The Prefectural Governor's Mansion of Yongzhou Prefecture.
Yu Jing, the Prefectural Governor of Yongzhou, stared at the mountain of intelligence reports delivered by spies. With each one he flipped, his heart trembled uncontrollably.
In just half a month, the Tianhuo Dao, which once dominated the Yong and Liang regions, had instantly shattered. He had initially intended to annex the southern part of Yongzhou and suppress the Tianhuo Dao after his recent breakthrough to the Half-Grandmaster realm.
Alas, before he could display his might, all the cities previously occupied by the Tianhuo Dao now bore a war banner inscribed with the character Yang.
Yesterday, thirty thousand iron cavalry surged forth like thunderous roars, their might shaking the prefecture repeatedly.
A figure, stepping through the void, descended with an axe strike that blotted out the sun, its light scorching the sky. The southern part of Yongzhou was entirely subsumed by the Yang family.
Yu Jing cautiously calculated. The Yang family possessed a Grandmaster, whose power was formidable, and they controlled the entire Liang Prefecture.
As for him, the remnants of the Yongzhou Prefecture Governor, he was merely a laughable figure. A single Grandmaster expert! There were but a handful of Grandmaster experts in the entire Wu Kingdom.
Yu Jing continued his calculations. Unbeknownst to him, time had passed, and the setting sun cast its faint afterglow across the sky.
*Swish!*
He abruptly straightened his body and sprinted towards southern Yongzhou. He wanted to see the Yang family, to witness this Grandmaster expert.
Although he served in the same court as Yang Hao, everyone knew that the Wu Kingdom was merely a dying entity, on the verge of collapse!
Yang Hao reigned supreme in Xiliang, with a multitude of fierce generals under his command. And he, himself, was practically living under Yang Hao's eaves. How could Yang Hao tolerate him?
It was possible that he could lose his head at any moment!
He strode into the fading sunlight, alone, on horseback, heading south.
...
...
Southern Yongzhou bordered the Langya Kingdom and was thus a region prone to war. Considering political complexities, the imperial court had divided Yongzhou into four prefectures.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yaojin, leading thirty thousand iron cavalry, was sweeping through southern Yongzhou. These thirty thousand cavalry were stationed in a city not far from the Yongzhou Prefectural Governor's Mansion.
"Hahaha, Mr. Wan, why didn't you just have someone else deliver it? You had to make the trip yourself."
Cheng Yaojin, with a jovial demeanor, welcomed Wan Mizhai, who had traveled a long distance to deliver the Shengyuan Pills, into the hall.
"General Cheng, this matter was personally instructed by the Lord, and it concerns the Shengyuan Pills deeply. I dared not be negligent, and it is more appropriate for me to come in person," Wan Mizhai said, sipping his tea with a smile.
"That is true, that is true. Since the Lord has a new plan for unifying Yongzhou, I shall patiently await the Prefectural Governor of Yongzhou here." Cheng Yaojin received the Shengyuan Pills, his face breaking into a smile.
"Oh! What, the Prefectural Governor of Yongzhou is coming?" Wan Mizhai asked with a hint of confusion, looking at Cheng Yaojin's pleased expression.
"Hehehe, the other day, when I led thirty thousand iron cavalry to attack this city, I deliberately made quite a stir. Hahaha, I even personally made a show of force to intimidate them."
"I imagine the Prefectural Governor of Yongzhou is very apprehensive right now. Mr. Wan, how about we make a bet?" Cheng Yaojin said with a mischievous grin.
"What kind of bet are you proposing, General Cheng?" Wan Mizhai replied with a slight smile.
"If the Prefectural Governor of Yongzhou visits and surrenders within three days, then you must give me three hundred Huiyuan Pills. If he doesn't come, then whatever you want from old Cheng, I'll do!" Cheng Yaojin's expression gradually turned serious as he spoke.
"Hahaha, General Cheng, General Cheng, very well, it's a deal!" Wan Mizhai said with a wicked smile. This trip was not only to escort the Shengyuan Pills, but he had also brought three thousand Huiyuan Pills.
