The night burnt.
Snow hissed into steam as golden flames licked across the frozen road. The corpses of the guards had long turned to ash, and the air still carried the smell of scorched iron and blood.
Ahead of us, torchlights cut through the darkness.
More soldiers.
No—
an army.
At least fifty mounted men thundered toward us, their iron boots and horse hooves shaking the frozen ground. Spears gleamed beneath the moon, and the killing intent rolling off them was enough to make an ordinary mortal collapse.
At their front rode a man in black armour with a scar across his left eye.
The moment I saw him, the Fifth Prince's memories surged again.
Zhao Ming.
Vice Commander of the Northern Border Watch.
One of the Third Prince's most loyal dogs.
He was stronger than the dead captain, and unlike the others, he wasn't stupid.
The moment his eyes landed on Feng Yuehuang, his expression changed.
His pupils shrank.
His face turned pale.
He couldn't see her exact realm—
But he could feel it.
In the cultivation world, that meant only one thing.
She was far beyond him.
Still, he forced himself to remain calm.
"Fifth Prince."
His cold voice echoed across the ruined road.
"So the useless trash found himself a protector."
I smiled.
"You're late."
His eyes flickered toward the blackened ground, where fifty men's worth of snow had already melted into scorched earth.
Then he looked at me again.
This time, his gaze lingered.
His brows furrowed.
Wait.
He noticed it.
A cultivator stronger than me could naturally sense my realm.
Before the battle with the captain, this body had only been at body tempering level 2.
Now—
I was Level 4.
His eyes narrowed sharply.
"You broke through?"
I smirked.
"Surprised?"
The soldiers behind him exchanged uneasy glances.
Breaking through once in battle was rare.
Twice?
Almost unheard of.
Zhao Ming's expression darkened.
"No matter."
He raised his spear.
"Kill them."
Ten archers stepped forward instantly.
Their bows drew back in perfect formation.
Feng Yuehuang slowly unfolded her flaming wings.
The temperature of the entire road rose instantly.
Her crimson hair fluttered behind her like living fire.
Golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight.
Then she turned slightly and looked at me.
"Master."
Her voice was calm.
"Would you like this army alive?"
I looked at Zhao Ming.
At the soldiers.
At the men sent by the Third Prince to finish what exile had begun.
Then I smiled coldly.
"Burn them."
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
"As you wish."
Zhao Ming roared.
"Fire!"
The arrows shot forward.
Black rain.
Deadly.
But the moment they entered the air around Feng Yuehuang—
They vanished.
Not blocked.
Not deflected.
Burnt into nothingness.
The soldiers froze.
Then Feng Yuehuang raised one elegant hand toward the sky.
The heavens trembled.
A massive crimson formation appeared above the road.
Ancient runes blazed one after another.
The spiritual qi in the surrounding forest began rushing toward her like a storm.
Even I could feel the terrifying pressure.
Zhao Ming's face went white.
"What… what realm are you?"
Feng Yuehuang didn't answer.
Her cold voice echoed instead.
"Phoenix Divine Art — Heavenly Flame Descent".
The sky split open.
Golden fire poured down like divine punishment.
BOOM!
The first explosion swallowed ten soldiers.
Their screams lasted less than a breath.
Another pillar of flame descended.
Then another.
And another.
The entire northern road became a sea of fire.
Horses screamed.
The armour melted.
Men ran in terror.
Some dropped their weapons and begged.
Some tried to flee into the forest.
But everywhere they ran—
The flames followed.
I stared in shock.
This wasn't a battle.
This was an execution.
The kind only gods could perform.
Within moments, more than forty soldiers had vanished.
Only Zhao Ming and a handful of elite guards remained.
The myth system flashed before my eyes.
[Summon kills detected]
EXP +420
Reward: 1 Army Summon Card
Reward: Mid-Grade Weapon Chest
At that instant, a warm current surged through my body.
The qi in the surrounding battlefield rushed toward me.
The snow around my feet lifted.
The river in the distance rippled violently.
My meridians trembled.
BOOM.
A visible wave of spiritual pressure burst from my body.
The surviving soldiers staggered back in shock.
Even Zhao Ming's eyes widened.
"He broke through again?!"
The system panel lit up.
[Body Tempering Level 4 → Level 5]
[Level 5 → Level 6]
I exhaled slowly.
This.
This was real cultivation.
In this world, breakthroughs were never silent.
Anyone nearby could feel the aura pulse.
Anyone stronger could sense the exact realm.
And right now—
Everyone knew I had just advanced.
Feng Yuehuang looked back at me.
For the first time, her golden eyes held a trace of approval.
"Good."
Then Zhao Ming roared and charged.
His spear tore through the flames, aimed directly at my throat.
This was the strongest attack I had faced since transmigrating.
I could dodge.
Or—
I could kill him myself.
More EXP.
Higher rewards.
I tightened my grip on the fallen sword at my feet.
Perfect.
At the last second, I stepped aside.
The spear barely grazed my shoulder.
Pain flared.
But before Zhao Ming could recover, I drove the sword straight into his chest.
His body froze.
Blood spilt from his lips.
"You…"
I leaned closer.
"This is for the Fifth Prince."
Then I twisted the blade.
He fell.
Dead.
The system instantly rang.
[Host kill successful]
EXP +900
Reward: 2 Divine Summon Cards
Reward: Blood Spear Technique
Reward: 1 Skill Chest
Spiritual qi exploded around me.
The trees shook.
Snow fell from the branches.
Another breakthrough wave spread across the road.
BOOM!
[Body Tempering Level 6 → Level 8]
The remaining guards stared at me in horror.
"A monster…"
I slowly pulled the sword free.
Blood dripped onto the scorched snow.
For the first time, I truly felt it.
Power.
Not borrowed.
Mine.
Feng Yuehuang walked toward me, flames curling around her feet.
Her gaze lingered on the corpse.
Then on me.
The loyalty panel flickered.
[Feng Yuehuang Loyalty: 40 → 45]
Interesting.
So fighting personally earned respect.
Good.
Very good.
Then the system flashed again.
[Army Summon Card detected]
Would the host like to summon?
I looked at the burning battlefield.
Then smiled.
Yes.
It was time.
If one Phoenix Goddess could burn an army—
What could happen when I commanded one of my own?