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

Inside the elegant and solemn study of the Marquis's mansion, the windows and doors were tightly closed, and the candlelight flickered dimly.

Marquis Anzhou sat solemnly in his grand chair, dressed in a brocade robe.

His usual composed, dignified, and strategic demeanor had vanished, replaced by a somber expression, his eyes swirling with intense fear and gloom.

The border victory reports displayed on the table were glaringly obvious.

Each and every one of the above events is nothing short of a miracle.

Previously, he had never taken Li Xuancang seriously.

In Lin Zhenyue's eyes, Li Xuancang was nothing more than a peasant with no connections.

Despite his minor military achievements and admirable character, he ultimately came from humble origins.

Without a solid foundation to rely on, no matter how much one struggles, one is ultimately just a lowly martial artist who cannot stir up any great waves.

When Lin Jingyan snatched the engagement, he tacitly condoned it.

He felt that he had suffered such humiliation, which would surely break his spirit and make it difficult for him to rise again. He would live his whole life in the shadow of the Marquis's mansion and Lin Jingyan.

But in a short time, things have changed.

The boy he regarded as an ant rose against the odds with his iron fists and iron will, becoming a god in one battle and becoming famous throughout Anzhou.

Today, Li Xuancang enjoys unparalleled prestige, enjoys the loyalty of his troops, and is revered by all.

The safety of the city rests on his shoulders, and the border defenses are built by his life.

This prestige and combat power subtly overshadowed the power and influence accumulated by the Marquis of Anzhou over generations.

Lin Zhenyue clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, and a strong sense of crisis, unlike anything he had ever felt before, welled up in his heart.

Li Xuancang's growth rate was terrifying; his temperament, combat strength, courage, and decisiveness were all top-notch.

Today he can single-handedly drive back tens of thousands of barbarians, and tomorrow he may hold a large army, guard a region, and become a high-ranking official in the court.

Will Li Xuancang forget the humiliation of being forced into marriage by then?

"A dragon that has been lying in wait in the sea has finally come into its own..."

Marquis Anzhou muttered to himself, his voice low and cold, his eyes filled with growing apprehension.

Upon hearing the news of the great victory, the Li family—Li's father, Li's mother, Li Xiu, and Li Ling'er—showed no jubilation, not even a hint of joy.

The neighbors spread the news excitedly, and cheers resounded throughout the neighborhood. Everyone praised the Li family for producing an extraordinary young hero.

But the atmosphere in the main room of the courtyard was so quiet it was heartbreaking.

Li's mother sat upright in the chair, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her eyes red and brimming with tears, her face devoid of any smile, only filled with heartache and worry.

What others saw was the glorious achievement of repelling ten thousand troops in one battle, the unparalleled glory of a young man becoming a god, and the unparalleled merit of protecting the city and its people.

Only they saw the dangers of the battlefield.

Others only knew that Li Xuancang had made great military achievements and was renowned far and wide.

But in the eyes of Li's father and mother, Li Xuancang was just a child.

Li's mother's voice choked with sobs, and tears silently streamed down her cheeks.

"May God bless my son and let him return home safely soon."

People all envy Li Xuancang's meteoric rise and great achievements.

Li's parents only wished for his life to be peaceful and for him to return home soon.

Wealth, fame, and glory are all fleeting to them.

More than eternal glory, what they wanted was a child who was safe and sound, and lived a long and peaceful life.

The crescent moon shines over the whole country, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.

The people of Anzhou cheered and celebrated wildly.

In Xuanyang City, every household was dressed in mourning clothes, immersed in endless grief.

Countless able-bodied men who helped defend the city were killed or wounded, and cries of grief were incessant.

Hearing the cries of every household, Li Xuancang felt a mix of emotions.

He had seen countless deaths and comedies, yet he could never be heartless and indifferent.

The dead are gone, the living are like this.

Half a month passed quickly, and the barbarians withdrew from the human territory, completely resolving the crisis in Xuanyang County.

Li Xuancang received a military order from Anzhou City, instructing him to return to Anzhou City immediately.

Before his departure, Zhou Xingzhan, Zhao Jianhai, and all the officials of the prefecture came to see him off.

"We've seen you off for a thousand miles, but we must part ways eventually. Please stay a while."

The group escorted Li Xuancang and his companions out of the city, only stopping at Li Xuancang's request.

"Take care, Lord Li."

"I wish Lord Li a smooth military campaign and great success in his campaigns."

"Lord Li's great kindness will be etched in the hearts of the people of Xuanyang County."

"..."

Li Xuancang and Zhou Xingzhan exchanged a knowing glance, their unspoken understanding unspoken.

Li Xuancang's return to Anzhou so soon indicates he intends to take another step forward.

The Zhou family had received advance notice of their efforts during this period.

There were over a thousand people when they came, but only about two hundred returned.

The carriage was packed full of the corpses of demonic beasts.

Besides the corpses of the Azure Wolf Demon and the Snake Demon, there were also many corpses of Blood Condensation Realm demons, which were priceless.

The news of Li Xuancang's return to the city was not publicized. It was only when a group of several hundred people appeared outside Anzhou City that it caused countless people to exclaim in surprise.

"It's Lord Li! Lord Li has returned in triumph!"

"Make way so our heroes can pass."

"Is he Lord Li Xuancang, who defeated the barbarians?"

"..."

The people stopped to watch and lined the streets to welcome him, all focusing their attention on Li Xuancang, wanting to remember his appearance.

Despite being the center of attention, Li Xuancang remained calm and composed, smoothly entering the city and quickly returning to his military camp.

"You all go and rest! Take the monster meat with you."

Li Xuancang dismissed his followers and had already prepared the monster meat for them.

The meat from these demonic beasts was enough for them to break through their cultivation levels, and they were all deeply grateful to Li Xuancang.

"You stay here and wait, I'm going to see Lord Du."

Li Xuancang told Yang Tiangang to stay behind and guard the monster's corpse, while he went alone to meet Du Tianfeng.

After Li Xuancang left, the soldiers in the camp quickly gathered around to watch.

"Good heavens, these are all demonic beasts at the Blood Condensation Realm. Even though they have been dead for a long time, the demonic aura they exude is chilling."

"Are those two the corpses of powerful demons at the Qi Refining Realm? I wish I could get some of their flesh and blood."

"These monsters are full of treasures; let's find a way to get a share."

"..."

Everyone stared eagerly at the monster corpse on the vehicle, wishing they could immediately take it for themselves.

Despite the greedy gazes of the crowd, Yang Tiangang stood tall and remained unmoved.

Even though many people's cultivation levels far surpassed his, he was not afraid at all, simply because these were Li Xuancang's spoils of war, and no one dared to steal them.