Seeing their expressions and the longing in their eyes, Zhao Feng knew that they, too, yearned to fight against the northern tribes like he had to uphold the honor of Huaxia.
For every general of Huaxia, regardless of which state they hailed from, Zhao Feng's campaign against the northern tribes was a cause for immense pride.
Noticing the anticipation in Li Mu's and the others' eyes, Zhao Feng chuckled. "Train well. There will come a day when you will lead troops into battle."
"Master," Li Mu spoke excitedly, "both Sima Shang and I have now stepped into the Xiantian realm and have attained true martial Qi."
As he spoke, Li Mu raised his hand, and a stream of Qi coiled around his palm.
If one paid close attention, one would recognize it as the Qi cultivated through the Dragon Elephant Art, the very technique Zhao Feng had once practiced.
As Zhao Feng had since obtained a more advanced cultivation method, the Dragon Elephant Art had been passed down to his most trusted subordinates. This technique was particularly suited for military men like Li Mu and the others.
"Third level of Xiantian. Not bad," Zhao Feng nodded.
"I have only just entered the first level of Xiantian," Sima Shang said respectfully.
"The Xiantian realm is only the beginning of martial cultivation. To become a true powerhouse, this is far from enough," Zhao Feng said sternly.
"Rest assured, Master! We will train diligently and never let you down!" the two men pledged.
Ever since pledging allegiance to Zhao Feng, they had stepped into an entirely different world. The path of martial cultivation was intoxicating it was an experience they had never imagined before.
"And you, Qing Qin?" Zhao Feng turned to him.
"Master, I am dull-witted. I have only reached the fifth level of the Houtian realm," Qing Qin said, sounding a bit ashamed.
"That's already good progress. You all have martial aptitude that is the key to cultivation," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
Meanwhile, Xiao, He stood to the side, utterly dumbfounded.
He barely understood a word they were saying.
What was martial cultivation?
What was the Xiantian realm?
What was the Houtian realm?
To him, this was like listening to a language from another world.
"Let's go," Zhao Feng said with a grin. "Let's take a look at your martial prowess."
Since he was here, he might as well broaden Xiao He's horizons.
Martial cultivation was Zhao Feng's top priority for the future.
In his vision, the dynasty he was to build would not be short-lived like those before it. He would create a true, eternal empire one that would last as long as he lived.
And as long as he continued to slay enemies, he would gain a limitless lifespan.
Shenzhou was vast.
One could spend a lifetime traveling it and still not reach its boundaries.
But the world was even greater than that.
Zhao Feng was deeply curious about the true nature of the world.
With such abundant spiritual energy in the heavens and earth, why had no cultivators emerged?
At least, in Shenzhou and the mortal realm, he had never encountered one.
There had to be a profound secret behind this.
Beyond just establishing his empire, Zhao Feng was determined to uncover this mystery.
One day, the armies of Huaxia would march beyond Shenzhou.
By slaying enemies and gathering their attributes, Zhao Feng would grow stronger and stronger.
And he would not be the only cultivator in his empire.
All his subordinates would follow this path as well.
Once he had built his dynasty, the dissemination of cultivation techniques would follow.
Of course, there would be a hierarchy.
Only those truly loyal to him would gain access to the highest-level techniques.
For the unfaithful, the Houtian realm would be their limit.
This was Zhao Feng's grand vision for the future.
And the wheels were already in motion.
While the Yan Court was nurturing shadow guards, it was also training true battlefield army soldiers who engaged in real combat.
They cultivated the Dragon Elephant Art at the Houtian level.
Meanwhile, the Yan Court's shadow guards focused on their specialized training.
As Zhao Feng gave the order, the group followed him to an open training ground within the camp, facing a dense forest.
"Master," Li Mu said, bowing. "I shall demonstrate."
With that, he grasped the sword at his waist.
Infusing it with Qi, he unleashed a powerful slash.
Swish!
A streak of sword energy several meters long condensed in an instant and shot forward toward the trees.
In the blink of an eye
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
The sword energy swept through, slicing through five or six large trees as though they were mere twigs.
Each trunk, thicker than a man's arm, was cleanly severed, causing the trees to crash to the ground.
"This… this…!"
Xiao He was utterly stunned.
If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that such a feat was possible.
"This is beyond human capability!"
"Am I dreaming?"
"Is this some kind of illusion?"
He stared at the fallen trees in shock, then turned to the others around him.
But their expressions were calm, as if this was entirely normal just another routine display.
"Not bad," Zhao Feng praised. "Your sword energy is well-formed, and your Qi is solid."
"Thank you for your praise, Master," Li Mu said respectfully.
"Master, my skills are far inferior to the General's," Sima Shang admitted. "At full strength, I can only cut down two or three trees with a single strike."
"Master, would you be willing to show us your full strength?"
Li Mu gazed at Zhao Feng with a look of anticipation.
In Yan Court, everyone knew that their lord was immensely powerful, and hailed as the number one in martial arts.
