When it came to military strategy, there was never a need to doubt Xu Wencai's skill.
But Chen Sanshi already had his own plan in mind.
He reaffirmed calmly, "That's right—two years."
Even if there were delays, it must not exceed three to four years. The longer it dragged on, the harder the war would become. Years of endless fighting would bring nothing but misery to the common people.
Better to endure one sharp pain than endless suffering. Ending the war as quickly as possible would benefit everyone.
Xu Wencai nodded thoughtfully. "If the Commander wishes for a swift campaign, then the Northern Liang Army must find a way to head south as soon as possible. We need to break through into the Central Plains."
He pondered a moment, then said, "There are two routes the Northern Liang Army can take to enter the Central Plains.
"First, we could circle east through Youzhou and Yunzhou, traveling down the wide official roads or following the Hongze River along Youzhou's border. But let's not forget—Eastern Qing is watching Yunzhou like a tiger eyeing its prey. And every key southern pass has already been sealed by the Court.
"If we go that way, we'd have to fight through multiple fortified gates—costly in both time and lives. It would also consume vast amounts of supplies and manpower.
"Second, we could cross the Luotian Mountain Range, take the cliffside plank road of Mount Qilin, and strike straight toward Chunqiu Prefecture.
"But what we can imagine, the Court has imagined too. The plank road is likely already destroyed. Even if we repair it, the enemy will sabotage it again and again.
"Worse, the Prince of Zhen'nan, Cao Rong, and his forces are gathered precisely at Chunqiu Prefecture—the only route into the Central Plains from that side. In short… that path is death."
Marching south from Northern Liang was never meant to be easy.
If it were, the Imperial Court would never have stationed Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong in Northern Liang with so many troops in the first place. On one hand, it was to suppress the southern tribes—but on the other, to make rebellion impossible.
The Luotian Mountain Range was a treasure trove for martial cultivators, but it was also a natural barrier between the northern frontier and the Central Plains.
"Junior Brother," said Cheng Wei, tapping his abacus with a few crisp clicks before offering his counsel. "Perhaps it's better to follow Mister Xu's plan and advance gradually. Breaking through the Central Plains will be tough, but capturing Yanzhou to the west or Yunzhou to the east isn't nearly as hard.
"Right now, both Eastern Qing and Western Qi are fixated on Mount Mang in the Central Plains. They're unlikely to focus their attention on us.
"If we can seize control of all four northern provinces, then after three to five years, with sufficient troops and supplies, entering the Central Plains will be far easier."
Chen Sanshi said nothing.
They all understood what that silence meant. No one could change his mind.
"My Lord," Xu Wencai tried again, "it's not that I lack ambition, but the truth is—we simply don't have enough provisions or men.
"Yanzhou is manageable. If you personally lead the troops, we can take it within two months. But afterward, we'll definitely face counterattacks from Eastern Qing. We'll have to send at least half our army to hold them back.
"That leaves us with no troops or grain to march through the Qilin Mountain plank road or attack Chunqiu Prefecture."
"Then we won't use the plank road!"
Chen Sanshi's voice cut through the tent like a blade. "If we lack supplies, then let Chunqiu Prefecture lack them too!"
"My Lord, you mean…"
Xu Wencai lowered his feather fan onto the map. His eyes followed its tip to a city behind Chunqiu Prefecture—its name written clearly in gold ink: Hongdu Prefecture.
Hongdu Prefecture lay directly south of Chunqiu Prefecture.
It was the primary hub that funneled grain and supplies from the Central Plains northward.
If they could seize Hongdu Prefecture, it would be like driving a nail straight into the Imperial supply line. Chunqiu Prefecture would become an isolated city.
"But there's a problem," Wang Zhi muttered, running a thumb over the hilt of his saber. "Hongdu lies behind Chunqiu. You can't reach it without passing through first—unless you fly. And even if you could, your soldiers sure as hell can't."
"Next to Mount Qilin is a poisonous mountain range—Yinping Mountain," Chen Sanshi explained, eyes fixed on the map. "It stretches for hundreds of li, rugged and thick with toxic miasma. But beyond Yinping Mountain lies Hongdu Prefecture.
"So we'll 'repair the plank road in plain sight, but secretly cross Yinping Mountain.'
"We'll use the mountain's poisonous mist and dense forest as cover. March directly to Hongdu Prefecture, cut their supply lines. If Northern Liang has no grain, then neither will they. Let everyone starve together!"
"Junior Brother…" Cheng Wei frowned. "You just said Yinping Mountain is steep and poisonous. A cavalry army couldn't possibly make it through."
