Mount Dai County, Jiujiang City.

Once named the fourth county of Zhuang Country, Jiujiang City lost its distinction after the true fourth county, Yongchang Province, emerged... Jiujiang City was just Jiujiang City then.

It was Jiujiang City under the jurisdiction of the Prefectural Governor of Mount Dai County.

The reason for this change was simply that Duan Li, the commander of the Jiujiang Xuan Armor, who once had the expectation of reaching the "God Arrives" level, had been crippled in the Zhuang Yong battle.

Although Zhuang Ting generously bestowed honors and rewards, even prohibiting resignation, forcibly keeping him in his position as the commander of the Jiujiang Xuan Armor,

everyone was clear that this was his final glory.

The beautiful afterglow of the setting sun was about to dissipate.

Duan Li no longer had the capacity to manage the specific affairs of the Jiujiang Xuan Armor...

The reason things remained this way was twofold: firstly, Duan Li was a loyal and courageous servant to his country, and he was crippled because of the country; to replace him abruptly would undoubtedly chill people’s hearts. Secondly, after the battle of Zhuang Yong, Zhuang Country, from top to bottom, truly could not find a replacement for Duan Li.

The flesh that Zhuang Country had bitten off of Yong Country needed time to digest. The young generation of domestic powerhouses needed time to grow, and the external powerhouses who defected also needed to prove their loyalty before they could hold significant roles.

So, things just dragged on...

In fact, the current running of the Jiujiang Xuan Armor was managed by five Lieutenant Generals, including Du Yehu, each one overseeing a part of the operations.

The Prefectural Governor of Mount Dai County would also occasionally "inspect" Jiujiang City. His intent to seize control of this powerful military was clear to all.

Speaking of which, Du Yehu, who was the first to ascend Suolong Gate, indeed held prestige in the Jiujiang Xuan Armor, second only to Duan Li.

The cultivation path of the Ancient Soldier Family meant that among thousands of practitioners, barely one would survive. Those who did live often ended up crippled, losing all prospects for the future.

Therefore, this practice gradually became overlooked in the present world.

But in the era before the Channel-opening Pill was discovered, it was the countless individuals of mediocre talent, unable to open their Dao Veins naturally, who would assault the Dao Veins with the courage of facing death...

It was only when these Transcendent Cultivators, forged through countless sacrifices, grew to power that they could support the strength of the ancient Human Race.

In today’s times, with more options available, choosing to follow the Energizing Blood and Stamina Pulse path undoubtedly required even greater courage.

Du Yehu’s success, having traversed this path, naturally earned him further admiration.

The Soldier Home values combat prowess.

He’d been in an extremely fierce national war, fighting in its most brutal locations.

He had also succeeded in clearing the fog of ignorance and unlocked the Inner Mansion.

In terms of strength, he stood unmatched in the current Jiujiang Xuan Armor. With Duan Li crippled, the other Lieutenant Generals were merely at the Inner Mansion Realm.

But having the power of the Inner Mansion Realm was certainly insufficient to control a mighty army like the Jiujiang Xuan Armor. Therefore, even with Duan Li’s support, the other generals remained unconvinced.

Overall, that was the current state of the Jiujiang Xuan Armor.

They would occasionally join forces to wipe out the Fierce Beasts in the region. But in reality, they had already split into five factions, each doing their own thing. They could only wait for a new commander to be appointed from above before they could be consolidated again.

These matters were not something Du Yehu could, or had the desire to, manage.

He just wanted to drink and fight, not caring about anything else.

Now there was just one more thing added to his routine—visiting Duan Li and drinking with him.

Even though the physicians had said that with Duan Li’s current condition, he should not binge drink. Even when the State Minister came to visit, he sternly prohibited Duan Li from drinking again—but to hell with them!

As Duan Li put it, "I’m already ruined; there’s no joy left in living. If I can’t even drink, what’s the point? Might as well die early and be free of it all!"

And Du Yehu never advised against it; he merely drank alongside.

"You damn fool!"

At the table, Duan Li suddenly raised his hand and slapped it on Du Yehu’s messy hair like a chicken’s nest: "I asked you to drink with me, not to keep guzzling my booze! Out of two jin, you downed a jin and a half; what’s left for me?"

Though stripped of his cultivation, he still had quite a punch.

Du Yehu glanced at him, nonchalantly wiped his hair, then gulped down another bowl.

This bastard Duan was always on his case before, drilling him to mind his manners, his appearance, to be some kind of scholar-general, blabbering about "the style of Famous Generals." Now that he was ruined, he was a sight to behold—showing his true colors, cursing day in and day out.

Quite amusing!

Lord Du was broad-minded and couldn’t be bothered. Plus, the liquor was indeed good. So, he let him be.

Seeing such an unperturbed response, Duan Li was fuming inside. He cursed: "The meager pension I get will soon be squandered by you dogs." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Nonsense!" Du Yehu finally reacted: "You’re not dead, what pension are you talking about? That’s a reward!"

"A reward my ass! I paid with my life!" Duan Li suddenly burst out.

His face reddened, and it seemed his eyes did too, "Just to exchange for this pittance!"

His explosion was somewhat inexplicable, yet not entirely unexpected.

He was someone who had truly hoped to break the shackles of mortal life, to have the chance to achieve divinity.

He had genuinely served his country with loyalty, willing to risk his life and shed blood.

But it shouldn’t have been a deception...

"Alright, alright," Du Yehu soothed him like a child, patting his back and casually placating him, then said, "The woes pass with the drink and meat, let them leave with the feast. Come on, drink, drink!"

"All you know is to drink! You’re nothing but a sack for booze and rice!" Duan Li cursed him viciously, lifted his bowl, and downed the wine.

He continued to curse: "My Jiujiang Xuan Armor is going to be ruined by you bastards!"