On her way to the spirit stone mine, the princess rode a white horse adorned in the royal family's colors. Beside her was Jun Mo Xie's uncle, no longer hiding his physical prowess but reveling in displaying his strength before the soldiers and guards. Their every step was followed by respectful and awed gazes, as if witnessing the birth of a new legend.
When they arrived at the mine, operations were in full swing. Hundreds of soldiers and former vagrants, under the command of supervisors who received direct orders from Jun, worked tirelessly day and night to extract the stones from the heart of the black mountains. The air was filled with the sound of pickaxes and hammers, charged with an intense spiritual energy. Carts laden with glowing stones were being hauled down winding trails, while newly erected tents offered shade and water to the laborers. The entire valley buzzed with determination and transformation.
The princess approached one of the commanders and asked, "What is the energy level of the extracted stones?"
The commander replied, "The stones from the first layer are infused with enough energy to strengthen a cultivator from stage two to four. But we've detected signs of a deeper vein containing rare blue stones, possibly capable of pushing cultivation beyond level seven."
The princess and the uncle exchanged glances, and he said, "If we secure enough of those stones, we can turn Jun's army into a force beyond imagination."
She nodded, her gaze lingering on the bustling miners. "And perhaps we could extend the benefit to the empire itself... if the court remains favorable."
Elsewhere on the map, Li Lian led a small elite squad toward the flank of the Shen family's forces. Wearing a light helmet and a gray armor that blended with the rocky terrain, she looked both graceful and intimidating. Behind her, a hundred soldiers trained in forest warfare followed in deadly silence, each of them carrying specially forged short spears and curved daggers designed for swift ambushes.
She pointed to a rocky ridge. "Within thirty minutes, you'll be in your sniping positions. Do not fire until I give the signal. The enemy has no idea we're here—this is our golden opportunity."
Her voice held quiet confidence. These weren't merely orders—they were the chords of a deadly melody she was about to play. Each man around her had sworn loyalty to Jun, and many owed him their lives. They would fight not just for victory, but for honor, redemption, and a future he promised.
At the main camp, Jun Mo Xie stood at the frontlines, watching the troops execute his commands with precision. His heart was heavy, but he showed no sign of it. Battle strategies spun through his mind like a whirlwind, calculating betrayals, retreats, and surprises, always ready with a counter. A massive war table had been constructed at the center of the camp, where miniature tokens representing enemy and allied forces were moved constantly.
Li Lin approached and whispered, "We're ready. If the enemy moves, we'll burn their right flank."
Without looking at her, Jun replied, "We're not just burning them... we're redrawing the map."
Just before sunset, the attack began.
Trumpets from the Shen family blared from the hills, followed by the war cries of their warriors. They thought the Jun family would be caught off guard—but they had no idea they were walking into a meticulously laid trap.
From the rear, Li Lian's unit stormed down like a torrent, severing supply lines and encircling the backline. From the front, the camp troops released a hail of arrows, and amidst the chaos, Jun Mo Xie led a strike team wielding newly crafted spirit weapons powered by freshly mined stones. The terrain had been booby-trapped earlier with pits and magic nets, which now activated to slow the enemy's retreat.
His black sword, inscribed with the emblem of the "Seventh Shadow," sliced through the air with ferocity. Every movement brought down an enemy; every strike pierced a heart. Even the enemy commanders shuddered upon seeing him on the battlefield.
At the crucial moment, Li Lian fired a signal flare, followed by a massive explosion from Mist Valley. It was the spirit bomb Jun had prepared in secret, made from discarded mid-grade stones. The sound of it echoed through the hills like divine thunder.
The blast tore through the earth and decimated half of the enemy force in an instant. Shockwaves knocked out the rest, giving Jun's forces the upper hand to advance rapidly and sweep the field.
By nightfall, fires blazed across the battlefield, swords and blood illuminating the skies. The battle had ended—or rather, one stage of it had. The stench of death was thick, but hope simmered beneath it like a glowing ember.
Inside a medical tent, Jun Mo Xie cleaned his minor wounds, surrounded by his three female companions. Despite the fatigue etched on his face, his eyes burned with quiet determination.
The princess pressed a wet cloth to his shoulder. "Was it necessary to lead personally? You could've died."
He looked at her, calm and defiant. "If I weren't there, they wouldn't believe in what we fight for."
Li Lian smirked. "And what do we fight for?"
He answered softly, gazing at the map of the future, "To break chains... and build a new world where power doesn't dictate fate."
"You've already changed the battlefield," said the third companion, her voice gentle, "But can you change the world beyond it?"
He remained silent, letting her question linger like incense smoke.
The next day, Jun's inner council gathered in the war chamber. Long parchment scrolls detailed every unit's status, while crystal shards displayed the latest readings from spirit veins and energy wells.
His grandfather had returned in good health, and his uncle sat beside him, exuding strength. Jun stood before them, presenting the updated map for their territorial expansion and a list of future targets.
"We'll move toward the Dead Sun Valley. Another spirit vein lies hidden there, largely untapped. Most locals are either vagrants or under gang control. We'll offer protection in exchange for loyalty."
A strategist raised a concern. "Won't this drain more resources? Even with our recent gains, we're stretched thin."
Jun smiled. "Not if we use our reformed vagrants as local enforcers. We'll grant them authority and manage the resources from behind the scenes. The enemy will think it's just a lucky group of poor men."
His grandfather chuckled. "You truly are my grandson. The architect of our family's new glory."
Later that evening, Jun stood atop a tower, gazing at the stars. Li Lian quietly joined him.
"When I first met you," she said, "I didn't expect to stand here respecting you. I thought you were just a soft noble with no ambition."
He laughed. "And I thought you were just a loyal family pawn. Seems we both were wrong."
She stepped closer and whispered, "Don't let us down—the one we chose to lead us."
He didn't reply. Instead, he looked out toward the horizon. In the distance, fires burned anew. Beneath those flames, a new emp
ire stirred.
The oaths of war had not ended... they had only just begun.