Li Muzhan frowned, calculating internally. White Tiger City in Western Zhao was a hundred li from Soaring Dragon City; it could be reached in a day at a fast gallop.

He stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Sergeant Hao, where did you encounter them?" The middle-aged man glanced at him coldly. "Ten li outside the city!" "When?" Li Muzhan followed up. The man grew impatient. "Just now!" With that, he turned to leave, ignoring Li Muzhan. Li Muzhan pursued. "How many were there?" The middle-aged man kept his lips tightly pursed, brow severely furrowed, simmering with a suppressed rage that seemed ready to erupt at any moment. Li Muzhan pretended not to notice and asked again, "Can we catch them now?" "Catch them?" The middle-aged man stopped dead, whirling around to glare at him, fire blazing in his eyes. "If I could catch them, do you think I wouldn't have? The cavalry of Western Zhao are far faster than ours! Who could possibly catch them! Who could possibly catch them! ,,，**************"

Seeing the muscles in his face contorted and his expression savage, Li Muzhan sighed, understanding the man’s frustration. It was a fact that Western Zhao's warhorses were superior to Da Yan’s by a notch. Moreover, they had ample mounts, often with two men to a horse, making long-distance raids routine. Their soldiers were hardy, often eating and sleeping in the saddle during forced marches. Compared to them, Da Yan relied more on infantry and excelled at siege defense. Within the Divine Might Army, there were only two cavalry units, the Elite Cavalry Battalion and the Flying Cavalry Battalion, totaling less than five hundred men. The purpose of Da Yan's cavalry was not to break enemy lines, but for scouting, reconnaissance, relaying military intelligence, and transmitting orders—a limited role, and thus undervalued.

Li Muzhan turned around. "Sergeant Zhao, let me try!" Though the middle-aged man hadn't said it, Li Muzhan already knew: there were twenty Western Zhao soldiers, each skilled in martial arts. Upon meeting them, their side had instantly crumbled, utterly incapable of fighting back. The middle-aged man was bristling with anger—partly over his captured comrades, which was unbearable, and partly from the sheer humiliation of the engagement, feeling like a child pitted against an adult. "Fine... Monk, forget it. Don't try to be a hero!" Zhao Shengli shook his head. "Old Man Hao’s men aren't pushovers. Those fellows are trouble!" The middle-aged man inhaled deeply, calming himself. "There were over twenty of them. Each one masterfully skilled in archery and horsemanship, highly proficient... I think... I think they were the Black Eagle Cavalry! *,,，" "Damn it, the Black Eagle Cavalry!" Zhao Shengli's face shifted slightly, cursing bitterly. The people around them also changed expression, their breathing growing heavier.

Li Muzhan said, "Sergeant Zhao, let me try. You help me get authorization, and I'll prepare." "Monk, don't mess around!" Zhao Shengli frowned, his face darkening. "Your archery is good, but the Black Eagle Cavalry is the elite striking force of Western Zhao. Every one of them can hold off ten. If you go, Monk, you're just going to your death!" "Sergeant Zhao! *,,," Li Muzhan frowned, his face also sinking. Zhao Shengli glared. "Monk, I am the squad leader, you have to listen to me!" Li Muzhan countered, "Sergeant Zhao, martial arts skill is precious; we can’t afford any more delays... I’ll go try. If it proves impossible, the speed of Scarlet Shadow is more than enough for me to escape!" Zhao Shengli still shook his head, absolutely refusing.

Li Muzhan didn't know the terror of the Black Eagle Cavalry, but he knew that this squad originally had ten men; before Li Muzhan arrived, only four were left—the other six had been killed by the Black Eagle Cavalry. He considered himself brave, but he felt a deep-seated dread for the Black Eagle Cavalry. These men weren't human; they were incarnations of devils. Clad in black armor, their archery was precise, and their martial arts astonishingly high. In both ranged and close combat, they could take on ten. Furthermore, they feared no death, ignoring injuries as if they were cold iron automatons, devoid of human feeling. Facing them brought on despair and a complete loss of fighting spirit. The Flying Cavalry Battalion and Elite Cavalry Battalion members all felt a chill when the Black Eagle Cavalry was mentioned, as most of the casualties they suffered were at the hands of those very riders. They were like crows; the Black Eagle Cavalry were like eagles, specialized in hunting and killing them—a natural predator.

