A sudden call startled him, asking if he was someone from the Shu Mountain Sect, which greatly surprised Ye Wen. But upon looking closely, he saw the man was clad in armor and mounted on a magnificent warhorse, instantly making him realize this was a Heavenly General from the Celestial Court's army. He couldn't fathom why they had sought him out here.

"I am Ye Wen of Shu Mountain. May I inquire as to the General's name?"

The other man spurred his horse forward until he was close enough. Hearing that the person before him was indeed Ye Wen, he immediately dismounted and clasped his fists in salute: "This humble general serves under King Renyou. I have come specifically seeking the Immortal Ye!"

"Hmm?" Upon learning he was under Erlang Shen's command, Ye Wen wasn't surprised that someone had tracked him down to Shu Mountain. But wasn't Yang Jian fighting the Buddhist Realm in the west? Why send someone to look for him?

However, there was no need to dwell on the question; he simply asked the man directly. What the young general said next startled Ye Wen: "True Lord requests that Immortal Elder Ye proceed to the front lines!"

"For what specific reason?"

"This humble general does not know!" The commander never once looked up; he was certainly respectful enough toward Ye Wen, but such an answer left Ye Wen utterly perplexed.

"Why would Yang Jian want me?" He turned the possibilities over in his mind but found no clear answer. He turned to Artemis and said, "The True Lord Erlang specifically sent someone for me; it's likely not a minor matter. Don't come with me this time. Since we are already at the threshold, you should return alone first, and perhaps inform Junior Sister and Huayi as well!"

Artemis was about to say something, but Ye Wen silenced her with a look!

"Alright, come back early!"

Ye Wen smiled, "Don't worry, I still have the communicator. If anything happens, I will contact you!"

Hearing this, Artemis finally relaxed and descended alone toward the entrance of Shu Mountain.

Once the Moon Goddess departed, Ye Wen glanced at Lü Bu. The Marquis Wen merely tilted his neck and stated plainly, "Wherever Immortal Ye goes, I shall follow!"

Knowing Lü Bu's stubborn streak, Ye Wen dispensed with further talk, nodded, and made a gesture to the general: "General, please lead the way!"

"Sect Leader Ye, follow me this way!"

Mounting his warhorse, the general galloped straight toward the west, never once considering whether Ye Wen could keep up, as he deemed it an impossibility.

In reality, it was hardly the case. Ye Wen unleashed a burst of sword light, enveloping Lü Bu within it, and easily kept pace behind the general.

One could see a warhorse’s hooves treading upon clouds, the rhythmic clatter still audible, as they sped across the high sky. Trailing not far behind was a streak of purple brilliance, which from below looked as if a bolt of purple silk had cleaved the heavens in two.

Such a spectacle naturally drew attention, but this territory had already been cleared by the Celestial Court's forces. Only a few patrolling Heavenly Soldiers saw them, and upon reaching the leading general, they naturally did not dare to approach for questioning. Thus, in no time at all, Ye Wen reached the encampment of the main Celestial Army without obstruction.

Arriving there, Ye Wen finally understood that although Immortals and Buddhas possessed divine and wondrous methods in warfare, when deploying troops, they still needed to establish their camps in suitable locations.

Since there were no suitable peaks in this frontline area, both sides arrayed their forces on the ground. However, numerous troops were also stationed in the heavens. For a moment, whether looking up or down, one was surrounded by soldiers; weapons of every kind—spears, pikes, swords, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks—were visible everywhere. Occasionally, the sound of fighting would drift from a distance, signaling that some skirmish had broken out between two groups of soldiers. Yet, the troops within the great camp seemed accustomed to it, remaining unconcerned and continuing their duties.

Following the guiding general, they flew deep into the camp. Ye Wen dispersed his sword light, gliding low, and only landed when the man ahead halted.

"The True Lord awaits you in the main tent. Sect Leader Ye, please proceed," the general said, stepping aside and gesturing toward a large tent.

Ye Wen wasted no time and moved toward the tent. However, the moment he lifted the curtain, a wave of medicinal fragrance flooded his lungs.

Looking up, he saw Yang Jian looking pale and drawn. Though seated upright in the tent, his face lacked color, several bandages wrapped around his body, a pill clutched in his hand, and a bowl of medicinal broth resting on the table.

"Yuanfeng..." To say Ye Wen was not shocked would be a lie! He was quite familiar with Yang Jian's strength; even now, Ye Wen himself wouldn't confidently claim to definitely defeat Yang Jian. Otherwise, the Jade Emperor would not have assigned Yang Jian to guard the west against two formidable enemies.

How had he ended up in such a wretched state? Had the Celestial Army suffered a defeat?

"Sect Leader Ye arrived swiftly!"

Seeing Ye Wen enter, Yang Jian could only manage a wry smile, gesturing to his bandages. "Seeing me in this state, I apologize for Ye Sect Leader's amusement!"

"What happened?" Ye Wen was blunt, entering the tent and taking a seat in an empty spot. His strength had greatly increased, lending him more confidence in his discourse. Furthermore, the relationship between the sects and the Celestial Court in the Immortal Realm was inherently ambiguous, so such directness was acceptable.

