Everyone nodded in succession. Feng Qingyan raised her staff, and the flame on the Fire Crystal flared up: "Alright! Whoever wants to practice, come find me. I have plenty of Flame Burst to go around, and it's free!"

Wang Wu and Arrow Eye exchanged a glance, and the two walked toward the other end of the open space in tacit agreement, preparing to practice archery together.

Su Yurou said softly, "I'll follow along. I'll heal whoever gets hurt."

Zhao Hu walked over to Tie Dun and patted his shoulder, "I'll practice with you tomorrow, using Venomous Bite."

Tie Dun's face turned green again, "Brother Hu, your axe is cursed, can you go a little easier?"

Zhao Hu ignored him.

The sunlight shone from the east, casting the shadows of the seven figures onto the gravel ground, uneven in length and scattered in an orderly fashion.

In the distance, on the walls of Hangu Pass, the black armor of the garrison shimmered with a cold light under the sun, and the muzzles of the ballistae on the arrow towers were aimed at the western plains.

A great battle was imminent, but at this moment, the only sounds in the open space were the crisp clashing of weapons, the roar of exploding fireballs, and the occasional bursts of laughter.

...

In the afternoon, at the Council Hall.

Lin Feng sat in the main seat, with several documents spread out before him, a pen in his hand, buried in his work.

Familiar footsteps sounded from outside the door, light and powerful—it was Jiang Zhaoyue.

She pushed the door open and entered, her silver-white spear strapped to her back, her silver-blue battle armor shimmering with a cold light in the sun, and the gold-grade accessory on her wrist swaying slightly with her steps.

She walked to the center of the Council Hall and stood still, cupping her hands in a salute, her lips curving with an irrepressible smile, "Lord Lin, things with White Elephant Country have been settled."

Lin Feng put down his pen, looked up, and leaned back in his chair, "Tell me about it."

Jiang Zhaoyue walked to the first seat on the right and sat down, leaning her silver-white spear against the side of the chair, her body leaning forward slightly.

Her voice was crisp, "We finalized things with White Elephant Country this morning. They are willing to trade two gold-grade accessories for the opportunity to become a vassal of Beacon Fire Territory."

"One Strength Ring, one agility Bracelet; both are standard-issue gold-grade equipment."

Lin Feng nodded, his lips curving slightly, "Did you run into any trouble?"

Jiang Zhaoyue chuckled, raising a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes bright, "Nothing major. When we first started talking, White Elephant Country was still a bit hesitant, constantly making excuses like 'we need to consider it further' or 'we need to discuss this with our country'."

She paused, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, put it down, and a hint of craftiness flashed in her eyes.

"Later, I just said that in the South Pole Region, only White Elephant Country and Sakura Country were left. Our Lord Lin said that whoever submits last will have to pay at least two pieces of gold-grade equipment."

Lin Feng laughed and raised his teacup ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) toward her, "That's a good line."

Jiang Zhaoyue also laughed and continued, "They agreed immediately. General Rajput made the decision himself—two pieces it is."

Lin Feng nodded and didn't say anything more.

Jiang Zhaoyue restrained her smile and continued, "There is one more thing. Sakura Country has also contacted me. They want to use one piece of gold-grade equipment to trade for a vassal slot."

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow and said "Oh," "How did you respond?"

Jiang Zhaoyue's lips curled slightly, "I told them they were late and the price had gone up. Now our Lord doesn't lack gold-grade equipment, so it'll cost two pieces. The person from Sakura Country was so angry they just hung up on me."

After saying that, she added, "Lord Lin, are we just going to keep them hanging like this? Actually, one piece of gold-grade equipment isn't bad, is it?"

Lin Feng shook his head, his tone flat but unquestionable, "Don't worry about them. If they contact you again, just say that you're only giving them fifteen days to consider. After fifteen days, it will be three pieces."

Jiang Zhaoyue was taken aback, then chuckled, "Lord Lin, you are... raising the price on the spot."

Lin Feng picked up his teacup and took a sip, "They were hesitant themselves; who can they blame?"

Jiang Zhaoyue didn't say anything else and nodded.

She paused and said, "By the way, General Rajput will personally deliver the gold-grade accessory from White Elephant Country around this time in two days."

Lin Feng put down the teacup and looked at Jiang Zhaoyue, "When the time comes, call Yu Rou and Ye Lan to come to the Council Hall together."

Jiang Zhaoyue nodded slightly, "Understood."

Lin Feng picked up his pen again, lowered his head, and continued reviewing the documents on the table, the pen scratching against the paper.

Jiang Zhaoyue didn't get up immediately; she sat in the first seat on the right, watching Lin Feng quietly.

Sunlight shone in diagonally from the high window, landing on his gold-grade battle armor, refracting fine, fragmented rays of light.

His profile looked exceptionally distinct in the light and shadow, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he were contemplating some difficult document.

But his hand was steady, the pen tip moving across the paper without a hint of hesitation.

She watched for a moment, the corners of her mouth curling into an extremely faint arc.

She withdrew her gaze, stood up, strapped the silver-white spear to her back, and cupped her hands, "Lord Lin, I shall take my leave first. The New Moon Legion still has many training plans to implement."

Lin Feng looked up at Jiang Zhaoyue, a hint of a smile on his lips, his tone filled with a bit more concern, "Mm, take care to rest, don't overwork yourself."

Jiang Zhaoyue nodded slightly, didn't speak, and turned to walk toward the door.

The silver-white spear remained motionless on her back, and her ponytail swayed gently behind her.

She walked to the door, paused for a step, didn't look back, and then pushed the door open to leave.

The sound of her footsteps faded away in the corridor, light and powerful, just like her spear.

The door of the Council Hall closed slowly behind her.

...

Time flew by, and it was the afternoon two days later.

Sunlight shone in diagonally from the high windows of the Council Hall.

General Rajput stood before the long table, bowed slightly to Lin Feng, his tone solemn, "Lord Lin, the villages that are submitting to Beacon Fire Territory will send their applications today. Please take the time to accept them. As for White Elephant Country's affairs, I leave them in your hands."

Lin Feng stood up, cupped his hands in return, a hint of a smile on his lips, "Rest assured, General Rajput. Since Beacon Fire Territory has promised, we will not go back on our word."

General Rajput nodded, turned, and strode out of the Council Hall, his footsteps fading away in the corridor.

Lin Feng sat back in the main seat, his gaze falling on the two pieces of gold-grade accessory on the table.

A ring and a bracelet.

The ring was entirely gold, its surface smooth as a mirror, shimmering with a reserved luster in the sunlight.

The body of the bracelet was engraved with intricate wind patterns, and a transparent Wind Spirit Stone was embedded at the clasp, glowing faintly.

He looked up at Jiang Yelan and Su Yurou in the seats on the left, his lips curling up slightly, "Ye Lan, Yu Rou, these two gold-grade accessories are for you. Take them."

Jiang Yelan stood up, walked to the table, picked up the gold Strength Ring, glanced down at it, and put it on the index finger of her right hand.

A pale golden light ignited from the base of her finger, spreading along her veins to her entire arm, and then subsided.

She looked up and nodded slightly to Lin Feng, "Thank you, Lord."