After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

After the victory celebration banquet.

Tu Shan Jing thought he would be busy with post-war affairs for a while, but on the first afternoon, Jiang Yan handed over the reorganized city defense deployment.

The next day, the reorganization plan for the surrendered troops and the division of the martial law zone within the city were all clarified.

On the third day, even the timetable for the reopening of each neighborhood and market and the plan for the allocation of supplies were drawn up. Every street and alley was reorganized with signs, and even the patrol and shift change times were written down clearly.

Tu Shan Jing sat behind his desk, flipped through the stacks of densely written official documents, and remained silent for a long while.

"You know about this too?"

Jiang Yan smiled and said, "I read a lot of books."

Tu Shan Jing looked at him but didn't ask any further questions.

But the emotions he felt inside were far greater than what he showed on his face.

At fifteen, he was more ruthless in battle than him, and more meticulous in his thinking than him in managing the city.

He had served in the military for many years and had seen many young geniuses, but none of them had ever been able to do things so comprehensively.

I put down the official documents, leaned back in my chair, and sighed inwardly for what felt like the umpteenth time that there really are geniuses.

……

In his spare time from military duties, Jiang Yan still takes Jian Li to practice swordsmanship every morning.

That day, he was sitting in the courtyard of the side hall, watching Jian Li practice swordsmanship.

The wooden sword twirled in her hand, its tip drawing a clean, crisp arc before coming to a steady stop in mid-air.

The movements are much smoother than when I first started, and I have a solid foundation in the basics.

"Master, I'd like to try this move." Jian Li sheathed her sword, stood still, and took out a yellowed booklet from her bosom, flipping to a page and showing it to him.

Jiang Yan was puzzled, but after taking it and glancing at it, his expression slowly changed.

He closed the booklet, the cover bearing the four characters "Human Emperor's Sword Manual".

I flipped through a few more pages, and each page showed a deeper sword technique than the previous one, with the sword intent progressing layer by layer, from Foundation Establishment to Divine Transformation, it was unbelievably complete.

He looked up, his voice as steady as possible: "Who gave you this?"

"Sister Tianxin," Jianli pointed to Ao Tianxin, who was drinking on the side, "She said my swordsmanship was too bad and didn't match my talent, so she gave me this. She also said something about how... Master's sword techniques were too shabby."

Jiang Yan turned to look at Ao Tianxin.

Ao Tianxin held her wine glass, her expression nonchalant: "What are you looking at? It's really shabby."

Jiang Yan silently turned back.

He had heard of the Human Emperor Sword Technique in the Vast Domain. It was the inheritance of an ancient sword cultivator, and its grade far surpassed that of the Two Elements Dividing Light Sword.

They just gave this away so casually?

Jian Li looked up and asked him if this was better than her master's swordsmanship.

Jiang Yan returned the booklet to her and lightly flicked her forehead: "It's much better than Master's. Practice hard."

Jian Li took the booklet and hugged it to her chest, calling out crisply to the side, "Thank you, Sister Tianxin!" Ao Tianxin's lips curved slightly in response.

Jiang Yan, watching from the side, couldn't help but sigh, "This is probably the benefit of being sweet-talking."

Soon, the imperial edict from the capital arrived.

The Void Refining Elder brought it directly by flying, much faster than the usual military reports.

Jiang Yan took the imperial edict and unfolded it; Tu Shanlie's handwriting was as vigorous and powerful as ever.

The edict was very clear: Tu Shanlie was extremely satisfied with the great victory at Shuangcheng and praised Jiang Yan highly.

The Northern Expeditionary Army was expanded from 10,000 to 50,000, and its pay doubled. A follow-up note added, "After this battle, there will be another surprise."

At the same time, it was made clear that the army could continue its attack, vowing to deal a heavy blow to the Tianlang Dynasty, and that they could speak frankly about any needs they had.

Tu Shan Jing stood to the side, and after listening to the wording of the imperial edict, he found that even he, who was usually calm and composed, was feeling a surge of passion.

No military commander doesn't want to achieve great things, but for many years the situation in the North has been passive. Now, for the first time, the initiative is in their own hands.

Moreover, His Majesty has said that we should feel free to ask for anything we need.

He took a deep breath to suppress his surging emotions, turned to Jiang Yan and said, "Looks like we're going to have a good fight this time."

Half a month later, the army regrouped and set off again.

The 50,000-strong Northern Expeditionary Army was already a complete legion capable of independently undertaking an entire offensive.

Therefore, Jiang Yan and Tu Shan Jing split their forces into two routes. Tu Shan Jing led the main force to advance from the front, while Jiang Yan led the Northern Expeditionary Army to attack from the east. The two routes supported each other.

A month later, Jiang Yan captured another city.

Two months later, Jiang Yan pressed on to Blood Flag City, the largest border city in the eastern part of the Tianlang Dynasty.

Blood Flag City is also the easternmost city of the Sirius Dynasty. Backed by the East Sea, it has high walls and thick walls, and a garrison of over 80,000.

Jiang Yan must remove this thorn in his side before he can confidently advance into the heart of Tianlang.

Otherwise, we must always be on guard against attacks from behind.

The general guarding Blood Banner City is Yelü Ming, a famous general of the Heavenly Wolf Realm, who is in the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm.

The siege lasted for nearly five days.

On the fifth day at dusk, Jiang Yan broke through to the top of the battle line after killing two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators amidst a vast army.

When the Haoran Nourishing Qi Technique is activated to its fullest extent, the Qi from all directions flows into the body like rivers flowing into the sea.

Early stage of Nascent Soul.

Yelü Ming stood atop the city wall, his pupils suddenly contracting.

He had fought on the battlefield for decades and had rarely encountered such a breakthrough.

Tianlang's Nascent Soul and Void Refinement stage was restrained by Tushan's retainers and Lu Zhanshuang, and at the same time, he was wary of Ao Tianxin, so he dared not make a move against Jiang Yan alone.

They could only watch as Jiang Yan stormed onto the city wall, his twin swords clashing as he unleashed his power. The Yin-Yang Dividing Light Sword Technique, fueled by the spiritual energy of a Nascent Soul cultivator, blazed with increased sharpness.

Yelü Ming only lasted for less than forty rounds before his breastplate was pierced by a sword.

With the death of its commander, the Blood Flag City defense line collapsed completely, the city gates were blasted open, and the Northern Expeditionary Army poured into the city.

Blood Flag City falls.

……

When the news of the victory in Blood Flag City reached the capital, Tu Shanlie stood up from his throne and said "Good" three times.

He immediately issued an edict: "Give Blood Flag City and the surrounding three hundred li of land to Jiang Yan as his private hereditary fief. Other rewards will be discussed separately after the war is over."

On the day the imperial edict was delivered to Blood Flag City, Jiang Yan stood on the city wall, looking down at the land blackened by the flames of war, lost in thought.

Blood Flag City is backed by the East Sea, which is considered half of its territory.

Moreover, this city is strategically located, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, a rare and valuable place.

The mission of the Book of Myriad Realms requires a territory where humans can settle permanently and be self-sufficient, and this city is just right to serve as a core stronghold.

After a series of bloody battles, the Northern Expeditionary Army was quite exhausted. Although their morale was high, their fighting strength was waning.

After discussing with Tu Shan Jing, Jiang Yan decided to temporarily suspend the offensive and rest on the spot for a period of time until the soldiers were fully recovered before planning the next step of the campaign.

……

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. During this period of recuperation, Blood Flag City had been completely transformed under Jiang Yan's rule.

He renamed the city "Chang'an" and erected a stone tablet at the city gate, personally inscribing the four characters "Changzhi Jiu'an" (meaning "long-lasting peace and stability").

The inscription is written in regular script, with neat strokes that penetrate deep into the stone. Passing civilians and soldiers would stop to look at it for a while.

At the same time, Chang'an City began to recruit large numbers of humans.

As the news spread, the displaced humans within Tushan and even Tianlang began to flock to this new city on the coast of the East Sea.

Jian Li has changed a lot in the past six months.

The cultivation speed of the Innate Sword Body is terrifying. In addition, Ao Tianxin would stuff her with all kinds of rare and precious materials every now and then. In just half a year, she reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.

The little girl can now practice the entire Human Emperor Sword Technique independently, and the sword aura emanating from her body is becoming increasingly clear when she wields the sword.

……

After resting and recuperating, Jiang Yan set off again.

Three months later, Jiang Yan led the Northern Expeditionary Army to capture two small cities and one medium-sized city in Tianlang.

The Sirius Dynasty is in complete chaos.

Duan Linyuan deployed all available troops to the front lines, but Tu Shan Jing was pressing too hard on the front, and the main force of Tianlang dared not spare any troops to deal with Jiang Yan.

However, the result of not dividing the troops was that Jiang Yan was able to move freely on the eastern front.

The capital of Sirius, the secret palace was dimly lit by candlelight.

Duan Linyuan sat on the throne, clutching Jiang Yan's portrait in his hand, his knuckles turning white.

This young human from the Tushan Dynasty transformed from a greenhorn on the training ground into the most troublesome opponent of the entire Tianlang in just two years.

What bothered him even more was Ao Tianxin.

The Dragon Court Lord, who was originally her most important trump card, is now on the opposite side, although she only guards Jiang Yan and does not participate in other battles.

But the difference isn't that big, because Jiang Yan is the toughest nut to crack.

……

In the capital of Tushan, Ruoshui stood on the palace wall, clutching a letter sent from the front lines.

The letter was short, and Jiang Yan's handwriting was as concise as ever: All is well, don't worry.

She folded the letter and put it in her sleeve, gazing at the northern horizon, her fox ears swaying gently in the wind, and a slight smile playing on her lips.