In My Eyes, They Are All Chickens and Dogs

As dawn broke, before the sun had risen, in Donghe Commandery, influential figures and well-informed factions awaited news from the Prefectural Office.

Meanwhile, ordinary citizens and small vendors were already preparing for the day's livelihood.

It was at this moment that the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the streets and alleys.

"By imperial decree, apprehend the heretics of the Tianmu Cult! All citizens are to remain indoors. Anyone found outside will be treated as a rebel of the Tianmu Cult!"

Panic spread through Donghe Commandery in an instant. The populace locked their doors and windows, listening to the marching footsteps outside and watching columns of soldiers armed with weapons pass by through cracks in their shutters, all filled with dread.

Was the world falling into chaos again?

Heavy footsteps resounded on the streets as soldiers clad in armor and wielding weapons surrounded the Prefectural Office, blocking every escape route.

The battle had already begun. Inside the office, Kou Ruozhi, the twelve top experts, and the County Lieutenant looked grimly at the army outside.

"Military Advisor Kou, Jiang Pingshan seems to have prepared an ambush to capture us all!" the County Lieutenant said with a heavy expression.

"There's a traitor in the Cult, the news leaked. Look, that's the Divine Might Army!" Kou Ruozhi pointed with his goose-feather fan, his expression unfazed.

On the main street of the commandery city, a troop of soldiers in heavy armor, swords at their waists, carrying spears, and riding armored warhorses thundered forward. The Tianmu Cult members who tried to resist were like paper against this grand army.

Even a dozen top-tier experts, charging together, were ultimately impaled by spears.

This was Qi Kingdom's renowned Divine Might Army!

The County Lieutenant gasped, horrified, "They've actually dispatched the Divine Might Army to Donghe Commandery! Doesn't this mean the Qi imperial court already knew about our Cult's plans?"

"This time, they're merely using the end of the Princes' Succession Struggle as a pretext to settle scores with the Xu Family and lure us into a trap here!"

Kou Ruozhi sneered, "The foolish old Qi Emperor still has one or two capable subordinates. But to think they can encircle and kill us is a pipe dream. Let's go; next, we'll see how the Xu Family responds."

Kou Ruozhi turned and left, the others following closely.

"The Divine Might Army... let's see if Xu Yan is superior, or if the Divine Might Army is stronger!" Kou Ruozhi murmured to himself, leading his group into a tunnel, escaping the Prefectural Office.

Meanwhile, the battle within the Prefectural Office was nearing its end, with the Tianmu Cult forces being routed.

Inside the Xu Family mansion, Apothecary Pan returned with over a dozen people.

"Young Master has truly cultivated a peerless divine art! It's incredible! Our Xu Family is safe!" Apothecary Pan exclaimed.

"Old Pan, after Xu Yan leaves, the safety of the Xu Family will depend on you," Xu Junhe exhaled.

He had already dismissed Chen the Escort Head and the other guards. The dozen or so experts Apothecary Pan brought were his trusted confidants, cultivated with great care, and could be considered death warriors. They had always been his hidden contingency. Originally, they were meant to protect Xu Yan's escape from Qi Kingdom, but now that they were no longer needed for that purpose, they would naturally remain to protect his and his wife's safety.

"Rest assured, Master!" Apothecary Pan nodded.

Rumble!

The ground vibrated as a column of cavalry, spears in hand and swords at their waists, charged down the street.

Simultaneously, a voice called out, "Xu Junhe, don't offer futile resistance. Surrender, and perhaps you can save your life." It was Jiang Pingshan's voice.

Xu Junhe and his entourage emerged from outside the Xu Family gate.

"The Divine Might Army!" Apothecary Pan stated gravely.

Xu Junhe took a deep breath and looked at Xu Yan. "Yan'er, do you have confidence? If not, then flee. There's no need to fight to the death!"

