A New Era

The six Foundation Establishment cultivators led the charge.

Like reapers cutting grass, they harvested the lives of the barbarian soldiers at the front.

The cultivators of the two great Lineages were like wolves and tigers, all their long-suppressed resentment bursting forth at that moment.

The barbarians had never imagined that, with Qinghe Market as a warning, these people would still dare resist.

Caught unprepared and faced with several Foundation Establishment cultivators of extraordinary valor, the barbarian forces at the front crumbled at the first clash.

No matter how the barbarian Foundation Establishment cultivators shouted, they could not turn the tide.

A curious sight emerged: the barbarians at the front fled madly to the rear, while those behind them charged forward on exotic beasts.

The two sides collided and jammed together, their formations thrown into complete disarray.

Technique Methods rained down from the sky, each strike taking countless barbarian lives.

The displaced people in the market and the Rogue Cultivators in the outer city all stood rooted to the spot.

It suddenly occurred to them that the barbarians did not seem so terrifying after all.

Just then, someone among the displaced people suddenly shouted:

"Fellow Daoists, the time has come to avenge our grievances! Kill these sons of bitches!"

"Sweep away the barbarian hordes and protect our human race!"

"The human race will prevail!"

At first, few answered the call. The barbarians had inspired fear for too long, and a few words could not dispel the terror in anyone's heart.

But a single spark could set the plains ablaze.

When several groups of Rogue Cultivators took the lead and charged out, successfully cutting down barbarian soldiers, everything changed.

Pent-up resentment took hold where fear had reigned, and hatred replaced cowardice.

More and more people joined the fight, and everyone's eyes turned red with bloodlust.

Just then, a tremendous roar sounded, and two strange orange-red puppets charged onto the battlefield.

Their roaring engines and wind-swift speed held every cultivator present on edge.

A Late Qi Refining cultivator sat atop each puppet, gripping a handlebar with one hand and casting Law Techniques with the other. Like two mobile artillery platforms, they harvested barbarian soldiers one after another.

Watching Tang Zhan and Wang Hu on the battlefield, Qin Fei smiled helplessly.

"They went off to promote the product after all. What about the Chamber of Commerce with them gone?"

Though the Lin Household had roused the Rogue Cultivators' fighting spirit, some vermin were still taking the opportunity to stir up trouble in the outer city.

Arson, murder, robbery, and looting had decreased, but they had not stopped altogether.

"It's all right. Brother Zhan said the Late Qi Refining cultivator Senior Caiyi sent has arrived. The Chamber of Commerce will be fine."

Qin Fei nodded gently, then turned and returned to the small courtyard, leaving the defeated barbarian army behind him.

The war lasted a full seven days and seven nights, ending in a great victory for the human race.

Barbarian corpses covered the mountains and plains, declaring that the situation on the frontier had changed.

The first shot of the human counterattack had officially been fired.

This battle was destined to go down in history.

The three great sects had not intervened, and the barbarians' high-level fighters had not entered the fray either, but everyone knew that the war between the two sides had officially begun.

Once the battle ended, Shangyu Market was undoubtedly the greatest beneficiary.

Countless cultivators came from across the frontier, drawn by its reputation and hoping to lend their strength to the human race's resistance against the barbarians.

Shangyu Market was now thriving. A million displaced people had been properly settled, and the market had doubled in size.

The era of barbarian raids along the frontier would be gone forever.

The series of measures the Lin Household took next kindled even greater hope in the cultivators' hearts.

First, the inner city's defensive formation would be abolished, and a grand protective formation would be erected around all of Shangyu Market. From then on, there would be no distinction between inner and outer city, and the Lin Household swore to stand or fall alongside all the market's cultivators.

Second, soldiers would be recruited throughout the market to form an army against the barbarians. Lineage cultivators and ordinary Rogue Cultivators alike would be treated equally, with positions assigned according to military merit.

Third, an academy would be established to train students. Anyone of the appropriate age could attend, regardless of aptitude.

Fourth, the market would continue to expand, with defensive walls and a moat to be built. All people of conviction would be recruited to stand against the barbarians together.

