0:00 I woke up in this world as the son of Maran. At first, life was great. Soft beds, fine food, servants everywhere. But I quickly learned the family has a strict rule. Every child must awaken their blood chi before turning 18 or they lose everything. Status, resources, all of it. This morning, I trained on the drill grounds with the other young members of the household. We wore heavy armor and pushed ourselves to the limit. When the instructor called the end of training, everyone collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. I sat down and tried to sense the blood chi inside me, but once again, nothing happened. I was close, but not close enough. At my current pace, I need at least another year, and my coming of age ceremony is in 3 days. I cursed under my breath, frustrated and desperate. Where was my golden finger? The cheat every trans migrator is supposed to get. Then, right as I stood up, a mechanical voice rang inside my head. System match successful. 1:01 Daily intelligence system at your service. Activate. I screamed yes with every fiber of my being. Golden text appeared in my mind. 10 pieces of daily intelligence. Most were random bits of information about people around me. But one entry caught my eye. A cattle hurting boy in Lu family village outside the city found a blood chi fruit inside an old tree, ate it, and immediately awakened his blood chi. That was my way out. If an ordinary boy could awaken from eating that fruit, so could I. I jumped to my feet, rushed back to my quarters, threw off my armor, washed up, changed into light clothes, and ordered my guards to prepare horses. We were heading out of the city. These guards were the last privilege I still had. And if I failed to awaken before my ceremony, even they would be taken away. I'd be left with nothing but enough food to survive. I rode hard toward Lou family village outside the city. Even at full gallop, it took over an hour to get there. When I arrived with my guards, 2:03 the villagers were terrified. The old village head came stumbling out, bowing so low he nearly touched the ground. I told him to relax and leave me alone. I walked through the village looking for the old fruit tree from the intelligence. It wasn't hard to find. One tree stood out from all the others, ancient and gnarled with bark cracked like dragon scales. The owner, a thin man named Luder, came out nervously from the house next to it. I used the sensing ability from my family's cultivation technique and detected a faint warm energy hidden among the ordinary fruits, completely different from the rest. That had to be the blood chief fruit. Keeping my face calm, I told the man I wanted every single fruit from the tree picked and packed up. He looked pained but obeyed without argument. Within half an hour, the tree was stripped bare. I had my guard pay him one tail of silver, far more than the ordinary fruits were worth. He was shocked and grateful, 3:03 cowtowing as we rode away. About half an hour after I left, the boy Lu Tian Ming, the one who was supposed to find the blood chi fruit, according to the intelligence, showed up with his old ax. He found the tree bare and wilted, scratched his head in confusion, and walked home disappointed. His destiny had quietly slipped away. Back at the mansion, I locked myself in my room, dismissed all the servants, and picked out the blood chi fruit from the pile. I had looked into it. This fruit was extremely valuable, enough to potentially help a peak hua gene martial artist break through to the tong my realm. Even my father would want it. I realized I could have handed it over to secure my position even without becoming a warrior myself. But I chose to eat it. The moment I bit into it, a scorching warmth flooded my entire body. The bloody energy was immense, far beyond what someone at my level needed. Thankfully, the fruit's nature was gentle, so the excess energy settled into my limbs without destroying me. 4:05 Though the burning pain was agonizing, I sat cross-legged and activated my family's cultivation technique, the Shin Men Inshi method. The scattered blood chi particles rushed toward the center of my chest. Hours passed. Sweat soaked my clothes and dried again and again. Day turned to night. Then finally, I opened my eyes. Everything was different. I could see dust floating in the air. Here, insects outside I'd never noticed before. All five senses had sharpened. Deep inside my heart, a solid thread of blood she now swirled. I had broken through. I was a warrior. I smiled, clenched my fist, and called for my servants. It was time to go see my father. When I stepped out of my room, I was cleaned up, and looked different. The maids in the hallways kept glancing at me and whispering that I seemed more handsome. With my new warrior hearing, I could catch every word, even from far away. Breaking through to the blood refining realm changes a person's body inside and out. Anyone can notice it. I 5:08 didn't need to hide it. My coming of age ceremony was 2 days away, and I needed to prove myself to my father. That was exactly why I'd eaten the blood chi fruit myself instead of handing it over. I went to my father's study. Marquee Anan Chinhao was sitting behind his desk reading a book, but his mind seemed elsewhere. He sighed about war possibly coming after so many years of peace. When I was announced, he let me in. This was my first time facing him since I'd arrived in this world. He was a large imposing man with graying temples and sharp tiger-like eyes. As a peak huene martial artist, he was one of the strongest people in all of Anen Province. I bowed and greeted him. He noticed my breakthrough right away, but wasn't overly impressed. A blood refining warrior was nothing remarkable to someone at his level. He said the family could now raise one fewer canary. I credited the family's resources and he acknowledged my effort as well. After thinking quietly for a moment, he told 6:09 me he hadn't expected me to become a warrior at all. And now he was giving me two choices. The first was to stay home and help manage family affairs. The second was to go north and fight the demon tribes. He explained that ever since the founding of the great Shin Dynasty, the demon races in the northern frontier had been raiding the borders, and recently their attacks had grown more frequent. The emperor had called on all noble houses to send their children to fight and expand the territory. I thought it over carefully. The first path was safe, but limited. I wasn't the eldest son, so I'd never inherit the title, and my intelligence system would eventually run out of easy resources to find nearby. I'd hit a ceiling. The second path had much higher potential. If I earned great military achievements, I could win my own noble title. But the danger was extreme. The lord, who'd been given the northern territory years ago, had died within 2 years. His body never even recovered. I looked up at my father 7:10 and told him my decision. I would go north to fight the demons. My voice was firm and when he heard it, he smiled. He called me a true son of theqin family and said he was proud of my courage. He told me I could stay home for one month to prepare and after that he would arrange everything to send me to the northern front in bail. I thanked him, bowed and left. What I didn't know was that after I left, my father called in the instructor, Lihao, and ordered him to select 800 elite soldiers from the Tiger Guard Battalion of nearly 5,000 men. He also sent the butler to fetch a fourth grade pill from the family treasury. He was quietly preparing support for me behind the scenes. Back in my room, I thought about why I'd made this choice. It all came down to my intelligence system. Without it, I'd never risk going north. The danger was too real. But with daily intelligence refreshing based on my surroundings, the vast northern frontier would give me far more opportunities than staying cooped up at home. I could find resources, 8:12 build strength, and climate status. And the system could help me avoid danger before it arrived. Still, I felt nervous, so I sent a servant to bring me books about Baleong and Marshall cultivation from the family library. I read through the night. What I learned was grim. Baleong was the empire's northernmost territory, a front line against the demon races with fewer than a million humans. The emperor had promised rewards to attract people there. Commoners could get farmland, noble children could receive official posts, and those who governed well or earned military merit could be granted the title of baron. In over a decade, countless noble sons had rushed north. But in all that time, only 36 barons had been created in the entire province. And of those, only about 10 were still alive. The rest had died, and those were just the ones who actually earned titles. The number who perished without achieving anything must have been far greater. Reading this made my heart race, and a chill run down my spine. I 9:14 even started regretting my decision. I was just a blood refining realm warrior with no real power. Could I really survive in a land crawling with demons? But right then, the mechanical voice sounded in my head again. The daily intelligence had refreshed. I opened it eagerly. 10 new entries appeared, including things like the guard Shiau getting rejected by the maid Lu Ruan. My halfsister Chin Leong Yu finding the buried money bag and giving it to her maid. and the cattle boy Lu Tian Ming not finding the blood chief fruit his fate unchanged with a future as a powerful warrior now lost and him about to be beaten to death by a landlord. I went through the 10 new intelligence entries carefully. Most were connected to yesterday's information, but a few were new. One entry about a man named Loose Yagger trying to skip payment at a brothel made me shake my head. That kind of thing gets you killed in this world. But then one entry stopped me cold. Luian Ming, the cattle boy whose blood chief fruit I had taken, was destined to 10:15 become a Tong, my realm warrior. That's two full tiers above my father, who sits at the peak of Huajin. Tong, my warriors are the true pillars of the empire. And because I had taken the fruit, his fate had shifted. He was now about to be beaten to death by a landlord instead. A wild idea grew in my mind. But I forced myself to stay calm and think it through. I went to sleep and let my mind rest. The next morning, I skipped the usual training. Now that I was in the blood refining realm, basic drills were no longer necessary. I checked the intelligence again, gathered my guards, and rode out to Lu family village. When I arrived, I told the village head to find a boy named Lu Tian Ming. He hurried off and came back saying the boy was at the landlord Lu Siu's house on the east side of the village. When I got there, the landlord was whipping the boy savagely. Lu Tian Ming was curled up on the ground, covered in blood and dirt, his skin torn with lash marks. The landlord was screaming about a killed 11:16 ox, calling the boy worthless. I shouted for him to stop. He didn't listen at first and even threatened me. But when he turned around and saw who I was, a nobleman with armed guards on horseback, his face went white and he dropped to the ground begging for mercy. I ignored him and went straight to the boy. He was barely conscious and tried to kneel when he saw me but collapsed. I caught him and checked with my bloodqi. He had no life-threatening injuries, just exhaustion. I handed him to a guard. Then I told another guard to give the landlord 10 tales of silver and make clear that from this day on, Luian Ming had nothing to do with him anymore. The landlord was overjoyed, scrambled for the silver, bitted to check if it was real, and ran inside to fetch the boy's slave contract. With the contract in hand, I took the unconscious boy, and rode away. The landlord stood there grinning at his silver, completely unaware he had just sold off a future Tong, my realm warrior, someone destined 12:17 to stand at the very peak of this world, for 10 tales. I handed Lu Tian Ming over to the household servants for care. The family doctor treated his wounds and about an hour later he woke up. He found himself in a fine room on a soft bed wearing silk robes, completely overwhelmed. A servant told him I had arranged a meal for him and that he should eat before coming to see me. When he saw the table full of hot meat dishes and white rice, nothing like the brand and wild vegetable mush he was used to. He could barely believe it. He ate everything, fighting back tears. Meanwhile, I was at the training grounds working on my body. Entering the blood refining realm was just the beginning. I needed to build more bloodqi and toughen my muscles and bones. I couldn't afford to slack off even with my intelligence system. The instructor, Lihao, was watching, surprised at how much I'd changed. He'd watched me grow up and always considered my martial talent hopeless. But now, he remarked that I seemed like a completely different 13:17 person. When Lu Tian Ming was brought to me, he looked nothing like the beaten, bloodied boy from yesterday. Cleaned up and dressed properly, he actually had a handsome face and sharp eyes with a hint of noble bearing. I didn't waste time with games or speeches. I asked him directly, would he stay by my side and work for me? If he agreed, I'd have someone teach him martial arts. In this world, I was nobility and he was a slave without even a household registration. There was no need for elaborate persuasion. Lihao looked surprised at my offer and studied the boy more carefully. Lu Tiiaming<unk>s eyes went wide. He knew what warriors were. Powerful figures far above him, and he'd never imagined he could become one. He told me that as long as I didn't look down on him, he'd do anything. I laughed and welcomed him as one of my people. I asked Lee how to train him for the next few days. Lihao agreed after a brief pause. I trusted him completely. He was a Hua gene level expert, the second 14:17 strongest person in the entire mansion and famous for his teaching ability. He had trained my older brothers, one of whom had reached the peak of the organ refining realm. Even the general quality of the Anan army had improved under his instruction. But even I didn't expect what came next. Lu Tiing<unk>s talent turned out to be even more terrifying than I had imagined. Half a month passed quickly. Then Lihao sent someone to fetch me with stunning news. Lu Tian Ming was about to break through to the blood refining realm. In just 15 days, Lihao himself was shocked and he'd seen plenty of talent. Even my father had needed a full month to reach that stage, and Lihao had taken 2 months. Luian Ming was surpassing them both. I asked Lihao whether anyone had tried to recruit the boy away from me. That had been my real concern and the reason I'd allowed Lu Ton Ming to train openly and show his talent. It was a test of his character. If he couldn't resist temptation, he'd be a liability, not an asset. I wouldn't 15:19 hesitate to eliminate a future Tong my threat if his loyalty was questionable. Liha<unk>s answer put me at ease. He told me that even he himself had offered to take Lu Tian Ming as a personal disciple and the boy had flatly refused saying his life belonged to me and he would serve no one else. I was relieved. Then I realized Leeho had been trying to poach my person right under my nose and he slipped away before I could say anything about it. Meanwhile, my father had been watching all of this. He'd investigated Lu Tinming<unk>s background when I first brought him home and had instructed Leeho to test the boy's character over the past two weeks. Now satisfied, he sent for me. In his study, he presented me with two gifts to pass on to Lu Tian Ming a set of softscale armor and a third grade blood pill from the family treasury. But more importantly, he gave me a lesson. He told me that saving someone's life alone isn't enough to control their heart. A real leader must use both kindness and authority. He warned me that once I left 16:19 the family's protection and went north, I'd have to rely on my own wisdom to gather followers and build my own foundation. About Luian Ming specifically, he said the boy's talent was the greatest he'd ever seen. If I could truly win his loyalty, he'd become my greatest asset. But if his heart couldn't be tamed, I should cut him loose without hesitation. Then his tone softened. He said I'd been giving him pleasant surprises lately. I tensed, worried he'd figured something out, but he waved it off. Everyone has secrets, he said, and he had no intention of prying. He told me I was his son no matter what, and he looked forward to me becoming a pillar of theQin family. I left with the armor and pill, deeply moved. I went straight to the training grounds where Lu Tian Ming was drilling hard. In just half a month, the scrawny, beaten boy had transformed. Lean muscle covered his frame. His movements were fierce and focused, and he trained tirelessly. I stood at the edge of the field, watching him, and nodded with 17:21 real satisfaction. Luian Ming came running over, still dripping with sweat, and bowed to me. I told him he'd worked hard and that these gifts were his reward. The servants brought forward two boxes. He tried to refuse, but I stopped him. He was my man now and he couldn't look shabby. He opened the larger box first. Inside was a suit of soft scale armor, gleaming silver gray. I told him it could block a full strength attack from a bone refining realm warrior. His hands trembled as he held it. Then he opened the smaller box, a jade bottle containing a third grade blood pill. I told him it would help him break through to the blood refining realm within 2 days. He dropped to his knees without a word. I could see it in his eyes. He had sworn himself to me completely. Another half month passed. I kept preparing for my journey to Ba Yong while using the intelligence system daily, but the pickings around Minglong city were slim. No more treasures like the blood chief fruit or talents like Lu Tian Ming. I 18:22 gathered items worth a total of about 5,000 tales of silver over the month. I wasn't disappointed. The real opportunities would come in the vast unexplored north. On my last morning at the mansion, my father called me to his study and handed me a supply list. I read it and could barely breathe. 1 million tales of silver, 200 heavy cavalry, 600 elite infantry, over 1500 support troops, plus cultivation resources and provisions. It was an enormous investment. I thanked him with complete sincerity. He smiled and told me to come meet my troops. We rode out to the military camp outside the city. Over 2,000 soldiers stood in formation on the drill grounds, silent and disciplined. When we appeared on the command platform, they all bowed in unison with a thunderous clatter of armor. My father told me to say a few words to my future men. I shook my head and said I thought giving them something real would carry more weight than a speech. He laughed clearly pleased and 19:23 said I no longer needed his teaching. I was a true man of theQin family. He told me the family's doors would always be open, waiting for the day I returned with glory. He had the butler draw 20,000 tales of silver from the family accounts, and it was distributed to every soldier on the field according to their rank. Real silver spoke louder than any speech. When the soldiers learned that the silver wasn't regular military pay, but a personal gift from me, the atmosphere on the drill grounds completely changed. The looks of suspicion turned into gratitude and a sense that they had found a worthy leader to follow. I bowed to my father one last time and told him I wouldn't let him down. At midday, everything was ready. My father sat on his horse outside the camp gate and told me to go, saying he'd be waiting for good news. I nodded, snapped the res, and gave the order. Over 2,000 soldiers roared in acknowledgement, and we marched north in a column of iron hooves and clanking armor. My father and Lihao watched until 20:25 our banner disappeared over the horizon. I later heard he said I had the makings of a great general. We left Anan province and headed north through Gi province which lay between us and Baleong. Crossing it would take over a month even at a steady pace. I wasn't worried. My father's supplies could last half a year and these inner provinces have been cleared of serious demon threats centuries ago. My 2,000 soldiers could handle anything we'd encounter once we reached Baleong. During the journey, my intelligence system kept refreshing daily, but the rewards were modest. About 10,000 tales worth of items total over the entire month. These old, well-developed provinces had been picked clean long ago. Everything changed within 3 days of entering Baleong province. The intelligence update that morning was completely different from before. Among the entries, two wounded second tier demon beasts would die ahead on my route in two days, giving me fresh carcasses worth over a hundred tails whose meat 21:26 could nourish a warrior's bloodchi. A flock of migrating second tier blue whale birds would appear on the road ahead, weak in combat, but their meat had a small chance of slightly improving a warrior's marshall talent. A mysterious person would collapse on the road ahead in 8 days. and a jade spirit fruit, a fourth tier treasure that could serve as the main ingredient for a Tongmi pill capable of helping Hua gene warriors break through. The Tongmai was about to ripen in Silver Moon Forest, 200 m to the right. On the open market, it would be worth over a million tales. My heart raced at the possibilities, but I had to stay realistic. The jade spirit fruit was somewhere in a vast forest without a precise location. And my 2,000 men could search for 10 days without finding it. And the demon beasts inside wouldn't care that we were just looking for fruit. I could only shake my head and let that one go for now. 3 days into bail, I had my soldiers set up camp at a specific spot and picked out the best 22:27 archers men at peak blood refining realm to wait with bows ready, watching the sky. When the flock of blue whale birds appeared flying low, the bow strings sang and arrows filled the air. Over a dozen birds were shot down before the rest scattered and flew too high to reach. The soldiers were thrilled. Each bird was worth over a 100 tails on the market. And more importantly, eating their meat had a small chance of improving a warrior's natural talent. The men couldn't figure out how I'd known the birds would pass through this exact spot. They just knew I'd told them to wait here. And it happened exactly as I said. Any doubts they'd had about me vanished, replaced by awe. I ordered all the birds cooked and shared among the entire army. I didn't keep any for myself alone. The birds could only work once per person, and the chance of improvement was tiny anyway, so splitting them was the smart move. It was a perfect way to win hearts. Each soldier only got a taste, but the gesture mattered enormously. The camp 23:28 erupted in cheers when I announced it. I ate my portion, too. The meat was incredibly tender, and the moment it hit my stomach, a warm energy rushed through my body while a cool sensation shot through my mind. I sat down immediately and activated my cultivation technique. Half an hour later, I felt it. Another thread of blood chi had condensed. I was getting closer to mid-stage blood refining realm. And at this rate, I might break through before reaching Baleong City. But then, a surge of far stronger energy exploded. right next to me. Lu Tian Ming opened his eyes. Bloodcoled light swirling around him. He had broken through to latestage blood refining realm. He'd only entered the blood refining realm a month ago with the help of the pill. Hit mid-stage 10 days into our march and now late stage before the month was even over. By the time I reached mid-stage, he'd probably be at the peak. The gap in talent was humbling. He bowed to me with excitement. I told him to keep working hard and aim for peak blood refining 24:30 realm before we reached Baleyong City. He responded eagerly. His loyalty and admiration toward me were clearly absolute by now. Over the following days, we also picked up the two dead second tier demon beasts from the intelligence, two iron skinned wild boars. The soldiers cheered again and had another feast. Instead of the