On the night that Aurelian Dragon was in high spirits and partying with three women, in the imperial capital of Esnia, a tall, thin man quietly pushed open the door to the study.
The walls were lined with tall bookshelves overflowing with books. In the center of the not-so-large room stood a large desk, flanked by two soft lamps that provided illumination. A thick, soft carpet covered the floor, making one feel as if walking on clouds. The room was faintly permeated with the intoxicating fragrance of ambergris, a forbidden item reserved only for royalty. All of this testified to the noble status of the room's owner.
"Corbis, what's up?" The handsome man sitting behind the desk looked up, his eyes sparkling.
"Your Highness, the secret message has confirmed that Lete has sent out troops," Corbis replied respectfully.
"Oh, has Aso's Lion King finally lost his temper?" the man addressed as His Highness murmured to himself.
Kirbis looked at him with admiration. This man possessed a terrifying mind, which was not a good thing for his enemies. He had seen too many people fall into utter ruin because of this man. This man always used extremely precise calculations and the most perfect steps to achieve his goals.
"Your Highness, just as you said, the Phoenix Legion will face its greatest challenge since its founding. As the most powerful force on the continent, the Orcs of Aso will surely make that woman suffer, and…" Kobis paused, looking at his lord's handsome face, "According to the spy's report, Let has actually invited the Ghost Master of the Celestial Clan to make weapons for him, but those weapons are top secret, and we have no way of obtaining detailed information."
His Highness picked up a jade figurine from the table. This twelve-foot-tall jade figurine was flawless, smooth, and exquisitely beautiful—a true rare treasure. Its face was incomparably beautiful, almost lifelike. Only Kobis knew that this jade figurine was made entirely in the likeness and figure of Phoenix Vane, and that His Highness had commissioned the master craftsman "Master Craftsman" to meticulously carve it over three months at great expense.
Ever since the jade beauty was carved, it has been placed in this confidential study, facing His Highness every day. Whenever His Highness has free time, he will carefully caress it. It is because of this that Kobis knows that His Highness, who fascinates countless beautiful women in the capital, is also a man who is extremely affectionate. Unfortunately, fate is not on his side. He, who is enough to make all women's hearts flutter, cannot even get a trace of Phoenix Vane's feelings.
But now that he finally has this opportunity, he must strive to seize it. This is the man's greatest strength.
"Phoenix Vane's envoy must already be on his way. Should we order the Eagle Legion to send troops?"
The handsome man chuckled silently, his hand gently stroking the beautiful woman's cheek.
"That charming smile is sure to make all the ladies of the capital city of Esnia swoon," Kobis couldn't help but daydream.
"No need, my dear Kobis. I've already sent the Eagle Legion on their way." The handsome man's words interrupted Kobis's thoughts. He gazed confidently toward the Skywind Plains and said, "Beautiful War Goddess, your undefeated reputation should end here. I really want to see you fail; perhaps only then will you consider needing a strong support! I long to hold you in my arms!" His last words were barely audible, as if he were speaking to the beautiful woman before him.
Knowing that there was nothing more for him to do, Kobis bowed respectfully and left the extremely comfortable yet oppressively quiet study as he had come, knowing that His Highness would not care about his departure.
His Highness spoke to the jade beauty in his hand with great affection, "What should I say to you first? Should I scold you, show you pity, or...?" He suddenly laughed, shook his head, and put the jade beauty back in its place.
Kobis had never seen his master's face turn as terrible as it did upon hearing the news; his handsome face contorted into a purplish-black hue, and he smashed three jade cups. Later, according to the servants, His Highness tormented his two beloved women for most of the night before finally falling into a deep drunken stupor.
It was at this moment that the name Aurelian Dragon reached their ears. Corbis began to investigate this man who had suddenly appeared before them in detail. Before dealing with someone, it was essential to understand their background thoroughly. This was the foundation of their invincible success.
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Puvassa, the capital of the Wuan Kingdom, had a population of nearly one million and was one of the seven famous cities on the continent.
The southern part of Puvassa is home to the royal palace, a place where commoners are forbidden to enter. A river flowing through the south separates the southern part of the city from the rest. Besides the royal palace, there are a few mansions of the powerful and wealthy in the south, which are reserved for the most powerful ministers in the kingdom.