If those measures were not enough to restore the Rogue Cultivators' confidence, the news that followed was enough to hearten the entire human race.

First, the three great cities of the northern frontier-Repel the North City, End Sorrow City, and Broken Halberd City-issued a joint declaration establishing a northern frontier defense network. The various powers were to come to one another's aid, respect one another, and share intelligence.

Second, the three great sects would jointly dispatch high-level fighters to hold the front lines and launch a counteroffensive against the barbarians, helping smaller powers tie down barbarian forces and buy time to develop.

Third, the Great Qi imperial family revised the Great Qi Cultivator Law, declaring the barbarians mortal enemies.

Those who colluded with the barbarians would be killed!

Those who befriended the barbarians would be killed!

Those who sought peace would be killed!

As soon as the law was revised, it was proclaimed to the world. All cultivators of Great Qi, whether righteous or evil, were required to obey it.

Violators would be treated as traitors to their race, and their entire Lineages would be hunted down.

It could be summed up in four words: fight to the death!

The old era would eventually pass, and a brand-new era had arrived.

In a private room on the fourth floor of the Gathering Immortals Pavilion,

Several figures had drunk themselves into a stupor as they celebrated this historic moment.

"Tiezhu, are you really going to enlist? That's no child's play."

Tiezhu gave an honest smile, but his manner was utterly serious.

"My aptitude isn't as good as Brother Zhan's, and I'm not as clever as Brother Qin. If I don't make a push now, I really will end up bringing up the rear. I don't want to spend the rest of my life like that."

The rewards for military service were generous, and military merit could be exchanged for all kinds of heavenly materials and earthly treasures. He wanted to use the opportunity to gamble on a chance at Foundation Establishment.

"But what about the Chamber of Commerce? Has Senior Caiyi agreed?"

Tiezhu smiled self-mockingly and replied:

"With Brother Zhan and Meiniang at the Chamber of Commerce, one more or one fewer of me makes no difference. I trust Senior Caiyi won't blame me."

Seeing that he had made up his mind, the others said no more to dissuade him, though the mood grew somewhat heavy.

Enlisting now was not like before. It truly meant going to the battlefield to fight and kill.

With the great cities sending troops against the barbarians, most of the barbarians' forces had been tied down, and Shangyu Market could finally enjoy some peace for a while.

Yet Tiezhu had chosen this moment to put himself in danger, and they could not help worrying.

Qin Fei raised his wine cup, breaking the heavy silence.

"Tiezhu has found his own path. We should be happy for him."

"That's right. Everyone makes their own choices, and we all have to do something meaningful. I support Tiezhu."

Old Zhang also voiced his opinion, then a smile appeared on his face as he continued:

"There's something I have to tell everyone too."

"You aren't going to enlist as well, are you?"

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.

"With these old bones of mine, wouldn't a few days in the army shake me apart?

"I applied to be an Outer Sect Attendant for the Lin Household. I just received word today that I was accepted. In a few days, I'll take up the post and supply talismans to the Lin Household."

Everyone's hearts settled back down, and they all offered their congratulations.

Outer Sect Attendant was a good position. There was no need to go to the battlefield; one only had to supply some talismans each month to receive a set stipend.

Old Zhang was already a first-rank talisman master, and he could even craft high-grade talismans. Fulfilling his monthly quota would be more than manageable.

Next, Tang Zhan and the others spoke of their own plans. He and Meiniang intended to continue running the Chamber of Commerce and working for Senior Caiyi.

Wang Hu had also formally joined the Chamber of Commerce with his brothers. They would act as guards in ordinary times and escort shipments when there were transport jobs.

"Qin Fei, what about you? What are your plans for the future?"

"Me? I'll most likely be a Rogue Person. I'll craft puppets and cultivate in my spare time. It sounds quite carefree."

Everyone understood. The answer matched their impression of Qin Fei.

But at that moment, Old Zhang scratched his head somewhat guiltily.

"Um... well, Qin Fei, never mind, I'll just say it.

"The Lin Household still needs quite a few Puppet Attendants, and I recommended you to them. Please don't blame me."