Central State City

Name: Jian Shang

Merit: 685 (428 + 257);

Fruition Rank: Commoner, No Grade;

Prestige: 430, Emerging into Prominence;

Command: 29,

Martial Might: 47,

Intelligence: 17,

Politics: 21.

Total Inner Energy: 3360

(Proficiency of cultivated internal arts * grade = ?)

Cultivation Methods:

Basic Spear Technique, Realm, Thorough Integration, 73728/99999;

Northern Di Horsemanship, Realm, Thorough Integration, 71933/99999;

Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations, Realm, Entering the Hall, 372/999;

Basic Saber Technique, Northern Di Saber Technique, Northern Di Horsemanship, Wind-Sweeping Staff Technique, Realm, Perfect Mastery;

General's Skill:

Silver Light Blur (cannot be learned);

Formation:

Moonlight Heavenly Wolf Formation;

Special Item:

Heavenly Wolf Battle Banner, current grade: Human Grade weapon,

514/10000 (souls of those slain by the army);

Mount: Northern Plains Biao;

Weapons: Pear Blossom Wrought-Iron Spear, mid-grade weapon;

Wrought-Iron Bow, mid-grade weapon;

Special Troop Type: Black Wolf Cavalry,

Human-Grade Red Tier 514/10000 (Merit),

Quantity: 194;

Wealth: 7 Diamond Coins, 376 Gold.

As he led his army galloping through the night, Jian Shang took the time to look over his attribute panel.

His merit had surged by nearly half. In other words, although the merit from enemies killed by his official NPC subordinates was ultimately credited to Jian Shang, he only received half of it.

As for his wealth, it was what remained after rewarding the entire army, so the amount was somewhat lower. Moreover, it did not include the valuable items such as ancient paintings and gold ornaments, nor the four carts of military supplies. It seemed this barbarian convoy had done no small amount of burning, killing, and plundering. Their targets had likely been villages at most, perhaps towns; otherwise, they would certainly have possessed more wealth, and there would not have been so many spoils of war.

It was worth mentioning that the enhancement effect of the "Moonlight Heavenly Wolf Formation" doubled at night. From a high vantage point, the entire Black Wolf Cavalry formation would have looked rather strange. Upon closer inspection, one would find that it resembled a Sky Wolf racing at full tilt, and it was moving rather than a static image.

Together with the Heavenly Wolf Battle Banner in the middle of the force, snapping in the wind and glittering with starlight, the Sky Wolf embroidered upon the banner seemed almost alive, making the entire force appear to bloom with a faint stellar glow.

Of course, that starlight was difficult to discern. People would only assume it came from the embroidered Sky Wolf.

Yet the wonders of the formation were real enough. Traveling in formation not only increased mobility, but also trained the formation itself and conserved the soldiers' strength.

Jian Shang, Jiang Yao, and the others galloped at the very front. The main force of Black Wolf Cavalry rode in the center, while the logistics troops brought up the rear.

With the double enhancement of the Moonlight Heavenly Wolf Formation and the Heavenly Wolf Battle Banner, and with the entire army now mounted, even though the logistics troops slowed them down, their overall marching speed was not slower than before. It was even a few tenths faster.

One man could draw two carved bows; a thousand ranks of barbarian riders seemed as nothing.

Leaning sideways upon a golden saddle, he adjusted his white-feathered arrows, shooting down five chieftains in a flurry.

Yan and Zhao had long produced many heroes. After the Qin State unified the world, it divided the land into Nine Provinces: Ji Province, Qing Province, Yan Province, Yu Province, Xu Province, Liang Province, Yi Province, Jing Province, and Yang Province, following Yu's Nine Provinces map.

As the foremost of the Nine Provinces, Ji Province was the earliest cradle of the Chinese People. Dynasties such as Yu, Xia, and Yin had all established their capitals here. This had once been the land of Yan and Zhao, and since ancient times it had also been China's crucial military province for resisting the northern barbarians. Thus, its people were fierce and valiant, and heroes emerged in endless succession.

In his pursuit of immortality, Qin Shi Huang wished to advance the Great Qin Empire into the Great Qin Celestial Dynasty. One of his four grand undertakings was "Raise the imperial capital of the Nine Provinces, safeguard the fortune of all living beings"!

Central State City was the new colossal city built by imperial decree of the Great Qin Empire. Compared to Handan, the former capital of Zhao, and Jijing, the former capital of Yan, it was not the least bit inferior!

"Is this Central Plains?"

Seven days passed like a white colt flashing through a crack, gone in the blink of an eye. Jian Shang, Jiang Yao, and the others finally reached their destination. Still several miles away from the legendary Central State City, they all stared at the city before them in stunned fascination, as though gazing upon a divine miracle. The fat Shi Jin's mouth hung wide open as he blurted out, utterly overwhelmed by the sight.

