A Nearly Perfect Answer

A while later.

Chen Xi slowly raised his head and looked at Azure Luan with a serious expression.

"If both sides have ordinary armies and their top-tier combat strength is more or less equal, then I believe holding the city and awaiting reinforcements would be the safest course of action."

"After all, an army of fifty thousand might not be enough to launch an offensive, but it should be more than sufficient to defend a city."

"If our side holds an advantage in top-tier combat strength, I think we could attempt a decapitation operation and see whether we can directly eliminate the enemy commander. If we succeed, we can take advantage of the enemy army's confusion and seek an opportunity to break through."

"Even if we cannot directly eliminate the enemy commander, with our advantage in top-tier combat strength, we can use other methods to slow the enemy army's advance and look for other ways to defeat them."

"If we are at a disadvantage in every respect, then we can only rely on the city's defenses, delay for as long as possible, and wait for reinforcements."

"If we truly reach the end of the road and are completely isolated, that would mean the rear is facing a major crisis as well and cannot spare any manpower. In that case, we should defend Jialing Pass to the death, delaying for as long as possible to give those in the rear a chance to turn the situation around."

"When the pass is about to fall, we should spread fire oil throughout Jialing Pass and set it ablaze, turning the entire pass into a sea of flames to hinder the enemy army's advance."

"Jialing Pass is a barrier, but once it falls into enemy hands, that barrier will become a shackle. Destroying it should be the most advantageous choice."

Azure Luan nodded approvingly.

"Very good. You considered everything quite thoroughly."

"Xiao Xi, although your answer still has some shortcomings, there are no major issues overall. In fact, for someone your age to give an answer like this, it is already nearly perfect."

Azure Luan affectionately stroked Chen Xi's hair, sparing no praise.

Turning his gaze toward Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan met his eyes, his expression seeming to say: See that? Mine is the genuine article. There's nothing wrong with my teaching.

Although Tian Yao had also been taught by him, that was clearly a matter of personal comprehension and had nothing to do with the quality of his instruction.

Golden Crocodile seemed to understand the meaning in Azure Luan's gaze. His eyes shifted slightly toward Tian Yao, who had already begun eating heartily.

Their gazes met through Tian Yao's clear eyes.

Golden Crocodile thought about it briefly, then stopped dwelling on the matter.

People were different. Everyone had their own strengths.

Although Tian Yao's talent for strategy was a little lacking, in body refinement, she had inherited Golden Crocodile's true teachings.

Besides, among Spirit Hall's younger generation, there was no need for everyone to be talented in both scholarly and martial pursuits. In the future, when the Young Master led Spirit Hall, as long as his granddaughter was obedient and loyal, doing whatever the Young Master told her to do, there would be no major problems.

"Eat first."

Golden Crocodile spoke in a deep voice and picked up the bowl and chopsticks before him.

Chen Xi picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and placed it in his mouth. After chewing a few times, he swallowed it.

Feeling a warm current flow through the meridians in his body, Chen Xi's eyes widened slightly, surprise appearing in them.

"Don't be too surprised."

"This is meat from a Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Beast, cooked with precious medicinal herbs. It has some effect in strengthening the tendons and nourishing the bones."

Without drawing attention to it, Azure Luan placed a plate of delicacies in front of Chen Xi.

"A Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Beast?"

"Teacher, is our Worship Hall really this extravagant?"

Chen Xi blinked, curiosity appearing in his eyes.

"How could that be?"

"Even our Worship Hall only eats Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Beasts occasionally."

Azure Luan smiled and leisurely sampled the food.

Chen Xi nodded slightly and did not ask further, instead beginning to eat seriously.

After eating and drinking his fill.

Chen Xi followed Azure Luan to train his Mental Power.

Meanwhile, Tian Yao followed Golden Crocodile to train her physique.

Time flew by.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Twelve-year-old Chen Xi sat beneath an ancient tree, quietly reading the book in his hands.

Over the past five years, Chen Xi's Soul Power had not increased much, but he had still reached Rank 47 Soul Ancestor. He had also learned a great deal, especially regarding the use of Mental Power, to the point where Azure Luan had almost nothing left to teach him.

Chen Xi's fourth soul ring came from a Ten-Thousand Year Phantom Enchantress Fox, and its soul skill was: Fate's Adjudication.

A whistling sound cut through the air.

Chen Xi continued reading the book in his hands and reached out, catching a piece of fruit that had been thrown at him.

"Don't throw things like that next time. What if I fail to catch it and it hits me?"

Chen Xi took a light bite of the fruit in his hand.

"What are you talking about?"

"How could you possibly fail to catch it?"

"I heard from Grandpa Azure Luan that your Mental Power has almost reached the level of a Soul Emperor. You must have sensed me the moment I arrived, so how could you possibly miss it?"

Tian Yao came over and sat beside Chen Xi, naturally putting an arm around his shoulders.

Over the five years they had spent together, Chen Xi and Tian Yao's relationship had grown closer and closer. They had practically become best friends who could talk about anything.

"What if I did?"

Chen Xi smiled.

"There is no what if. I know what I'm doing."

Tian Yao patted her chest, looking confident. "By the way, I heard Grandpa say you're planning to go out and gain experience?"

"When exactly are you leaving?"

The book in Chen Xi's hands slowly closed as he calculated the timing in his mind.

"Probably within the next few days."

"I'm mainly waiting for Yang Wushuang. Once he returns, I'll be ready to head out and gain experience."

As Chen Xi spoke, he placed the book into his Storage Bracelet.

"Yang Wushuang?"

"What are you waiting for him for?"

"Wouldn't it be enough to have Grandpa Azure Luan speak to the Elder Hall and arrange for a Titled Elder to protect you along the way?"

"Why make Yang Wushuang come all the way back from Heaven Dou City?"

Tian Yao looked at Chen Xi in confusion.

"It's different."

"There are other reasons for calling Yang Wushuang back."

"Not long ago, Your Majesty the Pope proposed a plan. Your Majesty the Pope had been preparing it for five years, and my teacher refined some of its details."

Chen Xi lowered his voice, putting on a mysterious expression.

"Oh?"

"Then who's carrying it out?"

Tian Yao blinked.

"Me, of course."

Chen Xi spread his hands.

"You?"

"You're not being forced into it like the Young Master was back then, are you?"

Tian Yao sat up straight, her expression turning serious.

"Of course not."

"The mission isn't very complicated. I can complete it while gaining experience."

Seeing Tian Yao's serious expression, Chen Xi could not help but smile faintly.

"That's good."

"I wanted to go gain experience with you too, but Grandpa says I still haven't learned enough. I have to wait until I become a four-ring Soul Ancestor before I can go out and gain experience."

Tian Yao leaned against the ancient tree in frustration.