Yang Jian certainly didn't fuss over such minor matters. Once Ye Wen was seated, he beckoned a junior officer standing nearby, who immediately went to fetch wine, fruit, and other refreshments.

"The Buddhist Realm does have some skilled individuals. They used a stratagem to lure away my chief generals, then the Five Great Ming Kings set up an encirclement to attack this True Lord, dealing me heavy injuries!"

He finished with a cold laugh, "However, those Five Great Ming Kings probably won't be reassembled!"

Ye Wen was astonished. Yang Jian had fought the Five Great Ming Kings alone, yet managed to kill several of them and escape relatively intact? That level of prowess was truly formidable.

But if that was the case, although Yang Jian was wounded, the enemy hadn't gotten off lightly. It seemed like a mutual heavy blow, meaning the situation was still a stalemate. Ye Wen still didn't know why Yang Jian had summoned him.

Initially, he thought Yang Jian had been ambushed and wounded, and he was called in to stabilize the situation. Now, it seemed more likely that Yang Jian wanted him to lend strength to the Celestial Court to repel the heavily damaged Buddhist Realm in one decisive push.

While he pondered, Yang Jian directly laid out the matter: "But the situation is not entirely in our favor. Those drawn away by the Great Wheel Vajra King and the Peacock King were all severely wounded. Nezha barely escaped with his life, but his injuries are far more severe than mine. I doubt we can rely on him for this battle!"

"Divine Lord Vermilion Bird has gone to Shu Mountain and has not returned. Our side's combat strength loss far exceeds the enemy's!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Wen realized the situation involved Shu Mountain. So, the Divine Lord Vermilion Bird was guarding Shu Mountain, waiting for Dongfang Kui to fully master his cultivation? Was he ignoring the major battle here?

"Surely they didn't summon me just because the Divine Lord Vermilion Bird decided to stay at Shu Mountain?"

This possibility seemed increasingly likely. Ye Wen looked helplessly at Yang Jian, only to see the True Lord Erlang nod in confirmation. "Sect Leader Ye need not worry. You only need to remain here for a while. Once this True Lord's injuries heal, you may depart as you wish!"

He then brought up the matter of Shu Mountain's location, frankly stating that if the Celestial Army collapsed, Shu Mountain would also suffer. Therefore, Ye Wen staying here for a time served a protective function for Shu Mountain.

After Yang Jian finished speaking, Ye Wen considered that it did make sense! If the Buddhist Realm truly defeated the Celestial Army, they would certainly seize the opportunity to advance eastward. Shu Mountain lay nearby, and even if they wanted to flee immediately, it wouldn't be so easy; conflict with the Buddhist army would be inevitable.

Rather than allowing the disciples, who lacked any experience in immortal warfare, to face such danger, it was far better for him to remain here to prevent such an outcome.

He knew people in the army anyway, so he wouldn't lack companionship. Yang Jian needed to focus on recuperating, and he wouldn't see him often anyway. Fortunately, the Celestial Army lacked many things, but it never lacked miraculous elixirs. With those medicines, his injuries would heal quickly.

The Buddhist side was similar, but Yang Jian had struck hard enough to trade his severe injuries for the deaths of several Ming Kings. Those casualties were irreversible; severe injuries could be treated, but the dead were truly lost combat power.

If Nezha and the other Celestial generals hadn't also been severely injured by Kong Xuan and the others, the Buddhist Realm might have considered withdrawing this time!

In the following days, Ye Wen wandered aimlessly around the camp, occasionally seeking out Yuan Hong or chatting with Guan Yu. Even that young man, Zhou Guan, had been transferred to the front lines. Ye Wen would grumble, "Hopefully, no conflicts erupt during this period, so once Yang Jian heals, I can return to Shu Mountain!"

Yet, every time Ye Wen thought this, the exact opposite of his wishes tended to occur.

One day, Ye Wen sat bored in the main tent, contemplating whether he should call Junior Sister and the others for a chat, when a thunderous roar echoed from the sky outside: "You whelp Yang Jian, come out and fight me!"

Hearing this roar, even though he didn't know who was issuing the challenge, Ye Wen knew Yang Jian would not leave the camp. This time, the task might fall to him.

Indeed, before he could rise, a junior officer rushed in: "Immortal Elder Ye, True Lord requests your presence!"

"I'm coming right away!"

He rose and walked a short distance from his tent, only to see Yang Jian already fully armored, squinting, holding his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Halberd, standing before the main tent. At his feet was Xiaotian Quan, and on his shoulder perched Putian Ying. Looking at that imposing figure, who would suspect he was gravely wounded?

Seeing Ye Wen arrive, Yang Jian nodded toward him, then pointed toward the distant sky: "It's the Monkey of Battle Victory, that monkey! Since achieving Buddhahood, his power has somewhat diminished, but he remains incredibly troublesome. It seems this engagement will require the favor of Sect Leader Ye!"

His words were clear: if it were an ordinary opponent, Yang Jian could easily have sent a subordinate to deal with it while Ye Wen watched for amusement before leaving.

