Under Jinyao’s swift command, Yancheng entered a state of high alert, and Jidu, Luohou, and the others were assigned their respective duties. Jidu and the others had originally intended for me to return to Demon Dragon City as quickly as possible, but given the current situation, that was out of the question. Moreover, I had no intention of leaving Yancheng just yet. Though I had weathered many storms since arriving in the Marfa World, I had never witnessed a large-scale, collective battle between armies. Naturally, I was unwilling to pass up this opportunity. Faced with my insistence, Jidu and the others could only helplessly let me have my way.

“Your Highness must be careful. Gaining some experience while staying with the army is not a bad thing,” Jidu said gravely. “Only by being conferred the title of King of Qin in the future can you become a pillar of the Royal Family.”

“Haha, of course. Didn’t the Emperor start with military experience when he was still the Crown Prince?” Luohou seemed to recall something, his expression spirited and full of nostalgia. “How could the descendants of the Demon Dragon Royal Family lack this crucial step? Having Your Highness here is a huge morale boost for us. I think in critical moments, it might even play an unexpected role.”

“Indeed!” Yueyao couldn’t help but exclaim excitedly. “In our youth, we fought and killed alongside the Emperor when he was the Crown Prince, galloping across the battlefield. Today, let us ride with His Highness the King of Qin to recreate the invincible majesty of the Prague Legion of the Demon Dragon Empire forty years ago!”

“Well said!” Jidu was overjoyed. “With Your Highness present, it will have a tremendous deterrent effect on the mages of the Aotian Legion, who are their pride. Let them properly taste the might of the Demon Devouring Body!”

“Although Your Highness is not yet a Heavenly Demon Warrior, your strength already reaches the Grandmaster level. For now, you shall join my Prague’s Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry,” Jinyao stated seriously.

“Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry.” I was somewhat surprised. Although I was only a Ranger, I had certainly heard the name of the Prague Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry long ago. Much like the Magic Cavalry of the Demon Sealing Empire, the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry also used the sturdy Cloud Thunder Warhorses as mounts. These Cloud Thunder Warhorses, like the Smelting Furnace Warhorses of Demon Sealing, were massive steeds whose endurance and explosive power were nearly equal, with only slightly lesser speed. They have always been the preferred cavalry mount for the Demon Dragon armies. I never expected to join this renowned cavalry regiment!

In the Marfa Continent, every nation boasted its own elite cavalry corps.

The most formidable among them was undoubtedly the Magic Cavalry Corps of the Demon Sealing Empire, unrivaled in both offensive power and mobility.

However, the strength of the Magic Cavalry Corps stemmed entirely from their terrifying long-range magical attacks. Once forced into close combat, their advantage vanished.

In terms of melee combat, the Red Dragon Cavalry of the Bichi Empire was the strongest. Once the Red Dragon Cavalry managed to charge close, the consequences were disastrous. Some said that with the terrifying impact force of the Red Dragon Cavalry, even sturdy city gates could be smashed to dust, illustrating just how fearsome their charge was.

The mounts of the Red Dragon Cavalry were the Great Horned Dragon Beasts, native to the Bichi Continent. Calling them horses was less accurate than calling them a mutated breed of cattle, as the Great Horned Dragon Beasts possessed two thick, strong horns; a full-force collision was capable of blasting two large holes in thick city walls.

Their bodies were exceptionally robust, making their defense and impact force the most terrifying among all war mounts. They have historically been the ultimate tool for siege warfare.

Their only flaw was their slower speed compared to other war mounts, positioning them as the super heavy cavalry of the Marfa World.

Cangyue also possessed its own unique cavalry corps: the Mammoth Cavalry, mounted on Mammoth Beasts abundant on the Cangyue Continent. Among all war mounts, the Mammoth Beast was absolutely the most terrifying war beast because it was a carnivore by nature—cruel and bloodthirsty. On the battlefield, even if the rider on its back unfortunately died, the surviving Mammoth Beast would fight desperately into the enemy ranks, sacrificing itself. This was a fearsome beast that existed purely for slaughter. Annually, sustaining the Mammoth Beasts required the Cangyue Empire to expend vast sums of its treasury, making the Mammoth Cavalry the smallest in number among the four empires, yet arguably the most terrifying in combat effectiveness. In the vast forests of the Cangyue Continent, no force dared to confront these terrifying war beasts head-on.