"Then we won't use cavalry," Chen Sanshi replied, already having calculated every step. "The medicinal herbs in Liangzhou's warehouses are enough to produce antidote pills for seven thousand men. Those seven thousand will march on foot with me across the mountains—straight to Hongdu Prefecture."
They would secretly cross Yinping Mountain—straight into Hongdu.
"You've got guts," Ninth Senior Sister Rong Yanqiu said dryly, though her tone carried reluctant admiration. "But there's another issue. Even if you succeed and take Hongdu, you'll face a furious counterattack from Chunqiu's main army—likely over one hundred thousand strong. How do you plan to hold it with seven thousand men?"
"Seven thousand will be enough," Chen Sanshi declared. His words silenced the tent.
He turned to Xu Wencai. "Once Yanzhou is pacified, I'll give you ninety percent of our generals, troops, and supplies. How long will it take you to stabilize Yunzhou and strike Chunqiu Prefecture to support Hongdu?"
"Five months," Xu Wencai answered after a moment's thought. "Within five months, I'll have Yunzhou secured and the army marching toward Chunqiu Prefecture to reinforce you."
"Good! Then it's settled!"
Chen Sanshi began issuing orders.
"Xu Wencai, hear my command! Starting today, dispatch men to Mount Qilin to repair the plank road day and night. Stage a fake offensive to mislead the Court's spies.
"Cheng Wei, hear my command! Gather every physician and alchemist in the army to make antidote pills. You have two months—not a day more.
"Rong Yanqiu, hear my command! You'll lead forty thousand soldiers to hold Youzhou. You're to defend, not attack. Not a single city may fall.
"Wang Zhi, Wei Xuan, Song Guizhi, Ye Fengxiu—hear my command! The four of you will accompany me, commanding the Hongze Battalion and Great Halberd Battalion. We'll head to Yanzhou, crush the three camps there, and strike fear into Western Qi!"
"At once, Commander!" they answered in unison.
"We're missing that bald monk," Rong Yanqiu muttered through gritted teeth. "That three-surnamed traitor took him as a hostage when retreating, and we haven't heard a word since."
Wang Zhi shrugged. "Probably refined him into pills."
"...Hah."
With all orders issued, the Northern Liang Army began moving like a well-oiled machine.
By the eleventh month of the seventy-sixth year of the Longqing Era, every soldier and craftsman in Northern Liang was already in motion.
Preparations for the Southern Campaign had officially begun.
Taking advantage of Yanzhou's defenders being caught between the double assault of Northern Liang and Western Qi, Chen Sanshi led his army in a lightning raid. In that surprise attack, he slew Yu Linxing, the former commander of the Heavenly Strategy Battalion, and brought both the Heavenly Strategy troops and Yanzhou's 20,000 garrison soldiers under his command.
By the end of the eleventh month, the White-Robed Chen Sanshi was standing face-to-face with Western Qi's army.
However, the troops of Western Qi, still haunted by the memory of the Battle of Guandu, had long lost their courage. Barely ten days later, under the advice of their commander, Zhong Wuxin, they withdrew without a fight—retreating deep into Mingzhou.
Chen Sanshi immediately ordered Ye Fengxiu to lead the Heavenly Strategy Battalion and the Yanzhou garrison troops to fortify Jianmen Gorge, the pass between Mingzhou and Yanzhou, completely sealing it off.
Thus—
The three provinces of Liang, You, and Yan were united under the banner of the White Robe. Everywhere his army marched, spiritual grain fields were uprooted, corrupt officials executed, and the hearts of the people turned to him.
After the victory at Yanzhou, the Northern Liang Army began its next operation in secret. On the surface, they openly "repaired the plank road," but in truth, they were quietly gathering forces for an attack through Youzhou, preparing to strike Yunzhou by surprise.
Throughout the entire Northern Liang territory, silence fell—a heavy calm, like the breathless stillness before a storm.
Inside the Grand Commander's Manor, in the cultivation cave behind the mountain, spiritual energy filled the air.
On a stone platform, Zhao Zhao and Ning Xiang sat cross-legged, focused on cultivation, while in the adjoining stone chamber, a cauldron glowed faintly red.
Chen Sanshi was refining pills.
As for the primary ingredient—spiritual grain—he had plenty of his own.
The Grand Commander's Manor had a thousand acres of fertile land. Back when Sun Xiangzong still lived, he had given most of it to landless peasants, but the remaining hundred or so acres were more than enough for Chen Sanshi's needs. Moreover, along the campaign route, his army had already cleared out large amounts of spiritual grain; it would take a long time to use it all.