Zhu Dejun, who had fled in disarray from the Tianfeng Plain, was staying in a mansion south of the city. Just as the fire broke out, Zhu Dejun received a report that the old general, Gupa, had been assassinated in his tent, his head severed. He was filled with mixed emotions; he was pleased that the army was now under his control, eliminating his most powerful opponent and allowing him to proceed with his original plans; but he was also worried that the enemy had managed to infiltrate the camp and assassinate the commander-in-chief. This showed how formidable his enemy was, and he would have to be even more cautious in the future.
Little did he know that before he could gather his generals and announce the change of commander, chaos suddenly erupted in the camp as countless enemies surged in from all directions. These terrifying enemies were all incredibly fierce, tall and long-legged, agile and swift, and their attacks were fast and ruthless; often, several Wu'an soldiers could not defeat a single one.
Finally, they could see from the patterns on their faces and their banners that their opponents were actually the orc leopard soldiers of Yasu. The Wu'an army, which was already in a state of panic, discovered that their commander had been beheaded. Their fear of the orcs exploded, and some of them ignored their commander's orders and began to flee the battlefield.
The orcs didn't pursue the deserters; instead, they set fire to the camp while attacking the remaining Wu'an soldiers who stubbornly resisted. As a result, more and more Wu'an soldiers lost their will to fight. Morale was like a thousand-mile-long dike; even a small breach would cause the entire army to collapse. The Wu'an army was now in such a predicament, with demoralized soldiers scattering and fleeing.
Zhu Dejun was about to put up a fight when he encountered a powerful enemy, a female general from the Leopard Clan. He later learned that this woman was Shara Felis, known as the "Three Wonders Female General".
To be honest, Zhu Dejun's strength was indeed extraordinary. Even the powerful leopard soldiers were no match for him in just a few moves, which is why he attracted Shara Felis's attention, who rode forward to fight him.
The two went back and forth for six or seven rounds without a clear winner, but Shara Felis didn't want to drag it out. She seized the opportunity and suddenly turned her horse around, pretending to retreat.
When Zhu Dejun fell for the trap and rode forward to give chase, Shara Felis suddenly turned around, flicked her wrist, and a flash of silver light appeared. Zhu Dejun felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder. When he turned his head to look closely, he saw that there was a short arrow stuck in his shoulder. The short arrow, which had no fin, was still trembling slightly.
This arrow shattered his ambition, and with no will to fight, he could only join the defeated ranks.
After fleeing back to Poisar in disgrace, Zhu Dejun was not severely punished because he was not the commander-in-chief of the army and the responsibility for the defeat could not be attributed to him. However, feeling ashamed to face anyone, he could only hide in his own residence, using the excuse of recuperating from his injuries, and refused all visitors.
However, after only a few days of rest, he was summoned before the Seventh Princess.
When Zhu Dejun received the summons, he was quite uneasy, wondering how this woman who held real power in Wu'an would deal with him.
In the court of Wu'an, everyone knew that the Seventh Princess, greatly favored by His Majesty the King, now controlled the government. This woman, barely twenty-four years old, had indeed demonstrated exceptional political talent; her shrewdness and ruthlessness compensated for the King's indecisiveness , which stemmed from his mere benevolence . However, discerning individuals also saw that this woman's excessive zeal for power might not be a good thing for Wu'an. But powerless to intervene, they could only watch, unable to interfere, because this woman was a master of political maneuvering.
To Zhu Dejun's surprise, the Seventh Princess received him in the inner hall and did not criticize his failure too much. Instead, she offered a few words of comfort.
This surprised him and moved him deeply, filling him with gratitude that he would give his life to repay the Lord's grace.
Changing the subject abruptly, the Seventh Princess asked, "Are you aware of our peace negotiations with Fast?"
Zhu Dejun gazed at the princess's delicate and gentle face, momentarily at a loss for words. After a long pause, he finally said, "This humble one has never heard of it!"
"Is that so?" The Seventh Princess nodded and said calmly, "Now the two countries are preparing for a marriage alliance. One of our princesses is to marry the second prince of Fast!"
"What?" Zhu Dejun was stunned. He couldn't understand how things could have changed so quickly in just a few days.
The Seventh Princess ignored his reaction and continued, "It has now been decided to send Princess Xiu there. If your injury is not serious, I would like you to lead the troops to escort her."
