At the year’s end, Jiaying, the era name that marked the rejuvenation of Dayan, came to a close amidst the fierce flames of war. The new era name, decided upon through the collaboration of the Empress and the Han King, was established as Yong’an, symbolizing eternal peace and stability.

The war continues.

Having endured a year of defeats at Jiangnan, Hongnong, and the Western Desert, the Sect Alliance — an ancient and immense entity — has fully awakened under the iron hoofs of the Imperial Court, unleashing its limitless potential.

Hidden sects within the depths of the Secret Realm emerged one after another, including former overlords who once dominated regions.

The outdated and conservative rulers have completely decentralized cultivation techniques, opening the Heavenly Road of cultivation to all mortals.

Under pressure from the Imperial Court, the sects’ most advanced formation masters collaborated, releasing top-tier cultivation techniques and formation patterns once held in high esteem, which sparked unprecedented vitality through the intersection of thousands of sects’ different technological paths.

The Sect Alliance stabilized its retreat.

A battle line stretching from the Endless Sea in the east to the Yellow Ancient Desert in the west, constructed with countless living beings, gradually spread open, tearing Dayan apart, with numerous fortresses and towns along the way razed to the ground, and blood and lament reflected in the crimson sky.

The war entered a stalemate, and both sides, the Imperial Court and the Sect Alliance, in a tacit agreement started a competition in technology for more efficient slaughter of their kin.

The most advanced formation masters on both sides began developing harder and lighter materials for armor and weapons, improving patterns for more powerful cannons, and creating new formation patterns as bases for new weapons...

Just like Xu Yuan’s last conversation with Heavenly Will.

The endless passage of time has brought this world to a point of transformation.

And war is forever the catalyst for technological explosions.

Under both sides’ cost-no-object investments,

countless blueprints that once only existed in the formation masters’ minds were materialized,

epoch-making formation technologies emerged,

and,

lethal weapons far more efficient than ever before were unleashed into the war!

The Dayan Imperial Court recently used the remnants of the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree as a base to create an Illusionary Realm named Void Realm, continuously training soldiers born for slaughter, while the Sect Alliance swiftly crafted a celestial cannon named Tianshu that could always remain floating tens of thousands of feet in the sky, continually enhancing its power on this basis.

Such instances abound...

With summer gone, autumn and winter arrived again, the cycle of years continued, and once more the peach blossoms bloomed.

When Xu Yuan briefly took his mind off heavy affairs, Bai Muxi and Su Jinxuan were already waiting silently by the study’s side; he did not look up and continued browsing the frontlines’ war reports as he asked:

"What is it?"

Time had left no traces on Bai Muxi’s delicate face, but her serene aura was now tinged with the nobility of someone in a high position.

In the war’s seventh year, she was appointed as the Pavilion Master of Mo Ying Pavilion, sharing administrative duties with Xu Yuan.

She placed a lavishly decorated document on the desk and, looking at the man dressed in a Profound Black Dragon Robe, respectfully said:

"Master, the Myriad Manifestation Sect has sent a letter of surrender for your review."

"Just leave it there."

Xu Yuan didn’t care much.

The war had persisted so long that the once strategic stalemate had long been broken, and despite the deep foundations of the Sect Alliance, the system constructed by countless sects inevitably made it difficult for them to eradicate internal hindrances.

The scales of victory had gradually tipped towards the Dayan Imperial Court as Xu Yuan had anticipated.

Last year, the Western Army led by Marquis Wucheng recaptured Jingjiang Prefecture, Zong Qingsheng’s Central Army reached the Shu Heavenly Land, and Yuan Hao’s Eastern Legion had already stationed in the Huainan area, ready to once again advance into Jiangnan, which he had once slaughtered.

The days until the war’s end were now numbered.

"And you?"

The deep, gentle voice rang out once again, and Xu Yuan raised his eyes to meet those enchanting peach blossom eyes that seemed to captivate the world.

As their eyes met, it felt like cherry blossoms were falling, and even Xu Yuan’s current composure couldn’t help but lose focus for a moment.