harsh, miserable journey everyone had feared. These early days in Baleyong were filled with one reward after another. The anxiety and uncertainty my men had felt was replaced by excitement and hope for the future. That was exactly what I needed. Over the following days, the intelligence system kept delivering. In less than 2 months since leaving home, several veteran soldiers who'd been stuck at peak blood refining realm for years finally broke through to bone refining realm. Everyone else's cultivation improved noticeably, too. My own progress was rapid. I was just one step away from mid-stage blood refining realm and would definitely break through before reaching Baleong City. Lu Tion 25:32 Ming, of course, was even faster. He'd likely hit peak blood refining soon and might even reach bone refining realm before we arrived. His talent was on a completely different level. That evening, after training, new intelligence refreshed. Among the entries, a pack of second tier dark wolves ahead, a fifth tier ice bear about to awaken from hibernation a thousand miles to the north. A small iron mine guarded by iron monkeys in Maple Leaf Valley, and the one that caught my eye most, a mysterious person who would collapse with severe injuries 15 mi ahead of us tomorrow. The intelligence said saving him would bring an unexpected reward, but would also bring some danger in about 10 years. I barely hesitated. Even if trouble came in 10 years, Lu Tian Ming alone would probably be at least a Hua Gene master by then. And the system calling the reward unexpected meant it had to be something extraordinary. The next morning, we set out. 15 mi took a while 26:32 with our full convoy. Meanwhile, not far from us in the wilderness, a man was staggering and finally collapsed. His name was Xiao Han, a Peak Tong, my realm warrior from the Great Zha Joe dynasty, recognized as the strongest at that level in his entire nation and a candidate to break through to the Shinang realm. He'd been ambushed and poisoned by someone named Lynfong. His bloodqi was nearly drained, and the poison was spreading toward his heart and brain. He had maybe 10 breaths left to live and no way to reach help. His last conscious thought before the darkness took him was that the figures appearing on the horizon were probably his enemies coming to finish him off. My scout rode back and reported finding an unconscious man ahead, face dark and discolored, deeply poisoned, barely alive. I didn't hesitate and ordered my officer, Ming Yun, to bring him in. The soldiers carried him over and I finally saw him dressed in black night travel clothes, hair going white, face withered 27:32 with a brownish poison discoloration spreading across it. Looking at the poison man on the ground, I could see the situation was dire. Dark toxin marks covered his face and his breathing was almost gone. I wasn't sure if saving him was even possible, but the intelligence had promised an unexpected reward, so I decided to gamble. I took out a fourth grade Shimu pill from a small white porcelain bottle, a life-saving treasure my father had given me before I left. He told me it could keep anyone below the tong my realm alive as long as they still had the faintest breath. I handed it to Lu Tian Ming and ordered him to put the man in a supply wagon and feed him the pill. It was an expensive bet. I didn't have anything stronger, and even if I did, a fifth grade pill would be a kingdom level treasure. Far too valuable to waste on a stranger. This was as far as I was willing to go. We kept moving. We were close to Baleong City now, maybe 10 days out at normal speed. I pushed the pace since the closer we got to 28:33 populated areas, the fewer valuable finds the intelligence system turned up. We covered the distance in 7 days. During those seven days, the mysterious man remained unconscious like a living corpse. His breath was so faint I could barely detect it. Just the tiniest flicker of bloodchi. The poison was terrifyingly strong. I was certain it could kill even an organ refining realm warrior. Whether he'd ever wake up was looking bleak. If he died, my precious pill would be completely wasted. The intelligence hadn't warned of any danger from keeping him, so I decided to hold on a bit longer. On the eighth day, with Bayong City already visible on the horizon, Lu Tinming<unk>s blood cheese suddenly exploded outward. He broke through to peak blood refining realm. It had been less than 3 months since he first touched martial arts. I was still struggling to reach mid-stage blood refining. I probably needed one more day. Even the battlehardened officer, Ming Yun, stared at Lu Tian Ming like he 29:33 was some kind of monster. When Ming Yun learned the boy had only been training for 3 months, he could only smile bitterly. At 3 months in, he'd still been trying to sense his first thread of bloodqi. I took a deep breath, gathered myself, and ordered everyone forward toward Baong City. When we entered, the site was nothing like I expected from a provincial capital. It was filthy, chaotic, and wild. Trash and sewage lined the streets. The stench was overwhelming, and the people looked gaunt and holloweyed. No different from slaves back in Anon. Even registered citizens here were barely scraping by below the poverty line. If Anan represented the empire's polished surface, Baleong was the rod underneath. On the 12th day in Baleyong Province, we finally reached Baleong City. After nearly 50 days of travel, the site hit everyone hard, even Lu Tian Ming. The people on the streets had empty, lifeless eyes, and moved out of our way like wooden puppets. Lu Tian Ming spoke 30:35 up, his face dark with emotion. He'd thought his own past was the worst suffering possible, but this was something else entirely. I felt the same suffocating weight. Reading about this place in books was nothing compared to seeing it. But I knew this wasn't something I could fix. Even my father couldn't interfere with the affairs of Baleong. This land was ruled by its own lords. The only thing I could control was whatever territory got assigned to me. I told Lu Tian Ming we needed to register at the provincial government office first. I arranged for the troops to set up temporary camp in the city, then rode to the center of town with Lu Tian Ming and my officer Ming Yun. The government building stood out sharply. A massive stone structure surrounded by crumbling houses, cold and imposing. The guards at the gate stopped us, but the moment I introduced myself as Chin Leong of the Anenchin family and showed my sealed credentials, they panicked and bowed, apologizing profusely. TheQin family's name carried weight, even here 31:35 on the empire's edge. Inside, the compound was surprisingly large, almost as big as my family's estate. Officials hurried about with documents, and other noble sons who'd come to take up post stood around talking or waiting. When I showed my family seal, curious eyes turned my way and several nobles approached to introduce themselves. Even though theqin family's title was only that of a marquee, our territory and influence rivaled many higher ranked houses. I kept my responses polite but restrained, then went straight to the registration office. The official there told me I'd been assigned the rank of seventh grade county governor, responsible for both military and civil affairs of one county. However, all the prosperous counties were already taken. I'd have to choose from unclaimed land, either undeveloped wilderness or abandoned counties. He handed me a map. It was detailed. Red marks showed counties already claimed. Blue marks showed unclaimed territory. The entire 32:36 eastern and southern parts of Baleong were covered in red dots, nearly all taken. Only the harsher, more remote western and northern areas still had large stretches of blue. This made sense. Over a thousand noble sons were currently spread across Baong, trying to carve out territories. But the province was enormous, comparable to several northeastern provinces from my previous life. Even a thousand people had only developed a fraction of the land. I studied the map carefully, cross-referencing it with all the information I'd gathered from my intelligence system over recent days. old trade routes, possible mineral deposits, areas with less demon activity, places where water sources might still exist. I studied the map carefully, filtering everything through the intelligence I gathered over recent days. The registration official waited patiently without rushing me. Finally, my eyes settled on a bluemarked spot called Yangu County. I chose it for two key reasons. First, while its western 33:37 side bordered territories of other nobles, its northern side opened into vast empty plains. The Yangu River cut through the area in a large bend, creating a fertile river plane, a natural foundation for farmland. The only problem was periodic flooding, but I had knowledge from my previous life about water management. Second, my intelligence system had revealed that Yongu County had underground resources, including an undiscovered iron ore deposit on its eastern side. In this world of swords and armor, controlling iron meant controlling military power. The official processed my appointment immediately. He handed me a document stamped with the provincial seal, officially making me the seventh grade county governor of Yangu County. He explained that I had 5 years to govern it. After 5 years, the imperial court would send inspectors. If I'd done well, expanded territory, protected the people, I'd receive a noble title, and Yongu would become my hereditary domain. 34:38 I could also apply for early inspection if my results were outstanding. I decided to stay in Baong City for one day to rest the troops and wait for the next intelligence refresh. That night, at midnight, the intelligence updated. Among the entries, the fifth tier ice bear to the north was still about to awaken. Chong Xan county east of Baleyong city was under attack by the north wind wolf tribe and needed rescue. And the one that excited me most in 2 days a slave auction at a place called Unju House in Baong City would include a halfdemon girl in the fourth batch second position. She had a rare and highle sorcerer talent. Sorcerers were a completely different path from warriors on this continent. They could channel the world's elemental energy and wield mysterious powers that warriors couldn't match. But the talent requirements were extremely strict and true sorcerers in the great Chin dynasty were nearly extinct. Their value was immeasurable because pharmacists and pill refiners, 35:38 the people who could create healing medicines and miraculous pills, all built their craft on sorcerer foundations. Finding a gifted sorcerer candidate in this place was like stumbling on a fortune from heaven. If I could acquire and train this girl, she'd become an invaluable cornerstone for everything I planned to build in Yangu County. I decided to wait the two days for the slave auction. Yangu County wasn't going anywhere. But missing a talented sorcerer could be a loss I'd never recover from. During those two days, I explored Baleyong City. It was shocking compared to Minglong City back home. This place felt abandoned by civilization. The people were lifeless, supplies were scarce, and everything was falling apart. I could tell the marquee, who technically owned the entire province, had given up trying to manage it. The land was too vast, the environment too harsh, and the border threats too constant. He'd handed over development rights to the court and other nobles just to keep his name on the territory. When the day came, I went 36:40 to a place called Anju House near the government office. A servant greeted us at the door with a big smile. I told him I'd heard they had all kinds of slaves available. I didn't mention the halfdemon girl. Instead, I brought up my real and pressing need labor for Yangu County. The place had been destroyed by demon raids years ago, and all its former residents were dead or scattered. Buying slaves was the only realistic way to get a population started. The servant led us down a dark, damp tunnel into a huge underground space. What I saw was nothing like his boasts about strong, hard-working stock. Behind iron bars stood rows of skeletal, hollow-eyed people in rags, ribs poking through their thin clothes. The asking price was 10 tales of silver each. The same price that would buy a well-trained, healthy slave back in Anon. Here it bought a starving wreck. I swallowed my anger. I needed people. I ordered 1,000 slaves for 10,000 tales. I had about 500,000 37:41 tales total, and every coin was my startup capital for Yangu County. The county was a ruin with no buildings, so bringing in too many people at once without food, water, or shelter would cause disaster. 1,000 was the right number to begin rebuilding. The servant was thrilled by the size of the deal. Then, as casually as I could, I asked if they had anything else, any special merchandise. His eyes lit up and he told me a fresh batch of new arrivals had just come in today. I acted mildly curious and told him to lead the way. The servant led us to a private room deeper inside. Soon the first batch of special merchandise was brought in. Young women cleaned up and dressed to look appealing. Luian Ming swallowed nervously behind me, but I wasn't interested. These weren't what I came for. I told the servant to bring the next batch. He swapped them out eagerly, boasting about how the second group included beauties from the capital. I barely glanced at them and said, "Next." Then the third batch. Next again. The 38:42 fourth batch came in slowly, only about 30 women. My eyes immediately found her, the second one in line, a girl in gray clothes with a plain unremarkable face. When I looked at her, she lowered her head like all the others. The servant told me this was the last batch and offered to get demon race beauties in a week if I still wasn't satisfied. I pointed at the girl and one other and told him I'd take them. The total came to 13,200 tales, including the thousand male slaves from before. The servant was delighted and gave me a VIP token for a 10% discount on future purchases. I left and had Ming Yun send soldiers to collect all the purchased slaves. Most of them still had dead, empty eyes even after leaving the slave market. What I didn't know at the time was that the plain-faced girl, Yinshi, was actually the half demon with sorcerer talent, and she was using a disguise spell to hide her true appearance. The spell would only last 5 more days. She'd been hoping 39:43 to get bought by someone she could escape from. But seeing I commanded hundreds of soldiers, she nearly despared. Then Lu Tian Ming came and called three of the girls. Xiao Yun, Xiaoming, and Xiaoing to come with him. He told them they'd be serving me. The other two girls looked happy, but Yun Shei was alarmed, even touching her face to check if her disguise had failed. They were brought to my room. I told all three that from today they would be my personal maids. The other two were visibly pleased. Being a personal maid was far better than being a common slave with real hope of improving their position. Yuni quietly saw an opportunity, too. Being close to me might help her eventually escape. I told them to help me wash up, then looked directly at Yinshi and told her specifically to prepare a bath for me. She let out a startled sound. I raised an eyebrow and asked if there was a problem. I knew from the intelligence that this half demon was supposed to be a young girl, but the woman in front of me looked about 25 or 26. That meant she 40:44 was using some kind of disguise spell to hide her real appearance. I found it amusing and decided to tease her a little. I told her to prepare a bath for me. She turned bright red but agreed. In the bathroom, she was so nervous her hands trembled as she barely touched my back with the towel. Meanwhile, I was thinking about how to win her loyalty. She was my slave on paper, but that didn't mean she truly served me willingly. Force would only breed resentment. I needed a smarter approach. After a few moments, I had a plan. With a modern mindset against a girl from this ancient world, brute coercion would be absurd. I had several gentle strategies in mind. I told her she could leave. She froze in surprise and I stood up from the tub without warning. She yelped and fled the room without looking back. I called in the other two maids, Shia Ming and Shiaing, who helped me dry off and dress properly. When I came out, Yunshi was standing in a corner, face still red as an apple, refusing to meet my eyes. I just smiled and went to my 41:47 room to plan. I spent the evening working on my plans for Yangu County. While the three maids stood by Yun Shei kept sneaking glances at me, her mind clearly racing. She kept telling herself to focus on escaping, but her thoughts kept drifting back to what she'd seen. At midnight, the intelligence system refreshed. I read through the entries, confirmed nothing urgent, and went to sleep. The next morning, I had Ming Yun load up all the supplies we'd purchased in Baong City. Grain seeds, farming tools, cloth, medicine. With a thousand new slaves added, our group now numbered over 3,000 people stretching nearly a kilometer long on the road. The elite soldiers kept watch on all sides. Along the way, a second tier wind tiger tried to ambush us, but Ming spotted it and killed it easily. After 7 days of travel, we reached Yangu County at the far northern edge of Baong Province. The area had mountains behind it, a river running through, and a mild climate, not 42:47 as harsh as the rest of the north. But that same environment also attracted demons. The previous county governor had been killed when demons broke through the county walls. When the ruins of the county came into view, everyone fell silent. It barely looked like a town at all, just rubble. The walls had mostly collapsed, covered in claw marks and impact craters from demon beasts. I'd expected it to be bad, but seeing it was still sobering. I told Lu Ming to come walk around the area with me. This was the place I'd chosen, and no matter how rough it looked, I had to make it work. Lu Tian Ming broke through to the bone refining realm that morning, just as I'd expected. I'd gone from shock to used to it by now. The stronger he got, the sharper a weapon he was for me. We rode out together to survey the land around Yangu County. After half an hour, I was pleased. The situation was better than I'd hoped. The flooding from the Yangu River mainly affected the area close to the riverbank while the county seat and 43:47 a large surrounding area sat on higher ground with rich dark soil. This land had huge farming potential and could serve as my starting base without flood risk. Ming Yun reported that two human villages still existed nearby with about 300 people total. I sent him to invite the villagers to help rebuild the county and clear farmland. I promised them three things. Military protection from demon beasts, daily food rations during work, and priority housing inside the county once it was restored. In this dangerous land where their old protector was dead, and they lived in constant fear of monsters destroying their crops and killing their families, my offer was a lifeline they couldn't refuse. After getting the villagers and the new slaves organized for labor, I assembled all my soldiers, 2300 combat capable men, I announced that when not fighting, they would farm, following a military farming system. The soldiers grumbled at first. Warriors considered fieldwork beneath 44:49 them. But then I revealed the rewards. High-quality cultivation techniques and pills, things that noble families normally kept as closely guarded secrets, would be available to any soldier who earned enough contribution points. The entire field went silent, then erupted. Even the steady Ming Yun lost his composure, his voice shaking as he asked if I was serious. I was completely serious. With my intelligence system, these resources were renewable. I built a contribution system inspired by ancient merit-based ranking. Soldiers earn points through farming, combat, and construction, and could exchange them for promotions, techniques, and pills. The best technique I offered, the Fongshin method, the same one I'd given Luian Ming, could carry a warrior all the way to the Huajin realm. The effect was instant. Every soldier's loyalty surged. When I issued heavy rebuilding orders, not a single person complained. All 2300 soldiers, including the 800 45:50 warriors, threw themselves into construction with incredible enthusiasm. Warriors with superhuman strength worked like heavy machinery. In just 7 days, the county already had basic shape, walls cleared, new stone houses rising. At this pace, the main structures would be finished in another 2 weeks. Normally in Baong, new governors spent one or two years producing nothing at all, completely dependent on outside supplies. We were already beating that timeline by far. I had prepared for this moment long before leaving home. During that month at the mansion, I'd studied every farming book in the family library and combined it with agricultural knowledge from my previous life. I wasn't going to waste my first year producing nothing like other county governors did. On the evening of our seventh day in Yangu County, I finalized my plans in the study. Yunshi stood nearby while I worked over a map I'd drawn. The county seed at the center with grids of planned farmland radiating outward. Autumn planting couldn't wait 46:51 any longer. The next morning, I gathered all 1,000 slaves in a cleared area. After nearly 2 weeks of rest and proper food, they looked slightly healthier, but most still had dead, empty eyes. They'd lost all hope. the day they became slaves. I stood on a raised platform. A soldier beside me held a stack of papers, their slave contracts. When the crowd saw those documents, a ripple of unease passed through them for the first time. I called out five names. Men who had worked the hardest over the past days. They stumbled forward, terrified, and dropped to the ground. Then I announced it for their outstanding labor. These five were no longer slaves. From this moment, they were free citizens of the great Chin dynasty. The entire crowd went silent with shock. I held up the five contracts and shredded them with my bloodqi. The scraps drifted down in the morning light. Then the place exploded, screaming, crying, shouting. The five freed men collapsed to the ground, 47:52 sobbing, and thanking me. The remaining 900 stared at me with eyes that were suddenly, for the first time, alive. Every single one of them was thinking the same thing. Could they be next? That was exactly the reaction I wanted. In this world, freeing slaves was unheard of. Owners saw them as livestock to be worked to death. But I knew from my previous life that breaking people's chains was the only way to unleash real productivity. I didn't free all the slaves at once. That was deliberate. The remaining 900 needed to see freedom as something they could earn. The frenzy of gratitude in front of me proved the strategy worked. I announced that the five freed citizens would receive land to farm with the county providing seeds and tools for the first 6 months. They'd pay a set tax and keep everything else. The remaining slaves would also get land, but with heavier taxes. Anyone who worked hard and produced results this year could earn their freedom, too. Soldiers handed out numbered wooden tablets to everyone, each one matching a 48:55 plot on the farmland I'd already mapped out. The effect was immediate. 