Han Wang followed closely, swallowing the oath pill.

Having once led the Yang Family, Yang Guanfeng knew such rituals well.

The two men had fought life-and-death battles for the dynasty across ten years, earning dozens of military merits – their loyalty needed no questioning. Yet those in power always demanded visible proof.

When the oath concluded, the officials nodded approvingly. Guo Jiming then revealed their mission: to guard a dynasty princess sent for frontline experience.

The Tiger-Chasing Dynasty rose through warfare, its royal family valuing martial prowess. Since the nation’s founding, the National Master decreed all royals must undergo battlefield trials before handling state affairs.

Though Yang Guanfeng had heard of this tradition during his decade at the border, royal heirs always trained at the northern front bordering Tianyou Dynasty. While northern skirmishes occurred frequently, they paled compared to the eastern region’s current conflicts. Royal elders weren’t fools – training shouldn’t risk true bloodline heirs.

Yang Guanfeng’s thoughts churned. For ten years, the eastern border maintained defensive postures with only elite strike teams. Sending a princess here hinted at strategic changes brewing in higher circles. Though lacking Yang Lingqing’s information network, he sensed deeper currents.

After Guo Jiming detailed guard duties, Yang Guanfeng claimed the sealed order. “Yang Guanfeng accepts! Shall protect Her Highness with my life!”

He knew this assignment carried hidden advantages. Royalty never traveled without Life-saving Methods and hidden powerful cultivators. He and Han Wang merely served as visible escorts to help the princess adapt and earn merits. When true danger struck, others would intervene. Ultimately, the princess would return victorious regardless.

They waited through the day in the Immortal Patrol Office’s guest room, motionless and silent, unsettling the attendants. At midnight, agents led them underground where they finally met their charge.

“I am Yingxuan,” said the princess, bowing. “Honored to meet my seniors.”

Upon seeing the two individuals, she stood and bowed.

“I’m Yang Guanfeng, and this is Han Wang.”

Yang Guanfeng observed the dynasty princess calling herself Yingxuan.

She wore identical black-red military attire, her jet-black hair piled high.

Petite and plain-faced, she appeared seventeen or eighteen – though Yang suspected some undisguise technique at work.

The trio sat in the windowless chamber. Though empty, Yang sensed countless unseen eyes watching.

“Yang Guanfeng. Eighth-level Gathering Qi. Force Technique practitioner.”

“Han Wang. Fourth-level Gathering Qi. Shadow Wind Leg.”

Yingxuan dispelled her concealment technique and straightened. “Yingxuan. Fifth-level Gathering Qi. Metal-element offensive techniques.”

She withheld her technique’s name due to royal secrecy, which Yang accepted with a nod. His gaze lingered on her hairstyle.

“Senior Guanfeng? An issue?”

“That bun. Cut it off.”

“Done!”

_Swish_

She plucked her hairpin and severed her locks with golden light.

“Other adjustments, Senior?”

“None. We’ll talk while moving. Departure time?”

“Now.”

Without further words, the trio departed for the frontlines under night’s cover.

Above Wang Hai City, two figures materialized.

“The eastern region’s chaos surpasses the Northern Direction’s, especially with sects involved,” said blue-robed City Lord Du Yuan – a mid-stage Spirit Communication cultivator. The dynasty assigned him to guard this border city, proving his immense power.

Beside him stood a gray-robed man at late-stage Condensing Essence. “No mistakes, Lord. All preparations made.”

“Proceed.”

The subordinate vanished as smoke. Alone, Du Yuan’s brow furrowed.

“Even though my mother is an unfavored consort, they wouldn’t send someone so mediocre to guard us, right?”

Du Yuan clearly looked down on the cultivator assigned to protect them in secret.

From Li Yuande, he knew that even within the Condensing Essence stage, there were clear tiers of strength.

The strongest Condensing Essence cultivators in the dynasty were those like Xuan Zhou and Mo Xian.

They were either deputy officials in key court departments, pillars of their sects, or Masters of great families.

The next tier included Hong Yao and Wenzi Shu—the dynasty’s current backbone, forming the second rank.

The third tier had people like Song Kaiyang:

worth some investment but lacking true potential, fit only to become a small town’s city lord at best.

As for their assigned guard? His strength barely placed him in the fourth tier—the most basic level of Condensing Essence.

“Still, this princess shares His Majesty’s blood. Sending Hong Yao or Wenzi Shu would’ve been wiser.”

Du Yuan shook his head. “Never mind. I came to Wanghai years ago to avoid palace schemes. I’ve already said her life or death isn’t my concern—no point dwelling on it.”

With a flicker, he vanished into the night sky.

Under the moonlight, Yang Guanfeng and the other two moved swiftly through the forest.

As they traveled, Yang Guanfeng drilled frontline cautions into Yingxuan.

His most repeated warning: never underestimate ordinary soldiers.

After a decade of war at the eastern border, both sides had honed deadly tactics against cultivators.

Nearly thirty percent of cultivators killed at the border were slain by ordinary soldiers.

Yingxuan listened intently, memorizing every word.

Half a month later, they reached the military camp named in the secret orders.

Since this was Yingxuan’s first frontline assignment, taking her to Black Tiger Camp was out of the question.

They were stationed at a southern outpost with fewer skirmishes.

Their identities prearranged, they joined two newly arrived Martial Cultivators in a squad led by Yang Guanfeng.

Unlike regular soldiers, cultivators enjoyed better treatment—private tents for rest.

Yang Guanfeng gathered the four in his tent, reiterating his earlier advice before ordering: “Rest today. If no battles erupt, we’ll gather at dawn tomorrow to clear the battlefield.”

“Yes, squad leader!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep