Chapter 135: The Jade Emperor's Sword (2)

"Get out of here. Even if I gave it to you now, you wouldn't be able to use it. You have one month; whoever reaches the ninth level of the Force Realm, come to me to claim your weapon," Huo Guang said with a laugh and a reprimand.

"Yes! Yes!" the men shouted in excitement.

"Damn it, train hard. The Prince has given us a mission, and in a month's time, we will carry it out. If anyone drops the ball, I'll skin you alive!" Huo Guang bellowed.

"Don't worry, Commander. For the sake of such a treasure, even if I have to skip meals and sleep, I will reach that level within the month! Besides, the Prince's mission isn't exactly simple, is it? We could probably handle it right now!" a young officer laughed.

"Get lost and go train first!" Huo Guang scolded with a grin.

"You got it!" The soldiers immediately threw themselves into their training with fiery enthusiasm.

***

In the bamboo hut.

Yan Chuan was refining the Essence of Iron Jade using his willpower, calligraphy, and spirit.

This process lasted for months. When hungry, he would eat a bit of the beast meat that Liu Jin had left behind, all while continuously washing the jade with his vital energy.

After three months, Yan Chuan had lost weight and looked somewhat haggard, but his golden dragon of willpower had never ceased its work in refining the Essence of Iron Jade.

The surrounding air was thick with the lingering evil aura of the Myriad Wonders Demon Lotus.

"Boom!"

A sudden, thunderous sound erupted from Yan Chuan's body.

"The ninth level of the Force Realm? Very well, the scouring of this natural energy was bound to reach the ninth level eventually," Yan Chuan remarked casually.

Before him, a ball of flame floated in mid-air, with the golden dragon circling around it.

Within the flames lay the Essence of Iron Jade, though its form had undergone a dramatic transformation.

A long sword hovered in the fire. It was four feet and nine inches long, five inches wide, and three fen thick, its entire body glowing with a faint, deep black luster.

"Condense!"

"Pfft!"

Yan Chuan forced out a mouthful of his heart's blood and sprayed it onto the blade.

"Hummm!"

The long sword trembled slightly.

With this vibration, the countless bamboo stalks in the forest outside the hut shook violently, as if cheering for the birth of a new sword.

"Forged from the Essence of Iron Jade, the pinnacle of jade swords—this is my second sword of the Emperor. I name you 'Jade Emperor.' The Jade Emperor Sword!" Yan Chuan commanded.

"Hummm!"

The characters for 'Jade Emperor' slowly emerged upon the blade.

"Whoosh!"

The surrounding black mist, evil aura, flames, and blood were all swallowed by the Jade Emperor Sword.

The golden dragon, exhausted, retreated into Yan Chuan's body.

The Jade Emperor Sword slowly descended from the air and landed in Yan Chuan's hand.

As he stroked the blade, it gave a light tremor, as if rejoicing in its own birth.

"For now, you are merely of excellent material, far from the title of a divine sword. However, with my tempering, you shall surely become famous throughout the world!" Yan Chuan said, taking a deep breath.

"Hummm!"

The Jade Emperor Sword trembled once more before gradually settling down.

Resting the sword across his knees, Yan Chuan took out a beast heart, consumed it, and closed his eyes to meditate. Months of forging had consumed a great deal of his mental energy.

Twenty days later.

"Bang!"

Yan Chuan opened the door of the bamboo hut. He walked slowly out of the formation and toward the military camp outside.

"Neigh!"

The sound of horses could be heard everywhere, and in the training grounds, numerous horses were galloping about.

"Your Highness!" Liu Jin, who was standing nearby, immediately spotted Yan Chuan.

"Your Highness!" The soldiers also noticed him.

Yan Chuan stepped forward with the long sword on his back, and everyone looked at him with reverence.

Huo Guang, who had been instructing several subordinates, quickly hurried over.

"Blood-Sweating Horses?" Yan Chuan asked, looking at the groups of tall, sturdy steeds.

