An Unexpected Surprise

Aiven solemnly reminded him, "Zhang Fei, I have only one requirement: you must not drink while defending the city."

"This... Zhang Fei accepts the order."

Aiven knew that Zhang Fei loved drinking.

In the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Fei had made a grave mistake precisely because drink had interfered with his duties, ultimately losing Xuzhou.

As long as Zhang Fei did not act rashly or drink, and honestly defended the city, Ai City would have little to worry about with him guarding it.

"Guan Ping, Hua Xiong, you two will also remain in Ai City to assist Zhang Fei."

As he spoke, Aiven took out the design blueprints for three concealed weapons from his Space Soul Tool: the Silent Sleeve Arrow, the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and the Tight-Backed Ornate Crossbow.

"Also, immediately have the blacksmiths in Rock City and Ai City mass-produce these three concealed weapons for me!"

"Ten thousand Silent Sleeve Arrows, five thousand Godly Zhuge Crossbows, and one thousand Tight-Backed Ornate Crossbows!"

"Before we advance beneath the capital's walls, leave some in Ai City for your city defense. Whatever remains after that, transport every last one to the front lines!"

"Yes, Lord."

With the Heaven Dou Empire's ransom of one billion Gold Soul Coins, Aiven was now well-funded. Once his troops were equipped with this batch of concealed weapons, their strength could increase severalfold!

Aiven continued, "Lu Bu, Jiang Wei, Deng Ai, Xiahou Dun, and the rest of you will join me in marching west. Subdue every noble and all their personal guards along the way!"

"Those who follow me shall prosper; those who oppose me shall perish!"

"Those unwilling to follow us will be executed!"

"Yes, Lord!"

The generals answered in unison, responding to Aiven's call.

The empires of the Douluo Continent World all practiced the noble fief system, granting certain people one of five ranks of nobility: duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron.

They also bestowed fiefs upon those holding these five ranks.

These titled nobles controlled fiefs and territories of varying sizes, possessing complete ruling authority within their own lands and the legal right to establish private armies.

Just like Aiven's father, Duke Ace, who controlled Ai City and commanded three thousand Ai City Army soldiers.

There were quite a few fiefs along the route governed by marquises, counts, viscounts, and barons. Though they might only have several hundred, a thousand, or one or two thousand troops each—

If they were subdued all along the way, their combined forces could exceed ten thousand men.

As the Aiven Duchy army swept forward toward the Aers Capital, it could sustain itself through war and continuously strengthen its forces, eventually advancing beneath the capital's walls!

"Jiang Wei, we won a battle today, so we should celebrate properly. Pass down the order: give the soldiers an extra meal—more meat and wine. Let them eat and drink their fill!"

"Then let them rest well for the night. We march at nine tomorrow morning!"

"Yes, Lord. I'll make the arrangements at once."

"The rest of you may disperse as well."

After dismissing everyone, Aiven returned to his room to rest.

The Young Dragon of the Radiant Dragon that he had brought back from the Star Dou Great Forest was also in the room. When it saw Aiven enter, it did not move, merely lying quietly in the corner and glancing at him.

Aiven's gaze also fell upon the Young Dragon.

When they had first met in the Star Dou Great Forest, this Young Dragon had been no more than two days old. At the time, it had been filthy and reeked.

But after nearly ten days—

Its body had now been cleaned thoroughly and was spotless.

In less than ten days, the Young Dragon seemed to have grown a little. It was already slightly larger than a small dog.

Its entire body was golden—golden skin, dragon scales, and dragon wings, all crystal-clear and translucent. It looked rather exquisite. Its wings and scales had grown more beautiful and sturdier, giving it a more cohesive appearance.

With its big eyes and tiny body, it was quite adorable.

But honestly, soul beasts had growth cycles far longer than humans. For a soul beast to cultivate ten thousand years of cultivation, the fastest might accomplish it within a thousand years.

Normally, it would take thousands of years.

If not for its mother entrusting the Young Dragon to Aiven before her death, he would never have adopted it, even if it was a Radiant Dragon with a high-level soul beast bloodline.

Because if Aiven wanted a dragon mount, he could simply wait until he was strong enough and personally tame a dragon-type soul beast with several thousand years of cultivation.

"I'll just keep it as a pet."

Aiven withdrew his gaze. After lying on the bed for a while, he sat cross-legged and prepared to cultivate for a time.

He began circulating his Soul Power and absorbing Soul Power for cultivation. During the process, his body emitted a faint golden glow, which drew the Young Dragon's attention.

"Wah~?"

It took tiny steps toward Aiven, one step at a time.

The faint golden light made the Young Dragon feel comfortable, gentle, and peaceful.

It lay down serenely beside Aiven and enjoyed the faint golden energy radiating from his body.

But strangely, as Aiven cultivated, the energy within the Young Dragon's body also gradually increased!

At first, he did not notice.

After cultivating for an hour, Aiven discovered that the faint golden light emanating from him during cultivation would transform into a wisp of Soul Power and flow into the Young Dragon's body.

"Hm?"

Aiven immediately stopped, noticing that this Young Dragon's cultivation had already broken through the one-year mark!

"What's going on? Can it grow stronger alongside me while I cultivate?" Aiven was stunned.

He had never even heard of such a thing!

He tested it again. After cultivating for a full two hours—

The energy within the Young Dragon's body increased by several more degrees!

"Damn, it really can grow stronger at the same time while I cultivate. But why?"

He did not know that a Radiant Saint Dragon bloodline lay dormant within this Young Dragon.

The Radiant Saint Dragon was the evolved form of the Radiant Dragon, possessing the bloodline of a top-tier soul beast. It had long since gone extinct on the Douluo Continent.

Aiven's Emperor Sword was a top-grade martial soul, and the Light Attribute it inherently possessed was already nearly comparable to the ultimate Light Attribute.

Across the entire continent, the only Light Attribute stronger than that of the Emperor Sword belonged to the Six-Winged Angel.

And nourished by power close to the ultimate Light Attribute, a Radiant Saint Dragon could rapidly increase its cultivation!

It was precisely because of the dormant Radiant Saint Dragon bloodline within this Young Dragon that such a phenomenon had occurred.

Although Aiven did not know why, it was an extremely pleasant surprise to him. "What an unexpected surprise! If it can grow stronger alongside me, then its growth cycle will be much faster."

"Since you have such an ability, then grow stronger with me. Work hard and become my powerful mount."

Aiven reached out and gently stroked the Young Dragon's little head.

This was the first time he had touched it.

The Young Dragon also felt closer to Aiven because of the faint golden light around him.

It enjoyed Aiven's caress and developed a sense of dependence on him.

"Since I've taken you in, I'll give you a name." Aiven began considering one.

The Young Dragon tilted its little head, staring at Aiven with an adorably blank expression.

"You'll be called Xiao Guang."

"Wait, let me first see whether you're male or female."