900 slaves clutched their tablets with trembling hands, eyes burning with hope for the first time. With that fire lit, construction and farming moved at incredible speed. I laid out the county using knowledge from my previous life. Straight roads, clearly divided zones for different purposes. I built public toilets and ordered everyone to use them, not just for cleanliness, but to collect waste for composting. I'd learned composting techniques from my grandparents in my past life, and they were far better than what existed in this era. By the end of the first month, farmland was being cleared, houses were going up everywhere, and parts of the city wall were already rebuilt. At this rate, the walls would be complete in about 3 more months. Most new county governors in Baleyong needed two to three years to reach this stage, some even five, because they couldn't afford enough workers. I had the advantage of my father's massive investment backing 49:55 me. Then one morning, Lu Tian Ming rushed over looking worried. He told me the mysterious man's condition had gotten worse. I ran to the room and saw that the brownish poison marks on his face, which had mostly faded, were spreading again, darker than before. I ordered Lu Tian Ming to bring three third grade Ching Yun pills, three at once. He gasped at the amount, but obeyed without delay. These were nearly all the high-grade healing pills I had left. But I'd already invested a fourth grade pill and another third grade pill in this man. I couldn't let him die now and lose everything. Lu Tian Ming fed him the three pills. The poison stopped spreading. After the three pills were administered, I finally relaxed. Over the following days, the old man's condition steadily improved. The brown poison marks faded. His life force returned, and his bloodqi grew stronger. I'd managed to pull him back from the edge of death. With that worry settled, I threw myself fully back into building 50:55 Yangu County. Another month passed, and the transformation was remarkable. Rows of new brick houses lined the streets inside the county. The city walls were rising tall and imposing, not yet fully closed, but already impressive. Outside, neat farmland had replaced wild brush, and the wheat seedlings were growing thick and green. Despite planting late, my composting techniques from my previous life made the crops grow better than expected. The slaves worked without anyone pushing them. They were up before dawn, heading to their plots with tools in hand. People marveled at the composting method, saying even the most experienced farmers back home couldn't produce fertilizer this good. At midnight, the intelligence refreshed with exciting entries. A second tierstone scorpion tribe 60 mi west in Falling Rock Valley was sitting on a medium-sized iron mine. In this world, medium or larger iron deposits always produce mystic iron alongside regular 51:56 ore, a spiritual material that makes weapons 10 to 100 times sharper and tougher than ordinary iron. A mine like that would be enough to make even a marquee envious. It would give Yangu County a massive, steady source of wealth. Other entries included a flock of third tier fire feather birds that had seized a fire tiger's den and its treasures 50 mi east and a herd of second tier frost horses passing through in 7 days. The fire feather birds were too dangerous. Their leader was likely near fourth tier and even my father would struggle against a swarm of flying demons. Only a tong my realm warrior could handle them. The next morning, I sent Mang Yun to scout Falling Rock Valley and report on the stone scorpion numbers. Three days later, he returned with bad news. He'd counted over 3,000 scorpions in plain sight, and estimated the real number at 5,000 or more. They were mostly weak individually, unranked, or first tier, but 5,000 swarming 52:56 together could overwhelm my army. A direct assault might succeed, but the losses would be devastating and more than I could afford. These 2,000 soldiers were my foundation in Baong. I couldn't afford to lose them in a reckless assault. I sat in my study thinking it over. Ming Yun suggested sending small elite squads to pick off the scorpions gradually, but I rejected that immediately. If the attack dragged on, fleeing scorpions would spread word of the iron mine, and I'd face endless waves of other demon tribes coming after it. This had to be a single overwhelming strike that wiped them out completely. I considered asking my father for help, but pushed that thought aside. He'd already given me more than enough. If I ran home for every problem, there was no point in striking out on my own. The scorpions lived in caves, which made my heavy cavalry useless. Sending infantry inside for close combat would mean heavy casualties. I paced up to the city wall, staring at the slaves working in the 53:57 fields below, and the answer hit me. I would buy 3,000 more slaves and form a punishment battalion. The unranked scorpions were no stronger than ordinary wild animals. A grown man with a weapon could fight one. I'd send the slaves in first as bait to draw the scorpions out of their caves, then crush them with my cavalry and elite soldiers attacking from ambush positions. This would protect my core fighting force. 3,000 slaves would cost 30,000 tales. I still had over 300,000 in the treasury. I summoned Ming Yun and Lu Tian Ming. I ordered Lu Tian Ming to pick 300 blood refining realm cavalry and ride with me to Ba Yong City to buy slaves and supplies. Ming Yin would stay behind and manage all military and civil affairs while I was gone. Before they left, I handed Ming Yin a sealed jade box containing a third grade vitality fruit I'd found through the intelligence system weeks earlier. I told him I expected him to break through to the 54:57 organ refining realm by the time I returned. He took it with trembling hands. If he succeeded, I'd have another powerful officer and our odds against the scorpions would improve. Half an hour later, 300 riders were assembled, and we set out. Traveling light, we reached Baong City in 4 days. The city seemed busier and more crowded than 2 months ago. More noble sons arriving to seek posts, perhaps. When we rode through the gates with our Chin family banner, we drew even more attention than last time. People on the streets stared and whispered, recognizing the flag of the Anenchin family. As we rode through the streets, I heard people whispering about theQin family banner and marveling that all 300 of my escorts were at least latestage blood refining warriors. Mixed in with the admiration were some hostile glares. My family had made enemies over the years. But I wasn't concerned. With my military strength, I could overpower most county governors in Baong. And back 55:58 in Yangu County, there was still that unconscious, mysterious man whose cultivation was at least peuajin level. I had plenty of confidence. We settled into the same inn as before. Buying slaves and supplies would have to wait until the market opened the next day. At midnight, the intelligence refreshed, and one entry made my eyes light up. A merchant named Lynn Tion from the Lynn family trading house in the South District had smuggled a batch of Thunderbolt bombs into the city. With authorities cracking down on smuggling, he was desperate to find a buyer quickly. These weren't primitive weapons. They were made from rare thunderbolt stone extracted from salt crystal mines. Each one exploded violently on impact or with heat, producing both devastating blast force and thick poisonous smoke. They were extremely difficult to manufacture and considered strategic military assets that most families couldn't even get their hands on. This changed everything. With Thunderbolt bombs, I wouldn't need 56:58 a punishment battalion at all. I could throw the bombs into the scorpion caves and the explosions and toxic smoke would drive those light-fearing, firefearing creatures out into the open where my heavy cavalry could crush them on flat ground. But there was a complication. The Lynn family of G province was also a Mara level house, even older and stronger than mine with over 800 years of history and six known Hua gene experts compared to our two. Worse, I vaguely recalled that my father had once helped another family move against the Linds before I was born. Not a blood feud, but not friendly history either. I sent Lu Tian Ming out to investigate Lin Tion thoroughly. A day later, he reported back. Lintion was the 19th son of the Lynn family head, apparently out of favor at home and essentially exiled to run this remote trading post in Baong. When I heard that, the tension in my mind eased and I smiled. As for my own cultivation, I was still stuck at mid-stage blood refining while Luian 58:00 Ming had already reached bone refining. My talent was simply mediocre. Even the blue whale birds boost hadn't changed that much. But I wasn't discouraged. My strength was never meant to come from personal marshall power. The intelligence system was my real weapon. I stood up, straightened my robe, and told Luan Ming to come along. It was time to meet this unwanted 19th son of the Lynn family. I went to the Lynn family trading house in the South District with Lu Tian Ming. The place was small and cramped. From what Luan Ming had gathered, Lin Tion was in a desperate situation. His mother had been a servant in the Lynn household. So despite being the family head's 19th son, he'd been looked down on and pushed aside his whole life. They'd sent him to this miserable corner of Baleyong where the entire trade was monopolized by the Han family's merchant association. His starting capital had dried up in 6 months with the shop barely earning enough to survive. Two months ago, he 59:00 turned to smuggling. He'd used his family's trade networks to secretly bring in thunderbolt bombs, small fist-sized weapons he could hide inside regular fruit shipments to get past border checkpoints. He bought them from his family sources for about a 100 coins each, planning to sell them for 5 to 10 times that price. The first shipment had arrived just 3 days ago, but then the city government launched a sudden crackdown on smuggling, and his buyers either slashed their offers or threatened to report him. Thunderbolt bombs were strictly controlled military supplies. Smuggling them was treated as treason. Without a noble title to protect him, he'd be executed if caught, and his father would never risk the family's reputation to save him. I sent in a visiting card announcing myself as Chin Leong of the Anan Marque household, county governor of Yangu. Linton was alarmed. He knew about the old friction between our families, but he let me in out of curiosity and noble courtesy. I walked in smiling warmly and had Lu Tian 1:00:02 Ming present a gift box. Lint Tion opened it casually then froze. Inside was a thunderbolt bomb. The box slipped from his hands and the dark iron ball rolled across the floor. He shot to his feet, face white, glaring at me in shock and fury. I kept smiling and told him I was there purely for business. He ordered all his guards out. Once we were alone, I told him plainly I wanted to buy every single one of his Thunderbolt bombs, several thousand of them at full market price, guaranteed by the Anan family's century old reputation. The words hit him like a hammer. The offer was incredibly tempting. It would solve his crisis and earn him a huge profit. But the fact that it was coming from a chain made him unable to trust whether this was a genuine deal or a trap. Lintion was trapped. He knew that if he sold to me, he'd be handing a deadly secret to a rival family. But if he refused, I already knew everything and his unsold contraband was still sitting in his shop while the authorities were 1:01:03 searching everywhere. I saw his hesitation and offered a different angle, a partnership. I put on an outraged face and complained about the Han family's merchant association charging me 10 times the market price for supplies in Yangu County. I suggested that instead of a formal trade, we could exchange things as friends. He'd gift me supplies and I'd gift him silver in return. Since we weren't technically buying or selling through commercial channels, the Han family's trade monopoly wouldn't apply. Lintion saw right through it. He accused me of trying to make him my smuggler, carrying all the risk while I stayed clean. He stood up and called for his guard to show me out. I didn't argue. I turned to leave, but at the door I casually mentioned it was a shame he didn't want to befriend a future baron. That stopped him cold. He demanded to know why I was so confident. I told him my father had given me 800 warriors and500 soldiers. He was welcome to visit Yangu County and see for himself. That hit him hard. The contrast between my 1:02:05 position and his backed by a powerful family versus abandoned by his own was painfully obvious. After a long internal struggle, he swallowed his pride and jealousy. His tone completely flipped. Suddenly, I was old brother and the thunderbolt bombs were just local products between friends. We agreed to meet the next night at midnight at a place called Chongban Ridge outside the city for the handoff. I left the shop very satisfied. I'd not only secured the Thunderbolt bombs at a low price, but I'd also established a smuggling supply line through Linton. As a Lynn family member, even a neglected one, he had access to rare resources through gray market channels. Under imperial law, only smugglers were punished, never the buyers, a rule the nobility had written for their own convenience. Lintion agreed because I'd dangled a powerful incentive, an alliance with a well-armed, well-backed county governor who was likely to earn a baron title soon. That kind of connection could help 1:03:06 him rebuild his standing within his own family. I told Lu Tian Ming to bring enough silver tomorrow and pick up the goods at Chong Ban Rich. Then I headed straight to Anju house to buy more slaves. The servant from last time spotted me immediately and rushed over, thrilled to see his big spending customer return. I told him I wanted to buy more slaves and asked how many they currently had in stock. At Anju house, the servant brought out a better batch of slaves, still dull-eyed, but physically much stronger than the skinny ones from before. He quoted 30 tales each. I put on a frustrated face and told him about the demon beast tribe near my county that I needed to clear out, hinting at big ongoing expenses. He eagerly dropped the price to 25 tales per head plus my VIP discount, bringing the total for 1,000 slaves to 22,500 tales. He also mentioned that in 3 months, Baleong City would host a major auction with third and fourth grade pills available. I made a mental note. 1:04:08 With my intelligence system, an auction would be a perfect place to find hidden bargains. After the slaves, I bought large quantities of supplies, especially grain. With another thousand people, my civilian population was now over 2,000. Food was the biggest expense. Grain in Baleong cost three times the price in Anon. Just feeding everyone cost at least 5,000 tales a month in cheap grain. And with military expenses on top, my monthly costs were at least 30,000 tales. Over a year, that added up to 400,000. My father's half million tales could cover the first year, and once I captured the iron mine, money would no longer be a problem. The next night, Lu Tian Ming successfully collected 500 Thunderbolt bombs from Linton. On the third morning, we headed back to Yangu County with all the new slaves and supplies, arriving on the sixth day. The original slaves immediately got nervous. Their competition for freedom had just doubled. When I met with Ming Yun, I 1:05:08 could tell instantly he'd broken through to the organ refining realm. He was thrilled. He'd expected it to take at least another year, but the fruit I'd given him did the job in days. I told him to stabilize his new level, and that in 3 days, we'd march on Falling Rock Valley. I ordered him to send scouts to map out the exact layout of the scorpion nests, their numbers and positions. 3 days later, everything was ready. The scouts confirmed 5 to 6,000 scorpions. Only about a dozen at second tier, around 500 at first tier, and the rest unranked. I stood and gave the order to move out. This would be my first real battle in Baleong. If we won, the iron mine would transform Yongu County's future. When I rode out to the assembly point, I was impressed. Over 2,000 slaves had shown up, formed into rough lines. Even dozens of young men from the two nearby villages had come voluntarily, standing at the edges of the crowd with hopeful, anxious faces. Over the past 3 days, word had spread 1:06:10 through all of Yangu County. I was leading an attack on a demon beast tribe, and any slave who killed an enemy would earn their freedom. By the time I stood on the platform looking down, the crowd was buzzing. Not a single de-eyed face remained. I announced the terms clearly. Any slave who killed one unranked demon beast would be freed immediately. Anyone who killed three would receive resource rewards and a chance to join my army as a support soldier with regular training, military pay, and even the possibility of stepping onto the path of a warrior. Not one person backed down. When I asked if anyone wanted to retreat, the answer was a thunderous roar. Fight, fight, fight. I had weapons distributed to all 2,000 slaves, swords, spears, shields. It was an expensive investment, but necessary. Once they had steel in their hands, the last traces of hesitation vanished, replaced by fierce determination. I gave the order to march. Our full force 1:07:11 numbered over 4,800 warriors, 1,500 regular soldiers, and over 2,000 armed slaves, roughly one to one against the 5,000 scorpions. Not ideal odds, but I was confident. After half a day's march, we reached Falling Rock Valley. I halted the army and ordered the three units into position. The plan was straightforward. First, Ming Yun would lead a team of bone refining elite soldiers carrying thunderbolt bombs deep into the scorpion caves to blast and smoke the creatures out into the open. Second, I would personally lead 200 heavy cavalry in a devastating charge through the panicked swarm. Third, Luan Ming would command over 4,000 infantry in a surrounding ring to kill anything that tried to escape. Luan Ming knelt and swore to complete his mission. Ming Yun personally inspected every thunderbolt bomb, then led dozens of handpicked bone refining fighters into the valley depths like shadows. Half an hour of tense 1:08:12 silence passed. Then the explosions came. A chain of deep, violent blasts that shook the earth, sending columns of thick sulfurous smoke pouring out of the caves. I kicked my horse forward and roared the charge. 200 armored riders screamed, "Kill!" in unison. The ground trembled under the weight of 200 war horses in full gallop, tearing toward the valley like a steel storm. The scorpions were already pouring out of their caves in blind panic from the explosions. And now they saw the wall of iron thundering straight at them. Deep inside the caves, the scorpion leaders were panicking. Their old chief with a bone staff and the bigger second tier guards heard the explosions and the reports of human warriors hurling exploding devices throughout their tunnels. They screamed at each other to run, abandoning their iron mine without a second thought. Man's team did their job perfectly. The thunderbolt bomb set the dry nests and dead would ablaze, turning the entire underground network 1:09:12 into a furnace of fire and choking smoke. Scorpions that caught the burning material burst into flames, shrieking horribly. The panic spread through the entire colony like a disease. When the old chief stumbled out of his collapsing den, Ming Yun was waiting. He cut through the chief's bone staff with one strike, then slashed through its armored shell, sending the creature flying into a burning pile. Three more sword strikes finished it. With every sweep of his blade, his organ refining level power shredded dozens of scorpions at a time. Meanwhile, I charged in with the 200 heavy cavalry. We tore through the swarm like a hot iron through butter. Their human-like bodies crumbled under our horses hooves and our lances. The few second tier scorpions that tried to stand their ground were instantly skewered by multiple bloody enhanced spears. We also hurled thunderbolt bombs into the thickest clusters as we rode. Each explosion ripping apart masses of them. In just 15 minutes, the core of 1:10:14 their territory was a slaughterhouse. I fought alongside my riders, my spear punching through scorpion shells with every thrust. I personally killed over a dozen. The surviving scorpions broke completely and fled toward the valley exits, straight into Lu Tiing<unk>s trap. Arrows darkened the sky, and behind the regular soldiers stood over 2,000 slaves with blood red eyes. Driven mad by the promise of freedom, they threw themselves at every scorpion that appeared, hacking and stabbing without mercy. The killing at the Valley Mouth was even more savage than inside. The battle lasted from daylight through the night and into the next dawn. When the last wisps of smoke cleared in the morning breeze, it was over. More than 5,000 scorpions were dead. Every single one. Green blood ran in streams across the scorched cracked earth. Twisted corpses covered the valley floor and the slopes beyond. My silver white armor was soaked in green slime, and every rider 1:11:14 around me looked the same. The slaves piled up the scorpion bodies and burned them. The meat was inedible and leaving the corpses to rot would bring disease. I ordered Ming Yun and Lu Tian Ming to continue sweeping the area for any surviving scorpions and to seal off the entire valley. No one was to approach without my permission. After a short rest, I took some soldiers and a few slaves who had mining experience, ones I'd specifically bought for this purpose on my last trip to Baong City, and went to inspect the iron mine. By evening, the survey was done, and the results were staggering. The deposit stretched over 10 mi with an estimated 50 million tons of ore that put it at the very top of medium-sized mines, practically qualifying as a large one. The bigger the mine, the more mystic iron it would produce. Mystic iron was the key material for making mystic iron armor, true supernatural equipment and a hard currency in this world. A single set of mystic iron armor sold for over a 100 1:12:15 tales in Anen and even more in Baong. Just the raw mystic iron for one set was worth a 100 tales to the Han family's trading association. This mine could produce hundreds of sets. That kind of wealth would make every county governor in the region desperate to take it by negotiation or by war. I couldn't let word get out. I had the entire area fenced off and soldiers posted to patrol and prevent any information leaks. That night, the intelligence refreshed. One entry said there was a surprise hidden deep in one of the scorpion caves. Another revealed that in three months, mystic crystals would form inside one of the mine tunnels, a material far rarer and more valuable than mystic. Iron capable of conducting a warrior's bloodshi to amplify weapons and armor. A single mystic crystal weapon could be worth tens of thousands of tales. Then Ming Yun rushed in, barely containing his excitement. He told me they'd found a group of panggalan demon beasts 1:13:15 imprisoned deep in the caves. I jumped to my feet. Panggalins were a special species. Their combat power was extremely low, capped at first tier at most, but nature had given them an unmatched talent for digging and an instinct for forging metal. They were born miners and blacksmiths, the perfect workforce. This solved every problem at once. I'd been planning to buy slave miners and recruit blacksmiths, but pengalins could do both jobs. I rushed to the cave with Ming Yun. When I saw them creatures that looked remarkably like the panggalan character from a cartoon I remembered from my previous life. I couldn't stop grinning. One of them spoke up, respected, "Lord, we can work for you. Please don't kill us." An elderly Panggalan stepped forward, bowed, and begged me not to kill them. The whole group huddled together, trembling. They'd been captured by the scorpions and forced to mine ore and forge weapons as slaves. Now that the scorpions were destroyed, their fate was in my hands. They would have run, but 1:14:17 they were still chained. I offered them a deal. Work for me loyally for 20 years, and I'd give them food, safety, and eventually their freedom. The old Panggalan agreed immediately, and the entire tribe prostrated themselves, swearing a blood oath to serve me faithfully. After questioning them, I learned there were over 200 pangolants with more than 20 skilled forggers among them. That was more than enough to run both the mining operation and a weapons workshop, saving me enormous amounts of money and manpower. That same day, I formally announced the battle results. Based on the military merit rules I'd set before the fight, I freed 872 slaves on the spot. Over 300 of the bravest fighters were promoted to official auxiliary soldiers. The camp erupted in celebration, crying, shouting, kissing the ground. Hundreds of slaves had died in the battle, but the joy of freedom overwhelmed the grief for now. I also distributed resources to the regular 1:15:18 soldiers as rewards, deepening their loyalty even further. I left Ming Yun in command of the mine with 1,000 elite soldiers to guard it. I told him I hoped he'd one day become a pillar of my forces, likely how was for my father. He was deeply moved. I also stationed some slaves at the mine to work alongside the panggalins and to keep watch over them. I didn't fully trust any non-human creatures. Ideally, I'd use soul stones to bind the panggalins the way slave merchants controlled their property, but I had none. Getting soul stones became a priority for my next visit to Baong City. If even one Pangalan escaped and leaked information about the iron mine, I'd face disaster. Over the following month, Yangu County transformed completely. The county office was fully rebuilt, grand and imposing. The city walls were finished, a complete defensive ring enclosing the entire town. The wheat fields outside were thriving far beyond expectations. Heavy golden heads swaying in the wind, 1:16:20 promising a bountiful harvest. Over a thousand freed citizens and a thousand slaves formed the foundation of a real functioning county on the northern frontier of Baong. Let me tell you something about running a county in the middle of nowhere. It's basically being a medieval HR department with a sword. But somehow against all odds, my people didn't just tolerate me. They absolutely worshiped the ground I walked on. And honestly, I couldn't blame them. Where else in this god-forsaken corner of Baong could a slave dream of becoming free, learning martial arts, and getting a wife? Nowhere. That's where I was basically Santa Claus with a spear and a government title. Speaking of wives, oh boy, let me tell you about my greatest administrative achievement. After securing the iron mine at Falling Rock Valley, I made another trip to Baong City. And what did I buy? 200 women. Now, before you judge me, hear me out. A county doesn't grow on soldiers and sweaty laborers alone. You need 1:17:22 families. You need babies. You need people who will still be here in 20 years. This was pure demographic strategy, nothing more. The fact that my soldiers nearly lost their minds with happiness was just a pleasant side effect. I kept 10 of the more presentable ones for county office duties. cleaning, serving, keeping the place looking like an actual seed of government rather than a bandit camp. The remaining 190 went to the soldiers who distinguished themselves at the falling Rock Valley battle. And for everyone else, soldiers and hardworking slaves alike. I dangled the same carrot. Earn enough merit points and you two could receive this particular reward. The reaction was nuclear. I thought freeing slaves had caused excitement. That was a gentle breeze compared to this hurricane. The announcement hit every primal nerve in every man's body simultaneously. A full month later, people were still working like demons possessed, eyes burning with determination. Some of those slaves were putting in 16-hour days voluntarily. The 1:18:24 motivation was so thick you could cut it with a knife. From a purely economic standpoint, spending some silver on women generated more productivity than any speech or policy I could have dreamed up. My inner economist was doing a victory dance. And the best part, new families started forming. Little houses that used to echo with lonely snoring now had the sounds of couples bickering about whose turn it was to fetch water. Romance bloomed among the ruins of what used to be a demon ravaged wasteland. If that isn't poetic, I don't know what is. Every morning, Yangu County woke up buzzing like a beehive on energy drinks. People actually smiled while working. The fields were gorgeous. The walls were solid and the whole place finally looked like a real town instead of a post-apocalyptic campsite. I was genuinely proud. One particular morning, I just finished breakfast and was considering a leisurely stroll to digest my food like a proper gentleman of leisure. Maybe admire my city walls. Maybe watch the wheat sway. You know, 1:19:26 lordly things. That plan lasted approximately 4 seconds. Lu Tian Ming came barreling in like a human cannonball, eyes practically popping out of his skull. My lord, the mysterious man. He's awake. I blinked, then blinked again. You mean the guy who's been doing his best impression of a very expensive corpse for the past several months? Yes, he's sitting up and everything. Well, slap me sideways and call me a turnip. The man actually survived. I'd poured enough pills into that guy to stock a small pharmacy, a fourth grade shimu pill, multiple third grade pills, and enough medical attention to make a royal physician jealous. Every time I walked past his room, I half expected to see a skeleton wearing his clothes. But no, the stubborn old goat had actually pulled through. I practically joged to his room, maintaining just enough dignity to not look like an overexited puppy. When I pushed open the door, there he was, Shiao Han, sitting up in bed, looking confused, bewildered, and 1:20:28 very much alive. His first words were mumbling about how he should be dead. Fair point, honestly, by all rights. He should have been fertilizing wild flowers somewhere on the northern plains. When he saw me, his warrior instincts kicked in and he went all tense and alert. But the moment I spoke to him with a friendly smile, asking how he felt, something shifted in his expression. He straightened himself up despite his obvious weakness and gave me a deep formal bow. "I owe you my life," he said, his voice rough as sandpaper, but completely sincere. "Now I've been gambling on this moment for months." Every pill I'd fed this unconscious stranger had been a chip pushed onto the table of fate. And watching him bow with genuine gratitude, not the fake, forced kind, but the real deal, I felt that gamble finally pay off. The intelligence system had promised an unexpected reward, and I was starting to see what it meant. This wasn't just some random wanderer. This was a Peak Tong, my realm warrior from the Great Zhao dynasty. And 1:21:30 he was looking at me like I'd personally wrestled him away from the Grim Reaper, which technically I had, with pharmaceuticals. I played it cool, naturally told him not to be so formal, said my name was Chin Leang, and invited him to eat. The poor man's stomach growled so loudly I think the guards outside flinched. He tried to be polite about it. Something about not deserving more kindness, but his belly betrayed him completely. I led him to the main hall where the maids had set out a proper meal. Hot food, warm soup, light porridge, nothing too heavy for a man whose digestive system had been on vacation for months. We sat across from each other like civilized people. And for the first time since I'd scraped him off that roadside, I felt genuinely optimistic about what this mysterious man might bring to my little corner of the world. Now, here's the thing about dealing with powerful people. You can't just wave a contract in their face and say, "Sign here, buddy." Especially when that powerful person could flick you across a room with one finger. No. With 1:22:32 a man like Shiao Han, you had to play the long game. And I, Chin Leong, certified transmigrator and amateur psychologist, was very good at long games, mostly because my intelligence system gave me cheat codes. But still, over breakfast, Shiao Han tried to do the whole noble warrior gratitude speech. He sat there looking at the gorgeous spread of food I prepared and refused to pick up his chopsticks because apparently eating my food without first pledging his eternal service would violate some sacred code of honor. warriors and their dramatic principles. I swear. Young Master Chen, you saved my life, he said with the gravity of a man delivering a eulogy at his own funeral. This debt weighs heavier than mountains. Whatever you need, as long as it doesn't violate heaven's conscience or the warrior's path, Shiao Han will do it without hesitation, even if it costs me my life. Very touching. Very dramatic. But I wasn't about to cash in this chip over breakfast like some impatient merchant. 1:23:33 That would be amateur hour. Instead, I put on my most humble, enlightened expression, the one I'd been practicing in the mirror, and waved him off. Senior shout, please. Anyone with a shred of decency would have done the same. I simply followed my heart. There's no debt to speak of. Now, please eat before everything gets cold. He stared at me like I'd just spoken in an alien language. Apparently, in his experience, people who save your life with expensive pills generally want something in return. The fact that I was acting like it was no big deal clearly shortcircuited something in his brain. He blinked a few times, then finally cracked a small smile and picked up his chopsticks. Perfect. Phase one of operation keep the walking nuclear weapon complete. See, what I actually wanted wasn't some quick favor or a temporary bodyguard gig. I wanted all of Shiao Han. his strength, his experience, his loyalty, the whole package. And you don't get that by being pushy. You get that by being so genuinely decent that 1:24:34 the man convinces himself staying is his own idea. Psychology, baby works in every universe. After the meal, I let him be. I had a county to run, and hovering over a recovering patient like a needy puppy wasn't going to win me any respect points. I told the maids assigned to his care to treat him like royalty, then buried myself in the mountain of paperwork that comes with being the mayor, general, tax collector, and chief architect of a frontier town simultaneously. Meanwhile, Shiaoan went for a walk. And this is where things got really entertaining for me at least, since I was getting reports from my people every hour like I was running a surveillance operation, which I absolutely was. First, he wandered through the city, sizing everything up. I could practically hear his thoughts through the reports. This place is tiny, barely a viscount territory. How does a minor lord in this backwater corner of nowhere get his hands on fourth grade pills? The math wasn't mate for him, and it was driving him crazy. In his 1:25:36 homeland, the great Joe dynasty, wherever that was, even a viscount would struggle to afford third grade medicine. Yet here I was, some teenage county governor in the armpit of the empire, casually feeding him the pharmaceutical equivalent of a luxury sports car multiple times. The confusion was delicious. I almost wished I could watch his face in real time. Then he walked outside the city walls and that's when his brain really started melting. He strolled past the farmland where my soldiers were working, weeding, clearing irrigation channels, doing honest agricultural labor. Now, you have to understand something about this world's social hierarchy. Warriors don't farm. It's considered beneath them. A bone refining realm warrior pulling weeds would be like a four-star general back in my previous life mopping floors at a fast food restaurant. It simply does not happen. Except in Yangu County, it happens every single day before lunch. Shiao Han's spiritual sense. Because of course, a tong, my powerhouse, has 1:26:37 ridiculous detection abilities. Swept across these farmers and immediately picked up refined blood chi signatures. Not just blood refining level either. Some of those field workers had bone refining realm cultivation. Warriors, actual warriors squatting in the dirt, yanking out weeds, looking completely content about it. I'm told he literally stopped walking midstried like someone had pressed pause on a video. He double-ch checked his senses. Triple checked. Nope. Not a hallucination. Those were real warriors doing real farming with real enthusiasm. What kind of place is this? He muttered to himself. And honestly, if I'd been there, I would have answered, "Welcome to Yangu County, where the impossible is Tuesday." The beautiful thing was my soldiers weren't being forced. They weren't grumbling or dragging their feet. They were working hard because the contribution point system I'd built actually made it worth their while. Farm work earned points. Points earned techniques, pills, promotions, and the 1:27:40 ultimate prize, women. That last one alone had turned my army into the most motivated agricultural workforce in the history of civilization. Shiaoan spent the rest of the day wandering around with his jaw hanging progressively lower. Every corner of my county seemed designed to shatter another one of his deeply held assumptions about how the world worked. I received reports that he'd stopped and stared at things no fewer than 11 times. 11. The man who'd faced death with stoic calm was being emotionally destroyed by good city planning and happy farmers. I let him explore freely. I had nothing to hide. In fact, the more he saw, the more confused and impressed he'd become. and a confused, impressed Tong, my warrior, who already owed me his life. That was a man very close to deciding to stick around. What I didn't expect, couldn't have predicted even with my intelligence system, was what happened the very next day. Shiao Han wandered near the military training grounds where Lu Tian Ming was practicing. And the moment his 1:28:41 eyes landed on my prodigy, the moment his spiritual sense touched that monstrous talent radiating off Lu Hinming's sweating body, he stopped dead in his tracks. Something changed in his expression. Something I've been waiting months to see. So, remember how I said playing the long game with Shiao Han was the smart move? Turns out I didn't even need a long game. The universe just handed me a royal flush while I was sitting there holding a pair of threes. Here's what happened. Shiao Han peaked on my warrior walking weapon of mass destruction. The guy I'd been carefully strategizing how to keep. Went for his daily. I'm just casually strolling but actually inspecting everything. Walk. And his wandering feet carried him right past the military training grounds where Lu Tian Ming was practicing. Now Lu Tion Ming wasn't doing anything special, just his usual routine. punching air, radiating blood chi like a space heater made of pure talent, being annoyingly gifted at everything physical. Business 1:29:41 as usual for my little monster prodigy. But to Shiao Han, it was like watching lightning strike a diamond. Let me put this in perspective. Shiaoan wasn't some nobody who got impressed easily. This man had started cultivating at 10, became a warrior at 12, hit bone refining at 15, organ refining at 20, huene at 28, and reached peak tong by 54. In his entire nation, the great Zhao dynasty, fewer than 10 people in his generation had better talent than him. He was literally the person most likely to break through to the legendary Shinsyang realm in his entire country. And when his spiritual sense touched Lu Tiing<unk>s bloodqi, this man, this absolute titan of martial arts, nearly swallowed his own tongue. The bloodchi density pouring out of Lu Tinming<unk>s young body was absurd. Not stronger than a tong, my warriors, obviously, but way, way too concentrated for someone at his cultivation level. It was like finding a toddler bench pressing a refrigerator. 1:30:42 The numbers simply didn't add up. And for a seasoned expert like Shia Han, that meant only one thing. Generational, epic defining, once in a millennium talent. Impossible. Truly impossible, he reportedly mumbled to himself, eyes blazing with the kind of excitement usually reserved for discovering buried treasure or finding out your favorite restaurant has a secret menu. What happened next was the most predictable thing in the history of predictable things. Shiao Han marched straight up to Lu Tian Ming, introduced himself with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, and dropped the proposal. Child, I am Shiao Han, Peak Tong, my warrior of the great Zhao dynasty. I wish to take you as my final disciple. Accept and within 10 years, I guarantee you'll reach Tong my realm. Even the legendary Shienang realm won't be a mere dream. Now in any normal scenario, a young warrior hearing this offer would have spontaneously combusted from excitement. A peak tong my master 1:31:44 offering personal mentorship. That's like having the world's greatest athlete show up at your doorstep saying, "Hey kid, want me to coach you for free?" Luing<unk>s response, "Two, well, three in Chinese. Not interested." The silence that followed could have killed a small animal. Xiao Han's face apparently went through more expressions in 3 seconds than most people manage in a year. Confusion, disbelief, a brief detour through existential crisis. Then right back to confusion. What do you understand? What Tongmai means? What Shinsang means? I'm offering you. I'm sure Lu Tian Ming cut him off. Calm as a frozen lake. I follow Lord Chin Leang. My marshall path, my life, all belong to him. Don't bring up this apprentice business again. Then he bowed politely and walked away. Just walked away. Left the most powerful warrior he'd ever meet standing there with his mouth hanging open like a fish that just got rejected by a worm. I was not present for this 1:32:44 exchange, but I desperately wish I had been because according to reports, Shiaoan stood there for a solid minute muttering to himself about whether his personal charm had somehow deteriorated. He actually questioned whether he'd gotten uglier. The man survived assassination and near-death poisoning without losing his composure, but getting rejected by a teenager sent him into a full identity crisis. "That's it," he apparently declared to nobody in particular. "If I can't convince the student, I'll go straight to the boss." And that's how a pong, my warrior, came storming into my office like a customer demanding to speak with the manager. Yuni let him in. He was barely holding it together, practically vibrating with urgency. Young Master Chin, forgive the interruption, but this cannot wait. Your guard, Lu Tian Ming, is a once- in a generation genius. I humbly request that you allow him to study under me. I pretended to look surprised, even though my brain was already doing cartwheels. This was exactly the opening I've been 1:33:45 waiting for. The fish had jumped into the boat and was now begging me to reel it in. I put on my most pained, conflicted expression. Senior Sha, I'm afraid I can't agree to that. Tion Ming is more than a subordinate. He's like a brother to me. I could never force him into something against his will. Shiao Han nearly popped a blood vessel. He started throwing out offers like a desperate auctioneer, a Tong my warrior to serve as my personal bodyguard, a cultivation technique capable of reaching the Shinang realm. He even pointed out correctly the rude old man that my current breathing technique would probably cap out and leave me stuck forever. Now, I won't lie, that offer made my heart do a backflip. A tong my bodyguard, plus a Shien Xang level technique. That wasn't just game-changing, that was game-breaking. With those resources, forget a mere baron title. I could aim for an Earl seat without breaking a sweat. But that volcanic rush of greed actually snapped me into perfect clarity. If Shiao Han 1:34:47 was willing to pay this much, then Lu Timing<unk>s value was even more astronomical than I'd calculated. Trading a future Tong my warrior, my future Tong, my warrior, for some short-term gains would be the dumbest business decision since someone traded Manhattan for beads. Besides, the real prize wasn't the stuff Shiao Han was offering. The real prize was Shiao Han himself. And the beautiful irony was that his obsession with Lu Ton Ming was the very chain that would anchor him to Yangu County. I sighed dramatically. Senior, your offer is incredibly generous, almost painfully tempting, honestly. But the decision was never mine to make. It's Tiamings. Surely you see that, his face twisted with frustration. He was about to argue again when I raised my hand with a smile that I hoped looked both wise and mysterious. However, perhaps there's another arrangement we could consider. My proposal was simple, elegant, and if I do say so myself, absolutely diabolical in its brilliance. How about this? I 1:35:48 said, wearing my most reasonable expression. Let's set aside the whole apprenticeship thing for now. Instead, why don't you stay here in Yangu County and guide Tming<unk>s training? We're still rebuilding, but I can absolutely arrange comfortable quarters for you. And I give you my word. If Tion Ming ever decides willingly to leave with you, I won't stand in his way. Not one bit. Xiao<unk>s eyes, which had been slowly dimming with each rejection like a candle running out of wax, suddenly blazed back to life. "Young Master Chin, do you truly mean that? A gentleman never breaks his promise," I said with a warm, trustworthy smile. The kind of smile that absolutely does not belong on the face of someone who is actively running a con. "Then I thank you," he clasped his hands, bowed, and practically bounced out of my office. His footsteps actually had a spring in them. The man who'd been moping around my county like a sad, overpowered ghost for months was suddenly walking like he'd just won the lottery. The moment, 1:36:48 the absolute millisecond, his shadow disappeared around the corner. I let the grin I'd been suppressing explode across my face like sunrise over a battlefield. This was too perfect, almost criminally perfect. Let me break down why I was doing an internal victory dance. Yes, I had promised that if Lu Tian Ming willingly chose to leave with Xiao Han, I wouldn't stop him. That was a real genuine promise. Cross my heart and everything. The thing is, and this is the beautiful part, Lu Tian Ming would rather eat his own sword than leave my side. The boy had literally rejected this exact same offer not 2 hours ago with the emotional warmth of a brick wall. He'd turn down a peak tong my master's personal mentorship like someone declining a flyer on the street. No thanks, I'm good. So, what did my promise actually cost me? Absolutely nothing. Zero. A big fat goose egg of sacrifice. And what did I gain? A peak tong, my realm warrior, voluntarily choosing to live in my county, training 1:37:50 my best fighter, and gradually becoming more and more invested in everything I was building. Because that's the trap, isn't it? Xiaoan thinks he's staying temporarily to win over Lu Tian Ming. But every day he spends here, he sees more of what I'm creating. He eats my food. He walks my streets. He watches my people thrive. And slowly, without even realizing it, this place stops being that kid's little project and starts becoming something he cares about, too. Time and proximity, my friends. The two most underrated weapons in any arsenal. I was still basking in the warm glow of my own genius when reality decided I hadn't had enough dopamine for one day and hit me with another surprise. A messenger burst into my study, dropped to one knee, and announced that the first batch of finished products from the falling Rock Valley mine had arrived at the county warehouse. Mangin had personally inspected everything before shipping it out. Already, I jumped up from my chair like it was on fire. That 1:38:51 was faster than I expected. take me there immediately. We practically joged to the warehouse district, which was now surrounded by guards who looked like they'd stabbed their own shadows, if those shadows acted suspicious. Smart boys. On the open ground in front of the buildings, dozens of heavy wooden crates sat in neat rows being unloaded from wagons by sweating soldiers. The escort captain snapped to attention and delivered his report with the enthusiasm of a man who knew he was carrying good news. And oh boy was it good news. 30 sets of forged iron armor, 10 sets of mystic iron heavy armor, plus 113 farming tools, hose, plows, sickles, the works. All inspected and certified excellent quality by Ming Yun himself. But wait, there was more. The captain added that Ming Yun wanted me to know the Pangalan craftsmen were getting better and faster with each passing day. Starting next month, iron armor output would increase by at least 30% and 1:39:53 mystic iron armor production would also climb steadily. I did some quick mental math and nearly choked on my own excitement. In Baleong, iron armor sold for 25 to 30 tales per set. Mystic iron armor over a 100 tales each. Just this first shipment was worth several thousand tales. Scale that up with the promised production increases and I was looking at over 10,000 tales per month. per month. That's over a 100,000 tales annually from the mine alone. Some established Earl families didn't pull in numbers like that. And this was just the beginning. The mystic crystals hadn't even started forming yet. I walked away from that warehouse feeling like I'd swallowed liquid sunshine. Naturally, the universe wasn't done showering me with presents. I hadn't even sat down back at the office, hadn't even touched my tea, when another soldier came rushing in. My lord, the Lynn family trading house has sent word. Master Linton will personally visit Yongu County tomorrow to discuss business. 1:40:53 Well, well, well. My favorite smuggler turn business partner was coming to call. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. I had a warehouse filling up with armor that needed buyers. And Linton had distribution channels that didn't involve the highway robbery pricing of the Han family's merchant association. Those Han family crooks were absolutely outrageous. A perfectly good iron armor set worth 30 tales on the open market. They'd offer 20 and act like they were doing you a charitable favor. On Mystic Iron Armor, the gouging was even worse. Selling through them meant watching nearly half my profits evaporate into some monopouist pocket. No thank you. Linton was the smarter play. His family's network might not cover every corner of Baleong, but the prices were fair. We already had mutual trust from the Thunderbolt bomb deal. And frankly, keeping a Lynn family connection happy was good long-term strategy. A few days later, a modest caravan appeared on the road heading toward Yangu County. Lyn Tion rode at 1:41:54 the front on a handsome dark horse, looking every inch the composed young merchant. His convoy wasn't large, maybe a hundred guards with only a handful of actual warriors, but those dozen plus wagons behind him were packed heavy with cargo. His guard, Captain, Chunming, reported they'd arrive by noon the next day. Lin Tian nodded calmly and ordered them to pick up the pace, commenting that their host, Chin Leang, surely had fine food and wine waiting. But I noticed something in the reports about his arrival. Beneath that composed merchants's exterior, there was apparently a flicker of worry in his eyes. Something was bothering him, and whatever it was, he was bringing it straight to my doorstep along with his merchandise. Lucky me. as if my plate wasn't already overflowing with blessings. Now I probably had a new problem to solve, too. But honestly, at this point, problems were just opportunities wearing ugly hats. And I had a very good track record of turning ugly hats into golden crowns. Now, here's something you should know about Lin Tion. The poor man had been 1:42:56 suffering from a chronic case of was I scammed syndrome the entire journey to my county. And honestly, I couldn't blame him. The last time we'd met, I'd basically told him to hitch his wagon to my rising star, painted a glorious picture of my future Barreny, and then rode off into the sunset with five 100 thunderbolt bombs. From his perspective, there was a very real chance he'd traded contraband military weapons to a smoothtalking teenager who was currently sitting in a pile of rubble somewhere, crying into his porridge. His anxiety had good reason. He'd done his homework on other noble sons sent to Baleon. one of his own Lynn family cousins, a guy who actually had family backing, had received only a hundred warriors, a few hundred soldiers, and a measly hundred,000 tales to start with. And that was considered generous support. So, when some kid he'd met once claimed he was going to become a baron with 800 warriors and 1500 soldiers, Lin Tion's internal scam detector had been blaring 1:43:56 red alerts ever since. Please don't let this be a waste of time," he apparently muttered to the horizon as his caravan trundled along. The man was basically praying to the god of business deals that I wasn't full of hot air. Then his caravan crested a small hill and his entire worldview collapsed like a house of cards in a hurricane. Instead of the expected wasteland of broken walls and despair, Lin Tion found himself staring at endless fields of lush green wheat stretching toward a brand new towering stone city wall that looked like it had been there for years, not months. The man literally stopped his horse and rubbed his eyes. Actually rubbed his eyes like a cartoon character who'd just seen a ghost. His brain was doing frantic recalculations and every single one came back with the same impossible answer. This lunatic teenager had actually done it for months. That's all it had been since I'd arrived in Baleong province. Most county governors needed 1 to two years just to get basic 1:44:56 structures up. Some took 5 years and still looked like they were camping in a construction zone. And here was Yongu County looking like it had been established by someone who'd been doing this their whole life. I'd been informed of his approach. Naturally, my scouts weren't sleeping on the job, so I rode out personally to greet him at the county border. The moment he saw me, his face split into the kind of smile usually reserved for people who've just learned they won the inheritance lottery. Brother Lynn, welcome to Yongu County. I dismounted and gave him a proper bear hug. Nothing says I'm a trustworthy business partner, like physical contact and genuine warmth. He hugged me back with the desperate enthusiasm of a man whose doubts had just been murdered by reality. "Brother Chen, I genuinely did not expect this," he said, looking around with eyes the size of dinner plates. "For months, and you've built all this. I'm honestly speechless. Just a bit of luck and hardworking people," I said with my most humble wave. I had rehearsed that exact 1:45:57 gesture of casual modesty approximately seven times this morning. I invited him to the county office for a welcome banquet. He accepted immediately because of course he did. The man had been eating road dust for days. But the surprises weren't over for poor Linton. Walking through my city gates, his jaw kept dropping lower and lower. Clean, wide streets laid out in a proper grid. Orderly buildings. People including slaves actually looking happy and energetic. In Baong, seeing a slave smile was about as common as seeing a pig fly. But here they were, chatting, laughing, hauling supplies with genuine enthusiasm. I could practically see Lin Tion's opinion of me upgrading in real time from possibly useful contact to definitely someone I need to stay very close to. Now for the banquet. I may have gone slightly overboard, but listen, when you're trying to impress a merchant who controls supply chains, you desperately need slightly overboard is 1:46:58 the correct calibration. The table was loaded with dishes made from the choicest cuts of third-tier demon beasts. That's right. Creatures that most warriors would risk their lives to hunt, and I was serving them as appetizers. Lintion, despite growing up in one of the wealthiest merchant families in the empire, looked at that spread like he'd accidentally wandered into a royal palace's kitchen. His scalp was visibly tingling. I could see it. Three rounds of wine later, the plates were cleared and replaced with tea. Lin Tion finally cracked. Brother Chen, this banquet was way too extravagant. I honestly feel guilty. I laughed. A big hearty confident laugh. the kind that says this. This is nothing because it was nothing compared to what I was about to show him. Brother Lynn, don't be so formal. Good things exist to be shared with good friends. Besides, that meal was just the warm-up. You haven't seen the real gift yet. His eyebrows shot up so fast they nearly left his forehead. I 1:47:58 turned to Lu Tian Ming. Bring in the welcome presents. A dozen soldiers marched in carrying massive wooden crates and set them down with heavy thuds that made the floorboards groan. Linton stared at them with visible confusion. "Open them up," I said casually like I was revealing party favors instead of military grade equipment. The lids came off. Inside, row after gleaming row of dark metal armor caught the lamplight. Lint Tion's body moved before his brain could process anything. He was across the room in three steps, hands running over the cold iron plates with the reverent touch of a jeweler. Examining uncut diamonds. Brother Chen, this is 30 sets of refined iron armor and 10 sets of mystic iron armor, I said, letting each word land like a gold coin dropping on marble. All yours to sell through your channels. Linton actually swayed on his feet. The man nearly passed out from excitement while standing up. In Baleon's current 1:48:58 market, this kind of premium equipment wasn't just valuable, it was practically mythical. Getting 40 sets of quality armor delivered to this frontier was a logistical miracle that even his family's vast network would struggle to accomplish. And I was handing it to him like party favors. His heart was hammering so hard I could probably hear it from across the table. His merchant's brain was already calculating margins, distribution routes, potential buyers, and the prestige this would bring him within his own family. Before he could even form a coherent response, I leaned forward with the smile of a man about to close the deal of a lifetime. Brother Lynn, I once promised to help you strengthen your position in your family. Well, it's time to start making good on that promise. I looked Lin Tion dead in the eyes and dropped the bomb. I want us to create a merchant association together. We'll call it the Ton Leong Trading Company. With what I can supply, I think we can crack this market wide open. Lin Tion's brain rebooted. He 1:49:58 stared at me with the intensity of a man trying to determine if he was hallucinating or if Christmas had genuinely come early. If this is real, he said with the gravity of someone signing a peace treaty, I'm in. It's very real, I confirmed, then laid out the business terms. I provide all the goods. You handle sales and distribution. We split profits 7030. My favor. Sound fair? Now, here's the thing about Lin Tion. The man has merchants honor running through his veins like blood. Instead of jumping on the generous offer like any sane person would, he actually pushed back. Not for more money, for less. Brother Chen, three parts is too much for just selling. If you truly consider me a friend, make it 80/20. I wanted to argue, but the look on his face said this was a hill he'd die on. And honestly, from a risk perspective, he had a point. I was carrying all the production costs and security risks. He was handling distribution. 20% for that was perfectly reasonable, and insisting 1:51:00 on giving him more would just make things awkward. So, I nodded. We spent the rest of the evening hammering out the details like proper businessmen. monthly supply quotas, sales targets, and most importantly, how many soldiers Linton would need to provide for protecting trade routes across Baleong's chaotic patchwork of counties. Building a commercial network across this lawless frontier required serious muscle. Any merchant caravan without armed escorts was basically a charity donation to whatever bandit or demon beast happened to be feeling peckish that day. There was also a secret motive I kept to myself. If our trade routes expanded across the region, I wanted to test whether my daily intelligence systems detection range would grow along with them. More territory covered meant more information gathered meant more opportunities discovered. The trading company wasn't just a business. It was potentially a massive upgrade to my cheat system. The next day, Lin Tion left Yongu County practically vibrating with excitement. He'd arrived expecting 1:52:02 to find a struggling teenager in a pile of rubble and instead discovered a functioning county with a weapons manufacturing operation. He left behind all the grain and supplies he'd brought as support. And I sent 300 elite soldiers with him to help establish and protect the trade routes along with the armor shipment for sale. Within a month, the results exceeded even my optimistic projections. Every single piece of merchandise sold out. Not most of it. Not. We did pretty well. All of it gone. Poof. The demand for quality armor in Baong was apparently bottomless. Even better, Lin Tion had already established partnerships with over a dozen county governors along the routes. Our little trading company was becoming a legitimate commercial force. Meanwhile, Yangu County completed all remaining construction projects. If a month ago, we'd look like a county in progress. Now we look like a county that had been thriving for five or 6 years. Streets bustling with activity, buildings solid 1:53:03 and orderly, fields golden with approaching harvest. I'd gone from managing a construction site to governing an actual civilization. Honestly, sometimes I had to pinch myself. But the thing that really made me want to do a victory lap around the city walls was Lu Tming<unk>s progress with Shia Han personally tutoring him. And let me just pause to appreciate the hilarity of a Peak Tong, my warrior, giving private lessons in my backyard, like some kind of supernatural afterchool program. Lu Tian Ming had rocketed to mid-stage bone refining realm. I did some math. At this pace, he'd hit organ refining within a year. Huene within 5 years, and Tongmai, maybe 10 years. 10 years to produce a Tongmai warrior. Just thinking about it made my pulse quicken. In the great Qin dynasty, having a Tong my warrior under your banner wasn't just impressive. It was the foundation that several current Duke families had built their entire legacies on. A Tong my warrior could elevate me 1:54:04 from a mere county governor to a marquee, possibly even touching distance of a Duke title. The political implications were staggering. Of course, if I was excited, Shiao Han was practically levitating. After actually teaching Lu Tian Ming for a while, the old master had gone from this kid is talented to this kid might be the greatest martial genius I've ever encountered in my entire life. He'd initially estimated Lu Tian Ming had maybe a slim chance at the legendary Shinsang realm. Now, he was nearly 100% certain the boy would reach it. Shin Xiang, a realm so far above Tongmai that even in Shiao Han's Great Zhao dynasty, warriors at that level could be counted on one hand. Each one was treated like a national treasure. Apparently, Shiao Han had briefly considered just grabbing Lu Tian Ming and running back to the great Joe with him, but his conscience and the inconvenient fact that his home country was currently a political minefield stopped him. Smart man. Kidnapping my 1:55:06 star pupil would have been a spectacularly bad career move. And returning to a country where someone had already tried to assassinate him wasn't exactly appealing either. So, he stayed exactly as I planned. The long game was paying dividends I hadn't even calculated. As for security concerns about Shiaoan himself, my intelligence system had been monitoring him for months without a single warning flag. If this man had any hostile intentions toward me or my people, the system would have screamed bloody murder. Its silence was all the reassurance I needed. Then one night, the intelligence refreshed with some genuinely spicy entries. A herd of second tier Frost horses was breeding upstream along the Yangu River. Potential cavalry mounts right in my backyard. But the real gems were about the upcoming auction in Baong City, 10 days away. A boy named Han Yunion would be sold there, carrying both a beast taming inheritance and sorcerer talent, and a block of adamant stone, the 1:56:06 ultimate material for crafting supernatural weapons and armor, would also go under the hammer. The last entry caught me off guard, though. Back in Anen Province, my father, Chinha, was apparently growing increasingly frustrated about his stalled cultivation. Reading that gave me a pang of something, guilt, maybe, or just concern. He'd given me everything I needed to succeed out here. I made a mental note. Find something to help him break through. He deserved that much and probably a whole lot more. Let me tell you about the one thing that had been driving me absolutely crazy for months. Those gorgeous, magnificent, stupidly untouchable frost horses living upstream along my river. Every single day, my intelligence system would casually remind me they existed. like a food delivery app showing you restaurants that don't deliver to your address. Hey, there's a herd of amazing magical war horses practically in your backyard. Too bad you have zero idea how to catch or tame them. Have a nice day. These weren't ordinary horses, mind you. Adult 1:57:09 frost horses were solidly first tier demon beasts, and the exceptional ones could reach third tier. If I could tame them, I could build a legendary snow cavalry unit that would make every military commander in Baong weep with envy. But if was doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence because I had absolutely no beast taming expertise whatsoever. I could conquer scorpion colonies, build cities from rubble, and manipulate peak tong my warriors into babysitting my prodigy. But asked me to approach a magical horse without getting my face kicked in? Completely helpless. It was humiliating. So when my intelligence system casually dropped the news that a boy with an actual beast taming inheritance would be appearing at the Baong City auction in 10 days, I nearly bit through my own tongue, trying not to scream with joy. This kid was the missing puzzle piece I'd been waiting for without even knowing I was waiting for it. The universe had a sense of timing that bordered on theatrical. I forced myself to stay calm and spent the 1:58:11 next 3 days preparing for the trip with military precision. Every detail was planned, every contingency considered. This wasn't a casual shopping trip. This was a strategic operation with multiple high priority targets. On the third day, we set out. My traveling party included Lu Tion Ming, Shiao Han, and about 200 handpicked guards. That number made me wse a little. Between garrisoning the mine, protecting our trade route outposts, and keeping Yongu County itself defended, my available manpower had been stretched thinner than cheap cloth. 200 was the absolute maximum I could pull without leaving the county vulnerable. I also loaded up wagons with trade goods, quality armor sets, and some rare spiritual herbs I'd accumulated over recent months. My treasury was in decent shape, thanks to the mine's output and our trading company's profits. But I had no illusions about what lay ahead. Between bidding on the adamanton stone, competing for the beast taming boy, and buying the usual mountain of supplies to 1:59:13 keep my county running, I was going to need every single coin and then some. Auction houses are where fortunes go to die. And I intended to walk and prepared for war. Now, here's where things got delightful. Shiaoan had volunteered to come along. Volunteered? This peak tong my walking apocalypse actually raised his hand and said, "I'd like to join you. Did I play it cool?" Outwardly, absolutely. Inwardly, I was doing cartwheels across my own consciousness. Having Shiao Han beside me was like carrying a nuclear deterrent in my back pocket. The entire Great Shin Dynasty had maybe five known Tong, my warriors, possibly 10 if you counted the hermits. And one of them was casually riding next to me like my personal bodyguard. Even if every demon beast in the northern frontier decided to throw a surprise party in our path, Shiao Han could handle it while filing his nails. The security upgrade was so massive, it was almost comical. My previous trips to Baong City had involved genuine worry 2:00:13 about ambushes and monster attacks. This time, I was more worried about my horse getting a pebble in its hoof. The journey was smooth sailing, partly because the Baleyong Mares forces had swept the surrounding area clean ahead of the auction. They'd sent waves of soldiers to clear out bandits and demon beasts, because nothing ruins a profitable auction like having your wealthy guests eaten on the road. Smart business practice, really. We reached Baong City on the sixth day, and the place was absolutely transformed. The last few times I'd visited, this city had the energy of a funeral home during a slow week. Now it was buzzing like a kicked hornet's nest. The gates were packed with people, merchants from every province, noble sons with their flashy banners and oversized entouragees. Adventurers hoping to snag a bargain. It was the most alive I'd ever seen this miserable city look. One group caught my eye immediately. Near the gates, a massive force of nearly a thousand people marched under a bold Yuan banner. 2:01:15 I ransacked my memory trying to place the name and came up empty. No major family I knew of used that character. Probably some newly risen house of Viscount at most that had struck it rich in Baleong's untapped wilderness and was now throwing its weight around at auction time. I filed them under watch but don't worry about and moved on. Luian Ming, bless his innocent warrior heart, was gawking at everything like a country boy at his first carnival. Wow, so many people, he whispered, eyes wide as saucers, head swiveing in every direction like a very lethal owl. Shiao Han, ever the mentor figure, sees this educational moment with the grace and wisdom befitting a legendary martial artist. Tion Ming, this is nothing. You should see Monan City in the great show. Now that's a crowd. And the fox tribe ladies there. Absolutely gorgeous. Lu Tian Ming stared at his master with the flattest expression I'd ever seen on a human face. The disappointment was 2:02:16 palpable. Uh-huh. Just kidding. Just kidding. Shiaoan backpedled with the speed of a man who just remembered his student took everything literally. I laughed and shook my head. These two had developed the most entertaining teacher student dynamic I'd ever witnessed. One was a battlehardened killer with the emotional maturity of a teenager and the other was a teenager with the emotional maturity of a battleh hardened killer. They'd somehow met in the middle at awkward. Let's go. I called out to the group. Our lodgings are arranged. We'll rest tonight. The auction begins tomorrow. Half an hour later, we were settled in. The sunset painted the sky in molten gold before darkness swallowed it whole. As the city quieted down, my intelligence system delivered its nightly update. right on schedule. I scanned through the entries quickly. Nothing earthshattering beyond what I already knew. The beast taming boy and the adamanton stone were still confirmed for tomorrow's auction. No surprise legendary artifacts or hidden assassination plots. Honestly, that was 2:03:18 perfectly fine. Finding two high-v value targets at a routine by annual auction was already hitting the jackpot. Sometimes you don't need lightning to strike twice. You just need to make sure you catch it properly the first time. Tomorrow was going to be very, very interesting and very, very expensive. The morning of the auction arrived, and Baong City's Anju house was buzzing like someone had kicked a beehive into a marketplace. Warriors, silk- draped noble brats, and merchants with more money than common sense were all crammed together, generating the kind of excited energy usually reserved for gladiatorial combat or really good street food. The gossip flying around was almost as entertaining as the auction. itself. Apparently, Anju House had leaked word that third grade pills would be available and hold your breath, a fourth grade pill as the grand finale. The crowd was losing its collective mind. People were whispering about it like it was classified military intelligence, except they were whispering at the 2:04:18 volume of a medium-sized explosion. Fourth grade. Can you believe it? The big families are going to murder each other over this. I walked through this circus with Lu Tian Ming and Xiao Han flanking me, wearing an expression of practiced calm while internally running financial calculations at breakneck speed. Fourth grade pills were indeed extraordinary. Any major family in the empire would sell a kidney for one. But something nagged at me. Everyone was babbling about pills, yet nobody mentioned the adamant stone. That block of supernatural crafting material was arguably more valuable than any pill on the list. Why the silence? Either nobody knew about it or someone was deliberately keeping it quiet. Interesting. Very interesting. We were escorted upstairs to the second floor, which was the VIP section, private rooms with excellent views of the auction stage below. Getting a room up here required either a noble title of Earl rank or above, or being a county governor with credentials. In other 2:05:19 words, the second floor was where the people with actual power sat while everyone else competed for elbow room downstairs like sardines with wallets. A servant handed me the auction catalog with all the reverence of someone presenting a holy scripture. 