Some claimed that on vast open plains, the Magic Cavalry of the Demon Sealing Empire was the strongest on the continent. Their formidable long-range attacks, combined with the Smelting Furnace Warhorses’ superior mobility and the expansive plains allowing for deep penetration, made the Magic Cavalry the undisputed overlords of plain warfare. In such environments, only the Magic Cavalry attacked, while others could never even touch them.

But in environments like mountains and forests, it was the domain of the Cangyue Mammoth Cavalry. Mammoth Beasts were naturally apex predators in the forests, preying on large animals. Furthermore, much like African lion prides, they possessed astonishing coordination as a group. Prey targeted by them rarely escaped their encirclement, a method strikingly similar to the hunting patterns of lions on Earth’s African savannas.

When properly trained, a single Mammoth Beast could become a terrifying war beast. In terms of individual combat capability, the Mammoth Beast was the most fearsome of all war beasts. In the extensive forest territories of Cangyue, no unit dared to meet the Mammoth Cavalry in a direct confrontation.

As for frontal assaults and clashes in set-piece battles, the Bichi Red Dragon Iron Cavalry was the most potent; no unit could withstand their terrifying charge head-on.

The remaining force was the Demon Dragon Empire’s Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry. Compared to the other three types of cavalry, the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry had no standout feature.

The Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry was mounted on Cloud Thunder Beasts produced on the Demon Dragon Continent. In terms of speed, the Cloud Thunder Beast could not match the Smelting Furnace Warhorse; in terms of impact force, it fell short of the Great Horned Dragon Beast. As for mountain or individual combat, they were significantly inferior to the Mammoth Beast.

However, the Cloud Thunder Beast possessed a unique survival skill: terrifying sonic wave attacks.

Among all creatures in the Marfa Continent, second only to the Mammoth Beast, the Cloud Thunder Beast possessed the loudest vocal cords. The full-throated roar of a single Cloud Thunder Beast was absolutely like deafening thunderclaps. This is why this creature, famous for its roar, was named Cloud Thunder—symbolizing the apex of the clouds and the lightning of the heavens.

The collective roar of several thousand, or even tens of thousands, of Cloud Thunder Beasts was an absolutely soul-shaking spectacle. If someone with a weak heart were hit by one of these loudmouths’ roars, the consequences would be unimaginable.

For thousands of years, the Cloud Thunder Beasts survived precisely because of this unique sonic attack method. When facing powerful foes, a single collective roar from the Cloud Thunder Beasts was enough to shake the guts of any enemy arrogant enough to offend them.

Moreover, every warrior joining the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry had to master the fundamental energy circulation method for the Demon Dragon Royal Family’s unique skill, the Lion’s Roar—which was the 'Vibration Roar.'

The simultaneous, frenzied roars of rider and beast were certainly stunning, but the scene of ten thousand Cloud Thunder Knights roaring in unison—I couldn't even begin to imagine it.

Therefore, some say that among all cavalry, the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry is the undisputed all-rounder, because sonic attacks face almost no obstruction; even covering the ears, the terrifying sound waves can still injure a person’s internal organs.

For this reason, the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry is the most troublesome opponent for any cavalry force.

Thinking about the chance to witness this famous Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry soon, I couldn’t help but start picturing what that scene would truly be like.

“Come find me at the East Gate Training Grounds tomorrow!” Jinyao said with a smile.

“Yes, General,” I quickly responded.

The others also looked delighted and emotional; it was clear they were happy about me joining the regiment.

Of course, Jinyao couldn't refrain from giving me a few more strict instructions to stay put and not wander off. Afterward, they all went back to their tasks.

I took advantage of this rare opportunity and found Feng Qingtian and the others, who were being held under custody. Given my sudden and prolonged absence, Feng Qingtian and the others naturally had a barrage of questions.

“What? You went to Cicheng for a tour?” Tong Lei exclaimed in shock. “And you killed High Priest Lanling, stealing the Soul Devouring Staff?”

“And the Heart of the Fire Dragon!” Yunxi stared at me with an expression of seeing a ghost. “Binghe, I know you’re very strong, but you’re overselling this one, aren’t you?”

The rest watched me as if observing a theatrical performance, looking at me like I was an idiot.

“That… it’s hard to say!” Only Feng Qingtian and a few others looked uncertain, their expressions shifting. “Nothing surprising happens around this kid. I think it might be true.”

“Haha, it’s definitely true,” Jinyao said as he walked in. “I can testify to that. Otherwise, do you think I would have released you like this? At least Xingchen has demonstrated his loyalty to the Empire through his actions; I have no reason to doubt you anymore, do I?”

“Ah! General Jinyao!” Feng Qingtian and the others, as well as the disciples of the Yun family, were all aghast.

“I told you! This kid is capable of anything. Believe it now,” Feng Qingtian said with an air of nonchalance. Han Yunzhen and Xia Ya nodded repeatedly beside him.

“Alright, whether you stay or go is up to you to decide,” Jinyao smiled. “But after Xingchen’s commotion, you won’t be able to go to the Demon Sealing Empire now. You should think about that after the war ends.”

“The General speaks wisely,” Yunxi and the others quickly agreed respectfully.

“I apologize for locking you up for so long,” Jinyao said.

“General was just doing his duty, it was necessary,” Yunxi replied.

“I won’t keep you any longer. Fast horses are ready outside. If you wish to leave, you should do so quickly, as this place will see battle soon, and then you won’t be able to leave even if you want to.”

“Defending our homeland is everyone’s responsibility,” Yunxi declared. “Since we’ve been caught up in this, naturally we must stay and contribute our strength. We hope the General can arrange a suitable post for us.”

“Haha, a true hero emerging from the youth!” Jinyao laughed. “In that case, from now on, you shall be soldiers of the Scarlet Moon Slaying Squad, reporting directly to the Slaying Corps’ command. Are you willing?”

“We could ask for nothing better!” Feng Qingtian and the others readily accepted the order.

“As for your situation, Xingchen told me about it. Don’t worry, after the war ends, the Royal Family will use diplomatic channels to rescue Yunshang for you,” Jinyao said, giving me a meaningful glance, clearly hoping I wouldn't take any unauthorized action again.

“Thank you, General,” Yunxi and the others were overjoyed. Since Jinyao had made this promise, the hope of rescuing Yunshang was far greater than the success rate of us rashly sneaking into the Demon Sealing Empire to rescue her—at least, that was how Yunxi and the others saw it.

“You should spend some quality time together,” Jinyao said. “Gather at the South Gate Training Grounds tomorrow morning.”

“Yes! General!” Yunxi exclaimed happily.

Jinyao merely smiled faintly and walked out of the cell.

Feng Qingtian and the others then turned to look at me with displeasure. “You sly dog, you pulled another stunt behind our backs!”

“……” I broke into a cold sweat.

What followed was naturally an intense interrogation, a barrage of questioning until they had every minute detail of my experiences infiltrating Cicheng and my subsequent return clearly explained, only then did they let me go. Even so, Yunxi and the others kept muttering nervously, “My God, even the Flame of the Fire Dragon couldn’t burn you to death.”

“Monster.”

“High Priest Lanling was truly unlucky.”

After a long while!

“Forget it, comparing people only breeds anger,” Feng Qingtian and the others seemed numb. “From now on, promise us you won’t act alone again. If something happens to you, how will we face Elder Jianli?”

“Didn’t I come back safely?” I muttered quietly.

“You were lucky this time,” Yunxi said testily. “But luck can’t feed you. You won’t be this lucky every time.”

After nagging for a while, Feng Qingtian and the others finally learned that I had been assigned to the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry, and they were all extremely envious.