"Yes, Your Highness. Three thousand and five in total, all of them the strongest!" Huo Guang confirmed.

"Good!" Yan Chuan said with satisfaction.

"Your Highness, what do you think of this attire for the soldiers?" Liu Jin asked.

At this moment, the three thousand soldiers were no longer wearing silver armor—at their current level of cultivation, such armor was useless. Instead, they wore magnificent purple-red brocade robes paired with black cloaks, looking remarkably sharp and imposing.

"Not bad!" Yan Chuan nodded in approval.

"Also, the Heaven-Shaking Bows, Sun-Shooting Arrows, and Heaven-Piercing Spears arrived two and a half months ago. I have already distributed them to all the soldiers," Huo Guang said excitedly.

"There are also twenty spirit stones left over!" Liu Jin started to take them out.

"Keep them with you," Yan Chuan said contentedly.

"Yes!" Liu Jin replied.

"Your Highness, just yesterday, the last soldier officially reached the ninth level of the Force Realm. Though our First Legion is small, we are strong enough to rival a nation!" Huo Guang said with excitement.

"Fine clothes and spirited horses, divine bows and mystical spears—the First Legion has finally taken shape!" Yan Chuan said, satisfied.

"All thanks to your grace, Your Highness. Long live the Prince!" Huo Guang said respectfully.

"Long live the Prince!" three thousand soldiers shouted in unison.

At this moment, the Emperor of Yan was completely forgotten by the three thousand soldiers; if Yan Chuan were to destroy the Emperor of Yan, these men would do so without a second thought.

"Your Highness, as I mentioned before, the representatives of the four kingdoms should have arrived at the Yan Capital by now to discuss the affairs of the five kingdoms and gamble for territory," Liu Jin said solemnly.

"Very well. The five-kingdom chess match—how could I miss it? Rest for the night, eat your fill, and at the hour of the Rabbit tomorrow, follow me to the Yan Capital to see exactly what this land of Yan is truly worth!" Yan Chuan commanded lightly.

"Yes!" the three thousand soldiers replied.

***

The next day, before dawn!

"Giddy-up!"

"Giddy-up!"

The three thousand Blood-Sweating Horses galloped along the road, kicking up thick clouds of dust.

With fine clothes and spirited horses, they headed straight for the capital.

Yan Chuan led the charge, full of arrogance. Every one of the three thousand soldiers had a sharp, murderous glint in their eyes!

The galloping cavalry cut through the morning mist like a sharp sword, aimed at the distance.

Twenty miles ahead of the cavalry, a grand army of fifty thousand was marching toward them. On the command banner was a large character: 'Zhao.'

The commander at the lead had a gloomy expression.

"Are you sure?" the commander asked, his face dark.

"I can't be wrong. It must be Huo Guang who stole the Blood-Sweating Horses. Even if he turned to ash, I would recognize him. Three thousand Blood-Sweating Horses!" a young officer said, his face full of anger.

"Hmph, daring to steal from me, Zhao Kuo? Today, I will take my fifty thousand troops and wipe out his Guard Battalion, and while I'm at it, I'll take care of that Yan Chuan as well!" Commander Zhao Kuo said with a vicious glint in his eyes.

"But, the Clan Head said we shouldn't...?" the young officer asked worriedly.

"I'll take responsibility for whatever happens. Just kill them all, don't let a single one survive. We'll just say it was bandits! Who would dare to snitch?" Zhao Kuo said coldly.

"Yes! The Commander is wise!" the young officer chimed in.

"Report!"

A scout rode up from the distance.

"What is it?" Zhao Kuo asked in a deep voice.

"Ten miles away, we have spotted three thousand cavalrymen charging toward us!" the scout reported immediately.

"Cavalry? Three thousand? It's Huo Guang! Hahaha, there's a road to heaven you won't take, but you force your way into hell? Form ranks! Prepare for battle!" Zhao Kuo's eyes widened.

"Roar!" the fifty thousand troops shouted in response.