Li Muzhan frowned and turned to Xiong Sihai. Among these men, only Xiong Sihai’s words might sway Zhao Shengli; the others held no influence. Xiong Sihai’s expression was serious, a stark contrast to his usual playful demeanor. He spoke slowly, "Great Monk, listen to Sergeant Zhao. It’s not that we’re cowards afraid of death; it’s genuinely impossible... The Black Eagle Cavalry cannot be challenged! *,,," Li Muzhan knitted his brows, and the imposing aura he had kept contained erupted, surging forth like a tide. The men trembled, feeling an urge to kneel. Li Muzhan spoke, "No matter what, I must try! Sergeant Zhao!" His gaze was as substantial as light, dazzlingly bright. Zhao Shengli paused, then offered a wry smile, recalling Li Muzhan's miraculous abilities. Zhao Shengli said hoarsely, "Fine! *,,," Li Muzhan retracted his aura, and everyone let out a breath of relief. The way they looked at Li Muzhan was peculiar; they hadn't expected his imposing presence to surpass even that of a Captain.

Zhao Shengli said, "I'll go with you!" Li Muzhan shook his head. "Scarlet Shadow is fast. I alone will suffice. If I can’t rescue them, one more person won't help." Zhao Shengli gritted his teeth, said nothing, turned, mounted his horse, and spurred it into a gallop. Since the rescue needed to happen, time was critical and could not be wasted. Li Muzhan, meanwhile, began to equip himself.

Everyone pitched in. "You get the water skins!" "I'll fetch dry rations!" Someone else ran to his quarters and brought out the iron armor. Scarlet Shadow allowed no one near, so Li Muzhan personally led the horse out of the stable, saddled it, affixed his Flying Dragon Spear to his side, and cinched his long saber. The middle-aged man named Hao followed him, explaining the terrain and locations. Li Muzhan nodded occasionally, then asked for an old garment—the tunic of one of the four captured men. Xiong Sihai stepped forward, unhooked the long saber from his own waist, and handed it over. "Great Monk, use my saber! *,,," Li Muzhan took it, drew the blade, and a chilling cold swept toward him. He inwardly praised, "A fine sword!" Xiong Sihai chuckled, "This is my family's inherited 'Seat-Slicing Saber.' It can slice water into mud. It’s perfect for killing Black Eagle Cavalry!" Li Muzhan smiled, returned the blade to its sheath, swapped it for the long saber at his waist, took the water skins and dry rations everyone had prepared, secured them on the saddle, and finally allowed others to help him put on the iron armor.

Just then, the sound of hooves approached. Zhao Shengli returned in a hurry. Before his horse even stopped, he leaped off, rushed a few steps toward Li Muzhan, and handed him a token. Zhao Shengli said, "This is the pass token. With this, you can open the city gates! ************" Li Muzhan nodded, examining it. The token was black and cold, inscribed on both sides with a dragon entwined in clouds and mist, making the creature appear vividly lifelike.

Li Muzhan turned and smiled. "I’ll be right back. Everyone, don't look so glum." They all stood stone-faced, watching him deeply—their expressions solemn and tragic, reminiscent of a farewell at Yishui, where the wind howls mournfully. Zhao Shengli said, "Monk, whatever you do, don't overexert yourself. If you can't win, run... Alas, facing the Black Eagle Cavalry, running might be impossible!" He stamped his foot, showing his unwillingness to accept it. "Maybe we should just forget it!" Li Muzhan fastened the two quivers for his arrows, looked up, and laughed, "Once a military order is given, how can one go back on it? Sergeant Zhao, rest assured. I still want to hear you lecture on military strategy!" Zhao Shengli retorted fiercely, "You brat, you absolutely must come back!" "That is a given!" Li Muzhan smiled, vaulted onto his horse, saluted the assembled men, and said, "My brothers, until we meet again!" With that, he spurred his horse out of the training yard, left the military camp, and headed straight for the South City Gate.

The South City Gate was guarded by two groups totaling twenty men. The leader was a middle-aged man with a composed demeanor and a long scar that nearly missed his eye. He scrutinized Li Muzhan up and down. Li Muzhan met his gaze calmly, saying nothing. The middle-aged man looked at the token, nodded, and loudly ordered the drawbridge lowered.