30 items total. I flipped through it with the efficiency of a man who already knew exactly what he wanted and didn't have time for window shopping. Item number six, the beast taming boy from Shu Province. The catalog confirmed he had verified sorcerer talent potential. Starting price 6,000 tales. Item number 23, the Adamanten stone. Starting price 10,000 tales. Both prices were surprisingly reasonable as long as bidding didn't spiral into absolute insanity. I should be able to grab both without bankrupting myself. A small weight lifted from my shoulders. Not all the weight, mind you. Auction houses have a special talent for turning. should be fine into why is my wallet crying but enough to let me breathe. The 2:06:21 auction kicked off with a female auctioneer who clearly understood that sex appeal sells auction tickets. She glided onto the stage like she was walking on clouds and announced the first item with a theatrical flare of someone who genuinely loved watching rich people throw money at things. Our first treasure, a stunning beauty from the Phoenix Feather Tribe. Starting bid, 1,000 tales. A gorgeous demon race woman was led onto the stage and approximately 60% of the male audience immediately lost the ability to think with their brains. Bids flew like arrows. 3,00 3,500 5,000 I watched this spectacle with the detached amusement of a man who had zero interest in the proceedings. Not my type. I prefer women with a bit more life experience, if you know what I mean. The phoenix feather beauty eventually sold for 6600 tales, which seemed like a lot of money for someone who would probably try to claw your eyes out in your sleep. But hey, rich people 2:07:21 going to rich. The next few items were a parade of antiques, rare materials, and exotic creatures. Each had its own little drama of competitive bidding, gasps from the audience, and smug expressions from the winners. None of it interested me in the slightest. I sat in my comfortable chair, sipped tea that was honestly mediocre, and waited with the patience of a predator who knew exactly when his prey would appear. Then the auctioneer announced item number six, and every cell in my body snapped to attention. Next up, a young slave boy from Shu Province. A nervous-l lookinging teenager was brought onto the stage under a spotlight, blinking and fidgeting like a rabbit, surrounded by wolves, which metaphorically speaking, he absolutely was. Certified by our resident sorcerer expert, this boy carries genuine sorcerer talent. With proper training, he has significant potential to become a true sorcerer. Starting bid, 6,000 tales, the room went quiet. And I mean funeral quiet. The 2:08:22 word sorcerer had that effect on people. In a world where sorcerers were rarer than honest politicians, even the rumor of sorcerer talent was enough to make powerful families salivate. But these were smart people. Every single one of them was thinking the exact same thing. If this kid's talent is real, why is he on an auction block instead of being groomed by whatever family found him? There had to be a catch, a defect, a hidden problem, something that made the original owners decide, "Nah, let's just sell him and cut our losses." The bidding started slow and cautious, like people dipping their toes into water. They suspected might be boiling. 6,200 6,300 7,000 The prize crawled upward with all the enthusiasm of a slug climbing a hill. It was stalling around 7,000, and I could feel the room's interest fading like a candle in a draft. Time to move. I leaned forward and let my voice carry with crystal clarity across the entire 2:09:22 hall. 8,000. Dead silence. Every head in the building swiveled toward my second floor room like synchronized owls. You could have heard a pin drop on a pillow. The smart ones in the audience immediately started doing mental math. Second floor meant nobility. And when they figured out which room the bid came from, the one reserved for the Anenshin family, whatever competitive fire they'd been nursing was instantly and thoroughly extinguished. Nobody in their right mind was going to start a bidding war with one of the empire's most powerful Earle families over a questionable slave boy. The riskreward calculation was brutally simple. Even if the kid turned out to be the next great sorcerer, making an enemy of theqin family definitely wasn't worth saving a few thousand tales on auction day. The auctioneer tried valiantly to squeeze out more bids. She praised the boy's potential, painted vivid pictures of future sorcerer glory, practically begged someone to raise their paddle. The audience responded with the 2:10:23 thunderous sound of absolutely nothing. The hammer fell. 8,000 tails sold. I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile. One target down, one to go. And the best part, I'd gotten him for barely above the starting price. In the grand scheme of what this boy could become, a beast tamer who could help me capture and train an entire cavalry of magical war horses. 8,000 tales was pocket change. Absolute highway robbery. And the highway didn't even know it had been robbed. The auction rolled on while a servant knocked on my door to handle the paperwork for the beast taming boy. I waved lazily and Lu Tian Ming handed over the 8,000 tail bank note like we were paying for groceries. Easy. Clean. Next. Meanwhile, the auction floor was turning into a financial blood bath. When the pills started coming out, these baong nobles lost whatever remained of their collective sanity. 10 third grade bone mending pills hit the stage with a starting price of 2,000 tales and the 2:11:24 bidding erupted like a volcano made of money. 2,200 3,000 3,500 The numbers kept climbing with the reckless abandon of people who apparently believed silver grew on trees. I sat there watching these maniacs throw down 5,200 tales for pills that would have cost well under 4,000 back in Anen Province. The markup was criminal. Beautiful from an economist's perspective, but criminal nonetheless. I briefly considered getting into the pilling business before reminding myself I had enough enterprises to manage already. I stayed out of the pill bidding entirely. Third grade pills were nice, sure, but not essential for my plans. I had bigger fish to fry, and those fish were swimming toward me at item number 23. Several more pill lots came and went, all settling around 5,000 tales each. The auction house was printing money. Then finally, the auctioneers's voice kicked up a notch with the kind of excitement that said, 2:12:25 "This next one is special, ladies and gentlemen." Item number 23, a block of adamant stone recovered from an ancient ruin. There it was. Under the spotlight sat a chunk of pitch black mineral about the length of a human arm, radiating an aura of I am extremely expensive and you should want me very badly. The auctioneer launched into her pitch about how it could channel bloodqi better than any ordinary material. How it was the ultimate crafting ingredient for legendary weapons, blah blah blah. Starting price 10,000 tales. The crowd's reaction was lukewarm. People muttered about how yes, it was amazing material, but you'd need a grandmaster level blacksmith to even work with it. And the price was steep enough to make people think twice when fourth grade pills were coming up later. Most of the audience mentally filed the adamanton stone under cool but impractical and started saving their money for the pharmaceutical finale, which was absolutely perfect for me. Fewer competitors meant a cheaper 2:13:27 purchase. I leaned forward and called out my bid with casual confidence. 12,000 tales. The room quieted down. People glanced up at my second floor room, did their mental calculations about the Chin family, and wisely decided to mind their own business. The auctioneer tried to drum up more interest, but silence was her only answer. Her hammer was rising for the final count when 15,000. The voice came from another second floor room, dripping with the kind of arrogance that makes you want to punch someone through a wall. I looked over and saw a flashy young man lounging against his balcony, railing with the smug expression of someone who'd never been told no in his entire pampered life. I didn't flinch. 18,000. The brat was practically grinning now. 20,000. Dear brother Chen, if you're still feeling enthusiastic, I'm more than happy to keep you company all day. Oh, so it was going to be like that. Some trust fund peacock was deliberately trying to bleed my wallet for entertainment. How adorable. How 2:14:28 profoundly stupid. See, most people in my position would have done one of two things. Either back down to save money or dug in and tried to outspend the opponent. Both options were exactly what this clown wanted. But I had a third option, one that required the opponent to be exactly as dumb as he appeared to be. I crank my voice up to maximum contempt. 30,000. Is that all you've got? Come on then, you worthless waste of noble blood. Keep going if you dare. The entire auction house held its breath. You could have heard a mosquito sneeze. Every single person in that building was watching this unfold like a front row seat at a championship boxing match. And my opponent, bless his fragile, easily provoked ego, took the bait like a starving fish lunging at a gold-plated hook. Who are you calling worthless? 50,000. The words left his mouth and his face immediately changed color. You could actually see the exact microsecond his brain caught up with his mouth and screamed, "What have you 2:15:29 done?" But it was too late. The auctioneer up on stage was already beaming like she'd just won the lottery, which professionally speaking, she had 50,000. Going once, going twice. Sold. The hammer came down so fast I think she was afraid he'd try to take it back. Smart woman. I leaned back in my chair, savoring the moment. Through the servant, I'd already learned who my opponent was. The Xiao family fromQing province. a marquee level house which sounded impressive until you learned their nickname. The shame of the Marquises. My Chin family's reputation had literally been built partly on beating. The Xiao family senseless across multiple generations. Starting from my grandfather's era, every major clash between our families had ended with the Xiao losing territory, resources, and dignity. They were basically our family's favorite punching bag. Knowing this, I'd realized immediately that getting the adamant stone through legitimate bidding was going to be expensive and ugly. The Xiao 2:16:30 kid would have driven the price to the moon just to spite me. So instead of fighting fair, I'd set a trap so obvious that a moderately intelligent child could have spotted it. He walked right into it, face first, at full speed, and paid 50,000 tales for a 10,000 tail rock because I called him a mean name. Outstanding. Shiao Han cidled up to me with a mischievous grin. Hey kid, looks like someone stole your toy. Wanting to go retrieve it? I stared at him. This was the same man who'd suggested taking Lu Tian Ming to Ogle Fox Tribe Women. The same dignified elder who was now casually offering to rob an auction winner in broad daylight. I was starting to seriously wonder if this legendary warrior had been chased out of his homeland, not because of political enemies, but because he'd annoyed literally everyone he'd ever met. Catching my look, Shiao Han instantly switched to his wise master face. Actually, I was testing you just now, and your composure impressed me greatly. Sure you were, old man. Sure you were. I 2:17:32 was 100% certain that 5 seconds ago, this respected elder had been genuinely considering whether to just walk over there and take the stone by force, testing me, right? And I'm the emperor's secret twin. But jokes aside, I absolutely intended to get that adamanton stone back, just not through Shiao Han's preferred method of hit people until they give you things. No, I had something much more elegant and much more painful in mind. I turned to Lu Tian Ming with a pleasant smile that contained approximately zero warmth. Tion Ming, do me a favor. Find out where that Xiao family idiots county is located. And while you're at it, give me a detailed breakdown of his military forces. My voice was calm, friendly even. But Lu Tian Ming had been with me long enough to recognize the look in my eyes. That wasn't the look of a man planning to write a strongly worded letter. That Xiao brat had stolen my adamanton stone and made me look foolish in public. Getting the stone back would 2:18:32 be the bare minimum. Making him regret ever being born into the Xiao family. Now that was the real project. Now here's the thing about setting traps for idiots. Sometimes the results exceed even your most optimistic projections. And boy did Xiao Wu deliver a performance for the ages. While I was sitting comfortably in my private room, sipping tea and contemplating my next moves, the drama unfolding in the Xiao family's room across the way was apparently spectacular enough to deserve its own stage play. According to what I pieced together afterward, the sequence of events went something like this. Xiao Wu having just screamed 50,000 with the confidence of a man whose mouth had completely divorced itself from his brain was now sitting in his room with a face the color of a stormy sky. Slowly coming to terms with the mathematical reality of his situation. His father had given him a total of 200,000 tales for his entire Baleong operation. He'd already burned through 60,000 on basic 2:19:33 county construction, supplies, and slaves, which left him with, let me do the arithmetic here, absolutely nowhere near enough to pay for a rock he'd bought purely because a teenager hurt his feelings. The look on his face when the unju house servant knocked on his door to collect payment must have been absolutely priceless. I would have paid good money to see it. Actually, I technically did pay good money to cause it, so I suppose I got my entertainment value either way. The servant asked him to come settle his bill. Xiao Wu<unk>s response was apparently to stammer like a broken music box, which immediately told the servant everything he needed to know. This fool had bid 50,000 tales he didn't have at a major auction house during their flagship bannual event in front of literally every important person in Baleyong Province. Now, here's where things got truly beautiful. Xiao Wu, in a moment of breathtaking stupidity that honestly deserves some kind of award, tried to play the tough guy. He puffed up his chest, channeled 2:20:34 whatever was left of his marquee family dignity, and declared that the adamant stone was worth 10,000 at most, and that's all he'd pay. He tried to haggle with Unju House. After publicly winning a bid, what happened next was apparently the auction equivalent of poking a sleeping dragon in the eye. A black robed figure materialized in the center of his room, just appeared like a shadow given human form and released a wave of spiritual pressure so overwhelming that Xiao Wu<unk>s knees buckled and he crashed to the floor like a sack of particularly stupid potatoes. His bodyguard, an organ refining realm warrior who probably thought he was pretty tough, went down right next to him like a puppet with cutstrings. The blackroed enforcer delivered what I can only describe as the verbal equivalent of being hit by a freight train. He informed young Master Xiao that Unju House was not a playground for spoiled children, that even his father, the actual marquee, wouldn't dare break the 2:21:34 rules here, and that since Xiao Wu couldn't pay his bill, three things would happen. One, get out immediately. Two, permanent lifetime ban from every Unju House branch in existence. Three, pay 100,000 tales and damages for disrupting the auction. 100,000 tales in penalties on top of losing the stone. And if Daddy Xiao had a problem with any of this, he was cordially invited to take it up with Anju House headquarters in person, which reading between the lines was the polite way of saying, "Please give us an excuse to embarrass your family even further." Xiaawu agreed to everything while his teeth chattered like castinets in a windstorm. The enforcer vanished as mysteriously as he'd appeared, and Xiaawu reportedly lay on the floor. gasping for air like a landed fish for several minutes before he could even stand up. Shortly after this delightful episode, there was a knock on my door. The same servant from before stood there holding a tray with the adamanton stone sitting on it like a 2:22:36 crown jewel on a velvet cushion. He wore a slightly apologetic expression. Master Chen, we're sorry about the unpleasant incident. This Adamandon stone, would you still be interested? If so, we can offer it to you at the original starting price. 10,000 tails. 10,000 tails. The stone that had just been sold for 50,000 was now being handed to me for the starting bid price because the winning bidder turned out to be a broke fraud who couldn't cover his own bravado. I glanced over at Xiao Wu<unk>s now empty room, allowed myself exactly one second of pure, undiluted satisfaction, and nodded. Naturally, I'll take it. Luton Ming handed over the bank note. Transaction complete. The adamanton stone was mine for exactly what I'd been prepared to pay from the beginning. My total cost for today's two priority items, 18,000 tales. My original budget estimate had been considerably higher. I was actually coming out ahead. The 2:23:36 universe had a six sense of humor, and today it was firmly on my side. Shiao Han leaned over with a knowing look. You knew this would happen, didn't you, kid? Honestly, no. I'd expected my provocation to drive the price up painfully high and potentially force me to either overpay or find another way to acquire the stone later. What I hadn't expected was that Xiao Wu was genuinely catastrophically broke and stupid enough to bid money he literally did not possess. That was a bonus level of incompetence I couldn't have planned for. But I wasn't about to admit that to Shiao Han, so I just smiled mysteriously and let him draw his own conclusions. The auction continued below us. The grand finale was a fourth grade Huajin pill that could help an organ refining warrior break through. The kind of thing that would normally make me salivate, but I let it go without a single bid. Neither Lu Tian Ming nor Ming Yun were anywhere near the peak of organ refining yet. Buying that pill now would be like purchasing a sports car for a toddler. 2:24:38 Better to save the money for 6 months from now or invested in Yongu County's development. I stood up. We're done here. Time to head back. But before leaving, I received one more piece of intelligence that made my day even more interesting. Xiao Wu, nursing his wounded pride and hemorrhaging money, had apparently ordered his people to investigate me. And upon learning that my Yangu County was only 150 mi from his Julie County, the idiot had reportedly made dramatic threats about making me pay the price. Oh, Xiao Wu, sweet, predictable, wonderfully stupid Xiao Wu. You just lost a 100,000 tales and penalties. Got permanently banned from the biggest auction house in the province. And now you want to pick a territorial fight with someone who has more soldiers, better equipment, a functioning economy, and a peak tong. my warrior eating breakfast at his table every morning. I told Lu Tian Ming to gather detailed intelligence about Xiao Wu<unk>s county location, military 2:25:38 strength, everything. Because here's the thing about revenge. I'm not the type to just get my stuff back and call it even. That rock was always going to end up in my hands one way or another. But the humiliation, the 100,000 tail penalty, the lifetime ban, those were all self-inflicted wounds that I'd merely facilitated. The real punishment hadn't even started yet. And unlike Xiao Wu, I never made threats. I made plans. Back at my lodgings, Lu Tian Ming returned with his intelligence report on our new best friend, Xiao Wu. Turns out the little prince's county was called Julie, sitting about 150 mi southwest of Myangu County. He had roughly 1,500 soldiers, about 300 warriors among them, and his strongest fighters were two organ refining realm leaders. I raised an eyebrow at that. For a guy I'd just mentally filed under, walking disaster, those numbers weren't terrible. He'd arrived in Baleong around the same time as me. Yet, he'd managed to build a respectable military force. Which meant 2:26:40 one thing, the Xiao family had thrown serious money at their precious baby boy, despite him being, well, him. Without that family backing, Xiao couldn't have organized a picnic, let alone a county garrison. the cold calculating part of my brain immediately started sketching attack plans. My forces were superior in quality, equipment, and leadership. Taking Julie County would be entirely feasible, but I forced myself to breathe and shove those schemes for now. Rushing into a war of conquest without proper preparation was exactly the kind of impulsive stupidity that defined people like Xiao Wu. I was better than that. When I moved against him, it would be so thorough and devastating that he'd wish he'd stayed home and taken up pottery instead of governance. For now, I had more pressing and frankly more exciting business to attend to. By the way, Tion Ming, I said, shifting mental gears with the smoothness of a welloiled machine. That slave boy we won at the auction. Has 2:27:40 Unju House delivered him yet? Yes, my lord. His name is Han Yintion. Shall I bring him in? Please do. The door opened and in walked a scrawny teenager, maybe 17 or 18, looking like a rabbit that had accidentally wandered into a lion's den. The second his eyes landed on me sitting in the main chair, his survival instincts kicked in, and he dropped to his knees so fast I heard his kneecaps protest. "Stand up," I said calmly. "Let's talk like people." He wobbled to his feet, but kept his head bowed so low he was practically studying his own shoes. "Poor kid was terrified." Understandable, really. From his perspective, he'd just been purchased by a stranger with unknown intentions. For all he knew, I bought him to clean my boots or fight demon beasts in some gladiatorial pit. I decided not to waste time with small talk and went straight for the jugular, but in the nicest possible way. Hon, would you like to stop being a slave and perhaps one day become a real sorcerer? The reaction was 2:28:42 instant and absolutely magnificent. His head snapped up so fast I worried about whiplash. Those oversized eyes, made even bigger by obvious malnutrition, went wide as dinner plates, filling with a cocktail of shock, disbelief, and desperate, fragile hope. "You, you mean it? I can really stop being a slave and become a sorcerer?" I nodded. "But it won't come free. You'll need to earn it with hard work and loyalty." He hit the floor again. This time it was voluntary, a full prostration, the kind that comes from somewhere deep in the gut where hope and desperation live next door to each other. He actually crawled forward slightly, which was simultaneously heartbreaking and a little awkward. Master, I'll do anything. Walk through fire, climb mountains of knives, whatever you need. Now, I appreciate enthusiasm as much as the next tyrannical county governor, but I needed this kid functional, not performing dramatic poetry on my floor. So, I kept 2:29:42 my voice steady and laid out the deal. The task is simple. Use your beast taming inheritance to help me capture and tame demon beasts. His body went completely rigid. I could practically hear his brain