Manchester, beneath a high-hung silver moon, was nevertheless a scene of clamor and revelry amidst the ruins!

In the center of the square, a fierce bonfire blazed, and surrounding it were the warriors of the Black Flag Legion, spirits soaring, hacking at chunks of meat while savoring fine wine! What a magnificent indulgence!

Ever since the Black Flag Army was formed, all the soldiers had been utterly exhausted from continuous campaigning, so Yinhe and others proposed holding a grand celebration!

Firstly, it would relieve the intense pressure built up from days of fighting!

Secondly, it could serve as a victory feast for the capture of Manchester, but more importantly, it was an opportunity to boost the soldiers' morale, maintaining the high spirits of the Black Flag Legion.

Thirdly, it would foster greater understanding and communication between the three major tribes, a point of particular significance.

Therefore, when Yinhe proposed it, I offered no objection and readily agreed! Of course, necessary precautions and sentry duties could not be neglected, as we were still in a time of war.

Since setting foot on the Demon Sealing Continent, I had existed in a state of constant tension, never truly relaxing. Perhaps taking advantage of this bonfire party for some much-needed unwinding would be a fine solution.

And after a full day of diligent preparation, as night finally descended, the grand bonfire party commenced!

As the Commander-in-Chief, I was naturally assigned the seat of honor. The table before me was laden with a rich bounty of delicacies, and flanking me were Jidu, Yinshuang, Jianwu, Jianqi, and other key generals.

A bit further back were Yinhe, Yinxi, and the others, surrounded by the rank and file of the Black Flag Legion.

Since the crowd was immense, the bonfires were split into dozens of piles, occupying nearly every open space in Manchester.

The organizers of this magnificent bonfire gathering were the members of the Political and Religious Department, specifically those from the Doctrine Team.

"Warriors." Yinhe, along with several representative elders from the Blood Wolf and Nu Jiao tribes, strode into the field, their steps matching: "Today is a day worthy of remembrance and celebration." Yinhe's voice was deep and resonant like a roaring bear, showing no hint of age, and his powerful, vigorous physique exuded a fervent, pure vitality. The moment he spoke, he captured everyone's attention.

"The first battle since the formation of the Black Flag Army has finally been won," Yinhe declared excitedly. "All warriors of the Black Flag Army, cheer!"

"Black Flag Army! Black Flag Army! Black Flag Army..." All the soldiers present shouted uncontrollably, as if only this could vent the excitement and fervor bubbling inside them!

"Blood Wolf, Nu Jiao, Bairon." Chi Lian, the elder from the Blood Wolf tribe, merely waved a hand, and the entire assembly immediately quieted. "Originally separated by vast distances, yet for the sake of survival and proliferation, we have walked together to resist the Demon Sealing Imperial Family and the Moluo Church. Now, we have finally taken a firm first step. History will forever record this great victory." Chi Lian's aged voice was deep, distant, possessing a soul-stirring magic that compelled everyone to listen intently.

"But this is only the beginning," Bai Shi, the representative elder from the Nu Jiao tribe, was equally fervent. "I believe that in the near future, all our kinsmen from the three tribes will be able to stand tall, heads held high, living openly and honorably on this vast continent—without war, without bullying, without discrimination, without strife."

"Heads held high, chest out, peace and tranquility!" Yinhe clenched his fist and roared loudly.

"Heads held high, chest out, living openly and honorably, peace and tranquility... ..."

A tidal wave of roaring cheers erupted across the field once more!

These simple twelve words encapsulated the dreams of so many within the three tribes. On the Demon Sealing Continent, no other race endured such hardship and suffering as these three tribes, marginalized as heretics and subjected to relentless discrimination and bullying by others. The Demon Sealing Imperial Family and the Church were intent on eradicating them at any cost!

Heads held high, chest out, living openly and honorably, peace and tranquility—a desire that seemed trivial to ordinary people was, to the three tribes, a prayer verging on luxury.

Although I was already deeply familiar with the plight of the three tribes, the fervent, desperate cries of these over two million souls still sent a tremendous shockwave through me.

It also brought with it a deep sense of guilt and accountability.

It was undeniable that from the moment I met Chi Long, I had begun plotting how to leverage the indigenous resistance forces of Demon Sealing to achieve my original goals.