After all, martial cultivation had been passed down from Zhao Feng himself.
However, no one had ever witnessed Zhao Feng truly unleash his full strength.
Hearing Li Mu's words, both Sima Shang and Qing Qin also showed expressions of eager expectation.
"I have fought on the battlefield for many years, yet I have never gone all out," Zhao Feng said with a slight smile.
This was not a false statement it was the truth.
On the battlefield, if Zhao Feng had truly unleashed his full power, the news would have already spread across the land, causing a massive stir.
Moreover, Zhao Feng was still uncertain whether hidden cultivators existed in this mortal realm.
While he possessed martial cultivation and seemed to be the strongest in all of Shenzhou, the suppression of his lifespan, coupled with the presence of such abundant spiritual energy yet the absence of other cultivators, made him deeply suspicious.
If he were to expose too much of his power, and if hidden figures were lurking in the shadows, things could become problematic.
Zhao Feng greatly cherished his own life.
Thus, he had never fought at full strength before.
"The lord has never used his full strength?"
"Then just how powerful is he?"
Li Mu and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with deep reverence.
"Lord, please accept this sword," Li Mu said, respectfully offering his weapon to Zhao Feng.
"This sword of yours will likely shatter after just one strike," Zhao Feng said with a chuckle.
"If it truly breaks, then this sword would have fulfilled its greatest purpose," Li Mu responded immediately.
Zhao Feng smiled, accepting the sword.
His gaze then shifted toward the dense forest ahead.
The others watched him intently, filled with anticipation.
Xiao He, on the other hand, widened his eyes, as if determined to see for himself whether this was all an illusion.
What he had witnessed today had already shattered everything he knew about the world.
Zhao Feng lifted the sword, channeling his inner energy from his dantian.
In an instant
A powerful, domineering golden true energy surged forth, enveloping the blade in an intense glow.
As the energy infused into the sword
Buzz! Buzz!
The blade trembled violently, seemingly pushed to its limits.
The next moment
Zhao Feng swung his sword in a horizontal arc toward the dense forest ahead.
Whoosh!
A golden sword light shot forward in a flash.
Moving with a speed faster than the eye could follow, it sliced through everything in its path.
Wherever the sword light passed
Trees were instantly cut down.
In the blink of an eye
The sword's energy had traveled over a hundred zhangs, nearly two hundred zhangs (around 600 meters).
The once dense forest ahead was now as if it had been cleanly split open every tree within several hundred meters had been felled.
At the point where the sword energy dissipated
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed through the air.
Waves of residual energy burst outward, scattering in all directions.
The powerful shockwave even forced the people behind Zhao Feng to take a few steps back.
"This… is this something a human can do?"
"Just look at it everything within two hundred zhang has been cut down by that one strike."
"That must be at least hundreds of trees!"
"If this strike landed amid an army, it would instantly slaughter hundreds, even thousands of soldiers."
"Our lord's strength has already surpassed that of mere mortals."
"This… this is no longer power a human should possess!"
Li Mu and the others stared in utter disbelief.
Even the Yan Court's dark guards turned their gazes toward Zhao Feng, their eyes burning with even greater admiration.
As for Xiao He, he was completely dumbfounded.
"This is a dream. I must be dreaming."
"It has to be."
Xiao He stood frozen, his face blank with shock.
Then
He pinched himself.
"Ow! That hurts!"
The sharp pain made Xiao He cry out.
"It's real."
"This is all real."
"Our lord just cut down hundreds of trees with a single strike!"
"This… this is not humanly possible!"
"Our lord must be an immortal!"
"A legendary immortal!"
Xiao He stared at Zhao Feng, his eyes filled with awe, as if he were gazing upon a divine being.
At that moment
Zhao Feng slowly raised the sword in his hand.
Everyone turned their attention toward it.
They saw that the once-sturdy blade was now covered in countless cracks.
And in the next moment
Crack!
The sword in Zhao Feng's hand shattered completely, disintegrating into fine dust and scattering to the ground.
"The sword really couldn't withstand the lord's true energy," Li Mu said, his voice filled with astonishment.
"May I ask, my lord"
"What level of martial cultivation have you reached?" Sima Shang asked with reverence.
"In terms of true energy, I am at the level of a Grandmaster," Zhao Feng replied calmly.
"A Grandmaster?"
"That's even beyond a Master, isn't it?"
"At this level, the lord's strength must be comparable to that of the immortals in legend!"
Everyone was utterly shocked.
"My lord,"
"Are you truly an immortal?"
Xiao He finally spoke, looking at Zhao Feng with a face full of respect and wonder.
"An immortal?"
Zhao Feng turned his head, a strange smile appearing on his lips.
"Not quite."
"Then how… how is the lord able to do this?"
"This is not the power of an ordinary man!"
Xiao He pointed at the chaotic woodland ahead, where hundreds of trees had been horizontally severed. He was at a complete loss for words.
"This power is called martial arts."
"Anyone loyal to me can cultivate it," Zhao Feng said in a deep voice.