As a raw material, spiritual grain was harmless. But once distributed among the commoners, it became a slow-acting poison.
"Woom—"
The pill furnace before him trembled as crimson flames roared underneath. Chen Sanshi formed seals with both hands, channeling mana into the cauldron while using divine sense to monitor the subtle transformations within—the ebb and flow of the Great Dao itself.
Before long, the flames dimmed and the array beneath the cauldron dispersed. The lid lifted on its own, and several faintly glowing emerald-green pills floated within.
True Martial Pills.
Years ago, in the Daze Market's mixed trading fair, he had made a deal with a martial cultivator from the Bai Clan. Now, more than two or three years later, it was time to fulfill that promise—delivering the ten True Martial Pills he had owed. This trip would also serve as an opportunity to purchase pills suitable for True Force Realm cultivators in the early stage.
After all—
While Chen Sanshi was preparing his army to march south, the Emperor himself was preparing for Foundation Establishment.
The two were racing against time.
Chen Sanshi had to cultivate as quickly as possible. Even if the campaign failed, he needed enough strength to safeguard Northern Liang and bide his time for the next move.
Of course, this visit to the cultivation world wouldn't take long. In a few days, he would break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, allowing him to fly through the air using spiritual energy.
Once he returned from the cultivation realm, the Southern Campaign of Northern Liang could officially begin.
With that thought, Chen Sanshi carefully collected the finished True Martial Pills and began refining a new batch—Clarity Spirit Pills, a kind of elixir that aided the breakthrough from the early stage to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. All the ingredients were already prepared.
The process was familiar to him by now. First, add water. Then, mix in the spiritual grain, followed by other herbs according to the heat. Finally, infuse spiritual fire into the furnace's internal array, using divine sense to finely control the intricate shifts of the Dao.
Since this was his first time refining the pill, several attempts ended in failure. But with each round, his control improved. Eventually, he succeeded in creating a single Clarity Spirit Pill.
[Skill: Alchemy — Progress: 56/500]
Long ago, Chen Sanshi had already attained the rank of Tier One Alchemist.
But after that, crafting basic pills did little to advance his skill level. Still, alchemy was not something to rush—it would improve naturally with time.
He had already consumed the Clarity Spirit Pills he'd looted from other cultivators.
Now, this one pill was all he had.
Chen Sanshi swallowed it without hesitation. The moment it dissolved, a stream of clear, pure energy spread from his abdomen through every limb and bone. Closing his eyes, he began cultivating the Swallowing Fire Art.
Within his body, his Fire Spiritual Root spun like a vortex, greedily absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy of the cave. Layer by layer, it was refined and condensed into spiritual power, gathering within his dantian.
Inside his dantian, three wisps of mist—each representing condensed spiritual energy—swirled gently. Yet whenever he tried to form the fourth, the mist would collapse at the critical instant, as though shackled by an invisible chain.
Only with the power of the Clarity Spirit Pill did the spiritual energy finally stabilize and solidify, forming the fourth wisp of mist.
"Crack!"
The invisible chain shattered. His realm broke through.
[Technique: Swallowing Fire Art · Qi Refining Layer Four — Progress: 0/1200]
[Effect: Mid-Grade Fire Spiritual Root]
At that moment, the Fire Spiritual Root within him began to grow wildly, like a divine tree nourished by celestial dew. It rose rapidly, branches and leaves multiplying until it flourished in radiant brilliance.
He had advanced from a lower-grade to a mid-grade spiritual root!
Chen Sanshi did not stop cultivating. He took time to sense the difference—and found his cultivation speed had nearly doubled.
A mid-grade single-element spiritual root was enough to qualify one as an inner disciple in any major sect. At this rate, the Swallowing Fire Art might advance even faster than his martial cultivation.
"Phew…"
After a long while, Chen Sanshi exhaled a turbid breath and slowly opened his eyes.
[Technique: Swallowing Fire Art · Qi Refining Layer Four — Progress: 20/1200]
[Spell: Ten Thousand Swords Descend · Tier Two — Progress: 1155/2000]
[Art: Thick Earth Art — Progress: 521/1000]
[Skill: Archery — Perfection]
Even during his recent campaign in Yanzhou, Chen Sanshi had never neglected his training. Whether in battle or in solitude, every moment was spent sharpening his strength for what was to come.
Chen Sanshi took out an orange-yellow jade tablet from his robe.
This was the True Talisman Codex left behind by the Military Immortal, Han Xiang.
Inside it were recorded four Tier-One talisman designs—the Mighty Strength Talisman, Divine Speed Talisman, Clone Talisman, and Wind-Avoiding Talisman—each one primarily used for combat support.
