Principal Ge Yingxing, the Flowing Wind Clan Presses Toward the Imperial Capital!

Far East, Valen Fortress.

This was a majestic city embedded amid towering mountain ranges.

Far East Military Academy cadets arriving from all parts of the clan rode in carriages along the broad brown road.

"So this is the greatest fortress on the continent?"

All the cadets were stunned by the grandeur and magnificence of Valen Fortress.

This was the toughest military stronghold on the entire continent.

There was even a popular saying: "As long as you hide inside Valen Fortress, there's nothing to fear even if the gods themselves rage!"

The facts had proven that Valen Fortress deserved such praise.

Several centuries ago, in the year 456, the Luminous Empire built this fortress in Valen Gorge.

It had forcefully halted the demon race's millennia-long invasion of humanity.

Humanity was thus able to live and multiply in peace.

Especially over the past two centuries, the demon armies had launched four massive offensives, each involving more than a million troops.

Every time, the Zichuan Clan relied on Valen Fortress's sturdy walls to hold them back.

They repelled the demon armies' assaults time and again!

The formidable demon armies could only retreat in defeat before it.

Under the guidance of clan cavalry, all the cadets rode their carriages to a vast square.

At the center of the square stood an enormous statue.

It depicted Zichuan Yaoxing, the finest Clan Chief, who had slain the Demon God Emperor on the Valen Battlefield.

A raised platform stood before the statue.

On it stood a middle-aged man wearing silver-white armor and a helmet.

Seeing that all the cadets had arrived, the middle-aged man began to speak.

"Students, welcome to the Far East Military Academy. I am Ge Yingxing, and I will be your primary supervisor from now on!"

"The Far East Military Academy exists to train the clan's future elite officers!"

"Study here, and after graduation, you will be assigned posts in the clan's central administration or military according to your academic performance!"

"The future is bright!"

"So, children, for the honor that awaits you, pour out all your intelligence and talent upon this land of the Far East!"

"One day, you too will become someone like me!"

"I look forward to your growth!"

Ge Yingxing's words thoroughly ignited the hot blood of these youths.

Earning noble titles and high office, bringing glory to one's family—these were the dreams of every person.

They had come here bearing the responsibility of strengthening their respective families as well.

Fifteen-year-old Di Lin, fourteen-year-old Sterling, and nine-year-old Zichuan Xiu

stood beneath the platform, their eyes burning as they gazed at the figure above.

One day, they would become the clan's pride and the brightest rising stars of the Zichuan Empire.

Thanks to their adoptive father's years of instruction, their strength and abilities

had long surpassed those of the other cadets in their cohort, placing them among the very best.

Thus, this goal was not beyond their reach.

All they lacked was an opportunity to soar into the sky and show what they could do.

That opportunity arrived two years later.

In March of the year 771, Flowing Wind Xishan, the head of the Flowing Wind Clan, led an army of 130,000 in a surprise attack on Imperial Capital City and was about to surround it.

The Zichuan Clan Chief's residence immediately convened a council meeting.

Yang Minghua, the clan's Minister of Civil Affairs and Commander-in-Chief; Zichuan Canxing, Deputy Clan Chief and Grand Elder of the Senate; Lei Xun, commander of the Central Army; Luo Minghai, Chief of Staff; Pigu, commander of the Imperial Guard; and others attended the meeting.

Zichuan Yuanxing, the Clan Chief seated at the head of the table, was furious.

"What the hell has the border army been doing? How could they let 130,000 Flowing Wind troops reach Imperial Capital City so smoothly?"

The last time Imperial Capital City had been attacked at its doorstep was centuries ago, when the imperial capital was still Jiashan Fortress.

Back then, it had been the demon army. This time, it was the Flowing Wind Clan's army.

"Where is Yun Shanhe? What the hell has the border army under his command been doing?"

Zichuan Canxing lowered his head, an unreadable glint flickering in his eyes.

Yang Minghua, the Commander-in-Chief responsible for military intelligence across the realm, clasped his hands and reported to Zichuan Yuanxing.

"My Lord Clan Chief, there has been no word from Commander Yun for seven days. I suspect something may have happened to him, throwing the border army into chaos and giving Flowing Wind Xishan the chance to launch a surprise attack on Imperial Capital City!"

The command headquarters had a rule: every seven days, each commander had to write a report to the Imperial Capital City.

Seven days had passed, yet no word had come from Yun Shanhe. He had most likely met with disaster.

"Chief, the Flowing Wind army is advancing so rashly. Isn't this an opportunity for us? We can take the initiative and wipe them out outside Imperial Capital City!"

"The Imperial Capital has fifty thousand Imperial Guards and one hundred thousand Central Army troops. They are all the clan's finest warriors. It's not as though we have no chance of fighting them!"

Yang Minghua rose to his feet and made his suggestion to Zichuan Yuanxing.

"I think the Grand Commander is right. Chief, although the Flowing Wind army has one hundred and thirty thousand men, they have rushed here over a long distance and must be utterly exhausted."

"Moreover, they have penetrated deep into enemy territory alone. Their logistical supplies must be insufficient."

"Our army is rested and waiting for them. We have every hope of annihilating this isolated force."

"As long as we destroy this Flowing Wind army and capture Flowing Wind Xishan alive, the clan can take the opportunity to seize control of the Flowing Wind Clan's territory."

"Then, our Zichuan Clan may be able to restore the Luminous Empire's former borders, reunify humanity, and establish a new empire!"

At that moment, Zichuan Canxing stepped forward and strongly supported Grand Commander Yang Minghua's plan to launch an offensive.

Listening to his younger brother, Zichuan Yuanxing's blood began to boil.

That was right. As long as they wiped out this army, the Flowing Wind Clan would surely never recover.

Then, if they captured Flowing Wind Xishan alive, the Flowing Wind Clan would certainly surrender to the Zichuan Clan.

At that point, they could take control of the vast territories held by the Flowing Wind Clan in the western regions.

Among humanity's remaining powers, only the Lin Clan remained, cowering in the lands of River Hill beyond the Golden Pansy Mountain Range.

Then, with the Zichuan Clan's overwhelming momentum, they would have every hope of forcing the Lin Clan into submission and restoring the Luminous Empire's glorious unification of humanity!

And then, he, Zichuan Yuanxing, would become the founder of the Zichuan Empire!

The more Zichuan Yuanxing thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. His breathing began to quicken.

Seeing the chief's expression, Yang Minghua and Zichuan Canxing already knew that he was moved.

The two exchanged glances and revealed inscrutable smiles.

"Good! Pigu, Lei Xun!"

"Here!"

"Hurry and muster the troops. We will set an ambush along the route the Flowing Wind Clan must take and strive to wipe out every invading enemy in one stroke!"

"Let the Flowing Wind Clan know that the Zichuan Clan's title as humanity's foremost power is no empty boast!"

"Yes, Chief!"

Having received their orders, the two commanders left the hall.

"Grand Commander, Canxing, where do you think would be the best place to set the ambush?"

Zichuan Yuanxing pulled the two men over to the map and asked.

To his surprise, both of them knowingly pointed to the same location.

A dense forest a hundred li west of the Imperial Capital.

"Good! Then we'll set it here!"

Although Zichuan Yuanxing felt some concern that it might be too far from the Imperial Capital, seeing that the two shared the same idea, he agreed after some thought.

Zichuan Canxing stared absently at the map, already imagining how he would arrange the formation.

Behind him, where he could not see, Zichuan Canxing and Yang Minghua's lips curled into triumphant smiles.