Of course, they couldn't know the inside story. Jinyao’s arrangement was clearly deeply intentional, allowing me to avoid Feng Qingtian and the others, thus preventing my identity from being exposed.

The next morning, I hurried to the East Gate Training Grounds, the exclusive practice area for the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry. Jinyao was already waiting there, leading a Cloud Thunder Beast of imposing stature, entirely fire-red. Beside him stood a line of Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry, all uniformed. However, there seemed to be only a hundred of them, which struck me as peculiar.

Upon seeing me enter, the hundred Cloud Thunder riders snapped to attention and performed a standard knight’s salute: “Greetings to His Highness the King of Qin.”

“Ah!” I was momentarily stunned. I had never seen such a formation before and stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

“These are the elites of the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry, formerly my personal guards. They will now be assigned to protect Your Highness,” Jinyao stated seriously.

“General,” I said with some reluctance, “Since they were your personal guards, how can I take them away? Moreover, I joined the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry to gain experience and become a competent warrior. With so many personal guards surrounding me, how can I fight uninhibited on the battlefield?”

“Haha, Your Highness need not be concerned,” Jinyao replied. “It is customary for royal descendants of every generation to have personal guards accompanying them. This arrangement should have been made by the Emperor for Your Highness, but since he is currently at the Imperial City, I have temporarily made these arrangements for you. As for the other issue you raised, do not worry. The personal guard unit is considered your private army; you can command them flexibly in combat. They will only serve as Your Highness’s assistance, not as shackles hindering your growth.” Jinyao continued, “You must remember, Your Highness must grow not only into a competent warrior but also an outstanding commander! Therefore, a hundred men is actually quite few! These hundred are my most trusted confidants, so Your Highness need not fear your identity being leaked. Furthermore, it is their honor to fight alongside Your Highness.” Jinyao sighed emotionally, “Our generation is growing old. Before long, the Heavenly Demon Armor we wear will be inherited by your younger generation. I hope Your Highness will not refuse. Only by Your Highness’s side will they have more opportunities to display their talents in the future. Consider this an opportunity for them.”

For a moment, I didn't know how to respond to Jinyao. Whether it was my imagination or not, I saw a flash of resolve in Jinyao’s eyes, feeling as if he were entrusting something vital to me at that moment. Could this war be extremely perilous, compelling even Jinyao, a Heavenly Demon Warrior, to make such thorough arrangements beforehand?

“This King understands,” For the first time, I felt the title of King of Qin upon my shoulders was incredibly heavy, bearing the expectations of so many people.

“Hehe, very good.” Jinyao looked visibly relieved. Then, Jinyao led the Cloud Thunder Beast beside him toward me.

It was only then that I truly had the chance to see this legendary behemoth. As I observed it, it stared back at me with two large, dark eyes.

Hmph! Good heavens, its mouth was huge, and its four limbs were incredibly thick. Looking only at its head, it resembled a modern hippopotamus, but it lacked the hippopotamus's clumsiness; instead, it appeared well-proportioned and muscular. It stood nearly three meters tall and about six meters long, its weight likely around a ton. Its physique was very similar to the Smelting Furnace Warhorses I had seen, suggesting the Cloud Thunder Beast's speed wouldn't be too slow—even if it couldn't match the Smelting Furnace Warhorse, it wouldn't be far behind.

And its strength was immense. The armor covering its entire body looked like it weighed several hundred pounds, yet the Cloud Thunder Beast wore it as if it were nothing, causing my eyes to widen in awe.

Good heavens, its strength was no joke!

“Among the four great war beasts, the Cloud Thunder Beast is quite balanced in terms of speed, strength, explosive power, and agility!” Jinyao continued. “Therefore, the Cloud Thunder Beast can participate in combat in many complex situations. Combined with its powerful sonic attack that ignores all physical and magical defenses, the Cloud Thunder Beast fears no opponent.”

“However, the Cloud Thunder Beast’s greatest weakness is being isolated. Once alone, its sonic attack capability is significantly reduced, so you must never advance rashly by yourself.”

“Yes,” I replied seriously.