"I will certainly do my best!" Zhu Dejun replied with a bow.
He paused for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "What does Your Highness want...?"
The Seventh Princess smiled slightly and said, "You are indeed a wise person. That is one of the reasons why I chose you." Then she said softly, "I will also go to Fast."
Zhu Dejun was startled. He really didn't understand what the princess was up to, and could only stare blankly.
The Seventh Princess looked at her top subordinate, feeling quite pleased with her brilliant plan. She preferred to keep her intentions hidden from others and not let her subordinates fully understand them; this was one of her methods of controlling her subordinates.
She said slowly, "This time I need to rely on your superb swordsmanship, but you must not do it like you did when you fought Tianfeng."
Zhu Dejun was indeed very confident in his swordsmanship. After all, he came from the most famous Tianjian Garden on the mainland, and it would be hard to find a swordsman in Wu'an who was better than him. He quickly agreed.
The Seventh Princess expressed her thoughts with satisfaction: "After you arrive in Fast, you will stay there and serve as Princess Xiu's bodyguard."
Seeing that he still didn't understand, the Seventh Princess said softly, "The Second Prince of Fast is a weak-willed man, and he's also a womanizer and a drunkard..."
Zhu Dejun suddenly realized and said, "Your Highness, you mean..."
"That's right!" the Seventh Princess said. "Since it's difficult to solve from the outside, let's try to find a solution from the inside."
"No wonder Your Highness had to personally take charge!" Zhu Dejun exclaimed in delight.
"So go and make preparations now, recruit more skilled people, so that it will be easier to carry out your business in Fast!" the Seventh Princess said. "Remember, they must be reliable people."
"Your Highness, I will certainly live up to your expectations!" Zhu Dejun replied excitedly.
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Phoenix Vane began directing her soldiers to build a castle on the mountain where magical cannons were set up. With her keen military insight, she knew that as long as she controlled these powerful magical cannons, she could firmly grasp this strategic location.
The Great Lakes region is strategically located. Whether it is Yasu or Wuan, they must pass through here to reach Fast. Fast can use this place as a base to attack the two countries or defend itself.
After giving these instructions, aside from teaching Valeria Immortalis military strategy and martial arts, she spent the rest of her time with Aurelian Dragon, enjoying the boundless pleasure her lover brought her. Under Aurelian Dragon's care, Phoenix Vane became increasingly beautiful and ethereal; her breathtaking beauty was so striking that even a blind person could perceive it. Some members of the Phoenix Legion already knew that their war god was basking in love, and they were consumed with envy for that lucky woman.
With her newfound immortality, Valeria Immortalis progressed rapidly under Phoenix Vane's tutelage, her understanding of military strategy astonishing even him. Phoenix Vane believed that given time, Valeria Immortalis's command abilities might surpass his own. This was because Valeria Immortalis possessed an innate sensitivity to battle , easily discerning weaknesses and flaws in formations. Coupled with her strong belief in avenging her sister, she was driven to study and improve even more diligently.
Two weeks later, an envoy returned from the imperial capital, Esnia, carrying an imperial decree from Emperor Andre III of Fast, summoning Aurelian Dragon, who had distinguished himself in the battle, to the capital to receive honors. Everyone understood that Aurelian Dragon would soon be promoted to commander of ten thousand cavalry, and perhaps receive even more rewards. Regardless of their motives, the soldiers congratulated Aurelian Dragon.
To be honest, Aurelian Dragon was truly reluctant to leave Phoenix Vane. Such a peerless beauty was unparalleled; he could hold her every day without getting tired. For the past two weeks, he had grown accustomed to falling asleep with her full, soft body in his arms. Asking him to leave Phoenix Vane's warm embrace felt incredibly uncomfortable! But Phoenix Vane was the commander-in-chief of the Phoenix Legion; she couldn't abandon her army to follow him to the capital. However, Phoenix Vane showed no sadness at the separation. After their usual passionate and lingering night, she gave him a meaningful answer: "We'll meet again soon!" This left him puzzled, but he couldn't disobey the imperial decree. Aurelian Dragon, filled with doubt, embarked on his journey to the capital.
At this time, Aurelian Dragon was unaware that the great victory in the Battle of Skywind had completely changed his fate, and an unimaginable path lay before him. His journey to the imperial capital, Esnia, was to open that unknown door.