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

After retreating, Huyan Tuo was still shaken and immediately relayed the situation back to the grassland army.

On the border, thousands of cavalrymen from the grasslands gathered.

Inside the main tent, people from the Golden Eagle Royal Court and various tribes gathered together.

Hu Yanjue, a general of the Golden Eagle Royal Court, said, "Li Xuancang has forbidden us from entering Ganquan County. It seems he is wary of us."

They also planned to use the pretext of welcoming the princess to enter Ganquan County and secretly mobilize troops.

"Li Xuancang is an obstacle to our entry into the Great Yan Dynasty; he must die."

A tribal chief gritted his teeth, wishing he could immediately grind Li Xuancang to dust.

"Since we cannot enter Ganquan County, let's lay a trap and wait for Li Xuancang to come. Once we kill him, we will immediately send troops to Liangzhou and sweep away the Great Yan."

The grassland people had long planned ahead; they did not need peace with the Great Yan.

Agreeing to the marriage alliance was merely a pretense to appease the Great Yan and to find an opportunity.

Li Xuancang will escort Princess Zhaoyang into the grasslands, and they will make sure he never returns.

Without Li Xuancang as their obstacle, they could advance unimpeded and fight their way to the capital of the Great Yan Dynasty.

They were already planning to act when the Great Yan sent someone to propose a marriage alliance.

However, it takes time to mobilize manpower, and Li Xuancang's speed in suppressing the rebellion was too fast, which is why they did not have the opportunity to launch an invasion.

"Don't worry, the royal court's experts are already on their way. Li Xuancang can't escape."

Hu Yanjue's eyes were sinister; they were determined to get Li Xuancang.

The marriage procession marched on in a grand procession and soon entered the territory of Liangzhou.

"Where has Chunyan gone?"

Inside the carriage, Princess Zhaoyang asked softly.

"Princess, we have arrived in Liangzhou territory."

"That's what my personal maidservant replied."

Princess Zhaoyang lifted the curtain and looked outside.

The wind was biting cold, the land was barren, and as far as the eye could see, everything was covered in yellow earth.

Upon seeing this, Princess Zhaoyang looked aggrieved, and tears welled up in her eyes.

If Liangzhou is already so desolate, what must the grasslands be like further away?

Chunyan also looked sad, filled with resentment yet helpless.

She was to accompany Princess Zhaoyang to the grasslands, her fate intertwined with Princess Zhaoyang's.

The thought of the barbarity of the grassland people made her heart pound.

Seeing Princess Zhaoyang sobbing, Chunyan suppressed her emotions and comforted her, "Princess, once we enter Liangzhou, we will soon reach Ganquan County, where you will be able to see Commander Li."

Chunyan knew that Princess Zhaoyang admired Li Xuancang the most, so she took the initiative to mention Li Xuancang in the hope that it would cheer her up.

"Yes, we'll be seeing Lord Li soon."

Zhaoyang stopped crying, and Chunyan wiped away her tears.

Li Xuancang's deeds had long been known throughout the Great Yan region, and many people regarded him as a role model.

Some merchants even created storybooks about Li Xuancang and spread them widely.

Princess Zhaoyang had also heard of Li Xuancang's deeds and greatly admired him, having long wanted to meet this young hero.

"Watch out, there are enemies."

Suddenly, the Grand Eunuch Wang Qi let out a sharp shriek, and the Imperial Guards and a group of strongmen immediately surrounded Princess Zhaoyang's carriage.

"Who goes there? How dare you stop the princess's carriage?"

Wang Qi questioned him sternly, but no one answered.

"kill!"

More than fifty people quickly rushed out, all of them at least at the Blood Condensation Realm, and headed straight for Princess Zhaoyang's carriage.

"presumptuous."

Wang Qi roared and charged forward.

"Protect the princess."

The Imperial Guard immediately protected the carriage and prevented anyone from approaching.

"Prepare the crossbows!"

A captain of the Imperial Guards commanded the battle, and thousands of Imperial Guards raised their crossbows and loaded them with bolts.

"Whoosh, whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

A thousand arrows were fired simultaneously, their piercing sound echoing through the air, as they rained down upon the assassins.

Before the first volley of arrows had even fallen, the second volley, the third volley... followed closely behind.

"It's a crossbow that breaks through defenses, everyone be careful."

Upon seeing this, everyone's expression changed drastically, and they hurriedly hid.

The Qi-Breaking Crossbow is a powerful weapon of the Great Yan Dynasty, capable of breaking even the Qi of those at the Qi Realm. Only the Imperial Guards possess one.

A thousand crossbows fired simultaneously, and even those in the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm had to avoid their sharp edge and dare not confront them head-on.

"puff!"

"what!"

"laugh!"

"..."

Even though everyone was quite skilled, they still couldn't avoid all the crossbow bolts, and many were hit by them.

"Let's fight! Charge in and take the princess away!"

The crowd's eyes hardened, and they gradually went mad, determined to forcibly take Princess Zhaoyang away despite the arrows.

"Bang!"

Just then, a dazzling firework appeared in the sky, visible to everyone.

"This is a signal to retreat. Everyone, retreat quickly."

Upon seeing the dazzling fireworks in the sky, everyone immediately retreated without hesitation.

"Don't leave."

Wang Qi and some powerful figures rushed out to stop everyone from leaving.

Seeing this, everyone took out two fist-sized, black beads from their pockets and threw them all out.

"Bang, rumble..."

The bead exploded instantly after being thrown, and the powerful blast forced Wang Qi and the others back.

Flames erupted and smoke billowed, blocking everyone's pursuit.

When the smoke and dust cleared, everyone had vanished without a trace.

"Damn it, it's Thunderclap from the Thunderbolt Hall!"

Wang Qi's face was grim, but he did not choose to pursue, fearing that the enemy was using a diversionary tactic.

"Hurry up and get going."

Fearing further attacks after this incident, he ordered the speed to be increased.

Once they reach Ganquan County, with Li Xuancang in charge, they will be safe.

The robbers only dared to stop after they escaped to a safe place, where two people were already waiting for them.

One of them was King Kang, and the other was shrouded in black robes and wore a hood to hide himself.

"Your Highness, why are we suddenly being ordered to retreat?"

The crowd didn't understand why they would give up halfway through after already taking action.

King Kang did not speak, but the man in black robes beside him explained, "Gentlemen, there are powerful figures hidden in the marriage alliance. We are not strong enough to take the princess away."

The voice of the man in black robes belonged to a woman, and everyone looked at the King of Kang with strange expressions.

King Kang said, "Rest assured, everyone. This is the person I trust most. Her words are never false."

Upon hearing this, everyone lowered their guard.

"Your Highness, the plan has failed. The marriage procession will surely be on guard. What should we do next?"

This incident, by alerting the enemy, will undoubtedly make the marriage alliance more cautious.

Even if they try again, their chances of success are slim.

Moreover, according to the woman in black robes, there were powerful figures in the marriage procession, so they had no hope of taking the princess away.

Time was running out for them. If the group entered Ganquan County and Li Xuancang personally took charge, they would have even less hope.

King Kang did not answer, but looked at the man in black robes.

"We can't take action within the Great Yan territory, but we can abduct the princess from the grasslands."

The man in black robes planned to strike unexpectedly on the grassland.

Everyone's eyes lit up; this was indeed a good idea.

The grassland people are not as cautious as the marriage alliance procession; they have a great chance.