Volume 1: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 146: Vision

"If the Fourth Prince tries to win him over, what choice will the Duke make?" Yan Mo asked a crucial question.

"You are mistaken. Neither the Duke nor Qi Hao should ever get involved in the succession struggle. Being a newcomer, perhaps you do not know. Back when the Duke helped His Majesty ascend the throne, they only had two thousand personal guards!" The advisor explained to him. "Whether it is the Fourth Prince or Wang Chuan, building prestige within the military is acceptable, but they must never directly command the troops or become entangled in the fight for the crown. Our soldiers exist to protect our homes and country. That is a cardinal taboo! The entire army is united as one."

Therefore, attempting a military coup was utterly out of the question.

"I see," Yan Mo acknowledged.

Yet, both of them could certainly gain political achievements through this.

The Fourth Prince had arrived, and he came swiftly. Hearing the news, they could not help but go and watch.

Surprisingly, the Duke of Yun did not host him within his residence.

Instead, he arranged his troops and formations right out on the military parade grounds.

It was an imposing and aggressive scene, looking as if they were leading an army into battle for mortal combat.

The military might was stern and biting, the murderous aura piercing the heavens, radiating a disdain for the entire world.

The Fourth Prince's trip was well worth it, for he witnessed the true elite of the Jin army.

Even from several miles away, he could feel a dense, almost tangible murderous aura—sharp as the edge of a blade, heavy and solid as a mountain.

The powerful pressure seemed to wrap tightly around the very soul within his body.

Even advancing required resisting a certain force, and men of petty character would have been frightened out of their wits.

The Fourth Prince leaped forward, landing at the camp gate, and walked slowly inside.

The Duke of Yun stood alone upon the raised platform.

His flashing eyes seemed to crackle with electric sparks; such a realm had long surpassed that of a Grandmaster.

"Your Highness's cultivation has greatly advanced."

Seeing the other approach, the Duke of Yun, a long-renowned martial arts expert, could clearly perceive the martial majesty emanating from him. "Our dynasty is truly blessed with twin paragons. I heard that His Highness Wang Chuan is already the foremost martial artist in the world, having ventured far to the northern wastes in the past. Rumors in the streets say he roamed ten thousand miles across foreign realms, standing as the number one person beneath the starry skies."

"You flatter me, Duke. How could I ever compare to my imperial elder brother?" the Fourth Prince said modestly. "My elder brother has always been my role model. And now, the Crown Princess is soon to give birth to another child."

"It's a girl," the Duke of Yun remarked with a hint of regret, a fact that seemed to have spread throughout Yangcheng by now. "Once the fetus takes shape, its gender can be told. A martial arts master can see it at a glance."

The Fourth Prince nodded. "That is fine as well."

"Formations are never constant, just as water has no fixed shape. What brings Your Highness to the front lines in person today?" the Duke asked him.

"Would the Duke be willing to embark on a western expedition? It would be the monumental achievement of conquering a nation," the Fourth Prince said directly, gazing at the orderly and solemn military scene before him. "If you are willing, I can have His Father issue an imperial decree at any moment."

"A western expedition," the Duke of Yun sighed. "If it is His Majesty's decree, I will certainly obey. Since it is rare to see the Fourth Prince today, let us go together and witness the barbarian army."

"Oh? Did I arrive just in time to catch the Duke taking military action against the barbarians?" the Fourth Prince asked. "I have long heard that the Duke's military strategies are divine, and I have been eager to witness them."

The Duke of Yun was dressed in a commander's robe, wearing a purple-gold crown, immaculate and precise. His military bearing was stern and imposing, possessing the grand aura of one commanding a hundred thousand mighty troops.

The young disciples standing before him all cast sharp, piercing gazes.

Some were fierce and rugged, while others were as deep and fathomless as the ocean.

"Our dynasty has many fine men," the Fourth Prince's gaze flickered as he sighed. "Talent emerges in abundance under the Duke of Yun's command."

"You are too generous, Your Highness. These are all sons of Yangcheng, eager to earn military merits." The Duke of Yun looked to the side. "Bring me my horse."

"Yes."