As he examined the ancient characters carved into the jade, a long-dormant panel flickered to life once more.
[Skill: Reading — Progress: ]
[Effect: Bodhi Enlightened Mind — enhances comprehension.]
With the Bodhi Enlightened Mind active, Chen Sanshi's understanding deepened rapidly. Just a single reading of the True Talisman Codex was enough for him to grasp the process entirely. Without delay, he retrieved the leftover materials from Han Xiang and began to draw talismans on the spot.
Special talisman paper, a fine talisman brush, and crimson spiritual ink made from beast blood—all were laid out neatly before him.
At first, his attempts failed.
Creating talismans was like refining pills—it wasn't enough to understand the method. It also required powerful divine sense to precisely control the flow of talisman energy.
Fortunately, as a seasoned alchemist, Chen Sanshi's divine sense was already well-tempered. Within a few short days, he successfully drew one of each of the four talismans.
[Skill: Talisman Drawing — Progress: 0/500]
[Effect: Fluid Completion — once a talisman type has been successfully drawn once, it can be recreated flawlessly without failure.]
He had gained yet another identity—
A Tier-One Talisman Master.
Among the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, mastering even one—be it alchemy, artifact forging, talisman drawing, or array crafting—was enough for one to earn a stable place within the cultivation world. But Chen Sanshi learned all of them with ease, needing neither years nor decades of study like ordinary cultivators.
After putting everything away, he lifted his spear once again and began practicing the Dragon Scripture.
Time passed quickly.
It had already been six months since his return from Guandu, and his martial cultivation had grown considerably.
He activated the Fire Element Breathing Method, releasing waves of true fire energy that wrapped around his Dragon Gall Silver Spear. Flames coiled along its shaft, transforming it into a blazing crimson fire dragon that danced through the cave. The air, once cool and still, became scorching hot, as if winter had suddenly turned to midsummer.
Each breath Chen Sanshi took drew the spiritual energy of the cave precisely into his lungs. Through his cultivation technique, he refined that energy and circulated it throughout his meridians, tempering his body in the process.
A faint white glow appeared on the right side of his chest. At first, it was a flicker, then a shining lantern, then a blazing white sun.
His Divine Aspect—awakened!
The Lung Spirit, revealed!
Its name was Su Lingsheng, courtesy name Daoping, eight inches and one point tall, robed in white.
Among the Eight Divine Aspects of the human body, two had now opened.
[Technique: Dragon Scripture — Progress: 125/500]
His progress was slow.
He still needed to awaken six more Divine Aspects before he could reach the mid-stage of the True Force Realm.
It seemed he would have to visit Daze Market soon.
"Little Dummy."
Chen Sanshi entered the training room and flicked the girl's forehead. "Pack up. We're heading out."
As for Ning Xiang and Zhao Zhao—both women possessed startling talent for cultivation.
Thanks to Chen Sanshi's generosity in sharing surplus resources seized from other cultivators, their progress had been astonishing. Ning Xiang had already reached Qi Refining Layer Three and was about to break through to the mid-stage, while Zhao Zhao had just stepped into Qi Refining Layer Three herself.
Before departing, Chen Sanshi made a few arrangements.
First, he drew several Clone Talismans and handed them to Ning Xiang. Every few days, she would activate one, sending a "Chen Sanshi" illusion to make appearances at the military camp to maintain order.
Next, he reassigned Wei Xuan and Song Guizhi to guard the manor.
Both had already broken through to the early stage of the True Force Realm and were now cultivating in the caves beside the manor. With the enemy armies not yet fully mobilized, leaving the defense to them was no problem.
Once everything was in order, Chen Sanshi headed to Fufeng Pavilion to say goodbye to his family.
In the courtyard, his nearly four-year-old son, Chen Duhe, was crying again. The reason—he had used his Roaring Gold Beast to play a prank, nearly biting one of the maids. After being scolded by Lan jie'er, he burst into tears and hadn't stopped since.
As for his daughter, Chen Yunxi, she was the opposite—quiet and well-behaved. When she wasn't reading or practicing calligraphy, she helped her mother tend flowers and learned needlework. Strangely enough, she also got along very well with the Roaring Gold Beast.
Sometimes, the creature listened to her better than to Duhe. That day, it was only because she shouted in time that the maid was spared serious injury.
Although timid, Yunxi often ventured into the nearby hills to pick wildflowers and herbs.
"You little rascal!"
Chen Sanshi tapped his son's head. "If you keep ordering people around and bullying the servants, I'll throw you up the mountain to feed the tigers! Enough crying. Once I'm back from this trip, I'll deal with you properly. Xixi, keep an eye on your brother. If he causes trouble again, you have my permission to smack him."