The city walls towered into the clouds, roughly a hundred zhang high. Banners densely covered the walls, and soldiers in gleaming helmets and armor moved back and forth. One could even see horses darting about. The walls were a full thirty zhang thick.

The city stretched for hundreds of miles from north to south and east to west, as far as the eye could see, its distance impossible to calculate. Several million Great Qin Army soldiers were stationed within, and its population exceeded fifty million.

How was this a city? It was plainly a divine city.

"Central State City, not Central Plains! Central Plains was the cradle of the Human Clan, the ancient name for the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. It meant the center of the nation, the center of China, and was therefore also called the Central Land, the Central Plains, and the Middle Kingdom!"

The moment Shi Jin finished speaking, Jiang Sheng cast him a faint glance and explained slowly in an even tone. Shi Jin, who feared Jiang Sheng the most, twitched his lips but did not dare say more. Who told him to be so uneducated?

"It is only a colossal city. Sooner or later, we will possess one ourselves! Above it are royal capitals, imperial capitals, emperor capitals, and even the legendary Heavenly Capital. How magnificent and majestic must those be?"

Jian Shang sat high upon his horse, equally shocked beyond measure. Yet his heroic spirit suddenly surged. Raising his spear one-handed toward Central State City, he declared in rapid succession as if swearing an oath. After a pause, he added excitedly in a loud voice:

"Here will be the starting point from which our lives set sail, where we will become marquises and ministers!"

Everyone fell silent. No one dampened Jian Shang's spirits, yet no one echoed him either. To possess a colossal city like the one before them, or even higher-ranked royal capitals, imperial capitals, and emperor capitals—what a wild fantasy that was!

As for the legendary Heavenly Capital, even Qin Shi Huang, that ancient emperor of towering ambition and sweeping talent, had been unable to possess one. Listening to such tales was enough.

What left Jian Shang somewhat depressed was that ever since they had ambushed the barbarian convoy, they had not encountered another barbarian in seven days. Even the scouts had found no trace of barbarians. Jian Shang, who had planned to "rob the robbers" along the way, earn some extra money, and accumulate merit in passing, was deeply disappointed.

But thinking about it again, with such a divine city planted here, what barbarian would dare stroke a tiger's whiskers on its back?!

"Go!"

The others remained silent, but Jian Shang did not mind. He raised the Pear Blossom Wrought-Iron Spear diagonally toward the ground and gave a low shout, preparing to spur his horse into the city.

"Wait!"

At that moment, Sun Ji's expression suddenly turned solemn as he called out, causing everyone to halt and turn back in confusion.

"No feast under heaven lasts forever! Thank you, brothers, for taking care of me all this time. In truth, I, Sun Ji, know myself very well. I am useless in letters and incapable in martial matters. I cannot even handle everyday trivialities properly. All I do is wag my tongue all day. I owe it to all of you brothers for constantly looking after me and accommodating me. I, Sun Ji, bear it in my heart and will never forget it for all eternity!"

With a solemn expression and reluctant eyes, Sun Ji swept his gaze over Jiang Yao, Jiang Qing, Gao Hong, and the others. He spoke slowly and earnestly, his voice heavy with a desolate sigh.

"We are all brothers. Why would you say something like that? There are many things..."

Everyone was stunned, and they could tell Sun Ji was not joking. Jiang Yao spoke urgently.

"Brother Jiang! In the past, you were my elder brother. You are now, and you will be in the future—forever! But my mind is made up. Brother Jiang, you would not want me to keep living beneath your wings, unable to stand on my own, would you? Once a young eagle grows up, it must soar through the skies by itself and learn to hunt for itself!"

Before Jiang Yao could finish, Sun Ji waved a hand to interrupt him. Looking deeply at Jiang Yao, he spoke with solemn conviction.

"Was it because I, Jian Shang, did not treat you as a brother? Did I wrong you? Neglect you? Or did I do something poorly somewhere? If so, then it is my fault. Tell me plainly."

Just as his heroic spirit had risen, this happened. Although Jian Shang had sensed it long ago and had mentally prepared himself, his heart still ached terribly. He could not help staring at Sun Ji and asking in a heavy tone.

"No! You have already done very well, and you have treated me very well. You have always accommodated me and respected me. Even when you had already thought of many things in your heart, you still respected me and asked for my opinion. For instance, when we ambushed the barbarians last time, and when we encountered the refugee tide before that. I am not someone who cannot tell good from bad. I understand all this. Knowing a good brother like you makes me very happy, and deeply honored!"

Sun Ji turned to Jian Shang and met his gaze openly. He spoke earnestly, paused, then slowly continued:

"But I do not want to go on like this. I want to strike out on my own and make my way in the world. Whether I become a marquis and minister, or end up destitute on the streets, that will be my own choice. I will have no regrets!"

"Xiao Ji..." Jian Shang still wanted to speak, but Sun Ji gave him no chance. He immediately turned to Jiang Qing and called, "Qing, do you still have your Bronze Saber?"