"I didn't expect such a huge surprise. If we can bring Zhang Fei into our ranks, the military strength of Xuanhuang City will grow significantly."
Yi Tianxing was inwardly overwhelmed with joy.
According to historical records, Zhang Fei, styled Yide, was a renowned general of the Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.
His most famous feat was at Changban, where Liu Bei retreated in defeat, and Zhang Fei, with only twenty cavalrymen, held the rear. Standing by the river, he broke the bridge and deterred the entire Cao army from advancing. Such was the fear he inspired—his deterrence was legendary.
Later, alongside Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun, he helped sweep through Western Sichuan, released Yan Yan at Jiangzhou, and defeated Zhang He at Dangqu during the Hanzhong Campaign. His contributions to Shu Han were immense. He rose to the rank of General of Chariots and Cavalry and Chief Commandant of the Capital District, and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xixiang. He was eventually assassinated by his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da. In the time of the Shu Emperor, he was posthumously honored as "Marquis Huan."
In Chinese history, Zhang Fei has always been known for his bravery, rashness, and hatred of evil.
There was no denying it—he was a peerless warrior.
Used well, he could match the strength of a hundred thousand troops.
Such a warlord, now severed from his oath of brotherhood with Liu Bei and Guan Yu, was willing to submit to Xuanhuang City. Even Yi Tianxing found it hard to believe—like a dream.
Of course, as long as Zhang Fei was genuinely willing to stay, Yi Tianxing had no reason to refuse him.
This was a new world, vast and boundless. The trio of Liu, Guan, and Zhang might very well be scattered in completely different regions. They might never be reunited, possibly even dead, having fallen to unknown dangers. Too many variables existed. On the Eternal Continent, there were no eternal protagonists.
Everyone was just struggling to survive in the chaos.
No one should think that just because they were protagonists before, they are safe now. That's pure fantasy.
"With your sworn bond with Liu Bei and Guan Yu, why would you choose to join Xuanhuang City?" Yi Tianxing asked, taking a deep breath, his tone calm.
"Because… there's wine with you!"
Zhang Fei's answer nearly caused everyone's jaws to drop in disbelief. Even Mu Guiying stared wide-eyed in shock.
That reason was… powerful.
Even Yi Tianxing couldn't help but mentally mutter a complaint.
"I was separated from my brothers from the very start. I have no idea where they are now. This world is too vast—perhaps I'll never find them in this lifetime. It's chaotic now. The human race struggles to survive. But Xuanhuang City has the strength to shelter many. I, Old Zhang, am not heartless. For the sake of our people, why shouldn't I join?"
"Besides, even the Wine Ancestor Du Kang is willing to take refuge here. Just for the chance to drink Du Kang's wine, I'll give my whole body to the City Lord. I can go without anything—except wine!"
Zhang Fei's voice rang out, and though his eyes shone with clarity—not the brutish sort—his addiction to wine remained unchanged.
For Du Kang's wine, he looked completely willing to give up everything.
"Of course, as long as General Zhang is willing to join, I will treat you with utmost respect," Yi Tianxing said sincerely.
"But if I ever get word of my brothers' whereabouts and wish to leave, I hope the City Lord won't stop me," Zhang Fei added after taking a deep breath.
"Very well. I promise you that."Yi Tianxing thought for a moment, then nodded.
The bond between Liu, Guan, and Zhang was without question. Their friendship was deep and sincere. Of course, the odds of them ever reuniting were extremely slim—likely separated by vast distances in unknown regions.
Still, he was confident that with time, Zhang Fei would develop a genuine sense of belonging in Xuanhuang City. By then, even if he did hear news of his brothers, he might not be so quick to leave.
This was a new world.Everything would begin anew.
"Zhang Fei, Zhang Yide, pays respects to my Lord!"
Only then did Zhang Fei reveal a rare solemn expression. He bowed deeply before Yi Tianxing.
That bow sealed their relationship as lord and vassal—declaring that he would now share both the glory and burdens of Xuanhuang City. Their fates were now bound.
"Please rise, General Zhang. Gaining you, Yide, is truly like adding wings to a tiger!"
Yi Tianxing stood up at once and stepped forward to help Zhang Fei to his feet.
As he did, Zhang Fei was startled. He had bowed with great force, and when Yi Tianxing came to help him up, his body instinctively resisted. But even so, he was effortlessly lifted.
The sheer strength of it shocked Zhang Fei.
"His physical strength surpasses Yang Yanding's by more than a margin," he thought to himself.
By the time he realized what had happened, he had already been helped up.
The rumors in the city were indeed true. The strongest man in Xuanhuang City was not some general, but the City Lord himself—this man who rose from nothing and carved out a haven for humanity amidst the chaos.
Feeling the sincerity radiating from Yi Tianxing, Zhang Fei was quietly moved.
Soon after, everyone gathered around the pavilion.
Suddenly, Zhang Fei said, "My Lord, since I've joined Xuanhuang City, I, Old Zhang, ought to offer a token of loyalty."
"There's no need for that," Yang Ye said, frowning. "If everyone starts offering loyalty tokens, it could set a bad precedent."
"Call it what you like," Zhang Fei replied, "but it's more of a report I discovered. Given that you're planning to expand Xuanhuang City, this news is of great value."
"Oh? Let's hear it, Brother Yide," Yi Tianxing said, intrigued.
"Well, I wasn't initially teleported anywhere near here. I landed far out in the wilderness. Right after I arrived, I was surrounded by hordes of vicious beasts. I had to fight my way through. My warhorse got eaten. Eventually, I retreated into a mountain valley."
"There, I found what appeared to be ruins—though not entirely. It was part of a structure, seemingly separated due to some kind of disaster. I was forced to hide there. But as I got closer, I saw that the place was under siege by even more beasts and foreign races."
"Whenever those beasts and invaders charged forward, the ruins would emit divine radiance—filled with righteous energy. There were ancient classics and sayings of sages glowing with golden light, repelling and slaying the monsters. They couldn't get near."
Zhang Fei described the scene vividly.
"I didn't dare approach, but I could hear the sound of people reading—students reciting classics. That place wasn't a ruin. It was inhabited. Based on what I saw, I'm sure it was a fragment of a massive academy, perhaps broken during descent. With that kind of sage power, it definitely wasn't an ordinary place."
Zhang Fei recalled how terrifying the monsters had been. Yet the ruined academy stood firm—defended by the power of books and sages. He even saw one scholar tear a page from an ancient tome, and the characters on it flared with light, instantly destroying a beast.
"A ruined academy?!"
"There's actually such a powerful academy nearby?! If they can resist even the beasts and invaders… then the people inside must be invaluable!"
"If we could bring them to Xuanhuang City, our entire foundation would soar!"
Cai Yan, Yang Ye, and the others couldn't help gasping.
The implications were clear to anyone. That was no ordinary academy. It might be filled with cultivated Confucians or other scholarly cultivators. Acquiring them would bring immense benefits.
"That might be one of the legendary great academies," Yi Tianxing murmured.
He was extremely interested. It meant one thing: talent.
"I originally planned to tell my brothers once we reunited. That way we could take the academy together. But now I see that reunion is impossible. Since we're all human, and you're also a leader of men, I'll entrust it to you. This is the map I drew on my way back. I didn't dare get too close, but I marked the path."
Zhang Fei handed over a map—another big surprise.
With it, the chance of finding the academy was seventy to eighty percent.
"Well done. The real question now is… that academy's been sitting in the wild for over a year. Can they still hold out?"
Yi Tianxing looked over the map, eyes sharp with anticipation.