"Don't be mad, Father. I'll watch Ah Di carefully," Chen Yunxi said softly.
"Right."
Chen Sanshi suddenly remembered something. "By the way, have you seen Mister Mei recently?"
Chen Yunxi shook her head.
"I see."
He didn't press further.
To this day, Chen Sanshi still hadn't figured out how to use the mysterious power within the Mystic Pearl. It seemed he would have to study it slowly.
Ever since he seized control of the three provinces, the energy within the pearl had grown rapidly. If it continued accumulating at this rate, he would soon be able to activate stronger formations from the Heavenly Book.
After checking on his children, Chen Sanshi returned to the mountain behind the manor. With a wave of his hand, he retrieved a leaf-shaped flying artifact from his storage ring. Forming hand seals, he infused it with spiritual power, and the artifact shone with a brilliant glow before hovering into the air.
It was his first time using object-flight. At first, the ride was unsteady—he nearly threw the "little dummy" off several times.
But after just one cup of tea's time, he had mastered the technique completely.
[Skill: Aerial Control — Progress: 0/500]
[Effect: Endless Flow — greatly reduces mana consumption during flight.]
Flying with a magic artifact consumed a large amount of spiritual power. But with this effect, the loss was minimal, cutting down on rest stops and significantly shortening the travel time.
Chen Sanshi had already calculated everything carefully. With such a massive military mobilization, by the time he returned, the Court would only just have gathered its armies. The real war would begin after that.
In the Central Plains, the Prince of Zhen'nan, Ling Yun, Dao Xuan, and Li He—four of the strongest cultivators—were still in the process of assembling their forces.
This campaign to suppress the "Northern Liang Rebellion" was unprecedented.
The Court had mobilized 400,000 regular soldiers, and with the conscripted laborers included, the total force reached nearly 1 million. Practically every army from the Central Plains had been called to arms.
Of course, not all were aimed at Northern Liang—some had to be split off to fight Eastern Qing.
By the end, the troops gathered at Chunqiu Prefecture would number around 200,000.
But that was still one or two months away. For now, only the four cultivators had arrived at the rear, making early preparations and waiting for the main army to assemble before launching the official expedition.
"This Chen Sanshi is truly troublesome," Ling Yun muttered, studying the White Robe's record across the Eastern Divine Continent. The deeper he read, the more his scalp tingled. "When this man was still at the Mortal Shedding Realm, he killed 10,000 enemy soldiers without exhaustion?! Now that he's reached the True Force Realm… does that mean he can slaughter 20,000?"
Across the vast cultivation world—whether Immortal cultivators or martial experts—none could fight without exhaustion.
Dao Xuan's expression was grave. "The four of us must not separate. Together, we live; divided, we die. Only through absolute cooperation can we slay this beast."
Before anyone could respond, a sharp cry pierced the air.
"Chiuuu—!"
A gyrfalcon swooped into the camp.
Moments later, a soldier rushed in to report, "Your Highness! The Northern Liang rebels are gathering outside Mount Qilin. They've dispatched large numbers of workers to repair the plank road that the Chunqiu garrison burned earlier!"
The Prince of Zhen'nan, Cao Rong, took the report, his eyes dark and steady. After reading it once, he crushed the parchment into dust and said, word by word, "Good. Let them come!"
The Edge of the World—everywhere was war.
Even flying through the skies, Chen Sanshi encountered chaos on all sides.
Several times he crossed paths with wandering sect cultivators. Most he avoided by detouring around them. A few, though, left him no choice but to fight—he killed them cleanly, took their storage bags, and burned their corpses to ash with a single flame.
The remote islands ahead lay eerily quiet.
After scouting several times to ensure there was no danger, Chen Sanshi finally activated an ancient teleportation array and entered Heavenly Water Isle.
He discarded his identity as Zhang Laizi and changed his face to something utterly ordinary. Then, with a touch of his hand, he altered the "Little Dummy's" face as well—though it hardly mattered.
Without wasting time, Chen Sanshi went straight to the black market at the Lake-Heart Island of Daze Market, the same one where he had previously purchased the Swallowing Fire Art. Hanging above the entrance was the same old signboard—"We Buy Used Artifacts."
"Heh-heh."
The masked merchant inside gave a half-laugh, half-sneer. "Fellow Daoist, what kind of trade are you here for this time?"
"I have some used magic artifacts," Chen Sanshi said casually. "Quite a few, actually. Think you can handle that?"
The masked man chuckled. "Fellow Daoist jests."