Li Muzhan galloped out, crossed the moat, and stepped onto the vast grassland. He glanced back. The walls of Soaring Dragon City rose into the clouds, stretching endlessly east and west. Taking such a colossal city was as difficult as ascending to heaven. No wonder Western Zhao could not invade; with such a fortress defending them, the Western Zhao people could not step a foot over the boundary line.

Li Muzhan narrowed his eyes, focusing on his intuition. Then, he pulled the reins, and Scarlet Shadow let out a soft hiss before shooting forth like an arrow. Li Muzhan closed his eyes, looking down with his Void Eye; the area spanning two li was entirely within his sight.

He began to consider whether to use the Vast Sea Divine Art or the military martial arts. After thinking it over, among the military techniques, only the Flying Dragon Spear was viable; the rest were inadequate. And the Flying Dragon Spear technique, when wielded with the Vast Sea Divine Art, lost none of its power; in fact, it gained a bit. After all, while the internal energy cultivated in the military was condensed and powerful, it wasn't as profound as the Vast Sea Divine Art. Comparing the two, the Vast Sea Divine Art still had the edge.

A li away, there was a grove of trees. Li Muzhan spurred his horse toward it and soon reached the woods. He dismounted from Scarlet Shadow, leaped onto a tall pine, settled between the branches, and began circulating the Energy Refining Art. Moments later, his Vast Sea Divine Art fully recovered. His internal energy flowed smoothly throughout his body. He sighed; in terms of nuanced control, the Vast Sea Divine Art was superior. Military internal energy, though vigorous and imposing, lacked the desired level of conscious control—perhaps due to his insufficient overall internal power and unfamiliarity with the technique. Military internal energy didn't focus on a localized area but the whole body. Martial arts internal energy could be channeled to the feet for lightness, or to the arms for strength, serving as an enhancement. Military internal energy, however, enhanced the entire body, making the physique stronger and speed greater, but localized enhancement wasn't as potent as martial arts methods. Both had merits and drawbacks, excelling in different fields; it was impossible to say one was definitively superior.

Li Muzhan was growing increasingly proficient at switching between the two types of internal energy. In just fifteen minutes, his energy recovered, and his flow became light as a feather. He let out a soft cry, and in the distance, a soft neigh answered. Scarlet Shadow burst from the woods, arriving before him like an arrow. Before the horse fully stopped, Li Muzhan floated onto its back and gave a light pat, sending Scarlet Shadow surging forward again.

Li Muzhan closed his eyes, employing divided attention: circulating the Celestial Origin Breathing Method to restore his internal energy while using the Void Eye to observe his surroundings. Within two li, there was no sign of human habitation, only dense woods and some browning wild grass. The entire grassland was empty, somewhat desolate. This area was a perpetual battlefield between the two nations; who would willingly come here? The common folk avoided it at all costs. Only soldiers from both sides would venture here. Soaring Dragon City frequently dispatched scouts to probe Western Zhao’s movements; otherwise, it would be too passive if they were caught unaware when a major army arrived. Western Zhao cavalry often came to test Soaring Dragon City’s defenses, mostly aiming to intercept and kill Da Yan's scouts, hoping to intimidate the city into ceasing reconnaissance. Major battles were rare between the two cities; the last one was ten years ago, but skirmishes occurred constantly, resulting in countless soldiers—especially cavalry—being buried here.

Li Muzhan devoted part of his focus to channeling internal energy into Scarlet Shadow to boost its speed. Strands and wisps of energy drifted in, almost imperceptibly. Li Muzhan’s eyes seemed to trace these fine threads, examining Scarlet Shadow's meridian structure. He discovered that Scarlet Shadow possessed meridians too, though far simpler than a human's, with only eight lines, situated on the legs, balanced between Yin and Yang—concise yet complete. Li Muzhan cautiously injected a wisp of energy into its meridians, directing it into the four hooves. Instantly, its speed increased slightly, as if something was physically pushing it. Simultaneously, he channeled a thread of energy along his own meridians, searching for the horse's Qi Sea.