Subconsciously, I had always believed there wasn't a single good person on the Demon Sealing Continent—perhaps this was the nature of being adversaries. But as I delved deeper into the lives of the three tribes, I increasingly felt the weight of their suffering and helplessness. Whether it was Chi Long, Yinhe, Yinshuang, or Baichuan, they were all expending every effort tirelessly for the survival of their people.

It was only at this moment that I realized, without noticing, I had accepted them from the deepest recesses of my heart. Yes, they were no longer merely the three tribes of the past; they were now the direct legion of the Molong Empire—the Black Flag Legion, my very own soldiers and subordinates.

"I am one hundred and twenty-six years old," Elder Bai Shi seemed somewhat emotional. "There was a time I thought I would never see my Nu Jiao kin return to the mainland. But the formation of the Black Flag Legion has allowed this old man to glimpse a future for our people. Here, on behalf of every member of the Nu Jiao tribe, I thank our great Marshal, His Highness Shenzhen." As he spoke, Bai Shi bowed deeply to me.

"Roar! Marshal! Marshal! Marshal! Marshal!" The crowd roared in unison, and the younger warriors waved their fists excitedly. The way everyone looked at me was filled with such fervor and reverence that I was momentarily at a loss.

"Next, we invite our Marshal to say a few words," Yinhe announced loudly.

"Right! Marshal! Marshal!" The atmosphere reached a fever pitch. The drummers struck up earth-shattering rhythms at the perfect moment, and everyone shouted toward my seat with all their might.

For a moment, I felt almost numb, practically paralyzed by the sheer force of the deafening sound wave; my mind went completely blank! The soldiers' enthusiasm far exceeded my expectations.

"Your Highness, it's your turn to step up," Jidu said, his strong hand pressing gently yet firmly on my shoulder.

"Step up?" I could barely move. Good heavens, what was I supposed to say? In my past life, I tended to freeze and feel dizzy in the face of massive crowds. Even after coming to the Mafa World and weathering all sorts of storms, that flaw lingered. Now, facing over two million cheering warriors was simply too much to bear. "Uh, perhaps this isn't necessary, is it?"

"Marshal," Manmian looked at me with a strange expression. "Look, the soldiers are all so expectant. If you don't say something, everyone will be very disappointed."

"Roar! Marshal! Marshal! Marshal!" All the Black Flag soldiers around me were shouting their lungs out, displaying an unyielding determination not to give up until their goal was achieved.

The gazes of Yin Tao, Yin Hu, and the others around me also became intensely focused.

It seemed clear that if I didn't go up and say a few words, I wouldn't be able to step down gracefully today.

With no other choice, I took a deep breath, braced myself, and stood up!

Almost the instant I stood, the wild cheers across the entire venue abruptly ceased. Everyone stared at me, faces full of expectation!

Facing those gazes brimming with sincerity and hope, I didn't know what to say for a moment! But I knew clearly that I had to say something now. If for no other reason, it was to respond to the passionate gazes and the wholehearted trust of the two million-plus Black Flag soldiers present; I had to say something.

"As a warrior, I have believed in only one principle throughout my life—respect the elders and protect my family! For this, I came here, and I feel fortunate that Heaven allowed me to meet all of you assembled here, becoming brothers, becoming one family!" Looking out at the thousands upon thousands of expectant eyes, I felt entwined by a particular stream of thought. "Perhaps our past positions and goals differed, but today, we walk together, and we share a common objective: to guard our families, so that our families can live freely and without worry beneath this blue sky." I continued, "This is the reason the Black Flag Army exists."

Seeing their still-eager, expectant looks, I went on: "However, black symbolizes death, destruction, and slaughter. No one enjoys death and destruction, as it is a cruel thing for anyone. If possible, I hope that one day, the great black banner will disappear forever from this continent, vanishing beneath the clear, blue sky."

"........." The entire field fell utterly silent. Some people stared at me, mouths agape.

But Yinshuang and Yinhe exchanged looks, both appearing thoughtful.

"If the world had no war and no killing, then the Black Flag Army would naturally have no reason to exist," Yinshuang murmured. "I truly hope to see that day."

"Well said," Jianwu commented with feeling. "Everything for the clear, blue sky."

"Clear, blue sky! Clear, blue sky! ......" The fierce cheers continued unabated. No one desires conflict, but reality is harsh. Fortunately, everyone present shared a common goal—that was enough. Perhaps one legion against the entire Mafa Continent seemed insignificant, but a single spark can start a prairie fire. Who dares say the war that has lasted a thousand years won't end in our generation?

