Grand Ambition, Youthful Spirit, Martial Soul Evolution (Seeking Follow-ups!)

The person pushing the door open was the adjutant. He was holding a brocade box and said with a bow, "General, Lord Dugu Bo sent someone with your requested Ice Marrow Grass. He also asked when you'll be able to refine the pill."

Chen Chu took the brocade box and opened it. Inside lay a crystal-clear blade of grass, exuding a chilling aura. "Tell Old Poison to come pick it up himself tomorrow before I depart."

"Yes." The adjutant responded, then paused. "The Capital Garrison just sent word that the thirty thousand Imperial Guards have finished assembling. The New Army and the Elite each have fifteen thousand, waiting outside the camp for your inspection."

"Understood." Chen Chu tossed the Ice Marrow Grass into the alchemy furnace, and the flames leaped higher. "Go to the camp and oversee things for me. Inspect everything thoroughly. And make sure the New Army checks the supply carts multiple times. We depart at the hour of Mao tomorrow. Anyone who causes delays will be dealt with according to military law."

The adjutant took his orders and retreated. Only the crackling of the charcoal fire remained in the room. Chen Chu stared at the swirling medicinal energy in the furnace, slowly injecting his Soul Power. While refining pills as a Douluo was simple, Dugu Yan's Martial Soul had a congenital flaw. The cold energy of the Ice Marrow Grass needed to neutralize the heat of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and not a single mistake could be made in the process.

"Forget it," Chen Chu watched for a while, then decided he was being too stingy. He took out a few more Dragon Ganoderma Leaves and tossed them in. "Dugu Yan is my student, after all. I'll give her a chance for her Martial Soul to transform."

Dragon Ganoderma Leaves strengthen the foundation and nourish the body. Combined with abundant Dragon Qi and the impact of other Immortal Herbs, it might give Dugu Yan a sliver of a chance for Martial Soul Evolution.

That night passed without incident.

The next morning, when Chen Chu appeared at the Capital Garrison, Xue Qinghe only then received the news that he was about to lead troops into battle.

"Old man, he's actually this wary of me." Xue Qinghe looked at the secret report in his hand, filled with rage. After venting, he looked at the Stingray beside him. "Don't make any moves recently. Reduce the dosage of the medicine for Xue Ye. He's already suspicious of me. We'll wait a while longer."

Facing Xue Ye's warning, Xue Qinghe had no choice but to scale back his plans for now. He didn't have absolute confidence yet, and he hadn't finished replacing all the Imperial Guards. He absolutely couldn't afford any mistakes at this moment.

Stingray Douluo bowed in response. "Your Highness, rest assured, your subordinate understands. However, if Chen Chu achieves any military merits on this trip to Barak, it will be even harder for us to control him when he returns to the capital."

Xue Qinghe lightly tapped the table, his expression darkening. "He wants to earn merits? Hmph, it won't be that easy. I've already sent word to Star Luo and given them the route. Heaven Dou's reinforcements are only thirty thousand, and half of them are new recruits. Let them send their Death Warriors to act. Marshal Ge Long is capable, but if the supplies are lost, the front lines will surely fall into chaos. At that point, Chen Chu, this General of the Town Army, will at least be accused of dereliction of duty even if he survives. When he returns, let's see if Xue Ye can still let him hold power!"

"Your Highness's insight is profound," Stingray Douluo replied with his head bowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Xue Qinghe suddenly stood up and walked to the window, looking in the direction of the camp. "Send Snake Lance too. If the Star Luo people fail, have him kill Chen Chu directly." Chen Chu had repeatedly opposed him and caused him trouble. He had lost patience with him. If he died this time, the blame could be conveniently placed on the Star Luo Empire.

Stingray Douluo's body stiffened, and he looked up at Xue Qinghe. "Your Highness, would it be too conspicuous for Snake Lance Douluo to act personally? Although Chen Chu doesn't have any Titled Douluo around him, the Capital Garrison has many elites. If any traces are left..."