He currently possessed five Heart Pearls, allowing him to multitask five ways, but he still found it taxing. He withdrew the energy from the horse's legs first to concentrate on locating the Qi Sea. Soon enough, he found it—slightly forward of the center of the horse's belly. He injected a wisp of energy into the Qi Sea, and it was quickly absorbed. He injected more, and it was absorbed again, like a bottomless pit. Li Muzhan paused his infusion after a while to prevent the horse from being overloaded.

However, by then, its speed was already extraordinary, double its previous rate. Scenery rushed toward him and departed with dizzying swiftness; it was true lightning speed. Li Muzhan secretly praised Scarlet Shadow's intelligence. He had only needed to inject energy into its Qi Sea, then let the outward flow enter the four legs, creating a continuous channel. Scarlet Shadow instantly memorized the pathway, allowing the energy to flow directly from the Qi Sea into the legs without Li Muzhan’s constant mediation. Its speed increased further, truly like lightning.

Li Muzhan withdrew his energy, but injected it again after a certain distance—like refueling a car. As long as the energy supply was sufficient, Scarlet Shadow’s speed was incredibly fast. With this speed, Li Muzhan was confident he could catch up to the enemy, so he stopped worrying about the pursuit and began contemplating his own matters: whether he could now practice the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture. The model in his mind was complete, and the movements for the scripture designed. Once this task was done, he would diligently cultivate it; success would bring immense benefits. He wondered how the military internal energy would be affected if the first layer doubled his internal power—would the military energy also double? He pondered this while keeping watch over the two-li radius, never letting his guard down.

Suddenly, he looked up. There was a tiny black speck in the sky. He casually observed it: a goshawk, with feathers as black as ink, a gray head, a curved beak, and piercing eyes. His gaze met the hawk’s. Even from this distance, he sensed its disdain and arrogance. Li Muzhan frowned, feeling something unnatural about the bird; his spirit stirred unpleasantly, clearly marking it as an enemy, not an ordinary goshawk. It hovered high above, hundreds of meters up. Li Muzhan was helpless; even his formidable Cloud-Piercing Arrows couldn't reach it. Removing it would require waiting for a moment of inattention. It must be a hawk-messenger for the Western Zhao forces. He recalled Sergeant Hao saying this hawk served as the eyes and ears of the Black Eagle Cavalry, meaning that with it present, the Black Eagle Cavalry would discover its target early. Li Muzhan mused that with this hawk available, the Black Eagle Cavalry might just deliver themselves to him, saving him trouble.

He rode for another hour, then signaled Scarlet Shadow to slow down, returning to a normal pace, though he continued to channel energy into its Qi Sea. Scarlet Shadow had learned to control the flow, preventing it from draining into its legs. Li Muzhan was astounded; Scarlet Shadow was truly intelligent. He failed to realize this was due to his five Heart Pearls creating a channel for psychic communication. Scarlet Shadow could directly sense his thoughts without him needing to speak. If it were another person, they wouldn't be able to do what Scarlet Shadow did; the five Heart Pearls elevated his mind connection to a higher level.

Scarlet Shadow was brimming with energy, restrained by the slow pace, occasionally letting out a soft hiss of protest and yearning, which Li Muzhan suppressed. It was noon now. Li Muzhan estimated he had covered nearly thirty li but still hadn't caught up to the group, indicating their speed was also extraordinary. As for the direction—whether he was mistaken—he had no doubt. His intuition was startlingly accurate now, allowing him to faintly sense their direction. Moreover, having the old garment made his instincts even sharper, like a hound’s nose.

He sighed inwardly, realizing he had miscalculated. The goshawk was signaling overhead, but the Black Eagle riders weren't pursuing him; they were letting him wander freely. He stopped, letting Scarlet Shadow rest. He placed his left palm on the horse’s back, continuously circulating internal energy to restore its fatigue. Yet, Scarlet Shadow showed no fatigue; its eyes were bright, and it kept hissing softly. After fifteen minutes, Li Muzhan set off again. He chased for another full hour before the Void Eye finally spotted the group. He immediately opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.

