Baoping State, Prefecture City 'Baoping'!

Placed within the complex region of one state, it stands like an indomitable lion, steadfast amidst the vastness of the state, enduring the storms and rains, never having fallen.

Decades ago,

The Jing River Dragon Court of the Northwest Wilderness summoned the waters of the West Sea, employing almost 'magical' great divine techniques, flooding the prefecture city, yet it did not break through.

With time, in this epoch, the slaughterous battle between humans and demons and monsters has once again become severe.

One state, Seven Prefectures and Forty-Nine Cities.

From the Demon-Suppressing Great Wall moving southward, the Demon Suppression Mansion, Shunan Prefecture, Wutong Prefecture, three battle lines Link together as one, half the territory has already been occupied.

The once prefecture city 'Baoping' has become the frontier gateway and battleground in the conflict between demons and monsters and the Great Zhao occupying east and west.

With consecutive battles and confrontations, the situation has reached a stalemate.

But,

On this day.

As night falls.

A mansion with glazed tiles, situated tactfully, is brightly lit.

On its tall redwood doors, are carved dragon and phoenix patterns that emulate jade but aren't, emitting a faint firefly glow, complemented by a golden plaque inscribed with the words 'Baoping', distinctly visible within the vicinity.

Inside the mansion.

It's brilliantly lit, as splendid as daylight.

Candlelight flickers in the study.

Two significant figures, whose stomp could shake the state's situation, gather together.

State Lord Lan Jingyi sits at the table, holding the pen in a posture that has remained still for long, his furrowed face finally shows a hint of joy.

Beside him.

Is a middle-aged man wearing iron-cast general armor, with his hair grown and beard kept, exuding a robust aura, though his breath is somewhat weak, appearing slightly injured.

His name is Ye Huai.

He is the current Baoping Grand General.

Or rather...

The surname 'Ye'.

In the Baoping State territory, over the past hundred years, it's resounded even more than the State Lord's surname.

Sixty years ago, General Ye Cang called upon imperial demon hunters to patrol, defended the state mansion, rejecting the Jing River Dragon Court Dragon Monarch's rain and nourishing techniques beyond the mansion.

Turning the originally 'indefensible' city, into one held with grit, shedding blood on the battlements, causing a worldwide sensation.

Later, his son, once every four years at the 'Wutong Prefecture Examination' visiting the Martial Temple, Ye Huai, inherited his legacy, and became the Fifth Grade Treasure Vase Prefecture Venerable.

The saying goes, 'Like father, like son'.

Losing the shade of his father, Ye Huai did not pause here, decades of martial studies earnestly, with equal progress in both 'official rank' and 'martial arts'.

Finally, breaking through the Celestial Gate ten years ago, his rank further promoted, listed as 'Baoping Grand General'!

Standing equal with Lan Jingyi, the successor from the Divine Capital Duke's Mansion, succeeding the first Baoping State Lord 'Pei Nanbei'.

Not long ago, in the demon and monster unrest, Lan Jingyi and Ye Huai joined forces, fighting together against the Ancient Splendor Demon Monarch from Jing River Dragon Court and the Golden Roc Demon Monarch from Ten Thousand Beasts Alliance, but didn't gain the upper hand.

Further, a 'Master of Great Snow Mountain' from the monsters appeared, intent on storming Yunluan Mountain.

Even with True Masters jointly attacking, she remained unfazed, leading to the fall of areas surrounding the Demon Suppression Mansion situated on the 'Demon-Suppressing Great Wall', both Shunan and Wutong, all fell.

At this time,

Two pinnacle figures of Baoping gather, with two letters laid before them.

One, from the Great Zhao.

Duke Liang 'Lan Jingyu', appointed as 'Western Expedition Commander', with the deputy general being Lu Xingshuang, hailing from the Duke Lu lineage, listed as Fourth Step True Man.

It's heard,

The former State Lord 'Pei Nanbei', once a breakthrough giant, solidified his foundation, upon hearing the volatility in Baoping, also joined the army expedition, Patriarch of Divine Capital's Gu Family concerned about the heritage passed down by a cousin years ago, also made a visit.

Among these people, except Lu Xingshuang, from Duke Lu lineage, once the Dragon-slaying Marquis' legitimate wife, later parted due to differences in philosophy, yet birthed a son with him.

None of them is of the first stage True Master.

Able enough to contend against the Dragon King of Jing River Dragon Court, the Alliance Leader of Ten Thousand Beasts Alliance, battling fiercely!

As the army sets forth, True Masters and Primordial Pills arrives first, the news has spread widely, soon to arrive, relieving Lan Jingyi of the constant heavy pressure and perpetual gloom:

"Except the few at the central hub, required to suppress the national fortunes with Divine Capital, hardly accessible."

"Others, either defending the Jiangnan land, or stationed long-term, overseeing, guarding against Divine Blood rebellion."

"Fatefully in these years, neither Jiangnan nor Divine Blood remain peaceful, coupled with the increasingly deepening ties between 'Grotto Heaven' and Great Zhao over several decades, leaving the court's masters unable to intervene even in the southwest wilderness monster upheaval..."

"But now, my elder brother has freed himself, though he has a fiery temper, his martial arts skills are indeed top-notch, even against Jing River Dragon King, Ten Thousand Demons Alliance Leader, he's not constrained!"

"Coupled with the once follower of the Great Demon Hunter Master, one of the 'giant sects' Patriarch of Gu family, together with State Lord Pei Nanbei..."

"Baoping State, the situation will undoubtedly stabilize!"

"Even if 'Master of Great Snow Mountain' Song Brahman Mirror defies fate, suppressing the three hundred year top True Masters in Baoping State, including Qin Changfeng in Profound Soldier Cave, Gu Fengchun of Gu Family, Tantai Ye from Fumo Temple, again, so what?"

"She yet doesn't possess the ability to slaughter numerous well-recognized and soon-to-dominate giants!"

Ye Huai observed Lan Jingyi's face, nodded in agreement, simultaneously gazing at the other letter, remaining somewhat silent:

"State Lord's words are fair, however..."

"Regarding this, what do you think?"

On the letter.

From 'Profound Soldier Cave' and 'Baoping Gu Family'.

And the authors...

Are Qin Wubai and Gu Family Ancestor.

These two, sixty years ago, witnessed by the State Lord of the time, interred into the 'Immortal Nirvana Palace'.