Huiyuan Pills could quickly restore Yuan force. He had specifically brought them to help Cheng Yaojin unify Yongzhou.
"Good!"
Cheng Yaojin suddenly felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere, but he still readily agreed.
Just as they were engaged in a lively discussion, both Cheng Yaojin and Wan Mizhai sensed the aura of a Half-Grandmaster approaching the main hall.
The moment he entered the city, Yu Jing was startled. Iron cavalry of the first layer of Na Yuan, their rhythmic hoofbeats pounded against his very soul.
*Hissing~*
Suddenly, a ten-man squad of iron cavalry appeared in Yu Jing's sight. These ten men, armed with long spears and clad in armor, were all at the seventh layer of Na Yuan!
This unit, he thought, was no less impressive than the Imperial Guard of the current King in the capital!
Squadrons of iron cavalry patrolled the city. The common folk along the roads greeted them with smiles. What kind of foundation did the Yang family possess to recruit such a formidable army?
He murmured to himself, wandering through the city streets. Although the Yang family had just occupied southern Yongzhou, within these few days, everything had already returned to normal!
He gradually moved towards Cheng Yaojin's location. His purpose for this journey was simple: to personally examine the Yang family and experience the grandeur of a Grandmaster up close!
As he walked, he saw two figures standing silently at the entrance from a distance, their gazes fixed upon him.
"Prefectural Governor of Yongzhou, Yu Jing, I have been waiting for you for a long time. Please!" Cheng Yaojin's hearty voice instantly calmed the apprehensive Yu Jing.
A Grandmaster?
This was the figure he had seen that day, whose axe strike had vibrated the void and destroyed the city walls for miles.
A Grandmaster!
What immense power resided in the heavens of the Wu Kingdom~
"Thank you, General!" Yu Jing bowed respectfully, daring not to be remiss. To be received by a Grandmaster was such an honor!
"Please!" Wan Mizhai spoke softly, his gentle Yuan force rippling outwards, revealing his Grandmaster realm for all to see!
A Grandmaster!
Another Grandmaster!
There were so few Grandmasters in the entire Wu Kingdom, and now there were two standing before him. Yu Jing's heart churned with immense waves!
Yu Jing quickly bowed.
Cheng Yaojin nodded and led Yu Jing into the hall.
"May I ask the reason for your long journey, Lord Prefectural Governor?" Cheng Yaojin asked once the three had entered the hall.
"Yesterday, I was able to witness the General's divine might. I am filled with genuine admiration and have come to pay my respects!" Yu Jing clasped his fists and bowed, looking at Cheng Yaojin and Wan Mizhai.
Gazing at the two Grandmasters before him, Yu Jing made up his mind at this moment to pledge his allegiance to the Yang family.
"Hahaha, Lord Prefectural Governor, you jest. Old Cheng is merely fortunate through the Lord's grace to have achieved this today!" Cheng Yaojin said with a smile.
"Lord Prefectural Governor, how do you view this chaotic world!" Cheng Yaojin suddenly changed his expression, his tone becoming serious.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire hall became tense.
*Drip...*
Drops of sweat slid down Yu Jing's face. After an unknown period of time.
*Boom~*
"Yu Jing herewith pledges the northern two prefectures of Yongzhou to the service of Lord Yang Hao, Prefectural Governor of Liangzhou!" Yu Jing knelt down with a resounding voice!
The matter had come to this; he had no other path. The Yang family, with two Grandmasters at their helm, what challenge could the world present? At that time, he would be a minister who aided in the founding of a dynasty!
"Hahaha, Mr. Wan, what do you say? Three hundred Huiyuan Pills!" Cheng Yaojin extended his hand, a triumphant look on his face.
"Hehehe~" Wan Mizhai took out a purple gourd and handed it to Cheng Yaojin.
Cheng Yaojin opened it and saw three thousand Huiyuan Pills lying quietly within the gourd. "Mr. Wan, this?"