An elderly servant standing behind him nodded.

A moment later, with a long whinny, the Fourth Prince watched as a massive steed, covered entirely in silvery scales and standing fully nine feet tall, was led out.

It stepped heavily upon the ground, its footfalls landing with a profound thud.

"Your Highness, you..."

"There is no need."

The Duke of Yun had intended to find a mount for him as well, but the Fourth Prince declined.

He stepped forward casually, walking through the empty air as if he were an immortal strolling at leisure.

Following the Duke of Yun presented no difficulty whatsoever.

The defenses outside the city had long been visible: deep trenches reinforced with towering timber and massive boulders.

The city walls stood over two zhang high.

The main gate featured a drawbridge that required dozens of strong men working windlasses to operate.

Upon entering the city, towering watchtowers could be seen everywhere.

Outside the city stood fortified bastions.

"It is said that when the Duke defends a city, a single warrior can hold the pass against ten thousand. Truly, it is so," the Fourth Prince observed.

"For someone of Your Highness's caliber, the sturdiest city walls hold no meaning," the Duke of Yun replied. "To fend off the barbarian soldiers, I need sufficient military forces."

The wind blowing from the southern border carried a touch of moisture.

"There is a saying: 'To fear slander and dread criticism.' Whether it is myself or Wang Chuan, we have faced numerous impeachments, let alone the Duke, who holds the greatest military power as the foremost general. Yet His Majesty still trusts you, and you have not failed His Majesty," the Fourth Prince continued. "By the way, I would like to show the Duke something first."

"What is it?" the Duke of Yun asked.

Then he watched as the Fourth Prince produced a small jade vial. A fragrance wafted from it as he tilted it, pouring out a spiritual elixir that shone crystalline like jade, handing it over.

The Duke of Yun's eyes shifted, a flash of sharpness crossing them. He took it and examined it carefully. "Indeed, it is a fine elixir. But I have little use for it, I'm afraid."

"The Duke indeed has no need for it, but what about ordinary soldiers? What if there were millions of pills capable of solidifying one's foundation and nurturing vitality? When facing the barbarian troops, there would be no need for timidity; we could simply roll right over them," the Fourth Prince said. "Even low-level martial artists who consume this can consolidate their vital energy, eliminate hidden bodily ailments, and enhance their potential. It is especially suited for experts within the army."

"I have always sought elixirs needed by the army, but they are exceedingly difficult to find," the Duke of Yun remarked. "The experts in the army possess steadfast minds and condensed wills, but years of continuous warfare inevitably leave hidden flaws in their bodies, preventing many from breaking through their bottlenecks, alongside lingering injuries. May I ask, Your Highness, where did these elixirs come from?"

"They come from someone in the Martial Arts Academy," the Fourth Prince replied. "Since the Duke has need of them, I will prepare as many as possible. As soon as possible."

"Very well. Since they are divine elixirs from the Martial Arts Academy, they are truly wonderful things. In the past, they were simply too scarce," the Duke of Yun sighed with emotion. "Then, what can I do for Your Highness in return?"

"Not for now. When the time comes that I have need of you, I will naturally come to trouble and burden the Duke," the Fourth Prince said. "I hope the Duke will not disdain me when that day arrives."

"Then I shall thank Your Highness in advance," the Duke of Yun said.

The great army surged forward, picking up speed.

Dust and sand rolled upward, churning toward the heavens.

The Fourth Prince saw another majestic pass rising ahead. Its towering walls stretched into the distance, their exact length unknown.

In the sky, the setting sun bled like crimson.

On the earth, the formidable pass stretched into the distance.

A vast and grand war was slowly drawing back its curtain.

"I heard the Duke was once called the Defending General, never failing in his duty, unlike Qi Hao who excels in offense," the Fourth Prince said with a light chuckle. "Seeing it today, it is indeed as rumored. If the Duke has sufficient provisions to defend a city, no one in the world can rival you. However, this time you face the barbarian soldiers. If we are defeated, the fault does not lie with you, but with the heavens!"

Mid-tier barbarian warriors were already capable of leaping and scaling city walls at will—a truly terrifying reality.

