-Mile Plain.

Riding Little Red Horse, Chu Lingguang couldn’t help but wonder, ’If I become a general in the future, fighting on this plain, who will I be fighting for?’

He was a Transmigrator from Blue Star.

He had participated in the Martial Arts Examination just to make a name for himself and earn more Favor Points; he felt no attachment to the Great Yuan Dynasty.

He even detested such feudal dynasties.

The rise and fall of dynasties, the destruction of nations—none of it would weigh much on his conscience.

But things had changed since he entered the academy to cultivate. He’d practiced the Day and Night Breathing Technique, awakened the Blood Dragon Elephant, and received guidance from Liu Wan, Li Dayao, and others. Afterward, he trained for three months in the Trial Ground, instructed by teachers like Poisonous Snake, Yun Hong, and Xu Zhongguo, and was given all sorts of cultivation resources. He even obtained a bottle of Bone Marrow Cleansing Liquid.

And all of this, while earned through his own efforts, was also due to the opportunities created by the Great Yuan Dynasty. By founding the academy and establishing the Trial Ground, the dynasty had, in a way, bound him to its fate.

’If I become a general in the future, it seems I’ll have to charge into battle on this Thousand-Mile Plain for the Great Yuan Dynasty. I just don’t know, if I defeat the enemy and defend the national border, will I be able to earn Favors?’

’If so, where would those Favors come from?’

’And if not, would I still be expected to fight and die for them?’

"Hiyah!"

Chu Lingguang couldn’t quite figure it out.

He had initially started cultivating purely for himself, but somewhere along the way, he had forgotten his identity as a Transmigrator. Guo Wei was the one changing him.

At this thought, Chu Lingguang watched Guo Wei galloping ahead of him. He knew in his heart that while this journey seemed incredibly risky, there was actually no risk at all.

Mahmoud just wanted to avenge his past humiliation.

And with his current strength, if someone like Samba was considered the number one young warrior of the Aika Tribe, then none of their other warriors could possibly be his match.

Even if he did encounter real danger, Guo Wei would intervene immediately to help him.

Ostensibly, they were here for Xie Xiaohuan.

In reality, Chu Lingguang knew full well that Guo Wei wouldn’t let him put himself in harm’s way. Whether or not they could capture Xie Xiaohuan was ultimately up to him.

Thinking of this, Chu Lingguang glanced back at the national border behind them and said to himself, ’If the Court treated me the way my master does, then in the future, I, Chu Lingguang, would be willing to defend this border for you.’

"Hiyah!"

The figures of the three riders gradually disappeared into the plain.

「Half an hour later.」

A group of people holding torches rushed toward them from the front.

In a mountain hollow in the distance, countless lights twinkled—it was the settlement of the Aika Tribe.

"Elder Ma has invited you. These three are guests from afar."

Jier Khan rode forward and spoke with them. The group ahead did not obstruct them; instead, they flanked the trio with their torches, lighting the way for Chu Lingguang and his companions.

Shouts erupted from their mouths in a strange tribal language. It was impossible to tell if they were welcoming the three visitors or mocking them for overestimating their own abilities.

「A short while later.」

They arrived at the entrance to the settlement.

Inside the settlement, there was singing and dancing, but the perimeter was heavily guarded, with watchposts and archery towers visible everywhere.

"Master Guo, I trust you’ve been well!"

Iscoha was at the entrance to greet them.

"For an Elder to welcome me personally, I am truly honored."

Guo Wei dismounted and went forward to speak with him.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu followed closely behind. All three of them handed their horses over to the welcoming party. If they dared to ride into enemy territory, why would they be afraid to entrust their horses to them?

"Master Guo, you are a distinguished guest from afar. Please, come in!"

Iscoha was extremely polite, as if he and Guo Wei had never had any unpleasant history.

That night, Chu Lingguang and his companions were treated with great hospitality. Not only did they feast on fine wine and meat specially prepared by the Aika Tribe, but they also watched graceful tribal beauties dance for them for several hours.

For a moment, it seemed as if Iscoha and Mahmoud were as warm and hospitable as Master Yan.

「The next morning.」

The sound of war drums thundered.

The three of them had slept in the same tent.

Hearing the drums, all three emerged from the tent to see the warriors of the Aika Tribe drilling, practicing their fist technique in the tribe’s central square.

The fist technique was unique to the Aika Tribe and was called Mammoth Fist.

It had only three moves.

Twist.

Pin.

Throw.

An uninformed observer might mistake them for ordinary wrestling moves. But Guo Wei and Chu Lingguang could see that each of those three seemingly simple techniques was a deadly killing blow. In a fight, if one failed to break free in time, getting caught in a twist, a pin, or a throw would be devastating. Without an incredibly powerful physique, anyone hit by a single one of those moves would be crippled, if not killed outright.

They practiced the Divine Beast Breathing Method.

Every day, they drank three bowls of Beast Blood.

The three moves of Mammoth Fist—the twist, pin, and throw—could unleash the full power of their Qi Blood in the simplest way possible, without needing the aid of an Operation Technique.

"Master Guo, Elder Ma requests your presence. He says the guest you wished to see has arrived."

It was Jier Khan with the invitation.

His words made all three of them think of Xie Xiaohuan.

During the warm reception the previous night, Mahmoud hadn’t mentioned Xie Xiaohuan, and Guo Wei hadn’t asked about him either. They had chatted about all sorts of things and even discussed the possibility of doing business together.

Now, he was saying the guest had arrived.

Chu Lingguang and his companions understood: the main event was about to begin.

"Good."

Unflustered, Guo Wei led Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, following Jier Khan’s footsteps into Mahmoud’s tent.

Mahmoud’s tent was enormous.

It covered more than three hundred square meters and contained a wine pool and a performance area for song and dance.

Jier Khan pulled back the tent flap. Guo Wei and his companions entered one by one, and instantly, all eyes turned to them. They had been drinking and feasting in Mahmoud’s tent just last night, and many of the people present had been there. Today, however, everyone’s aura was different. If yesterday they were hospitable sheep, today they were ferocious wolves and tigers, baring their fangs and claws.

Guo Wei’s expression remained neutral.

He walked to his designated spot and sat down. Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu stood together behind him, both observing everyone else in the tent.

The people of the Turkic Kingdom were not only tall and sturdy, but their features were also much coarser. The two of them figured that among all the people seated here, anyone with the face of someone from the Great Yuan Kingdom had to be Xie Xiaohuan.

And sure enough, seated to the lower left of Mahmoud, next to Iscoha, was a man dressed in the traditional attire of the Aika Tribe. His hair was woven into many braids, but his face was unmistakably that of someone from the Great Yuan Kingdom.

The man appeared to be in his mid-thirties. He kept his head down, drinking, and seemed to have a guilty conscience, not daring to meet Guo Wei’s gaze.

"Clan Leader Xie."

Mahmoud spoke.