By the third watch, Yuan Tiangang personally led two hundred thousand troops to the encampment at the Blackwater Plains. When he heard that Yan Chuchu, that reckless girl, had rushed to the Tianfeng Battalion, he grew frantic. He gathered his forces in haste and sped toward the plains. The demon army, however, had already retreated. His reinforcements arrived too late to be of any use. The Tianfeng Battalion had fought a bloody battle with no support. Now that it was over, Yuan Tiangang finally showed up. The soldiers felt no gratitude, many even carried resentment for his failure to send help when it mattered. In truth, Yuan Tiangang had planned to delay reinforcements at first. The empire was suffering defeats across many fronts, and compared to those urgent battlegrounds, Blackwater Plains seemed less important. Later, when he wished to send troops, he found none left to spare. He had expected the Tianfeng Battalion to be wiped out. To his surprise, though they had suffered terrible losses in both strength and spirit, they had held their ground. This newly formed army had endured a trial of cruelty beyond imagination. Yuan Tiangang had not foreseen such an outcome. Check latest chapters at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥 What kind of commander could hold his men together through five days and nights of impossible struggle? The question lingered in Yuan Tiangang's mind. Inside the command tent, he waited for a full hour before Ling Feng finally arrived. The commander of the Tianfeng Battalion entered with his two vice-generals, Li Bufan and Jiang Xiaofan, along with Jingwang Mo Feng. As commander-in-chief of the Three Armies, Yuan Tiangang had been forced to wait in his own tent for an hour. Anger stirred in his heart, yet he had no choice but to keep it contained. "Jingwang! General Ling!" When they entered, Yuan Tiangang hurried forward to greet them. At Tianmang Fortress, he was powerful enough to act like a tyrant, yet rank still drew a line between ruler and servant. Mo Feng was a prince of the imperial clan, while Yuan Tiangang was only a retainer of the Mo household. Mo Feng gave him a cold glance and said nothing. Yuan Tiangang's expression stiffened. By failing to send reinforcements in time, he had clearly offended Jingwang. "Commander-in-chief, I kept you waiting!" Ling Feng offered a fist-and-palm salute. His voice was calm. "Many of my brothers were badly wounded. Commander Huo Yuanyi was poisoned by demonic venom. I was busy treating them, which delayed me." "No matter, no matter." Yuan Tiangang forced a smile. "General Ling, your Tianfeng Battalion held the Blackwater Plains and earned great merit. When we return, I will see that you are rewarded properly." Ling Feng sneered inwardly. The credit he had earned went far beyond Yuan Tiangang's imagination. Without his infiltration of the Canglong Sanctum, where he exposed the Silver Wolf Demon Emperor, the demon army would never have withdrawn. Yet rewards did not concern him. What mattered was that Mo Feng had now established his own prestige. For Ling Feng, it was time to laeve Tianmang Fortress. His path did not lie in the army. His journey was toward the peak of martial cultivation! "Rewards are fitting," Mo Feng said sharply. "But Yuan Tiangang, I want you to give our fallen brothers a proper burial and take care of their families. Every one of them was a hero!" He glared at Yuan Tiangang, then strode to the chief seat. A faint aura of imperial authority had begun to awaken within him. From that moment, he was no longer the timid Ninth Prince. He had become Jingwang, reborn! "Your servant obeys the will of Jingwang!" Yuan Tiangang studied him closely. The young prince had grown. He was now worthy of recognition and support. Although Yuan Tiangang commanded vast armies, he had no thoughts of treason against the imperial clan. Since Mo Feng was no longer a weak and fearful prince, he had become someone Yuan Tiangang could uphold. This was most likely what the Tianbai King had intended all along. Yuan Tiangang narrowed his eyes. Tianbai King had sent Jingwang to the Southern Army to temper him. Judging from the prince's transformation, the results had surpassed all expectation. He then left one hundred thousand troops stationed at the Blackwater Plains. They were tasked both to rebuild the Tianfeng Battalion and to guard against another attack from the demon coalition. With that settled, he departed in the middle of the night. As commander-in-chief of Tianmang Fortress, he could not remain away for long, especially at such a critical time. Only after Yuan Tiangang had left did Mo Feng curse under his breath, anger darkening his face. "Enough. That man will not dare slight you again. You are a true Jingwang now!" Ling Feng patted Mo Feng on the shoulder. From Yuan Tiangang's attitude, it was clear he had already submitted. This was the time to win him over, not quarrel over past failings. Mo Feng understood this as well. Though he had been angry, he had left Yuan Tiangang some face earlier. "This is all thanks to you, Brother Feng." Mo Feng looked at Ling Feng with gratitude. To him, Ling Feng was like a guiding lantern. "No. Your own change is what truly mattered." Ling Feng smiled faintly. During his absence from the fortress, he had already learned all that had happened. Mo Feng had even gone to the frontlines himself. The young prince had at last shown courage and resolve. That gave Ling Feng peace of mind. Even if he left, Mo Feng would be able to stand on his own. Elsewhere, Yuan Tiangang rode a demonic horse and led one hundred thousand men back to Tianmang Fortress. His thoughts turned constantly. He had not expected Ling Feng to influence Jingwang so deeply. But he was growing old. It was time to loosen his grip on power. At that moment, the cry of a beast rang from behind. Sun Boce, the adviser, came riding swiftly on an earth dragon. A young girl lay tied across its back with ropes. The girl was none other than Yan Chuchu. Her mouth was gagged, and she struggled fiercely. "Commander-in-chief, I brought Miss Chuchu for you," Sun Boce said with a wry smile. She had been impossibly slippery, and her tongue never ceased cursing. To keep his own reputation intact, he had been forced to bind her . "Keep her tied! You crazy girl!" Yuan Tiangang saw her still full of vigor, which eased his concern. Yet he still shot her a fierce glare. The girl shrank her neck and quieted down a little. "Do you have any idea how dangerous the battlefield is? I'm keeping you tied up for three days. Maybe then you'll learn your lesson." With that, Yuan Tiangang ignored her struggles, spurred his horse, and raced back toward Tianmang Fortress.