But before he could continue, his words froze.
Because—
The black-robed cultivator before him casually turned his storage bag upside down. A torrent of artifacts poured onto the table with a clatter—so many that it was impossible to tell where one ended and another began.
The man's pupils trembled beneath his mask. He shot to his feet at once.
Chen Sanshi asked calmly, "Well? Can you buy them or not?"
The merchant hurried to the window, peeked outside, and scanned the surroundings for a long while before returning. His voice trembled slightly. "Who… who are you, sir? Don't tell me—you wiped out an entire sect?"
He was genuinely frightened.
Everyone in the black market knew what this place was for.
"Secondhand" magic weapons, pills, and materials were never simply traded goods—they came from blood and death, spoils taken from other cultivators in battle or robbery.
This was a place where morality didn't exist.
But even so, Duan Silu, who'd run black market trades for years, had never seen someone unload such a massive stockpile at once.
After the brief display, Chen Sanshi calmly swept everything back into his storage bag. "Well? Are you taking them or not?"
"Taking them! Of course taking them!" Duan Silu stammered and began appraising the items one by one.
"Low-grade flying sword—10 spirit stones."
"Low-grade golden blade artifact—price…"
When the counting was finally done, the total came to dozens of artifacts, worth roughly 1,000 spirit stones in total. Payment and goods exchanged hands on the spot.
After leaving the black market, Chen Sanshi changed his face again. With a hefty pouch of spirit stones at his side, he made his way into the main trade district of Daze Market.
But the moment he stepped onto the street, he saw wanted posters plastered everywhere—each one bearing his own face.
Wanted: Chen Sanshi
Reward: One hundred-year lease on an upper-grade cave residence, Foundation Establishment spirit materials, and 5,000 low-grade spirit stones.
Mission Region: Eastern Divine Continent
Eligibility: Qi Refining Layer Twelve or higher; Martial Realm True Force or higher.
Bonus Reward: For those with military command experience in the mortal world.
And not just him—his senior brothers and sisters were all listed too.
Their bounties were smaller, almost pitiful by comparison, not enough for anyone to bother with.
But it was clear now—
Their entire sect had been targeted.
And this wasn't a lingering curse left by their master.
Some things were simply inevitable.
Back then, if their master hadn't sealed the ancestral veins at the Edge of the World, once the Heaven-Sealing barrier broke, the high-realm cultivators would have immediately seized control over the entire Eastern Divine Continent.
If that had happened—not only would the spiritual grain in the commoners' fields have increased from one part in ten to five parts in ten, but even the Emperor himself would have become a puppet, bound forever under their control.
All people, all nations—would have lived beneath the rule of immortals.
Chen Sanshi knew he needed to find a way to rent a spirit-vein cave dwelling and live cautiously—essentially retracing the same difficult path he had once walked back in Poyang. The journey would be arduous, and the risks alone were enough to make anyone hesitate.
Keeping the Eastern Divine Continent stable benefited not only him, but also the common people—and even the enemies beyond their borders.
After all, the great war that now engulfed the mortal world had been started by the cultivation world itself.
They fought over spiritual veins, yet it was the mortal armies they commanded that marched onto the battlefields to die for them.
Just like how Han Xiang once treated his soldiers as chess pieces, the immortals now saw the billions of lives in the Eastern Divine Continent as their own pawns to be moved and sacrificed.
That included Chen Sanshi himself.
So when he saw his own name on the wanted posters, he wasn't surprised. He'd already expected it. What was done could not be undone; all he could do was take things as they came. Soldiers block soldiers, water covers water—he would adapt and endure. The only true path forward was to cultivate harder and faster.
As long as the Heaven and Earth Seal still existed—and as long as he could reach at least the mid-stage or late-stage of the True Force Realm—he had no reason to fear the high-level cultivators of the cultivation world.
After a quick glance around, Chen Sanshi stepped into Hundred Treasures Pavilion to restock supplies.
First came the materials—pill ingredients and talisman components—bought in bulk for a total of 200 spirit stones.
Next, he purchased a pair of top-grade magic weapons—a Golden Bow and Silver Arrows—for another 200 spirit stones.
Since it wasn't easy making the trip, Chen Sanshi didn't leave immediately. Instead, he browsed around, hoping to find other useful items.
Unfortunately, there were no suitable martial-cultivation pills available. He did find several weapons for True Force Realm experts, but he didn't need them. The Dragon Gall Silver Spear his master left him was a growth-type profound weapon. As long as he kept adding rare materials over time, it could continue to evolve with him.
After leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, another shop caught his attention—Ten Thousand Beasts Hall.
