My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

After leaving Du Tianfeng's command tent, Li Xuancang returned to his room.

This conversation with Du Tianfeng had a profound impact on him.

"I'm still not strong enough. If I had the power to suppress everything, I wouldn't need to fear anyone, and no rules would be rules."

Li Xuancang understood that, in the end, it all came down to his own lack of strength.

Li Xuancang's strength is improving by leaps and bounds, changing rapidly every day, but he is still not satisfied.

"It will be a year in just half a month."

Before we knew it, almost a year had passed since the power increase.

He has completely transformed from an ordinary person, and his current strength is 37 times that of when he first started.

He can easily lift five or six tons of weight, has a punching force of nearly eight tons, punch through a meter-thick reinforced concrete, tear apart a 10-centimeter-thick steel plate with his bare hands, and leap more than 8 meters in one leap—it's simply terrifying.

"With my strength, I should be able to rival someone in the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Realm."

Li Xuancang had a certain assessment of his own strength, believing it to be roughly equivalent to that of a mid-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

Of the hundreds of millions of living beings in Anzhou, only one in a thousand can become a cultivator, and the subsequent Bone Forging Realm and Blood Condensation Realm block ninety percent of cultivators.

Those at the Qi Condensation Realm are already among the top combatants in Anzhou, and those at the mid-stage of the Qi Condensation Realm are the strongest of the strong.

"That's not enough; I need more time."

The strength of the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Realm is far from enough for Li Xuancang. He needs to have at least the strength of the late-stage of the Qi Refining Realm to be fearless in the face of the upcoming turmoil.

For the next period of time, Li Xuancang lived a secluded life, focusing solely on training the army and rarely interacting with others.

The commotion he caused gradually subsided under Du Tianfeng's suppression.

Even though those generals harbored resentment, they dared not do anything to him.

Inside Anzhou City, the Pei residence of Anzhou Prefectural Governor presents a tranquil and dignified scene befitting a noble family.

Pei Hongwen held a high position and wielded great power as the Prefect of Anzhou.

They were in charge of the civil administration of the entire prefecture, and their family had been scholars and officials for generations, possessing profound cultural heritage. They were one of the top clans in Anzhou.

There has been a major unresolved matter in the government recently.

Pei Hongwen's eldest daughter, Pei Qingyuan, is seventeen years old. She is dignified, well-educated, gentle, and quiet, and is already of marriageable age.

Marriage of daughters from prominent families has always emphasized matching social status, promising future, and noble character; they should never be hastily married off to mediocre people.

In recent days, countless sons of noble families, scholars, and officials in the prefecture have asked matchmakers to try and marry into the Pei family, but Pei Hongwen and the elders of the family have all politely refused them.

Those scions of prominent families, whether they were frivolous and vain, mediocre in talent, shallow in foundation, or lacking in responsibility and courage, were all beneath the Pei family's notice.

On this day, the Pei family ancestral hall was opened to the public.

Pei Hongwen sat in the main seat, with several white-haired elders and clan elders standing on either side, all gathered together to discuss the marriage of his eldest daughter, Pei Qingyuan.

"Qingyuan is the only legitimate daughter of the Pei family in this generation. She has a noble status, and her marriage is related to the family's fortune for decades. It must not be taken lightly."

An elderly clan elder spoke in a deep voice, “Ordinary纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy and powerful families) and mediocre officials’ sons are not worthy of the direct line of my Pei family.”

The eldest daughter of a prominent family is never an individual; she represents the entire family. Her marriage is never her own choice, but a major family matter.

Everyone nodded in agreement, but after days of screening, no suitable candidate had been found.

Just as everyone was pondering and struggling with their dilemma, a clansman in charge bowed and spoke.

"Patriarch, elders. Now, chaos is approaching, vassal kings are rebelling, and evil spirits are rising everywhere. The world has changed drastically, and the old rules and regulations of the clan can no longer be upheld."

"In times of peace, scholars and gentry are chosen; in times of chaos, military generals are selected."

"Looking at the younger generation in Anzhou, Commander Li Xuancang has a bright future ahead of him, or perhaps he is a good match."

Upon hearing this, the ancestral hall fell silent instantly. Everyone's eyes flickered, and they all nodded in thought.

A moment later, someone else seconded the motion.

"That's right, this boy comes from a respectable family, is calm and composed, and is exceptionally brave."

"He held an important position at a young age, was brave and fierce, and was a true general who had fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood."

"Now that the world is about to fall into chaos, the power of civil officials is gradually waning. Only military generals who hold military power and can quell the chaos are the true foundation for their survival."

"..."

Everyone chimed in with their own words, each one hitting the nail on the head.

The situation is very different now; only strength can ensure survival in chaotic times.

Although the Pei family was a prestigious and scholarly family with students and former officials all over Anzhou.

However, the clan has been declining in recent years, and there are signs of a lack of successors. The disciples in the clan are neither good at literature nor martial arts, so they need to make plans as soon as possible.

Pei Hongwen listened quietly, a glint of light in his eyes, understanding dawning on him.

He held a high position in the state government and saw things more clearly than anyone else.

Li Xuancang has repeatedly made meritorious contributions and has won the favor of Du Tianfeng, who has been watching him silently for a long time.

Although his official position is not high at present, troubled times create heroes, and this young man is definitely not someone to be underestimated.

Pei Hongwen slowly raised his hand and said in a deep voice, "What you all say is absolutely right."

"My Pei family has been engaged in literature for generations, with a solid foundation. If we can form a marriage alliance with such a military general, one a scholar and the other a warrior, one in politics and the other in the military, we can protect each other, help each other in times of chaos, and prosper for generations."

Upon hearing this, all the clan elders stroked their beards and nodded in agreement, with no one objecting.