Tiger Roar Pass.

Today, a great many martial artists from everywhere had gathered, all wanting to witness with their own eyes the final decisive battle between the Dongsheng Army and the Hejian King.

The usually desolate mountain pass was now packed with people and buzzing with noise. Every inn, large or small, was completely full. Martial artists could be seen everywhere in the streets, walking about, laughing loudly, and exchanging greetings.

"Dongsheng has really been lively these past few months. The Heavenly Maiden is nothing short of an Immortal. In just five years, she beat every rebel king along the way until they completely lost their nerve and entered the capital to beg for forgiveness. Tsk, tsk."

"I remember one of those experts even had a Grandmaster under his command who defected to his side. When the rebel went to the capital to plead guilty, that Grandmaster tried to assassinate the Heavenly Maiden, only to be slapped into ashes with a single palm."

"The Ceasefire Realm... it truly can halt war. Even a Grandmaster is nothing but an ant before it. Sigh, in this lifetime, I'm afraid we'll never know what that realm feels like."

"Don't even dream about reaching the Ceasefire Realm. In all of Dongsheng, only old Immortal Zhang of the past and the Heavenly Maiden of today had ever reached it."

"Have you heard about Fairy Yu? She's been rising rapidly to fame in the martial world."

"Of course. Horse Bandits of 72nd Street in the west were wiped out by her alone, with a single sword. If I recall correctly, the bandit leaders all had experts at the Earth Profound Realm. Some were even half a step into the level of a Grandmaster!"

"The younger generation is getting harder and harder to understand. I've trained in martial arts for decades and only barely brushed the edge of the Earth Profound Realm. Now these youngsters come out and can easily deal with half-step Grandmasters. I really don't know how they train."

***

Inside a lively tavern, Fang Chen sipped his wine while eating broad beans.

When his cup was empty, Little Yu eagerly poured him another.

"Lord Fang, look, my reputation is already this huge. When will you finally let me get involved in court affairs?" Little Yu said with an ingratiating smile.

No one would have guessed that this person, dressed as a man and pouring wine for others, was actually Fairy Yu, who had risen to fame in the martial world over the past few years.

"Your previous experiences have been limited to fighting and killing within the martial world," Fang Chen said with a faint smile. "To put it bluntly, it's just brawling between thugs. You may already be used to that, but have you ever thought about what slaughter on an actual battlefield looks like?"

"Slaughter on the battlefield..."

Little Yu fell into thought.

"Before long, there will be a great battle at Tiger Roar Pass. This battle will determine whether the Hejian King can continue to claim kingship in the north. Although the Heavenly Maiden won't come in person, she will be paying very close attention," Fang Chen shared with a smile. "So, for now, watch this battle first. We'll talk about everything else afterward."

Fairy Yu pouted and nodded. "Alright..."

***

Several days later, the decisive battle between the Dongsheng Army and the Hejian King was about to erupt. Both sides fielded over 300,000 troops. Outside Tiger Roar Pass, the armies stretched endlessly.

Countless martial artists who had spent years drifting through the martial world climbed to high vantage points to look from afar. Even separated by several miles, the sight alone made their hearts tremble.

Fang Chen and Little Yu stood atop an ancient pine tree, watching the scenes playing out outside Tiger Roar Pass. Shock was written on Little Yu's face. This was the first time she had ever seen such a spectacle. It was truly nothing like the fights of the martial world.

"If I were in the middle of that... after just one charge and clash, even an Earth Profound martial artist would be smashed to pieces..." Little Yu murmured, slightly dazed.

Before long, the sounds of slaughter erupted on the battlefield. The fighting was so fierce it seemed to blot out the heavens and darken the earth, with experts from both sides fully unleashed.

Whether Little Yu or the nearby martial artists, this was the first time they had ever witnessed such a massive scene. Even from several miles away, they could smell the stench of blood drifting through the air.

Time slipped by, and the Dongsheng Army soon emerged victorious with an overwhelming advantage. They did not pursue the routed troops, knowing the defeated army was no longer a threat. Before long, if the Hejian King did not enter the capital to plead guilty, the only path left to him would be a life of desperate flight.

They watched as the Dongsheng Army cleaned up the battlefield, corpse after corpse being carried away, piled together, and burned.

Little Yu remained silent for a long time.

"About how many died?" Fang Chen asked.

"Probably... more than 100,000, if we count both sides..." Little Yu answered softly.

"So now you understand how many people die after a single war?" Fang Chen said calmly. "If you want to meddle in court affairs and someday stand in a high position, do you realize how many battlefields like this could be affected by a single word from you, or a single glance?"

"A general only needs to win the battle in front of him, but a supreme commander must consider the entire situation. You find the martial world boring and want to involve yourself in court politics. Tell me now. Are you ready?"

"Lord Fang... why do people have to fight wars?" Little Yu asked softly.

Fang Chen gazed toward the battlefield. His gray-white eyes seemed to shimmer with light. "No one likes war. War is merely a means. What we want is the outcome of the war. You want peace under heaven, but someone else doesn't. What then? You fight. You want a prosperous and stable nation, but someone insists on destroying it. What then? You fight. You enjoy peace and celebration, but someone can't stand to see it. What then? You fight them and take them out once and for all."

Little Yu fell into deep thought. She realized she had never truly considered why war existed in this world.

After a long while, she looked at Fang Chen. "Lord Fang, I think I still need a few more years of experience. I hope you can teach me a way to achieve victory without bloodshed."

"Alright."

***

Several years later.

After his defeat at Tiger Roar Pass, the Hejian King became like a beaten dog, scrambling to flee from one place to another. In the end, with no other options left, he personally went to the capital to plead guilty.

During that period, rumors quietly spread through the martial world. It was said that in various battle zones, people calling themselves the Hidden Guards often appeared.

The origins of these Hidden Guards were extremely mysterious. Some of them had little martial skill at all, yet they had established a very special intelligence network, transmitting information across regions for the Dongsheng Army. Some of this intelligence even shocked the Dongsheng Army, allowing them to win battles without bloodshed, battles that should have been fiercely contested.

***

The capital of the Dongsheng Empire.

That was the heart of the empire. Inside a quiet and elegant residence, the Heavenly Maiden listened as her subordinates reported on the various battlefronts.

"Heavenly Maiden, are those Hidden Guards actually our people?" an elderly general asked cautiously.

"I personally investigated the Hidden Guards. They are not exactly our people, but you could say they are," the Heavenly Maiden said with a gentle smile. "Our goals align, our thinking is the same. There's no need to dig too deeply."

"But... their intelligence-gathering methods are so formidable, far beyond the spies I've cultivated over many years. If they're not our men, will they pose a threat to us in the future...?"

The old general did not finish his sentence, but his concern was obvious. He had always been wary of the possibility that these Hidden Guards were, in truth, the Heavenly Maiden's own people.

"No need to worry. That gentleman once said that he is merely accompanying a beloved companion, helping her live out this life well," the Heavenly Maiden said, sighing softly. She then laughed lightly at herself. "I really envy that..."

The old general trembled. Who was this gentleman the Heavenly Maiden was speaking of?

Could it be the rumor from a few years ago that originated in the Peach Blossom Village?

It was said that there was a strange individual there who could manipulate the heavens themselves.

"Oh, right," the Heavenly Maiden added, pouring the old general a cup of tea and smiling. "The Hidden Guards say you're also a man of the rebel king. Why don't you give me an explanation?"

The old general immediately froze, as if struck by lightning, his scalp nearly exploding.