He saw twenty black-armored riders, forty horses, and four figures lying on the ground being dragged by their mounts, clearly in agony, yet still breathing. Li Muzhan closed his eyes again and looked intently, clearly seeing the four men wearing the iron armor of the Elite Cavalry Battalion, their faces covered in blood and grime, muscles twisted in unbearable pain. Li Muzhan knew they were being burned by the friction of their armor against the ground. Dragged like this without their armor, their skin would have long since been flayed, and they would be dead. The armor, however, heated up from the constant rubbing against the earth. He also noticed their arms and legs were dangling uselessly; their hands and feet were mangled masses of flesh, clearly indicating their tendons had been severed. Even if they survived, they would be crippled.

An unnameable rage rose in Li Muzhan’s heart. Though his mind was as still as water, seeing such a sight stoked his anger and brought forth a chilling killing intent. The twenty riders were not moving quickly, yet the sight of their black armor, black cloaks, and helmets obscuring everything but their eyes—eyes that were cold and sinister, radiating a chilling air—was deeply unsettling. Looking down with his Void Eye, he felt a shock; the Elite Cavalry Battalion was far inferior to these men.

Scarlet Shadow, being faster, was steadily closing the gap. He simultaneously scanned the surroundings for any ambush. The goshawk continued to circle, tracking him closely, which made him uneasy; he suspected a trap. At about two hundred meters, he suddenly drew his bow and shot an arrow, employing the Arrow Control Art. A dark streak shot out. With a clang, one rider fell.

Li Muzhan frowned slightly. That rider’s reaction speed was incredible. As soon as the arrow appeared, he twisted his body and swung his saber, slicing the incoming projectile. A normal arrow could be blocked by such a cut, but he used the Flying Cloud Arrow technique; the arrow carried immense internal force, making the single shot equivalent to a heavy hammer blow. He drew his bow again; a sharp whistle, like ghostly wails, accompanied the dark streak as it flew. Bang! With a dull thud, another rider was sent flying from his horse. The two fallen men lay still. The arrows carried such massive internal force upon impact that they penetrated deeply; under normal circumstances, this impact alone would be fatal to anyone who wasn't a martial arts master.

Li Muzhan loosed arrow after arrow, firing four in the blink of an eye. The Black Eagle Cavalry let out a high-pitched cry that pierced the clouds, then suddenly veered, circled wide, and charged back, shooting their own arrows. In that moment, the distance between the two groups shrank to a hundred meters. Their archery skill was immense, and their shots carried significant threat when they reached Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan laughed loudly and waved his sleeve—a gentle sweep—and the incoming arrows all turned and plunged into his sleeve. The Flying Cloud Arrows whistled past, each one like the Grim Reaper's scythe, claiming a life, yet none could evade his technique. The enemy riders, skilled in horsemanship, all tucked themselves beneath their horses’ bellies. Li Muzhan reluctantly stopped shooting arrows. These were fine horses; he hated to kill them. If he could capture them, the benefits would be endless.

During this brief delay, twelve Black Eagle Cavalry riders closed the distance. Streaks of potent arrows flew toward him but failed to penetrate Li Muzhan’s Heartless Sleeve. With a wave and a draw, he collected the arrows and slotted them into the quiver strapped to his saddle. They stopped aiming at Li Muzhan and shot at Scarlet Shadow instead. Li Muzhan merely flicked his sleeve, recapturing the arrows. Scarlet Shadow remained unharmed but grew enraged, charging toward one rider and snapping its jaws, attempting to bite the horse.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared. The twelve men sprang out from beneath their horses, leaping into the air to form a circle around Li Muzhan. Twelve curved sabers flashed with cold light, descending upon his head. Li Muzhan noticed their gazes remained cold and placid, showing no emotion even after being struck by arrows—as if they were weary of life itself, which sent a chill down his spine. Li Muzhan understood: these men had devolved into killing machines, numb to the lives of others and indifferent to their own. He felt a sense of sorrow—this was a distortion of humanity. Yet, he was also furious: four of his Elite Cavalry comrades had been crippled, and if he hadn't arrived, one could only imagine the torture they would have endured.

He snorted in anger, swinging his long spear. The tip carved a silver ribbon of light, as swift as lightning. Clang, clang, clang—in a series of crisp sounds, the twelve men were all thrown back. Li Muzhan used his force skillfully, borrowing momentum to counter, increasing the power on his spear with every parry of a saber blow, amplified by his original strength. The resulting recoil was astonishing.