Battlefield Aftermath

The Sect-level Exotic Beast's corpse crashed to the ground, sending dust mixed with the stench of blood billowing through the canyon. Fang Yan knelt on one knee, leaning on Little Black Sword. The power of the Martial Emperor Realm Experience Card still flowed slowly through his body, but overdriving the Profound Ice Domain had left his meridians aching faintly. Zhao Gang hurried over to support him, his gaze sweeping over the cheering soldiers as he spoke with barely concealed excitement: "Fang Yan, we owe this victory to you! Without you, Black Wind Canyon would have fallen today."

Fang Yan waved a hand. Borrowing Zhao Gang's strength, he rose to his feet and gazed toward the remnants of the Dark Demon Race fleeing into the wasteland's distance. In a deep voice, he said, "Clear the battlefield first and treat the wounded. The Devil Race corpses and Exotic Beast remains must also be handled properly to prevent disease from spreading." He knew clearly that the advantage brought by the Martial Emperor experience was only temporary. True stability required a solid foundation built through real effort.

The soldiers immediately sprang into action. Most of the fortifications on both sides of the canyon had been destroyed in the fierce battle. Several catapult supports had snapped, and the wooden railings of the archer towers had been pierced by the Exotic Beast's attacks. Several Martial Masters gathered around the Sect-level Exotic Beast's corpse, clicking their tongues in wonder. Its golden fur shimmered beneath the sunlight and was hard enough to withstand a full-powered strike from a Martial Master Realm expert.

"The Inner Core of a Sect-level Exotic Beast is a treasure." An old white-haired Martial Master crouched beside the corpse, his fingertip tracing the beast's brow. "The energy within it is comparable to the Inner Cores of ten Martial King Realm demon beasts. If you can refine it, it might even help you break through to the Martial King Realm."

Fang Yan's heart stirred, and he pressed a hand against the beast's brow. As Profound Ice True Qi poured in, a golden Inner Core the size of a pigeon's egg slowly emerged. It felt warm in his hand, and pure energy continuously seeped from it into his palm. He could clearly sense that although the energy within the Inner Core opposed the nature of his Profound Ice True Qi, it possessed an extremely powerful nourishing effect.

"Put it away. It might come in handy someday." Zhao Gang handed him a beast-hide pouch. "If the Alliance learns that you killed a Sect-level Exotic Beast, you'll definitely receive a hefty reward. However, your strength being exposed will probably bring trouble."

Fang Yan put away the Inner Core, a look of understanding flashing through his eyes. The strength of the Martial Emperor Realm far surpassed that of the same tier. Once word spread, it would inevitably arouse the covetousness of certain forces. He said softly, "Just say that everyone worked together to kill the Exotic Beast, and I merely got lucky and landed the final blow."

Over the next three days, Black Wind Canyon entered a period of full-scale recuperation. The soldiers repaired the fortifications and melted down the weapons left behind by the Devil Race to forge arrowheads. Fang Yan, meanwhile, hid in a temporary tent, repeatedly savoring his insights into the power of the Martial Emperor Realm.

When he closed his eyes, he could still clearly feel the vast True Qi surging through his body that day. He discovered that the core of the Martial Emperor Realm was not merely a tremendous surge in vitality and blood, but mastery over "force"—the ability to merge one's True Qi with the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, allowing the Profound Ice Domain to break free of the limits around his body and spread anywhere within dozens of yards at will. Even more delightfully, the insights brought by the Experience Card had given his Profound Ice True Qi a trace of Imperial Aura, increasing its circulation speed by nearly thirty percent.

"Ding! The host has comprehended fragments of the Martial Emperor Realm laws. Profound Ice Domain proficiency has increased to 80%, vitality and blood value has broken through to 55 points, and you have advanced to the early stage of the Martial King Realm!"

The system notification suddenly rang out. Fang Yan abruptly opened his eyes, and the True Qi within him surged like a tide. The sharp rise in his vitality and blood value made his senses even keener. The barrier between the Great Martial Master Realm and the Martial King Realm had silently shattered amid the afterglow of the Experience Card.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent. A scout lifted the curtain and entered, his expression grave. "Captain Fang Yan, General Zhao, traces of an unknown force have been discovered west of the wasteland. Judging by their clothing, they don't appear to be Alliance troops, nor are they the Dark Demon Race."

Fang Yan and Zhao Gang exchanged a glance before immediately heading for the canyon's highest point. Through the telescope, a group of knights clad in silver armor appeared on the distant wasteland. Their warhorses were extraordinary, and a banner fluttered at the front of the formation, embroidered with a burning longsword.

"It's the Blazing Knights!" Zhao Gang's pupils contracted. "They're the Alliance's strongest trump-card unit. Why would they suddenly appear here?"

Fang Yan tightened his grip on Little Black Sword. The commander of the Blazing Knights was a famed powerhouse of the Martial Ancestor Realm, and the unit only ever carried out the Alliance's highest-level orders. Their arrival probably meant that the battle situation at Black Wind Canyon had already tugged at the nerves of the entire Alliance.

The silver-armored knights soon reached the canyon entrance. The middle-aged knight at their head dismounted, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over the entire scene before finally settling on Fang Yan. "Which of you is Fang Yan, the one who slew the Sect-level Exotic Beast? My commander requests your presence."

Fang Yan stepped forward and clasped his fists. "I am Fang Yan. May I ask what business you have with me?"

A trace of surprise flashed through the middle-aged knight's eyes. He clearly had not expected the rumored powerhouse capable of slaying a Sect-level Exotic Beast to be so young. He handed over a gilded token. "The commander is waiting at the Ancient Fort of the Wasteland. He says he has important intelligence concerning the Dark Demon Race to share with you. Please come with me."

Zhao Gang stepped forward to stop him, but Fang Yan silenced him with a look. He accepted the token and sensed the faint Martial Ancestor pressure radiating from it. His mind was already made up. "All right. I'll go with you."

Before leaving, Fang Yan handed the Sect-level Exotic Beast's Inner Core to Zhao Gang. "If I haven't returned in three days, give this to the Alliance messenger." He knew this meeting might conceal danger, but it might also provide a crucial clue for breaking through the Martial Emperor Realm. After all, the true path to imperial might could not be walked with an Experience Card alone.

Mounting his horse, Fang Yan was surrounded by the silver-armored knights as they galloped toward the depths of the wasteland. Beneath the setting sun, the outline of Black Wind Canyon gradually shrank behind them. Fang Yan glanced back once and thought to himself: This brief peace was bound to end eventually. And the path to the Martial King Realm that belonged to me has only just begun.