A steady, deafening shout echoed between the sky and the ground.

SWOOSH~!

Several figures soaring through the air entered the Domain, blocking the path of Gu Zheng, Cao Qingsong, and their party.

"Who are you—"

"Gu?"

A burly, rough-looking man was glaring, about to press them for answers, when Sang Qianying, who was slightly behind him, suddenly stepped forward. She cut him off, bowing to Gu Zheng from a distance. "Gu, it’s been about a month. Your strength has improved quite a bit."

"Miss Sang!"

Gu Zheng was slightly surprised. He clasped his fist in return and greeted her, "You flatter me, Miss Sang. I just got a little lucky. By the way, are you heading into the Domain?"

"To be honest, I’m on a mission. I need to lead a team to Dali, and we were just passing through this area. We didn’t expect to run right into a new Domain forming."

"We had to fight our way through a horde of Iron Tree Demon Fiends just to find the way out."

"If you’re going into the Domain, Miss Sang, you must be careful. It’s a fourth-tier Domain!"

’What?’

The faces of the people beside Sang Qianying changed drastically.

’A fourth-tier Domain!?’

They hadn’t realized it until he said something.

But now that Gu Zheng had mentioned it, they could indeed feel that the aura emanating from the sky and ground within the Domain was different from that of a third-tier one.

"Thank you, Gu!"

Sang Qianying’s expression turned serious. She clasped her fist gratefully. "If you hadn’t warned us, Gu, we truly wouldn’t have noticed. By the way, this is His Highness Boshan Guanzhi, the Second Prince of Xin Country."

"Your Highness, Gu is a Grand General of the Jing Country’s Demon Slayer Bureau. He has never failed a mission."

Sang Qianying made the introductions, gesturing with her right hand toward a tall young man under the age of thirty.

The young man had dark skin, a proper and honest face, and bright eyes. He clasped his hands and bowed to Gu Zheng. "So you are Gu Zheng, Grand General Gu. I have heard of your great name even in Xin Country. It is a pleasure to meet you today, and I am grateful for your warning. This is truly a happy occasion."

"By the way, who are the two gentlemen behind you, Gu?"

Boshan Guanzhi looked at Cao Qingsong and Zhong Zhengao.

"Your Highness," Gu Zheng began, first clasping his fist in return. "My meager reputation is nothing to be impressed by."

Gu Zheng first clasped his fist in return, then made the introductions. "This is Cao Qingsong, or Cao. And this is Jin Qian, or Jin. They are both my deputies, accompanying me to Li Country."

"Your Highness!" Cao Qingsong clasped his fist toward Boshan Guanzhi.

"Greetings, Your Highness," Zhong Zhengao said, bowing after him.

"Haha, there’s no need for such formality, my friends."

Boshan Guanzhi laughed heartily and extended an invitation. "You three have come a long way. Why not accompany me to the nearest Prince’s Mansion to rest your feet, have a cup of tea, and refresh yourselves?"

"Thank you for the offer, Your Highness, but perhaps another time."

Gu Zheng turned slightly to look at the open Domain behind them and explained, "The opening of a fourth-tier Domain is no small matter. I imagine you will be very busy, Your Highness, so we won’t impose. Besides, we’ve already been delayed in the Domain for quite some time and must get to Li Country as soon as possible. When we have time in the future, we will certainly take you up on your offer!"

"Well..."

Hearing this, Boshan Guanzhi looked at Gu Zheng, then at Cao Qingsong and Zhong Zhengao, and finally at the open Domain. He clasped his fist and said, "Very well. The opening of a fourth-tier Domain will indeed keep us busy. I have failed to be a proper host this time, but I will be sure to entertain you three properly next time!"

"Your Highness is too kind."

"There’s no need."

Cao Qingsong and Zhong Zhengao smiled and clasped their fists.

Gu Zheng echoed their sentiments.

As he was taking his leave, he bowed once more to Sang Qianying.

"A safe journey to you," Sang Qianying replied with a smile.

"Alright. We’ll meet again."

Gu Zheng stayed behind until Cao Qingsong, Zhong Zhengao, and the others had swiftly departed. He then clasped his fist in farewell to Boshan Guanzhi and his group.

Only then did he turn, leap into the air, and catch up with his party, disappearing around a bend outside the mountain pass.

「At the entrance to the Domain.」

Sang Qianying, Boshan Guanzhi, and the others stood without moving.

After watching Gu Zheng’s figure disappear completely, Boshan Guanzhi let out a soft chuckle. His honest and simple demeanor shifted to one of shrewdness as he said mockingly, "Do you think they’re really going to Li Country?"

"Does it matter whether they are or not?"

Sang Qianying shot him a sideways glance and said coolly, "The most important thing right now is the opening of this fourth-tier Domain. I believe Your Highness understands perfectly well what that signifies."

At the mention of the fourth-tier Domain, Boshan Guanzhi’s expression turned serious. He said in a low voice, "I’ll send word to my father, the Emperor, immediately!"

The opening of a fourth-tier Domain meant the invasion from the Demon Realm had deepened!

...

...

"Thank you, Grand General Gu!"

Deep within the vast mountains, the marriage escort party resumed their rapid pace. As they advanced, Cao Qingsong clasped his fist toward Gu Zheng gratefully. "If you hadn’t happened to know them, Grand General Gu, we probably would have ended up in a fight just now."

"We really do have to thank Grand General Gu," Zhong Zhengao said gravely. "If that Prince of Xin Country, Boshan Guanzhi, knew our true mission, he would most likely have tried to sabotage it."

The Dragon Struggle is a contest among all eight Dukes and Kings.

It’s not just about neighboring kingdoms trying to undermine each other.

If they had the chance to deal a heavy blow to Jing Country’s power, the royal house of Xin Country, the Boshan Family, wouldn’t hesitate to make a move.

As for being called "Jin Qian" by Gu Zheng, he had no objections to the temporary name.

"Lord Cao, Your Highness, you are too kind. I am the Escort General; this is simply my duty."

Gu Zheng raised a hand in a small gesture and asked, "If I may ask, Your Highness, for this marriage alliance, we are escorting the princess, but will there be no one from the Great Feng Country to receive us?"

"There will be."

Zhong Zhengao replied, "The people from Great Feng Country will meet us near Heaven’s Needle in Huifeng Canyon. The person in charge of the rendezvous is Great Feng Country’s King Xiaowu, Ying Jiuyue. He is at the peak of the Heroic Body and once attempted to advance to the King’s Body. He didn’t fully succeed, but he became what is known as a ’Half-King’."