"What is that?" Fu Shen asked, puzzled.

"It’s all about the well water," Ye Fan explained. "The water in the backyard well is now sacred and one-of-a-kind. As long as they can’t get that water, they will never be able to refine these Elixir Pills!"

"I see. Thank you, young friend, for everything you have done for the Gods Battlefield," Fu Shen thanked him once again. This time, Ye Fan did not refuse, as declining too many times would come across as insincere.

"Uncle, try taking one of these pills!" Mu Chen Dong handed an Elixir Pill to Fu Shen.

Fu Shen took the pill and saw that it was indeed made from an ordinary formula. He swallowed it. After a moment, he felt the intense pain coursing through him lessen significantly. Then, the festering wounds on his body gradually began to heal.

He was shocked. In all his long years, he had never seen wounds recover so quickly. The pain inside his body had completely vanished.

Overjoyed, he hosted a grand banquet for his troops to honor Ye Fan and his two companions. There was no singing or dancing, nor were there any beautiful dancers—only the bold camaraderie of men, an atmosphere Ye Fan greatly enjoyed. They feasted on meat and drank wine with abandon.

Fu Shen drank a great deal that day. He knew it had been hundreds of years since there had been such a joyous occasion. Their greatest hidden threat was no longer a concern, and his heart was naturally filled with happiness.

By the light of the bonfires, Mu Chen Dong and Wu Fa also drank too much. They had intended to drink Ye Fan under the table, but to their surprise, Ye Fan remained perfectly composed while they had already slumped over, passed out.

These guys dare to compete with me in drinking? They must have a death wish. Ye Fan looked down on them with disdain.

Just as everyone was enjoying the celebration, an urgent military report arrived.

A scout rushed in, and Fu Shen commanded, "Speak!"

"Reporting to the Commander, the Teng Xie army is amassing! It looks like they will launch an attack on us within three days!" the scout said frantically. The warriors of the Teng Xie army were physically powerful and formidable in battle. Fu Shen’s forces had rarely gained an advantage against them, so the scout’s panic was understandable.

Fu Shen suddenly smashed his wine jar on the ground and bellowed, "Excellent! I was worried they wouldn’t come! All troops, rest well tonight! Tomorrow, we meet the Teng Xie army in battle! This time, I’ll show them what we’re made of!"

"SIR!" a group of his commanders immediately accepted the order.

Fu Shen’s spirits were soaring. With their hidden weakness eliminated, the so-called Teng Xie army was nothing but a joke. This time, he was determined to forge a legendary reputation in battle.

Just then, Ye Fan said to him, "Commander Fu Shen, let the three of us join the battle to gain experience!"

"You three?" It was not that Fu Shen looked down on Ye Fan, but the backgrounds of these three were simply too significant. If any of them were harmed, it was a responsibility he could not bear. He hesitated, on the verge of refusing.

But Ye Fan insisted, "We came to the Gods Battlefield specifically for this kind of tempering. Commander Fu Shen, please rest assured, we can protect ourselves!"

Ye Fan knew that slaughter was the fastest path to advancement. At this moment, he resolutely chose the way of battle.

Fu Shen relented. "Alright, if you wish to gain experience, you may. However, your safety is paramount. Your backgrounds are no small matter! If anything happens, I cannot bear that responsibility! So, safety must come first. If you find the situation ahead is too dangerous, you must turn back. Fighting amid the chaos of a battlefield is a brutal affair!"

Ye Fan replied, "Understood. If we find ourselves in a situation we can’t handle, we will absolutely retreat!"

"Good enough!" Fu Shen nodded in agreement.

「The next day」

The war began. This time, Fu Shen made an exceptionally bold decision: to charge forward and seize the initiative.

"All troops, attack!" Fu Shen roared.

At his command, his Martial Artists surged forward like a stampede of wild horses. The Teng Xie army on the other side was vast, but with their hidden affliction gone, Fu Shen’s men no longer had any lingering fears.

As they advanced, Fu Shen explained to the trio, "In the past, these men were all vicious criminals sent here as prisoners. At first, we didn’t even treat them like human beings."

"Then why did you change your mind?" Wu Fa asked.

Fu Shen continued, "When they first arrived, they were unruly and difficult to tame. But after experiencing large-scale battles, they learned the meaning of unity.

"They began to treat their teammates like their own brothers, standing together against a common enemy. From that moment on, I started to see them as my brothers as well.

"Life is short, and who among us is without fault? Here, they have a chance to start anew, so they are all my brothers!"

Fu Shen glanced at the Martial Artists ahead of them. "After arriving, they began to repent for their pasts. Some of them have earned enough merit to be released, yet they choose to stay! So here, I treat every single person, no matter who they are, as an equal!"

Hearing this, Mu Chen Dong felt a pang of shame. He had previously advised Ye Fan not to place too much value on these men, but now he saw that sometimes, such people were truly worthy of sympathy.

At that moment, the two armies were about to clash.

Fu Shen declared, "The commander of the Teng Xie army this time is Teng Xie Gui. He and I are old rivals, and his strength is no less than mine. Physically, he’s even more robust. I’ve never initiated an attack before, but this time, I intend to test my strength against his! Take care of yourselves. I can’t wait to fight."

"Alright!"

The three of them charged into the enemy formation, while Fu Shen soared into the sky to confront Teng Xie Gui.

Teng Xie Gui was a tall, burly man who served the Yunxiao Main God and was rumored to be the Main God’s own younger brother. He had been confident about this battle. Historically, his forces were always the ones on the offensive; enemies did not attack them.

Unexpectedly, the enemy had taken the initiative. He immediately roared at his warriors, "Charge! Smash through their ranks!"

The warriors of the Teng Xie clan immediately stormed forward.

But when the two armies clashed, the Teng Xie forces were stunned. Although their opponents’ physiques were clearly weaker, the Teng Xie warriors found themselves at a disadvantage.

Teng Xie Gui bellowed, "What is going on?"

Nothing like this had ever happened before. Even when their opponents had launched desperate, all-out attacks, the Teng Xie army had never been at a disadvantage. He could see that the enemy formation was very orderly and showed no signs of desperation. For the moment, he could not figure out their strategy.

Before long, a subordinate rushed to report, "Commander, the enemy’s fighting strength is immense! We’re no match for them at all!"

"Impossible! Have you found out why?" he barked.

His subordinate trembled as he replied, "It seems... they don’t have any festering scars on their bodies!"

"What?"

Teng Xie Gui immediately understood. That had to be the reason. He looked at his own muscular men. Each bore gruesome, festering scars that hampered their abilities, reducing their combat effectiveness to less than half of their peak. Then he looked at the enemy Martial Artists. Indeed, not a single person in their ranks had any such scars. So that was the reason.

Just then, another subordinate rushed over with a report.

"Commander, the enemy has broken through three of our defensive lines! Should we retreat?" he asked respectfully, his heart filled with anxiety.

But Teng Xie Gui roared, "Retreat? My Teng Xie army is invincible! We will not retreat! Tell them to hold the line, even if it costs them their lives!"