Xu Yan's eyes gleamed with excitement, his fighting spirit soaring. Since he began cultivating the Martial Dao, he had never encountered a worthy opponent, nor had he ever truly unleashed his full power. Now, he had the chance to fight to his heart's content! The renowned Divine Might Army of Qi Kingdom – today, he would face this elite force of the secular dynasty.

"Father, don't worry. To me, these are all just common fodder!" With that, his figure moved, and he leaped into the air, as light as a falling leaf, drifting forward with the wind.

"The Qi Emperor's family affairs are dragging innocent people into it. Is it easy for my Xu family to do business? They actually want to confiscate my property and accuse my Xu family of rebellion. Today, I, Xu Yan, will see just how much fighting power this Divine Might Army has!"

The voice boomed, like thunder, echoing through the street.

The Xu family mansion was located in the heart of the commandery city, a place where only the wealthy and powerful resided.

At this moment, in the various multi-story buildings, windows were opened just a crack, and people watched the Divine Might Army on the street, observing the Xu family's residence.

As Xu Yan's words reached them, countless people were inwardly shaken.

"Xu Junhe was wise his entire life, yet he bore a foolish son. This one is surely going to die!"

"They all say Xu Yan's mind isn't right, but now it seems he's not just mentally slow, he's practically suicidal!"

Those secretly observing the scene sighed in disbelief.

"Insolent!"

"Xu Yan is a traitor and deserves death!"

A furious roar came from the rear of the army.

"Attack!"

Following the order, a rumbling sound erupted, shaking the very ground.

The Divine Might Army's spears were held high, their armor glinting with cold light. They advanced like a terrifying torrent, charging directly towards the Xu family mansion, heading straight for Xu Yan.

"Good! Come on!"

Xu Yan roared, his Blood Essence surging. A giant, crimson dragon coiled around him. He pushed his palms forward, and two massive dragons erupted forth.

On the upper floors, those watching the street were utterly shocked.

They saw a crimson dragon coiled around Xu Yan, and then two identical dragons shot out from his palms, directly striking the charging Divine Might Army.

From a high vantage point, two colossal dragons, cloaked in terrifying power, were seen hurtling towards the Divine Might Army, which was advancing like a flood.

RUMBLE!

The might of the Dragon Subduing Palm was astonishing. The dragons swept across, instantly causing chaos and confusion. Soldiers on horseback were thrown to the ground.

Instead of retreating, Xu Yan charged forward, his palms a blur. Wave after wave of Dragon Subduing Palm energy was unleashed. On the street, crimson dragons writhed and pounced, completely scattering the Divine Might Army's charge.

RUMBLE!

Shops lining the street were smashed by the flying horses.

Divine Might Army soldiers, clad in armor, were sent flying without any resistance, crashing into the shops.

"This... this..."

"Impossible! It must be an illusion!"

"Has Xu Junhe's foolish son really found a master and learned an ultimate divine skill?"

"Aren't those stories in the storybooks all fake?"

Everyone who witnessed this scene was profoundly shaken.

They found it hard to believe what they were seeing was real.

The terrifying power of that crimson dragon was beyond human capability.

Xu Yan alone had repelled the charge of the Divine Might Army.

The Divine Might Army, the elite of the elite, the army that protected the nation of the Qi Kingdom, was being treated like it was made of paper?

It was no secret that Xu Junhe's foolish son was obsessed with finding reclusive masters. He had become a laughingstock in Donghe Commandery, and many had privately reveled in their schadenfreude.

They mocked Xu Junhe's foolish son for being mentally slow and actually believing in the tales from storybooks.

But in the end!

It turned out that they were the ones who were mentally slow?!

RUMBLE!

A shop was smashed open, and terrified screams came from within. Xu Yan retracted his Dragon Subduing Palm energy, looking at the devastated street and the fallen soldiers of the Divine Might Army.

Xu Yan said coldly, "Jiang Pingshan, your Divine Might Army is at a disadvantage fighting within the city. If you lose and are not convinced, then let's go outside the city. I will accompany you to the very end!"