The sudden invasion of the Jewel Kingdom Capital by the West Wolf Army in the heart of winter marked an indelible historical milestone. For the first time, the magnificent capital was looted. The invaders' shouts, the citizens' cries, and the suffocating smell of smoke and fire hung heavy in the air. For the first time, the King of a Great Nation was captured and taken to a smaller one, enduring the ultimate humiliation.
Countless "firsts" made this invasion an extraordinary event, one that both kingdoms would recount for years. For the Wolf Nation, it was the "Great Glory," a symbol of overwhelming power, a resounding triumphal march. For the Jewel Kingdom, it remained the "Great Shame," a wound slow to heal. Yet, they tried to salvage their honor with scattered, minor victories.
One of the most spectacular battles took place at the third city wall, separating the noble district from the Royal Palace. It was an earth-shattering confrontation between the Wolf King's White Guard Demon Wolf General and the Righteous Path Immortals. According to the accounts, this battle left a Core Formation level General permanently injured, narrowly escaping death. If the Iron Wolf General and the Earth Wolf General hadn't arrived in time, the Wolf Nation might have lost another Grand General.
From the West Wolf Nation’s perspective, the story was different. The White Guard Demon Wolf General had not been defeated. The General had been severely weakened from a grueling battle at the second wall against the Jewel Kingdom's elite forces. Immediately afterward, he plunged into the tunnel maze, fighting non-stop through countless obstacles and terrifying creatures, only then reaching the third wall. This relentless series of battles utterly exhausted him. It was only because of this that he was "defeated" in the eyes of the Jewel Kingdom people.
At an afternoon tea house in the Jewel Kingdom's new capital, the murmur of conversation and the clinking of dishes by resting laborers filled the air. To dispel the heavy atmosphere, a folk storyteller stepped forward. His voice filled with tragic fervor, he began his tale:
"Distinguished guests, lend me your ears for the tale of our Capital's fateful day! Pitch darkness blanketed the city. The vile enemy, suddenly rising from the sewers, spread sorrow and pain. Shouts and sounds of destruction echoed everywhere. The damp, foul stench of the sewer mixed with the pungent smell of fresh blood. But amidst the chaos of war, a ray of light appeared! Master Zhang, the Golden-Robed Celestial Master, or Mr. Forgotten-Dust, stood tall! He resolutely blocked the evil General, the White Guard Demon Wolf, as he stormed the third city gate, the sacred entrance to the Royal Palace!"
"The Celestial Master hovered in mid-air, his golden robes fluttering. He radiated a warm halo, driving away the winter chill. Beneath his feet, countless golden talismans were tightly linked. Spiritual power surged, crackling with potent sound. In his hands, he brandished the colossal eight-meter-long Dark Iron Greatsword. The cold steel flashed, descending straight toward the head of the Demon Wolf General! The Demon Wolf had transformed into a monstrous, giant white Wolf Demon, standing as tall as three to five towers. Its thick fur bristled, and its fangs were sharp as blades. Its roar tore through the air, shaking the very earth, carrying the foul breath of a savage beast."
"The Celestial Master's companion was a ten-meter-tall White Tiger Immortal. Its body was muscular, exuding an awe-inspiring presence. The White Tiger Immortal's roar was thunderous, drowning out the Demon Wolf's howl. The two coordinated seamlessly: the valiant White Tiger Immortal pinned down the Demon Wolf General, creating an opening for the Celestial Master. Hundreds of talismans behind him continuously rained down dazzling attacks of various magical arts. Brilliant Light tore through the darkness, carrying sacred warmth. Thunder roared, blue lightning bolts struck with a burnt, acrid smell. Searing Fire consumed the wicked energy, the red flames rising high, carrying smoke and tremendous heat!"
"Soon after, other heroes flew in as reinforcements. Lord Han Thuong with his superb magic, Huo Ming with his blazing flames, Tho Trung Sa with the solid strength of the earth, and many other minor heroes. They joined the fight, creating a stunning feast of colors in the sky. Intertwining streams of light, lightning, and fire—it was unbelievably brilliant! The clash of weapons, the explosion of magic, the monster's roaring—all blended into a chaotic yet dramatic symphony! I swear by heaven and earth, if not for the timely appearance of the two other Grand Generals (the Iron Wolf General and the Earth Wolf General), the Demon General surely would have perished... A regrettable ending for the wicked fiend!"
The storyteller concluded with a mix of regret and pride.
Sitting below, listening, Han Thuong smiled, thinking to himself, "These storytellers always exaggerate, seven parts truth, three parts fabrication! We were all desperately chased by the White Guard Demon Wolf General, not to mention the Wolf Soldiers were as numerous as ants. We were lucky the Wolf King called them back, or we'd all be dead. A bunch of Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators wouldn't stand a chance against a seasoned Core Formation master!"
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Not far from Han Thuong was Lien Tran. He wore a wide-brimmed hat that shadowed his face. Part of his face was severely burned and was still recovering. His left eye had been destroyed, replaced by a cold, glass prosthetic. Both his legs were gone, replaced by steel prosthetics inscribed with ancient runes, each step emitting a dry, metallic creak. On his back, he carried three swords: one brightly polished silver, one somber black demonic sword, and one sturdy steel blade.