“Its name is Da Lei (Great Thunder); it was originally my mount. Now, let it fight alongside Your Highness,” Jinyao said.

“Ah! How can this be?” I was greatly surprised. “It is the General’s mount; how can I take something the General loves?”

“Haha, Your Highness, please accept it,” Jinyao said gravely. “It is Da Lei’s honor to fight by Your Highness’s side.” Jinyao continued, “Only with it beside you do I feel at ease allowing Your Highness to join the Cloud Thunder Iron Cavalry. Da Lei is battle-hardened and experienced; I believe it can certainly help Your Highness adapt to the rapidly changing and complex situations on the battlefield.”

“Then, thank you, General, for your sacrifice,” I said gratefully.

“Haha, not at all,” Jinyao replied seriously. “I hope you will treat Da Lei well. This fellow is very intelligent; please do not let it suffer any grievances.”

“En,” I nodded solemnly. “General, rest assured. From now on, Da Lei is my brother, and I will certainly take good care of him.”

“Da Lei, protect Your Highness well,” Jinyao said affectionately, stroking Da Lei’s large mouth from which white mist puffed.

“Hng!” Da Lei let out a gentle, deep growl, rich and primal, conveying a strong sense of vitality. Its two dark eyes showed an expression of attachment and reluctance, making me feel like a criminal for tearing them apart.

Seeming to sense my guilt, Jinyao smiled. “Your Highness, do not be concerned. As the commander of three armies, I rarely get the chance to fight on the front lines myself. Da Lei staying with me would only be a waste of its talents. Don’t be fooled by its current reluctant appearance; it is actually quite thrilled. It has been bored stiff these past years.”

“Woo-hoo.” Da Lei, seemingly displeased that Jinyao was exposing its true feelings, unceremoniously bumped its large head against Jinyao’s sturdy chest.

“See? I hit the nail on the head. This fellow is embarrassed,” Jinyao laughed.

“Hahahaha.” The other Cloud Thunder Knights present also burst into laughter.

“Now, it is time to meet your future subordinates,” Jinyao said gravely.

“En!” I nodded slightly, subconsciously looking at the hundred Cloud Thunder Knights before me.

“Personal Guard Captain Jinyao Hong pays respects to His Highness the King of Qin.” The man before me was robust, standing well over one meter ninety tall, dignified and imposing. His thick eyebrows and large eyes framed firm features carved like blades. He held the hundred-jin great saber as if it weighed nothing. Just standing there, he exuded a heavy sense of oppression. His aura suggested at least the peak of the Scarlet Moon realm, certainly no less than Feng Qingtian’s.

“En!” I nodded slightly.

“Personal Guard Vice-Captain Jinyao Ming pays respects to His Highness the King of Qin.” Following Jinyao Hong was a tall, slender youth, almost half a head taller than Jinyao Hong, who clearly carried himself with immense self-regard. He had a pale face, no beard, high nose, and sharp eyes. His hair and eyes were a dazzling fiery red. His arms were long, with noticeable muscular bulges at the joints, indicating extraordinary development. He held a golden spear in his hand. With just one glance, I recognized that this youth’s cultivation level was no less than Jinyao Hong’s.

"En!" I could only nod again. To be honest, this kind of formation made me deeply uncomfortable. You see, despite holding the title of Prince of Qin before, I had always lived life as I pleased, free and easy. Suddenly, having a hundred personal guards assigned to me made me feel utterly unnatural, yet I found it difficult to refuse Jin Yao’s arrangement.

"Your Highness does not yet seem accustomed to this," Jin Yao observed. "You will grow used to it in time." Jin Yao then looked toward Jin Yaohong and the rest of the personal guard detail. "The Prince of Qin grew up among the common folk and is unfamiliar with the customs of the Imperial Court and the military. You must assist him diligently and help him adapt to his new station."

"Yes, your subordinate shall dedicate himself fully to assisting His Highness," Jin Yaohong stated gravely.

"I will be relying on all of you going forward," I said quickly.

"Your Highness is too polite; this is simply the duty of us personal guards, as it should be," Jin Yaohong replied.