As the name implied, it specialized in selling spiritual beasts.
Inside, various creatures were kept in cages sealed by restrictive arrays, waiting for buyers to pick them out.
Chen Sanshi still had an undeveloped Beast-Taming Skill, so he didn't mind purchasing another pet to train. With his own portable spirit vein, raising one wouldn't be a problem. Soon, his eyes landed on a small white serpent.
Spirit Jade White Snake (Tier Two Potential) — Price: 400 spirit stones
Serpentine spirit beasts were traditionally prized materials for archery.
The Spirit Jade White Snake was especially valuable. Its tendons could be used for bowstrings, its bones for forging weapons, and even its skin and scales could be made into defensive artifacts—a creature that was valuable from head to tail.
Moreover, an adult Spirit Jade White Snake was nearly impossible to find in the wild, appearing only once every several decades.
As a former hunter, Chen Sanshi instinctively appraised its worth. Since he hadn't found any Tier-Two bows in Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the thought crossed his mind—if he raised the snake himself, he could eventually dismantle it for top-quality materials.
With that practical thought, he paid the price and bought it.
After finishing his purchases, Chen Sanshi went alone to a teahouse and took a seat. He sent the Little Dummy to the Mixed Dragon Market to look for Bai Linxun of the Bai Family, while he himself wandered around gathering news about the clan.
In Heavenly Water Isle, martial cultivators were rare. Only a few sects maintained martial inheritance beyond the early stages, and martial families were rarer still.
The Bai Family was one of those few.
Their ancestral home lay just 500 li away from Daze Market, deep within Twilight Valley. They occupied a top-grade Tier-One spiritual vein, rich in qi—only slightly inferior to a Tier-Two vein.
At its height, the Bai Family had been one of the region's most prosperous clans.
Their ancestor had once been a late-stage True Force Realm warrior, and there had been at least five mid-stage True Force experts in the clan at one time. They had dominated the surrounding area, leaving neighboring families too intimidated to raise their heads.
But in recent years, the family had declined. Though their old ancestor still lived, sitting in the late-stage True Force Realm, no younger generation had risen to carry the family forward. Now, many forces were already eyeing their territory greedily.
In the cultivation world, a spiritual vein was the most precious resource of all—just as farmland was to a farmer.
Mortals without farmland starved. Cultivators without spiritual energy withered like fish out of water.
Ordinary cultivators could only rent caves from others or serve sects to gain access to qi for cultivation.
But if a cultivator could claim a spiritual vein and had the strength to defend it, he could protect his clan, nurture generations of descendants, and even establish a sect of his own.
Just like Chen Sanshi now.
He held in his possession a superior-grade, mobile spiritual vein—a treasure he could carry anywhere and activate anytime. With sufficient resources, he could easily cultivate a small army of martial and spiritual cultivators alike.
He didn't know how his master had acquired such a priceless treasure, but that mystery could wait.
As for the Bai Family, during their peak they had offended many rival clans—including the Li Family, the very same one now leading the manhunt for Chen Sanshi. Now that the Bai Family had weakened, those old enemies were lining up to strike them down.
No wonder the once-mighty Bai Clan was reduced to setting up secret stalls in the Mixed Dragon Market—without even a proper shop of their own.
In that sense, Chen Sanshi and the Bai Family shared a common enemy.
Still, he couldn't afford to be careless.
Having once held the title of Warden-General, Chen Sanshi had offended far more than a few clans—some of his enemies belonged to powerful sects. There was no telling whether the Bai Family might betray him for profit.
He ordered a pot of spiritual tea and, while waiting for news, took out the Spirit Jade White Snake to play with.
The snake was still young, barely a few inches long and no thicker than his finger. Its scales were smooth and cool to the touch, coiling delicately around his wrist.
Chen Sanshi pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall into the snake's open mouth. After performing the necessary sealing technique, the blood-recognition bond was complete—the little serpent was now his contracted spirit beast.
[Skill: Beast Taming — Progress: 0/500]
[Effect: Ancestral Reversion — any tamed spirit beast can awaken its hidden bloodline as its master's cultivation improves, allowing it to continuously evolve.]
For both spirit beasts and demonkin, bloodline was the foundation of their power.
A normal tiger might train for 1,000 years and still never match the strength of a divine beast that cultivated for just 100 years. Bloodline determined a creature's innate potential—its cultivation aptitude.
The shop's inscription had been clear: the Spirit Jade White Snake had Tier-Two potential. That meant it could hardly rise beyond that level on its own. But with the Ancestral Reversion effect, everything changed. If the white snake carried traces of a strong ancestral bloodline, it could break its limit and evolve even further.
That kind of effect was terrifying—like a cultivation method that could directly improve one's spiritual root aptitude.
If not for the restriction that every spirit beast recognized through blood sacrifice was bound by its master's cultivation realm, Chen Sanshi might have considered raising a whole stable of them. But raising too many was wasteful—each required resources, time, and attention. For now, one would do, more as a companion than a weapon.
Still, with the possibility of ancestral awakening, it suddenly felt like a shame to think of it as future crafting material.
Before long, Zhao Zhao returned with news. "I found him," she said. "He agreed to meet you at the place you mentioned."
An hour later, by the ancient teleportation array, Chen Sanshi finally met Bai Linxun of the Bai Family.
He had chosen this location carefully—if things went wrong, if the Bai Family betrayed him or leaked his location, he could escape instantly through the teleportation array. Once he returned to the Edge of the World, no number of cultivators could threaten him.
"Brother Chen, it's been too long!" Bai Linxun greeted with a polite fist salute.
It hadn't been long after their last meeting that chaos erupted in the Daze Market—murders, sect conflicts, and eventually the bounty on Chen Sanshi himself.
And then Bai Linxun learned the truth: this man was none other than the disciple of Ghost Seven, the one now at war with multiple sects across the Eastern Divine Continent—practically an enemy of the entire cultivation world.
"Brother Chen," Bai Linxun began, his tone cautious, "you need not be on edge. Yes, I know who you are—but my Bai Family has nothing to do with your wanted status, and I would never betray you."
"It's been nearly three years since we last met," Chen Sanshi said, producing a storage pouch. "Here—these are the ten True Martial Pills you ordered last time. All premium quality."
Bai Linxun accepted the pouch and inspected it carefully. After confirming the pills, his eyes lit up. "Brother Chen, your alchemy skills are extraordinary. With the right recipes, you'll surely advance to a Tier-Two Alchemist before long."
He then paid the remaining balance.
Chen Sanshi counted the payment and asked, "By the way, Brother Bai, your Bai Family is known for martial cultivation. You must have pills that help True Force Realm cultivators advance. Would you be willing to sell me some?"
"There are such pills," Bai Linxun said, then hesitated. "But… why chase after resources so desperately? Why not come to Twilight Valley and serve as an honored guest of my Bai Family? Forget buying pills—any resource you need, we can provide."
"An honored guest?" Chen Sanshi raised a brow. "Brother Bai, doesn't your clan already have a late-stage patriarch in residence? Why seek out someone at the early stage of True Force like me?"
Bai Linxun sighed. "To be frank, our Bai Family is short on reliable alchemists. You have both the skill and integrity we need. If you agree, we'll directly supply you with resources to advance into a Tier-Two Alchemist—and we'll even grant you martial cultivation recipes for the True Force Realm."
Chen Sanshi smiled faintly. "You've seen the Daze Market, haven't you? My wanted posters are everywhere. And your Bai Family still dares to take me in?"
"Disguise yourself," Bai Linxun replied at once. "Your mastery of disguise is uncanny. As long as you're cautious and we keep your presence secret, no one will ever know you're in Twilight Valley."
Chen Sanshi nodded slightly. Clearly, the Bai Family was in serious trouble—otherwise they wouldn't be so desperate to recruit him.
He declined politely. "It's not unwillingness—it's simply impossible."
Northern Liang was still waiting for him to return and lead the army to war. Staying here wasn't an option. "I only hope you can sell me a few pills at market price, Brother Bai. That will suffice."
"So be it."
Bai Linxun knew Chen Sanshi's situation in the Eastern Divine Continent all too well. After some thought, he took out another storage bag.
"Brother Chen, inside are two Taiqing Pills. They'll help you greatly in accelerating your cultivation."
Before Chen Sanshi could ask the price, Bai Linxun added, "No need for payment. They're a gift."
"There's more," he continued. "The bag also contains several Tier-One pill recipes and some materials—all freely given."
"In exchange, I ask only one thing."
"When you become a Tier-Two Alchemist in the future, come to Twilight Valley once. Stay for a while, help us for a time, then you may leave as you wish."
"Brother Bai," Chen Sanshi asked, amused, "how can you be sure I'll keep my word after taking these things?"
"Because my Bai Family has martial resources," Bai Linxun said plainly. "And you—being enemies with the Li Family and the great sects—are our natural ally."
Chen Sanshi chuckled. "Seems having too many enemies does come with a few advantages."
"I'll do what I can," he said.
"Good!" Bai Linxun nodded heavily. "Then it's settled."
"One promise, sealed."