"I can too?"
Xiao, He looked up with anticipation.
"As long as you possess the right martial foundation, you can cultivate," Zhao Feng responded.
"I swear my undying loyalty to you, my lord!" Xiao He immediately bowed.
"I can see your sincerity," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile.
"Therefore, you may begin with the first layer of the foundational martial arts technique."
"Thank you, my lord!" Xiao He was overjoyed.
"My lord."
At that moment, Ying Bu strode over, accompanied by a young shadow guard.
"You've come to Shaqiu as well?"
Seeing Ying Bu, Zhao Feng smiled slightly.
"Upon hearing of my lord's return, I have come to report on the state of Yan Court," Ying Bu replied respectfully.
"There are no outsiders here. Speak freely."
Zhao Feng swept his gaze around and smiled.
"Yan Court is developing rapidly."
"We have established over a hundred strongholds, all concealed in remote locations. As for the shadow guards under Jiu Xian Lou, we now have more than thirty-five thousand elite members, all trained in martial arts."
"In addition to that"
"Yan Court continues to search for promising individuals across the land, cultivating them into shadow guards."
"However, unlike our previous recruitment approach, we now emphasize talent. Each month, we recruit fewer than a thousand shadow guards, all of whom are highly capable." Ying Bu reported with great respect.
"Thirty-five thousand men."
"That's quite the force." Zhao Feng couldn't help but feel a hint of sentiment.
From nothing, he had built Yan Court into what it is today in under five years!
Such an organization
A covert network spanning the entire land
All of it was his creation.
Xiao He, standing beside him, was once again shaken.
"Thirty-five thousand shadow guards spread across the land."
"Jiu Xian Lou belongs to the lord as well?"
"How is that even possible?"
"Maintaining such a large force must cost an astronomical sum."
"But Jiu Xian Lou it's a gold mine, raking in money every day."
"And with branches established throughout the realm, it serves as the financial backbone for supporting so many elite warriors."
"Inconceivable."
Xiao He was stunned once more.
Following Zhao Feng today
He felt as though his entire worldview had been overturned.
Not only had he witnessed the supernatural power of martial arts, but he had also learned of the terrifying influence wielded by his master.
It was truly eye-opening.
"You've done well."
Zhao Feng smiled slightly.
Then, his gaze landed on the young man standing beside Ying Bu.
"Your subordinate, Han Xin, greets my lord!"
Han Xin bowed deeply, his eyes filled with fervent reverence.
He looked at Zhao Feng as if he were his greatest benefactor, someone he would lay down his life for.
And in truth
That was exactly the case.
To Han Xin
Zhao Feng was not just his savior but the savior of his entire family.
Had it not been for Zhao Feng's policy regarding penal battalions
Had it not been for his grace
His father, Han Chenyan, would likely have perished in Korea or, worse, been reduced to slavery, never to be free again.
Yet, due to Zhao Feng's decree
His father had not only survived but had risen to the rank of an elite personal guard commander, holding a high position beside the Supreme General.
It was no exaggeration to say that Zhao Feng had completely changed Han Xin's destiny.
"Han Xin."
"At such a young age, you've already reached the Innate Realm in martial cultivation."
"Not bad."
Zhao Feng smiled as he looked at Han Xin.
Of the three great generals of the early Han dynasty
Two were now gathered before him, both pledging their loyalty.
"It is all thanks to my lord's benevolence," Han Xin responded immediately.
"Martial cultivation is only the foundation."
"What I truly desire is for you to command armies, to possess the talent of a great general," Zhao Feng said to Han Xin.
Han Xin, known in history as the Immortal of Warfare, had an extraordinary gift for military strategy.
Zhao Feng had no intention of letting Han Xin become just another shadow guard
.He wanted him to be the legendary commander known for saying, 'The more troops, the better.'
"Rest assured, my lord!"
"This boy Han Xin has an extraordinary talent for command."
"I believe he will one day become a great general," Li Mu immediately chimed in.
"Good."
Zhao Feng nodded and then turned to Ying Bu.
"Ensure that Han Xin is not sent out on too many missions."
"His future lies in commanding armies, not assassination or intelligence gathering."
"I understand, my lord," Ying Bu responded at once.
Han Xin also spoke up, saying, "I will study under my teacher and dedicate myself to mastering the art of war. I will not disappoint my lord's expectations."
"I will also ensure his proper guidance," Li Mu promised as well.
"Xiao He."
Zhao Feng turned to Xiao He.
"At your service, my lord." Xiao He responded immediately.
"If you are curious about Yan Court"
"You may stay for a few days before returning to Shaqiu County."
"If you wish to cultivate, Li Mu and the others can instruct you."
"I will be in seclusion for a while."
Zhao Feng informed him.
"Thank you, my lord!"
Xiao He replied immediately.
With that, Zhao Feng turned and walked toward the camp.
"This... this was done by our lord?"
Only then did Ying Bu turn around and notice the devastated woodland ahead.
Hundreds of fallen trees
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