shortcircuiting. See, I just casually dropped the fact that I knew about his secret beast taming inheritance. a hidden power he'd never told anyone about. Not his parents, not his closest friends, nobody. And here was some teenage nobleman he'd met 30 seconds ago, discussing it like it was common knowledge. The look of terror on his face was priceless. This wasn't, "Oh no, he knows my secret." Terror. This was, "Is this person omnisient? And should I be worried about my continued existence?" Terror. But I wasn't done delivering surprises. I hit him with a knockout punch. Also, I've already sent people to Unju House to buy your mother and younger brother out of slavery. His eyes went so wide, I genuinely thought they might fall out of his skull. Tears appeared instantly, like someone had 2:30:43 flipped a switch connected directly to his tear ducts. Through my research via the auction houses records, I learned that Han Yunian<unk>s father had been convicted of some crime and executed with the entire family condemned to slavery as punishment. Buying the boy alone would have secured his obedience. Buying his family that secured his soul, it was a few extra tales of silver for an investment that would pay dividends for decades. Some people call it manipulation. I call it comprehensive human resources management. Of course, I added with just the right amount of business-like gravity, how quickly they regain their freedom depends entirely on how well you perform. The boy was shaking like a leaf in a typhoon, but this time from overwhelming emotion rather than fear. When he asked how I knew about his inheritance, I gave him my best mysterious smile and said something vague about the world being full of wonders and him not being the only special person around. Translation: I have a magical intelligence system 2:31:43 that tells me everything, but I obviously can't tell you that. So, please accept this cryptic wisdom and stop asking questions. He bought it completely. By the end of our conversation, Han Yintion had transformed from a trembling slave into a devoted follower burning with purpose. He had freedom dangled before him, his family salvation as motivation, and a master who apparently knew things no normal person should know. For a kid who'd been facing a lifetime of chains, this was basically winning the cosmic lottery. I was already mentally drafting the frost horse capture operation. With Han Yunians beast taming abilities, those magnificent war horses grazing along my river were about to get a very unexpected change of management. Before leaving Baleyong City, I handled the remaining shopping list. Bulk grain to keep Yongu County fed until our wheat harvest came in. Specialized tranquilizer arrows, heavy duty capture nets, and various other supplies for the upcoming horse catching expedition. By 2:32:44 the time everything was purchased and loaded, evening had painted the sky in shades of amber and violet. The next morning, we rode out of Baong City at dawn. Our caravan heavy with supplies and our ranks swelled by one beast taming prodigy and his soon to arrive family. Behind us, the auction city was already settling back into its usual dreary routine. The brief carnival of wealth and excitement fading like perfume in the wind. Ahead of me, Lelay Yangu County, a herd of magical horses, a score to settle with a certain Xiao family idiot, and approximately 10,000 other things demanding my attention. Just another week in the life of a trans migrator trying to build an empire from scratch with nothing but a daily cheat sheet and an unreasonable amount of audacity. We made it back to Yangu County after 7 days of travel, moving slower than usual thanks to the heavy supply wagons weighing us down like an overloaded shopping cart. The county was running smoothly in my absence. No 2:33:46 disasters, no demon invasions, no spontaneous fires. Just orderly, productive civilization humming along exactly as I designed it. Sometimes the best news is no news. And after the roller coaster that was the bailong auction, I was grateful for some boring normaly. I spent the first couple of days handling the administrative backlog that had piled up during my trip. Governance waits for no man, not even one with a magical intelligence system. I also dispatched a team to deliver the adamant stone to the falling rock valley mine where my beloved Panggalan craftsman would forge it into a custom warlance for me. Because if you're going to be a frontier warlord, you absolutely need a weapon made from legendary supernatural material. It's practically in the job description. Now, about Xiao Wu, I hadn't forgotten about that clown. Not by a long shot, but revenge, like fine wine, improves with patience. My plan was elegantly simple. Keep developing Yongu County until my power 2:34:47 was so overwhelming that Xiao Wu<unk>s little Julie County would fold like wet paper. And when his county inevitably got overrun by demons, tragic, really, these things happen all the time in Baong. Very dangerous region. Well, nobody would ask too many questions. The northern frontier was chaotic like that. Counties got destroyed regularly. Very sad, very convenient. But first, horses. Magical, magnificent, impossibly fast horses that have been taunting me from my intelligence reports for months. The frost horses had been grazing along the upper Yangu River this entire time. And every day, my system reminded me they existed like a persistent notification. I couldn't swipe away. The reason I hadn't gone after them earlier was simple. Catching a magical horse without someone who can tame it is like trying to hold water with a tennis racket. Completely pointless. But now I had Han Yun Tion and his beast taming inheritance. And suddenly the impossible 2:35:47 had become merely very difficult. I spent several days planning the operation with the obsessive attention to detail of a man who really, really wanted magical war horses. When the intelligence confirmed the herd was near the river, I pulled the trigger. For this mission, I went all out. I even recalled Ming Yun from the mine. Because the herd's leader was a peak third tier beast, and without an organ refining warrior to handle it, we'd be bringing a butter knife to a sword fight. My strike force was 200 elite cavalry. every single one at late blood refining realm or above. This was the absolute cream of Yangu County's military and I was personally leading the charge. No delegation today. This was too important and frankly too exciting. We reached the upper river quickly. There they were, 30 to 40 frost horses grazing peacefully on the riverbank. Completely unaware that their peaceful existence was about to experience a dramatic interruption. They were stunning creatures. Honestly, the 2:36:49 herd had one third tier leader, four or five second tier members, and the rest were first tier. Not a huge group, but in terms of quality, absolutely top shelf. Now, frost horses are legendary for two things. First, their speed. Among all low tier demon beasts in Baong, nothing runs faster. Second, their pride. These animals would literally rather die than submit to a rider. The Baleong marquee himself had tried to tame them once and failed spectacularly, eventually settling for the more cooperative silver horn horses instead. His famous 3,000 strong cavalry rode those inferior substitutes because the Frost horses had essentially told an entire marquee household to go kick rocks. But I had two advantages the marquee didn't. Thunderbolt bombs and knowledge of the hor's weaknesses. Frost horses are terrified of loud explosions. It's hardwired into their biology. And once they're in water, their legendary speed drops dramatically. Put those two 2:37:49 facts together and you get a beautifully simple plan. Scare them into the river, then catch them while they're slow. I split my forces. Lu Tian Ming took 120 riders with thunderbolt bombs to circle around and create a wall of terrifying noise behind the herd. Ming Yun took the rest and hid in the reed beds on the opposite riverbank with paralysis tipped arrows and capture ropes. Lu Tienm<unk>s group fanned out silently using the terrain for cover slowly tightening the noose while the horses munched grass without a care in the world. For several tense minutes, nobody breathed. The encirclement grew tighter and tighter. Then the leader sensed something. That big, beautiful third tier stallion jerked its head up. Ice blue eyes scanning the horizon with the sharp alertness of a creature that hadn't survived this long by being careless. It spotted the approaching riders and let out a piercing shriek that could probably be heard three counties over. The stallion stamped its hooves, 2:38:50 releasing a burst of ice blue demonic energy and wheeled around to lead a breakout charge. This was the critical moment. If they scattered into open ground, we'd never catch them. Lu Tming<unk>s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. The order went out and a hundred arms hurled thunderbolt bombs simultaneously. The explosions were absolutely devastating. Not in terms of damage. We weren't trying to kill the horses, but in terms of pure psychological warfare. Blast after blast erupted in front of, beside, and behind the herd. The ground shook. Dirt and rocks fountain skyward. The noise was apocalyptic. The frost horses completely lost their minds. Some charged blindly toward the riders. Others tried to flee sideways, but most of them, driven by pure, overwhelming terror of the explosions behind them, did exactly what I'd predicted. They screamed and plunged into the Yangu River like their tails were on fire. The moment they hit the deep water, their legendary speed became 2:39:51 irrelevant. They were powerful swimmers, sure, but swimming is not galloping. When they reached the deepest, most turbulent section of the river, Ming Yan<unk>s ambush detonated. Bose sang. Paralysis arrows rained down in precise, merciless volleys, each one delivering a dose of the strongest, numbing agent money could buy. The horses shrieked and thrashed, but the poison worked fast. Their movements grew sluggish, their struggles weaker. My riders on the bank threw lasso after lasso, ropes snapping taut around necks and bodies. The first tier horses went down fastest. Within minutes, they were being hauled onto the riverbank like very angry, very beautiful fish, still twitching and snorting, but completely unable to resist. One by one, the legendary untameable frost horses of the northern frontier were dragged onto dry land, roped, drugged, and thoroughly defeated. And somewhere upstream, that third tier stallion was still fighting, but with 2:40:53 Ming Yun personally moving to intercept it. Even that magnificent beast's freedom had an expiration date that was rapidly approaching. The higher tier horses were not going quietly into captivity, let me tell you. While the first tier Frost horses had been dragged ashore like oversized, very angry fish, the second tier ones were putting up a fight that would have made any freedomloving revolutionary proud. And the third tier stallion, the king of the herd, went absolutely ballistic. The moment that magnificent beast felt the lasso titan around its neck, something inside it snapped. Not the rope, unfortunately. Its temper. It let out a scream that probably registered on whatever passes for seismographic equipment in this world, and its entire body erupted with ice blue demonic energy like a frozen volcano having a very bad day. Its hooves churned the river water into a frenzy, sending walls of spray 10 ft into the air, and the sheer force traveling through the ropes nearly yanked a dozen of my soldiers 2:41:55 straight into the current like fish on a reversed line. This is the part where Ming Yun earned approximately 5 years worth of salary in about 3 minutes. My newly minted organ refining warrior launched himself forward with a battle cry that was equal parts determination. And I am not letting this horse make me look bad. He grabbed every single rope from the struggling soldiers. Bloodq chi exploding off his body like a furnace somebody forgot to close and planted his feet into the riverbank with the stubbornness of a man whose professional reputation was literally on the line. Pun absolutely intended. What followed was the most intense tugofwar in the recorded history of Yangu County. On one end, Ming Yun, muscles bulging, veins popping, blood cheese steaming off him like morning mist from a volcano. On the other end, one extremely furious third tier demon horse with the strength of a small earthquake and an attitude problem the size of a continent. The ropes groan 2:42:56 between them like they were begging for mercy. Every pull from the horse sent shock waves through the ground. Every counterpull from Ming Yun made the river itself seemed to flinch. I was standing on the bank with my fists clenched so tight my knuckles had gone white. This stallion wasn't just valuable, it was priceless. If successfully tamed, it could potentially break through to fourth tier someday, which would make it equivalent to a Huajin warrior in combat power. That's not a horse at that point. That's a strategic weapon with hooves. The standoff lasted what felt like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes. The stallion was incredibly powerful, but physics and chemistry were conspiring against it. Fighting in deep, fast-moving water, Minn couldn't get proper footing. And all that thrashing was burning through its demonic energy reserves at a catastrophic rate, which meant the paralysis poison it had been resisting through sheer willpower was finally seeping into its muscles, joint by joint, nerve by nerve. The great king 2:43:57 of the frost horses fought until the very last molecule of strength left its body. Then, with one final defiant snort, that proud head slowly, almost majestically, drooped toward the water. Mangan looked like he'd just arm wrestled a mountain and only barely won. White vapor was pouring off him from the blood she overdraft, and he was breathing like a bellows in a blacksmith's shop. But the absolute legend held on and with the help of the soldiers rushing in, they hauled the unconscious stallion onto the bank like the most expensive catch of the day. Final tally. 39 Frost horses. Every single one. Not a single escapee. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding since the operation started. And the relief that flooded through me was better than any pill in any auction house. I announced rewards on the spot because nothing cements loyalty like immediate gratification. All participating soldiers received 10 contribution points. Squad leaders got 2:45:00 20, centurions got 30, and Ming Yun, who had personally wrestled a third tier demon beast into submission through what appeared to be pure spite and upper body strength, got 100 points. The man deserved a statue, but points would have to do for now. The contribution point system had become the beating heart of Yangu County's entire social structure by this point. And I was honestly a little proud of how well it worked. Everyone, soldiers, civilians, slaves, understood exactly what points meant. Freedom, techniques, pills, promotions, even demon beasts. The exchange catalog was growing richer by the month thanks to my intelligence system constantly uncovering new treasures to stock it with. But earning points wasn't easy, and that was by design. Regular non-warrior soldiers earned three points monthly. Blood refining warriors got five. Bone refining got 10. Ordinary civilians earned a measly two points per year, and slaves got just one. At those 2:46:00 rates, a slave would need a decade of patience to accumulate enough for freedom. This created exactly the right amount of desperation to keep everyone perpetually motivated while making extraordinary achievements like today's horse capture feel genuinely rewarding. We marched the bound drugged horses back to Yongu County in triumph. First thing I did was send Ming Yun sprinting back to guard the mine. That iron deposit was still my economic lifeline and leaving it unprotected while I played cowboy was not a risk I could afford for long. Then I personally escorted the horses to the specially prepared training grounds where Han Yintion was practically vibrating with anticipation. The kid had been pacing back and forth like a caged animal himself. And when he saw me coming with 39 magnificent frost horses in tow, he hit the ground in a prostrating bow so fast he probably left a dent. I told him the horses had been given suppression pills to temporarily neutralize their demonic power, making 2:47:00 them about as dangerous as regular war horses. His job was to tame them using his beast taming inheritance. I set his compensation at three contribution points per month base pay plus 10 bonus points per successfully tamed horse. 50 points if he could get them to breed and additional rewards scaled by tier for any beast that advanced under his care. The look on his face told me I'd just handed him the keys to his family salvation. Every tamed horse brought him closer to freeing his mother and brother. I'd essentially turned horse whispering into the most motivated job in the entire county. I assigned Luon Ming to arrange support staff bone refining level soldiers specifically because when those horses inevitably woke up angry, I wanted people nearby who could survive the experience. With the horse situation handled, I returned to my mountain of administrative paperwork and immediately wished I hadn't. Tax records, grain consumption reports, contribution point ledgers, 2:48:01 construction schedules, trade manifests. The stack on my desk had grown to the approximate height of a small child during my absence. Yangu County was expanding so fast that the bureaucracy was multiplying like rabbits. As evening shadows crept across my study, I put down a particularly mind-numbing report on grain warehouse inventory and stared at the towering pile of documents still waiting for me. The realization hit like a thunderbolt bomb to the face. I desperately needed a proper administrator, someone who could handle the endless river of paperwork, manage the logistics, keep the books balanced, and generally prevent me from drowning in my own success. I had warriors. I had craftsmen. I had farmers and miners and beast tamers. What I did not have was a single competent bureaucrat. And in a growing territory, the lack of good paperwork people kills you just as dead as the lack of good sword people. Just slower and with more headaches. I sat down, pulled out my best writing brush, 2:49:02 and began composing a letter to my father. If anyone could find and send me a trustworthy, capable civil administrator, it was the head of theQen family. Some problems, I'd learned still required the old-fashioned solution of asking dad for help. Half an hour of careful brush work later, my letter to father was complete. A detailed, respectful request for a competent civil administrator who could handle the avalanche of paperwork threatening to bury me alive. I handed it to a bone refining warrior with instructions to deliver it personally to Anen Province. Look, I'm not the type to run crying to daddy every time something gets hard. I'd built this county from literal rubble using my own wits, my cheat system, and an unhealthy amount of stubbornness. But finding a trustworthy administrator wasn't a problem you could solve by punching demon beasts or outsmarting auction rivals. I needed someone who could manage grain logistics, track contribution points, handle trade ledgers, and generally 2:50:02 prevent my rapidly growing territory from collapsing under the weight of its own success. Could I have requested an official through the Baleong Mars government? Sure. And then spent every night wondering if that official was secretly reporting my iron mind to his real boss. No thank you. Father's recommendation was the only kind I could trust with this much at stake. A few days later, while I was drowning in yet another thrilling report about wheat storage ratios, the best news I'd received all week arrived, my weapon was finished. I headed to the training grounds where a messenger presented the completed lance with appropriate ceremony. The moment my fingers closed around the shaft, I felt it, a subtle weight, perfectly balanced, the metal humming with contained potential. The entire weapon gleamed with cold silver light, and running along the shaft were these incredibly detailed dragon patterns that seemed to writhe and coil beneath the surface like they were alive. The Pangalan craftsmen had outdone themselves. This wasn't just a 2:51:03 weapon. This was a masterpiece. I channeled my bloodqi into the lance, and the transformation was instantaneous. The silver metal blazed crimson. The spearhead vibrated with a deep resonant hum that made the air itself tremble, and the entire weapon seemed to wake up like a predator opening its eyes. Without thinking twice, I whipped the lance forward into a practice boulder. The boulder exploded, not cracked, not split, exploded. Chunks of stone flew in every direction like shrapnel from a very surprised rock that had made the fatal mistake of existing in my general vicinity. I stood there holding my smoking Lance blinking at the crater where a perfectly good training boulder used to live and realized this weapon had just boosted my striking power to the threshold of the bone refining realm. I was still technically a mid-stage blood refining warrior, but with this lance in my hands, I was hitting way above my weight class. Dragon patterns, dragons roar. I'll call 2:52:03 you the dragon cry lance, I murmured, running my fingers along those beautiful engravings. Yes, I named my weapon out loud. No, I'm not embarrassed about it. Every great warrior names their weapon. It's tradition. Shut up. Then I shifted to more explosive matters, literally. I asked the messenger about progress on the cannon blueprints I'd sent to the Pangalans. The answer was encouraging. The design was complex, especially the barrel casting and structural reinforcement, but the Panggalins had figured out a viable approach and estimated the first prototype would be ready within a week. Let me explain why I was building cannons in a fantasy world. During the falling Rock Valley battle and the Frost Horse capture, our Thunderbolt bombs had proven devastatingly effective. These bombs were essentially hand grenades, powerful but limited by how far a human arm could throw them. The logical next step was obvious to anyone with knowledge of military history. If you have good explosives, build something that can 2:53:04 launch them further and harder. My designs were based on the Ming dynasty's red coat cannons, the most effective classical artillery I could remember from my previous life. If the Pangalans could pull this off, I'd have ranged firepower that no other force in Baleong could match. In a world of swords, spears, and bloodchi, artillery would be the ultimate unfair advantage, and I was going to need every unfair advantage I could get because a storm was coming. I wasn't delusional enough to think my secret would hold forever. My Tony Leong trading company was selling weapons and armor across a dozen counties. Anyone with half a brain and basic investigative skills would eventually trace that supply chain back to Yangu County and realize I was sitting on a gold mine. Well, an iron mine, but the principle was the same. In Baleong, where noble territories got swallowed whole on a regular basis, and the surviving baron count had dropped from 36 to about 10, a mine producing over a 2:54:04 100,000 tales annually was the kind of prize that turned neighbors into enemies overnight. Whoever came knocking wouldn't bother with polite requests. They'd come with armies. But here's the thing. I wasn't just preparing to survive the storm. I was preparing to use it. My trading company needed something that advertising couldn't buy. Fear. The Han family's merchant association dominated Bale Yong because everyone knew the marquee would crush anyone who challenged them. My Tonong trading company had no such backing. Lin Tion's initial success was just surface level. We hadn't yet bumped against anyone powerful enough to push back. When we did, we'd need a reputation forged in blood and iron. One decisive military victory, loud enough to echo across the entire province, would give us that reputation. My thoughts drifted to Xiao Wu