At that point, no matter how sturdy the city walls were made, they lost their meaning.

What a pity that they were facing an entirely different kind of opponent.

Still, after witnessing warfare of this scale even once, one's life would not have been lived in vain.

After arriving, Yan Mo finally understood what Xu Qing had meant earlier: it was far more soul-shattering than reading ten thousand books.

To the east lay a vast expanse of plains, and along the vital routes, numerous beacon towers had been constructed.

Soldiers stood guard, defending their homeland.

Gazing at the scene before him, the Fourth Prince stood side by side with the other man, pointing toward the boundless plain ahead and saying, "Our Central Plains' magnificent rivers and mountains should never be trampled upon at the whim of foreign barbarians! Let them find their burial grounds right here! As for what this place looked like originally, no one knows, nor does anyone know if others were buried here in ages past. None of that matters. On this land, our civilization must continue to endure!"

The Duke of Yun thought for a moment. "If His Highness Wang Chuan were here, he would surely compose a masterpiece."

The Fourth Prince paused, momentarily speechless, before finally replying, "I heard he no longer writes poetry."

"Ever since the northern cavalry peered south toward the river, abandoned pools and ancient trees make people loathe even the mention of war," the Duke of Yun said. "Indeed, it is so. I no longer wish to speak of military affairs. Perhaps we simply lack the capacity to inspire him to write poetry."

After all, they were merely men of this sort.

"Yet, bringing an end to war is the collective desire of the entire world!" The Duke of Yun patted him on the shoulder, then pointed forward into the distance. "From now on, I must rely upon Your Highness!"

"The Duke need not say such things. There is still much I must learn from you," the Fourth Prince said sincerely, then looked into the distance once more. "It seems the enemy has arrived."

The beacon fires had already been lit.

The Fourth Prince could also sense countless streams of vital energy, martial aura, and majesty coalescing in the sky into a gathered, unyielding Qi field.

It rolled across the heavens like banks of dark clouds.

Dark clouds pressing down on the city, threatening to crush it.

The barbarian army!

It was somewhat different from what he had seen before, having grown considerably stronger.

Right now, he would not dare to casually step forward and take on a million men single-handedly.

Could Wang Chuan do it if he were here?

From this scanning of the ambient Qi, he knew instantly that countless experts were hidden within those ranks—figures whom even human Grandmasters would likely find difficult to handle.

Individuals of formidable martial prowess and heaven-shaking mystical power.

Under formations of this scale, even someone at Wang Chuan's level would not dare to rashly plunge deep into their midst.

They would be easily minced into dust!

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

Horns sounded from the distance, their notes mournful and weeping, yet piercingly loud.

The Duke of Yun issued his command. As the battle flags waved, countless Jin soldiers clad in iron armor surged out in neat order, arranging themselves into disciplined ranks before the flags fluttered in the wind.

With a single, unified roar that echoed like a war god howling or an enraged demon god shaking the heavens, it caused everyone's heart to beat violently.

Blades were drawn, flashing like cleaving water.

In a single, synchronized motion, blade Qi roared past like a ferocious torrent.

"A military presence like a cliff, a military might like a mountain," the Fourth Prince sighed. "If our Jin state had just a few more of these battle-hardened veterans, we would have dominated the world long ago."

With an aura like this, no army under heaven could defeat them!

If these men were sent to the western front, let those people witness the fierce might of the Jin army.

If anyone still spoke arrogantly of shattering the enemy after that, it would be sheer madness.

"Yet every single one of them is extremely difficult to nurture; out of a hundred, not even one survives," the Duke of Yun sighed. "Even if we annihilate the barbarians this time, who knows how many will be left standing!"

"Seeing what I see today, how majestic and magnificent the true Jin army is!" the Fourth Prince said. "With soldiers such as these, the day will finally come when we can stable our horses in the southern mountains! Even if that peace is paved inch by inch with the blood and tears of our soldiers."

"I have spent my life amidst the drums and armor of war; I do not know if I will live to see that day before my time runs out," the Duke of Yun sighed. "That, too, is this old man's greatest wish."

No one longed for peace more desperately than these soldiers of the borderlands.

No one at all.