He sat in silent contemplation, his thoughts drifting to his life when the storyteller mentioned the Underground City. His eyes glimmered with memories of his childhood: born in a lavish capital but unloved, abandoned in a garbage dump to die. The stench of refuse and the damp, musty smell of the underground earth and stone seemed to still cling to him.
A man saved him, taking him in and raising him through various strenuous jobs. As he grew, both father and son were trained in martial arts in the underworld. Their main profession was fighting in the lawless arena against all kinds of opponents: humans, Rat-People, Lizard-People, even giant cockroaches or grotesque monsters. His father was crippled on the fighting floor, but Lien Tran always won. He caught the eye of a wealthy nobleman, and both father and son were meticulously cared for. His father passed away shortly after, content and satisfied. Only later did he learn that the nobleman was none other than the King of the Jewel Kingdom. A great king, who highly valued talent, and whom Lien Tran respected second only to his biological father.
The King increasingly relied on him, entrusting him with many of the city's secrets. This was a place left behind by the previous generation of Kings for Demonic Cultivators and Ghost Cultivators to research the path to immortality. They had developed technology to create body clones, extract souls, and transfer them into new bodies; to graft spiritual beast parts onto humans, allowing ordinary people to use magic like spiritual beasts; and to create weapons imbued with Demonic or Ghost energy.
Desiring to save his recently deceased father, he dedicated himself to researching these forbidden technologies. Though he failed in his primary goal, the applications were wide-ranging, leading him to become the commander of the Shadow Division Army.
When the great King passed away, Lien Tran was devastated, feeling as if he had lost a second father. His heart found joy again when he saw the Fourteenth Prince, Chau Ngoc Yen. The Prince was like a mirror image of the great King, both in appearance and personality. He resolved to dedicate his life to supporting the Prince’s ascension to the throne. That opportunity came when Noe declared the Prince the chosen one. Lien Tran was overjoyed and followed every plan. The hardest task was eliminating the Fire Wolf General, a hot-tempered and bloodthirsty Core Formation master among the Wolf Generals.
Lien Tran had hidden in the maze, waiting. But the Black Guard Divine Hound General discovered him first. The General sprouted a pair of wings, his black fur sleek, moving so fast that he created a whistling wind sound. His eyes glowed in the darkness. He was an opponent far beyond Lien Tran's capability. Lien Tran followed the plan and guided him down to a deeper basement level beneath the underground city, a winding path through two mazes, finally leading to where Noe was waiting.
Lost in thought, Lien Tran was distracted by the crowd’s noise. He looked up at the stage and saw a familiar figure step up, holding a fan, ready to continue his story. The storyteller's voice resonated across the plaza: "Distinguished guests, listen up! Today, I will recount a critical event, a silent but invaluable victory! A Grand General of the Wolf Nation did not return! The one called the 'Fire Hell of the Wolf Nation,' the one everyone hated, who brought wailing wherever he went! That was a glorious victory for the famous Shadow Division Army!"
The crowd instantly erupted in noise. They cheered joyfully, their laughter and applause booming like thunder. The storyteller looked towards Lien Tran for a signal, which was returned with a nod. Immediately, someone brought up a large drawing board illustrating the Six Paths Six Union Formation, a complex but immensely powerful array, including the Heavenly Path, Asura Path, Human Path, Animal Path, Hungry Ghost Path, and Hell Path.
The storyteller continued: "It is not easy to defeat a Core Formation master. Ordinary people like us are nothing but ants in their eyes. But though fish eat ants, there are times when ants eat fish! This is the formation the Shadow Division Army used! I will delve deep into the array..."
Lien Tran sat listening, nodding. He felt the burning sensation of the scars return to his face. A dull, aching pain in his steel legs returned, a reminder of what he had endured. The entire scene of the battle in the maze gradually resurfaced, vivid as if it had just happened.
"The Fire Wolf General was exactly as rumored—extremely short-tempered. After only a few words, he transformed into the Three-Headed Spirit Hound, spewing fire everywhere. The scorching, red-hot flames, carrying the smell of sulfur, seemed intent on destroying the entire underground maze. The roaring sound of the fire and the crashing of collapsing earth and stone echoed throughout the tunnels."
As the midday break ended, everyone returned to their work, continuing to build the new city. Han Thuong helped move heavy loads by summoning his ten Ice Spirits. The Ice Spirits moved with chilling efficiency, working quickly.
Lien Tran silently walked towards the city gate, taking the place of a guard. He looked up at the sky, as if seeing the King he adored, and smiled. A gentle but deeply proud smile. He spoke softly, his voice slightly hoarse but firm: "Even if Your Majesty is not immortal, your fame will be. You already possess what you sought; there is no need to try further."
Lien Tran clenched his hand on the steel sword. He recalled the research on immortality and soul technology in the underground city—the things the great King had entrusted to him.
"Therefore," he whispered, his voice dry but resolute, "I will use what you left behind to protect your heir. Demonic energy and Ghost energy are not evil; they are tools to protect greatness. The Shadow Division will ensure the Fourteenth Prince, Chau Ngoc Yen, ascends the throne. At any cost."