and his Jill County. Tempting target. Very tempting. The Xiao family name carried enough weight that defeating their heir would send shock waves through every noble household in 2:55:05 the region. And the guy was an absolute which would keep my casualties low. But I forced myself to think bigger. Xiao Wu would get his reckoning. That was inevitable at this point, but not yet. He was a marquee family son. If I couldn't destroy him completely in one clean operation, the aftermath would create more problems than it solved. Half measures against connected idiots were worse than doing nothing. My eyes drifted across the map on my wall, scanning the six neighboring counties. Two were run by Earl family sons. I studied each one until my gaze locked onto Yunan County, governed by a man from the Gu family ofQing province. Another Earl house closest to my borders and by all reports the strongest military force in the immediate area. About 3,000 troops, unknown number of warriors with a late organ refining realm commander as their top fighter. If I could beat them, the intimidation effect would be exponentially greater than squashing Xiao Wu. Defeating the 2:56:06 strongest neighbor was worth 10 victories against weak ones. The decision crystallized in my mind like ice forming on a winter river. Tion Ming, I called out. He appeared instantly, sharpeyed and ready. Effective immediately, Yangu County enters war preparation. All battalions increase training intensity. Double our supply reserves. The order rippled through Yongu County like a shock wave. Within the hour, the entire town shifted gears from construction mode to combat readiness. The relaxed hum of peacetime development was replaced by the sharp, focused energy of a county preparing for war. Soldiers drilled harder. Blacksmiths worked longer. Supply wagons rolled faster. Somewhere out there, the county governor of Yinan had no idea that a storm with a dragon patterned lance was heading his way. When Lin Tion arrived at the end of the month for his regular supply run, the look on his face was absolutely priceless. He rode through my gates expecting the usual 2:57:06 bustling construction site and instead found himself in the middle of what looked like a military base preparing for the apocalypse. Soldiers were drilling so hard the ground was shaking. Supply wagons were rolling non-stop and the entire county radiated the kind of energy that says someone is about to have a very bad day. Brother Cheen, he blurted out, barely dismounting before the question tumbled out. Who exactly are you planning to fight? The worry on his face was touching. Really? Not worry for me personally, of course. Worry for his business investment. I was the golden goose laying armor-plated eggs for the Ton Trading Company and golden geese getting stabbed on battlefields tends to negatively impact quarterly earnings. I gave him my most reassuring smile. Sharp eyes, brother Lynn. I'm planning to pay our neighbor Yunan County a visit. Kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, as they say. I explained the logic plainly. Our trading company was growing fast, but growth without muscle behind it was just painting a 2:58:07 target on our backs. In Baleyong, the only currency that truly mattered was the ability to destroy anyone who looked at you funny. The Han family's merchant association ruled because everyone knew the marquee would annihilate challengers. We needed our own version of that fear factor, and the only way to get it was through a victory so decisive that every county governor in the region would think twice before messing with anything bearing the Ton Leong name. Linton nodded slowly. He understood this better than most. Just last month, while passing through Julie County, some greedy county governor had nearly tried to seize his entire caravan. Only the size of his armed escort had saved him. The law of the frontier was simple. Be strong or be lunch. I'm in, he declared, pounding his chest with the enthusiasm of a man volunteering for something he didn't fully understand yet. I'll gather my people and I waved him off with a laugh. I appreciate the spirit, brother Lynn, but fighting is my department. I 2:59:08 have something much more important for you. Then I told him my actual plan. The color drained from his face so fast I thought he might faint. You want me to what? His voice cracked like a teenager's. I just told him to deliberately leak the information that I controlled a medium-sized iron mine to leak it directly to Guuhan, the county governor of Yinan County, who was about to become my military target. On purpose, intentionally, as in, "Please tell my enemy exactly where my most valuable strategic asset is located." Linton stared at me like I just proposed we set our own warehouses on fire for fun. I could practically see his brain cycling through the five stages of grief at high speed. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, after studying my completely calm expression, reluctant acceptance. You're you're not joking. Do I look like I'm joking? He studied me for a long, intense moment. I could see the gears turning behind his eyes. Lintion was no 3:00:08 fool. He knew I wasn't suicidal, which meant this apparently insane instruction had to be part of a larger strategy. A bold, terrifying, probably brilliant strategy that he couldn't quite see the full shape of yet. A wild idea was clearly forming in his mind. Something that made his heart race, but he forcibly shoved it down before it could fully crystallize. Fine," he said quietly with the expression of a man stepping off a cliff and trusting that the person who pushed him had packed a parachute. "I'll do it." When he looked at me again, his eyes held something new. Not just trust, but genuine awe. The kind of look people give you when they realize you're operating on a level they can't fully comprehend. I found it flattering and slightly concerning in equal measure. I lightened the mood by dragging him to dinner because nothing soothes existential terror quite like good food. The next morning, he departed with his cargo, notably smaller this time. Instead of the usual 100 plus sets of armor, I'd given him only 20 sets of 3:01:11 mystic iron armor. Every piece was deliberate. Every number was calculated. Days later, Lin Tion's caravan rolled into Yinan County. The governor there, Guhan, practically sprinted out to greet him. Their previous transaction had clearly made an impression because Guuhan was rolling out the red carpet treatment like Lin Tion was visiting royalty. Master Lynn, welcome. Welcome. Guhan was all smiles and bear hugs. The picture of a delighted customer about to spend money he definitely shouldn't. Linton played his part flawlessly. He unveiled the 20 mystic iron armor sets with the theatrical flourish of a magician revealing his best trick. Casually mentioning that other county governors along the route had offered 400 tales per set and he turned them all down because obviously the best merchandise should go to the best customer. Guhan was practically salivating. The timing couldn't have been more perfect for him. He'd been struggling with a pack of second tier bristle boores guarding a third tier 3:02:11 spiritf fruit tree. And he desperately needed better armor for his elite troops. He'd been about to buy overpriced garbage from the Han family when Lin Tion appeared like a gift from heaven. Last month's single sample set had been so impressive that Guuhan had actually delayed his military operation just to wait for more. Now 20 sets had landed in his lap at once. The man was practically glowing with happiness. Then came the wine. Cups flowed freely, toasts multiplied, and Lin Tion gradually began his Oscar-worthy performance of businessman Who's had one drink too many, his words got sloppier, his tongue looser, his commercial discretion conveniently dissolving in alcohol. When Guuhan casually asked where all this magnificent armor was coming from, bypassing the Han family's iron grip on trade, Lin Tion delivered his line with the sloppy precision of a drunk man accidentally revealing state secrets. Got a friend? Huh? Friends got himself a pretty big iron mine 3:03:13 somewhere. He mumbled it just clearly enough to plant the seed, then conveniently passed out face first on the banquet table before Guhan could squeeze out any more details. Guhan sat there with his wine cup frozen midway to his lips. Mind obviously racing at a thousand miles per hour. A friend, an iron mine in Baong, producing mystic iron armor of this quality. I could almost hear the greed clicking into place from a 100 miles away. The bait was set, the hook was in the water, and the biggest, most ambitious fish in my neighborhood was already circling it with hungry eyes and an empty stomach. All according to plan. Now, let me walk you through how a perfectly laid trap works when your target is greedy, ambitious, and blessed with just enough intelligence to be dangerous, which is to say, exactly enough intelligence to connect the dots you've carefully arranged for them, and not enough to realize those dots spell. You're being played. After Lin Tion dramatically faceplanted into his wine cup at the 3:04:15 Yunan County banquet, an Oscar-worthy performance of strategic unconsciousness, by the way, things started moving exactly as I predicted. The moment Linton was carried out of the room like a very expensive sack of potatoes, Guuhan dropped his jolly host act faster than a snake shedding its skin. What I learned through subsequent intelligence was absolutely delicious. Guhan immediately turned to his son Gution, who'd apparently been standing in the shadows the whole time, like a well-trained surveillance device. Turns out the old fox had already been investigating Lin Tion's supply routes for some time. His son reported that Lin Tion's earliest delivery stops had been Yangu County, Lean County, and Anong County, meaning the mysterious iron mine had to be in one of those three territories. Then Guuhan's brain did exactly what I needed it to do. He remembered something. His scouts had previously detected signs of heavy combat near Falling Rock Valley. When Guian confirmed that the valley was now 3:05:16 occupied by Yongu County forces, the final puzzle piece clicked into place behind Guuhan's greedy little eyes with an almost audible snap. I can practically reconstruct his logic because it was the logic I designed for him to follow. Falling Rock Valley used to be a stone scorpion nest. Stone scorpions eat minerals. Stone scorpions enslave digging creatures to find ore. Yangu County attacked and seized the valley. Lintion's first stop was always Yangu County. Linton drunkenly mentioned a friend with an iron mine. Therefore, Yongu County equals iron mine equals fortune equals I must have it. Guhan apparently got so excited he literally jumped out of his chair. The man had been governing Yunan County for over a decade, had received an actual barren title from the Imperial Court a few years back, and considered himself the undisputed alpha predator of the northern Baleong region. In his mind, I was nothing but a wet behind the years rookie who'd gotten lucky with family 3:06:16 money and stumbled onto a gold mine I couldn't possibly defend. His reasoning for why attacking me was perfectly safe went something like this. Sure, theQin family is powerful back in Anen province, but Anan is thousands of miles away. What are they going to do? Teleport in Baleong? Might makes right. And he had 10 years of accumulated military power versus my few months of scrambling. Easy pickings, quick land grab. Nobody would even notice until it was too late. The arrogance was so thick you could spread it on toast. He sent Guian to scout Falling Rock Valley in disguise. 7 days later, the boy came racing back with exactly the intelligence I wanted him to find. Over a thousand troops were stationed there. The camp was well organized with tight security patrols, and the place was crawling with warriors. A heavy garrison guarding a remote valley with no strategic value unless it contained something enormously valuable underneath. Guhan practically levitated with excitement. He was pacing his 3:07:18 office like a caged tiger who' just spotted an unlocked gate. ranting about how he'd known all along, how this was destiny, how the iron mine was basically already his. He didn't even need to see the actual or to convince himself. The circumstantial evidence was enough to make him bet everything. Mobilize all available forces, prepare weapons and supplies. In 10 days, we march on Falling Rock Valley. The order went out and Union County erupted into frenzied military preparation. Soldiers were recalled from every outpost. Armor was polished, weapons sharpened, horses fed double rations. Meanwhile, Guuhan's spies started flooding toward Yongu County like rats through a sewer, desperately gathering intelligence on my troop deployments, defensive positions, and anything else they could sniff out. Now, here's the part that made me smile every time I thought about it. Everything Guuh Han was doing, every assumption he was making, every troop he was mobilizing, every spy he was 3:08:19 dispatching was happening because I wanted it to happen. Linton's drunken slip wasn't a slip at all. The iron mine information wasn't a leak. It was bait. And Guuhan, despite being genuinely experienced and genuinely dangerous, had swallowed it whole because it confirmed what he desperately wanted to believe, that easy riches were there for the taking. The beautiful irony was that the mine was real. The treasure was genuine. The thousandman garrison was absolutely there. All of that was true. What Guhan had catastrophically miscalculated was the idea that taking it would be easy or survivable. Meanwhile, Lin Tion was riding away from Yunan County in his carriage, staring out the window with the haunted expression of a man who' just lit a fuse and wasn't entirely sure how big the explosion would be. He understood my plan intellectually. Use the mine as bait. Let the enemy come to me, crush them decisively, and use the victory to establish the Tony Leong 3:09:20 Trading Company's reputation as untouchable. Brilliant in theory. But Guuhan wasn't some pushover like Xiao Wu. This was a genuine baron with years of military experience, 3,000 battle tested troops, and a late organ refining warrior as his champion. Please let this work, he apparently muttered to the receding landscape of Yinan County. Oh, it was going to work all right. The pieces were all in position. Guuhan was charging toward a battlefield I'd chosen on a timeline I'd set for a prize I'd dangled. He thought he was the hunter. He had no idea he was the chicken I was about to slaughter in front of every monkey in northern Baleong. Warclouds were gathering over falling rock valley. And somewhere in my study, I was looking at a map, holding a lance named Dragon's Cry, and waiting with the patient calm of a man who'd written the script for a play his enemy didn't even know he was starring in. Right on schedule, my intelligence system delivered the confirmation I'd been waiting for like a 3:10:20 kid on Christmas morning. There it was, entry number five, glowing in golden text. In 10 days, due to the leaked information about falling rock valley mine, Yinan County, Governor Guuh Han will launch a war against you. I read that sentence and smiled the way a spider smiles when it feels the web vibrate. Not that spiders smile, but if they did, it would look exactly like my face at that moment. The beauty of this entire scheme was its moral elegance. If id marched over to Yinan County and attacked unprovoked, I'd be the villain. an aggressive newcomer picking fights with established neighbors. My reputation would tank and every other county governor in the region would band together against me out of pure self-preservation instinct. But Guhan attacking me, that was self-defense. That was righteous retaliation. That was He started it. Your honor, I merely finished it with extreme prejudice. Completely different optics. The next morning, I set phase 2 into motion. I 3:11:21 left Lu Tian Ming behind with 500 soldiers to guard Yangu County. More than enough given our fortified walls, armed civilians, and oh right, that little detail of having a Peak Tong, my realm warrior casually residing within the city limits. Shiao Han alone was worth more than any garrison. If someone attacked Yangu County while he was there, they wouldn't be conquering a city. They'd be committing elaborate suicide. I looked Lu Tian Ming in the eye and told him the county was in his hands. He responded with the kind of iron spine promise that makes a commander's heart swell with pride. Good kid. Terrifyingly competent kid. Then I rode out with 1200 soldiers. But here's the delicious part. I deliberately took a roundabout route, making it look like I was heading somewhere completely different. Maybe off to fight some demon beast tribe. Maybe a training exercise. Definitely not reinforcing my mind. No sir, nothing to see here. Guuhan spies, who I knew were watching my every move 3:12:21 because I practically sent them an invitation, reported back exactly what I wanted them to. See, the foolish young governor had taken his main force and wandered off into the wilderness, leaving his precious mind defended by only a garrison. The timing was too perfect. The opportunity was too good. It was obviously a trap. And Guuhan, bless his greedy heart, didn't care. When his son Gution timidly suggested it might be a setup, the old baron basically flexed his ego so hard it probably pulled a muscle. Even if it is a trap, he reportedly declared, "My 4,000 elite soldiers can eat his thousand exhausted troops for breakfast. And if we catch the chain boy himself, we can ransom him back to his family for a fortune." The man was so drunk on anticipated victory that he actually compressed his 10-day preparation schedule down to seven. Because apparently patience is for people who don't have 4,000 soldiers. His entire army, and I do mean entire, the old 3:13:22 lunatic had emptied his county like someone turning a purse upside down came slithering toward falling rock like the world's most overconfident snake approaching what it thought was a mouse. for thousand soldiers. That was a thousand more than my intelligence had originally estimated. The old fox had been hiding reserves. Under normal circumstances, this army could steamroll 80% of the county governors in all of Baleon. These were battle tested veterans commanded by a man with over a decade of frontier experience and a late organ refining realm warrior as his champion. Did I feel a flicker of concern when the scout reported those numbers? I'll be honest, yes. A brief healthy flicker that lasted approximately two seconds before being smothered by cold mathematical certainty. Because here's what Guhan didn't know. My 2,000 defenders inside Falling Rock Valley weren't ordinary soldiers. Over 900 of them were actual warriors. Nearly a 1:1 ratio of warriors 3:14:22 to regular troops. In any normal army, having even one warrior for every five soldiers was considered exceptional. My ratio was practically supernatural. On top of that, I'd recently expanded my heavy cavalry to 300 riders. Each one an armored battering ram on horseback. But those weren't my real trump cards. My real trump cards were three very large, very heavy, very angry-l lookinging objects currently hidden behind carefully constructed earthworks inside the valley. 10 days ago, my Pangalan engineers had finally delivered what I'd been dreaming about since I first drew those blueprints. Three functioning cannons. Not decorative tubes, not oversized firework launchers, actual working artillery pieces modeled after the Ming Dynasty's legendary red coat cannons loaded with specially modified Thunderbolt bombshells. When we test fired them a few days ago, the results had been, let's just say, the target area no longer existed in any meaningful 3:15:22 sense. The destructive power was comparable to early modern artillery from my previous world. In a civilization that fought with swords and bloodqi, these three iron beasts were the equivalent of bringing a machine gun to a knife fight. Three cannons against 4,000 men charging into a confined valley. The math was beautiful in the most terrible way possible. As dawn broke, Guuhan's army reached the 30 m perimeter of Falling Rock Valley. Inside, every one of my soldiers was already in position, silent as death, breathing controlled, weapons ready. Mang Yun reported that all units were deployed exactly according to plan. I could see the nervous excitement on his face. Commanding troops against human enemies was a first for him, and firsts are always terrifying, regardless of how prepared you are. I gave him one final reminder, and I made every word count. Let their main force enter the valley's kill zone completely. The troops hidden behind their rear must hold position no 3:16:22 matter what. Do not, I repeat, do not close the encirclement until the heavy cavalry has charged and the cannons have finished breaking their formation. We need total annihilation, not a partial victory. Total annihilation served two purposes. First, it would send a message so loud that every county governor within 500 m would hear it and think very carefully before looking at my territory with hungry eyes. Second, and equally important, it would keep the existence of my cannon secret. Dead men tell no tales, and 4,000 dead men tell absolutely nothing at all. Ming Yun saluted and sprinted to his position. The valley fell silent, holding its breath. Outside, Guhan's massive army was approaching the entrance, dust rising behind them like a funeral shroud they didn't know they were wearing. His son Gution apparently noticed how suspiciously quiet everything was and suggested sending more scouts ahead to check for ambushes. I could have told 3:17:22 him it wouldn't matter. By the time any scout reported back, his father's army would already be inside the mouth of the beast. And by then, the only exit would be through me and three tons of experimental artillery. You know that feeling when you've spent weeks setting up dominoes in an elaborate pattern, and the moment finally comes to flick the first one? That tingly, almost electric anticipation of watching everything fall exactly where you designed it to fall. Multiply that by about a thousand, add three cannons, and you'll have a rough approximation of how I felt watching Guhan's army waddle straight into my kill zone. like 4,000 turkeys marching into an oven. Let me set the scene. Guuhan being the cautious old fox he occasionally pretended to be, actually did send scouts ahead first. 20 odd cavalry riders trotted up to the valley entrance, poked around for half an hour, and came back with a report that basically said, "All clear, boss. The guards are eating lunch. Barely anyone at the entrance. These guys are total 3:18:24 amateurs." Now I want you to appreciate the artistry here. Those lazy guards eating lunch at the valley entrance carefully staged. Those few remaining centuries who ran away in panic the moment they spotted approaching cavalry actors. Every single one of them performing exactly the role I'd assigned. The whole thing was choreographed tighter than a cord dance except instead of silk ribbons and flower petals. The finale involved high explosive artillery shells. Guhan heard his scouts report and literally threw his head back laughing. Whatever microscopic trace of suspicion might have been lingering in his aging brain evaporated like morning dew on a hot stove. His son Gution joined in the mockery, calling me a waste who couldn't even manage basic military discipline. Father and son stood there practically high-fiving each other over what they thought was my incompetence. Then the old man made his move. He sent Gution ahead with 200 light cavalry as a 3:19:25 vanguard to seize the valley entrance. And give Guution credit for this much. He wasn't completely stupid. He took the entrance, watched those few centuries flee in terror, laughed about it for a solid minute, and then actually stopped to wait for the main army instead of charging deeper. Smart enough not to overextend. Not smart enough to realize the trap had already closed around him the moment he crossed the threshold. A few minutes later, Guhan arrived with his 4,000 infantry flowing into the narrow valley entrance like water pouring into a funnel.