World peace—my goal wasn't that lofty. My only wish was to rescue Shenyin, Shenxu, and Yunshang. Perhaps I was being selfish right now.

I was utilizing the Black Flag Army to achieve my private desires, but I had also repaid all those present with my own capabilities. Indeed, while the Black Flag Army's formation was initiated by me, I believed it was an inevitable trend. All I did was gather like-minded individuals together. In return for helping them achieve their aspirations, they would coincidentally help me fulfill my own small wish. Isn't that enough?

Of course, I couldn't voice these thoughts so plainly!

But I knew an army must have a clear objective, as that is the core soul of an army. And "The Clear, Blue Sky" was the ideal blueprint I painted for the Black Flag Legion. It was also the internal soul bestowed upon the Black Flag Legion. Only when an army possesses its own soul can it grow strong and thrive eternally.

I believed that with this goal in place, even if one day I left the Black Flag Army, the Nu Jiao, Blood Wolf, and Bairon tribes would certainly persist toward this objective until the very end.

"Yes, everything for the clear, blue sky," I declared loudly. "As long as that day has not arrived, we, the Black Flag Legion, will continue to fight."

"Roar! Fight! Fight! Fight!" Over two million voices roared madly, and the entire venue plunged into frenzy at that moment.

I knew it was time to wrap up; if this went on, these men might go completely wild. "Fighting is vital, but for better fighting, let the revelry begin now." I continued. "I declare, the celebration begins."

"Roar! Begin! Begin!" Earth-shaking cheers, mixed with booming drumbeats, echoed across the night sky.

And amidst these deafening cheers, I collapsed back into my chair, feeling utterly drained.

"Well done," Jidu gave me an approving look.

"The performance is about to start," Yinshuang also said, looking excited.

After a while, the venue gradually calmed down!

"Next up will be the Dragon Fighting, a ten-thousand-year tradition of my Bairon tribe. Anyone present who is interested can come onto the field to show off their skills," Yinhe said while quickly jogging away. Almost the instant Yinhe ran off,

The wooden gate on one side of the enclosure burst open with a boom, and an incredibly robust Camel Dragon charged into the arena like thunder!

"Roar! Dragon Fighting! Dragon Fighting! Dragon Fighting!" Most of the people present were warriors of the Bairon tribe, and they were also the loudest in their calls.

"How does this Dragon Fighting work?" I asked curiously.

"Dragon Fighting is a ceremonial activity passed down for ten millennia in the Bairon tribe," Yinshuang explained, sounding quite proud. "So-called Dragon Fighting means having fighters grapple bare-handed with those sturdy Camel Dragons."

"Bare-handed?" Looking at the Camel Dragon in the arena, whose size was in no way inferior to a Saber-toothed Dragon Beast, I nearly thought I had misheard. Grappling such a massive creature bare-handed—it sounded like a preposterous fantasy.

"Marshal, are you interested in stepping onto the field to test your skills?" Yinshuang asked.

Sweat. I decided to observe the situation from the sidelines, I calculated mentally. Bare-handed, naturally, meant no assistance from any weapon. And the term 'weapon' should certainly include the Heavenly Demon Armor I wore.

To be honest, ever since wearing the Heavenly Demon Armor, I rarely took it off, except for sleeping. In fact, it wasn't just me; all Heavenly Demon Warriors were the same.

One must know that a large portion of the formidable strength of a Heavenly Demon Warrior derived from the Heavenly Demon Armor they wore. Without it, a Heavenly Demon Warrior's strength was, at best, only at the level of an average Grandmaster.

Take Jidu, for example. Although he was a Heavenly Demon Warrior, Jidu without his armor might not even be able to defeat my master, Jianli. The only difference was that Jidu, due to his physique, could command the Heavenly Demon Armor and thus become a Heavenly Demon Warrior, while Jianli could only gaze upon the armor with longing.

As for my situation, it was even more unique: if I took off the Heavenly Demon Armor, I would immediately revert to my original form. At that point, the cold and ruthless image I had painstakingly cultivated would be completely shattered, which was not what I wanted to see.

So, I awkwardly shook my head.

And at the very moment I shook my head, a figure darted swiftly into the arena!

The entire venue instantly erupted into madness.

"It's General Yin Hu!"

"Go Yin Hu! Go Yin Hu!"