"Traces?" Xue Qinghe sneered, his fingertip tracing the windowsill. "Have him wear Star Luo's uniform and dispose of the body cleanly afterward. Who can trace it back to me? Furthermore, once Chen Chu is dead, the thirty thousand troops will be leaderless. Star Luo will seize the supplies, and Xue Ye will only assume it was a direct attack from the Star Luo Imperial Family. He'll only direct his anger at Star Luo and won't suspect me."

"Your subordinate understands." Stingray Douluo bowed. "I will go notify Snake Lance now."

"Wait." Xue Qinghe stopped him. "Tell him not to act too early. Let him move after Chen Chu passes through Barak Canyon. The terrain there is complex and easy to conceal one's tracks."

"Yes."

After Stingray Douluo retreated, Xue Qinghe walked to his desk and picked up the secret report. With a slight exertion of force, the report instantly crumbled. He looked out the window, his eyes sinister. "Chen Chu, your fate is sealed. You brought this upon yourself. Don't blame me for being ruthless."

Capital Garrison, the training grounds.

Thirty thousand Imperial Guards were arrayed, their armor gleaming. Chen Chu, in his battle attire, walked onto the command platform and surveyed the troops. "By His Majesty's order, we are to reinforce Barak, protect the supplies, and secure the supply lines. An army is maintained for a thousand days to be used for one. On the battlefield, if the New Army dares to retreat, they will be dealt with by military law. If the Elite dare to slack off, they will share the same punishment!"

The soldiers below responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Chen Chu nodded and looked at his second-in-command. "Sound the drums, let's depart."

The resonant sound of the horns began. The supply carts were in the center, the New Army in front, and the Elite at the rear. The formation slowly marched out.

Chen Chu rode his tall horse in the middle of the formation and beckoned his adjutant. "Relay an order to the vanguard: after passing Barak Canyon, have the scouts continuously scout ahead."

"Yes." The adjutant nodded and rode off.

Chen Chu urged his horse forward, reaching a nearby hillside ahead of the main force. He watched the troops leaving the camp, feeling a surge of heroism. With only thirty thousand armored soldiers, the scene was already so grand. He couldn't imagine how magnificent a million-strong army would be. He could feel Sagros's excitement, which in turn made him feel vaguely excited.

"Let me see what the ancient battlefields of the Douluo Continent are like," he mused.

A young man draws his sword from Heaven Dou, riding forth to the battlefield, cutting through the wind.

Dugu Manor.

Dugu Bo looked at the yellowish-white pill in the jade box in his hand, hesitating. "He... he shouldn't harm Yan'er. Yan'er is his student, after all. I used that treasure land in exchange..."

Dugu Yan looked at her grandfather, who was lost in thought. She couldn't help but call out, "Grandpa, what are you doing? Didn't you say there was something important? Hurry up and tell me."

Startled by his granddaughter's call, Dugu Bo snapped back to reality. "Yan Yan, come, take this pill. After you take it, your illness will be cured."

Dugu Yan took the jade box and looked at the pill inside. She didn't ask any further questions; she had taken plenty of medicine over the years. She tilted her head back and swallowed it. As the pill entered her stomach, a warm current spread through her meridians. Soon after, the Soul Power in her Dantian suddenly surged, and her back began to feel faintly warm.

"Grandpa..." Dugu Yan instinctively reached back, touching her back. The phantom image of her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul appeared uncontrollably. The originally pale purple scales now had a thin layer of golden light, and her snake eyes held a sharpness that hadn't been there before.

Dugu Bo quickly stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder, probing with his Soul Power. As he did, his heart trembled, and his pupils contracted. The medicinal power of the pill was wrapping itself with the Dragon Qi from the Dragon Ganoderma Leaf and drilling into the Martial Soul. The congenital flaws of the incomplete Martial Soul were being mended bit by bit. A faint aura of Dragon Might now surrounded the serpent's shadow, putting even his Snake Emperor Martial Soul under some pressure.

"Don't resist. Follow the medicinal power," Dugu Bo said, his voice trembling. He had lived for so long and had never seen a Martial Soul flaw be mended so thoroughly, let alone be infused with Dragon Qi and undergo Evolution.

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