Su Jinxuan, in a plain white dress, with the sunbeam filtered through the latticed window falling like a waterfall on her shoulders, harmonized with the softness that underpinned her garments. She stood there quietly, her presence alone enveloped a world-stealing allure.

His entire vision was now occupied only by her.

Putting down the report, Xu Yuan activated his cultivation technique to shield against her inherently enchanting physique, frowning as he said:

"Exercise some control over your physique... don’t cause trouble outside."

Su Jinxuan pursed her lips, blinking with a charming smile:

"It’s the Dao Charm of the cultivation technique, I’m sorry... Changtian, and outside, no one dares to look me in the eye."

At some point, Su Jinxuan changed his address from Master to Changtian.

Under Lou Ji’s guidance, the former shameless enchanting demon was no longer shameful.

If anyone could make Tianyan and Li Qingyan vigilant nowadays, it would probably be her.

Besides her fox charm physique that could make people lose themselves, Su Jinxuan unknowingly attracted even women.

Xu Yuan took a breath, his deep eyes slightly narrowing. His tone mildly intensified:

"Su Jinxuan, no personal matters in official business, just comply with what I instructed."

"..."

Su Jinxuan’s expression instantly turned a bit flustered upon hearing that, instinctively glancing at Bai Muxi.

Alright,

the shameless enchanting demon was still shameless.

Bai Muxi turned her face away, ignoring her counterpart; despite previously agreeing to be together, she was now leaning towards being the chief consort, empowered by her physique.

Hmm.

Su Jinxuan’s shoulders trembled slightly at this, quickly bowing her head in agreement:

"Yes..."

Xu Yuan picked up the war report left aside once again.

In the eighth year of the war, Su Jinxuan took up the position as Vice-Commander of the Black Scale Guards, yet even now, she remained uncomfortable facing his cold demeanor.

"Speak business."

Su Jinxuan’s downcast eyes flickered, wording carefully as she softly mentioned:

"Today in court, someone argued for the abolition of public schools citing war-related overtaxation and exhaustion of the people."

Xu Yuan’s action paused instantly.

The mention of public schools here was not about places teaching mortal knowledge, but academies instructing cultivation and the Array Pattern Path.

After several moments of silence, Xu Yuan asked seriously:

"Which faction does the person advising belong to, who are they taught by, and who have they met recently?"

"From Qingliu."

"....."

Can’t find out?

Xu Yuan rubbed his brow, leaning back in his chair, his thoughts a bit cluttered.

He hadn’t expected it to arrive so swiftly.

The war wasn’t even over, yet these matters were already impatiently emerging.

His mind briefly pondered before he coldly spoke:

"A pawn pushed to the forefront? Have the Black Scale Guards monitor him for a month, see who tries to approach him advocating this stance, then find an excuse to send him and everyone seeing him this month into the Black Prison. Extract those behind him from his mouth for me."

Su Jinxuan was already accustomed to such baseless allegations, but after contemplating, she still softly advised:

"Changtian, pulling the net in a month seems hasty; might it not alert them?"

Xu Yuan gave her a slight smile, his dark pupils reflecting ice-cold murderous intent:

"It doesn’t matter, this is just intimidation. If they stubbornly dare to reveal themselves, kill them all."

"Yes."

The air remained cold and silent for quite some time without a word spoken.

Neither Su Jinxuan nor Bai Muxi spoke further, yet both remained silently in the study, with no intention of departing.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan hesitated and then spoke somewhat helplessly:

"I’m not in the mood today, we’ll talk about it another day."

"...."

Su Jinxuan’s mood fluctuated, her face slightly showing a different shade.

Bai Muxi remained calm, eyelids lowered.

Seeing that neither woman left, Xu Yuan shook his head:

"If there’s anything else, just say so directly."

Both women exchanged a glance.

Ultimately, it was Su Jinxuan who quietly spoke, having once again changed her form of address:

"Master... Would you like to meet with Mr. Hua?"

"....."

Xu Yuan instantly fell silent.