But this opponent was not easy to handle. Yang Jian, being unwell, could not engage directly, nor could he allow the enemy to see the extent of his injuries. Thus, the best course of action was to have someone else take up the fight—and win!

The safest choice was naturally Ye Wen, which was the primary reason Ye Wen was kept here.

Knowing this battle was unavoidable, Ye Wen nodded, about to agree, when Lü Bu, who had been accompanying him, suddenly asked, "Is this man very powerful?"

As he spoke, he shielded his eyes and looked up into the sky. Having become a Divine General, his eyesight was far beyond ordinary people. Combined with his already excellent vision, which had been greatly enhanced after his promotion, even from this distance, he could see clearly.

In the high sky, the man stood on seven-colored auspicious clouds, clad in golden chainmail, wearing a Phoenix-Winged Purple-Gold Crown, and wielding a golden-glowing staff that he tossed and swung with imposing majesty!

Just by observing his bearing, Lü Bu recognized this man was extraordinary. Furthermore, Yang Jian asking Ye Wen to step in confirmed the opponent's formidable strength. Although Lü Bu had been somewhat wayward since receiving his title as a Divine General, at his core, he was still the Marquis Wen who dominated battlefields. Now, he felt a keen desire to test his mettle, looking eager for a fight.

Ye Wen turned back and, seeing Lü Bu's demeanor, understood his intentions. Lü Bu had been feeling pent up lately, and allowing him an outlet might be beneficial. However, this particular opponent seemed quite unsuitable.

"This is the Victorious Fighting Buddha, a spiritual monkey nurtured by Heaven and Earth, who achieved his current greatness after arduous trials. His fame is known throughout the Immortal Realm!"

While he didn't explicitly state how much stronger this person was than Lü Bu, Lü Bu could discern that Ye Wen was subtly warning him that this opponent was not the right match for him... unsuitable!

However, Lü Bu was also a proud individual. Upon hearing this, he felt less like abandoning the challenge and more like his fighting spirit was ignited: "If he isn't strong, what's the point of the fight? I, Marquis Wen, shall take this challenge!"

In truth, among the various Divine Generals of the Celestial Realm, how many were not fiercely arrogant? Take Qin Qiong, or Guan Yu, for instance! But those individuals had spent so long in the Immortal Realm that their proud resolve had been mostly worn away. The difference between the truly powerful and the weak in this world was terrifyingly vast; even with their already considerable strength, a true powerhouse could destroy them with a single finger.

Under such circumstances, anyone still maintaining their pride was simply foolish.

Lü Bu, having arrived for too short a time and always staying by Ye Wen's side, had witnessed some powerful figures, but in his mind, the gap between himself and those figures was not yet irreversible. Thus, his pride remained intact. Ye Wen’s well-intentioned words served as the perfect goad, further solidifying Lü Bu's resolve to fight.

Since Lü Bu was determined to enter the fray, the others felt there was little to say. Guan Yu was familiar with his temperament and let it be, while others, unfamiliar with him, saw no point in trying to persuade him.

Yang Jian felt that a general who disobeyed orders—whether he lived or died was of little consequence—but if he survived, he would at least learn what the Immortal Realm was truly like this time.

Only Ye Wen, who shared some acquaintance with Lü Bu, said after seeing his determination to fight: "Since that is settled, I will provide support from the rear!"

He paused, thinking this was still insufficient: "Whether you choose to admit it or not, there is a considerable gap between your strength and that monkey's. Furthermore, the Victorious Fighting Buddha’s entire array of equipment is no mere decoration; they are rare treasures. To go up just like that would put you at too great a disadvantage. While these few items aren't the absolute pinnacle, they should be serviceable for now. Make do with these!"

Saying this, Ye Wen first took out a long spear and presented it to Lü Bu: This was the Seven Star General Slaying Spear, though it wasn't the one seized from Earth, but a new refinement made by Zheng Ying using Immortal Realm materials based on the original design. Its power was far greater than the captured version.

Although Lü Bu usually used a Fang Tian Hua Ji, this spear was wielded similarly, and he accepted it readily when Ye Wen offered it without hesitation.

Then, after a moment of thought, he produced a set of armor.

The others didn't find the armor particularly remarkable, but Lü Bu's expression soured: "Why is it green?"

The armor was entirely emerald green. Lü Bu disliked the color, which in itself wasn't a major issue, but Guan Yu was standing nearby. Guan Yu shot Lü Bu a glare: "What's wrong with green? If Marquis Wen dislikes it, perhaps you could gift this set of armor to Guan Yu? I find it quite pleasing to my eyes!"

Ye Wen glanced over and saw Guan Yu’s eyes practically glowing green; he truly seemed to love the armor. Thinking about it, there was no surprise. This set was acquired from Zheng Ying, who had forged several sets of Divine Armor. What Ye Wen held was the Heavenly King Divine Armor. The armor in question, entirely emerald green with dragon scale-like patterns, featured a dragon head as the left pauldron—it perfectly matched Guan Yu's tastes, explaining why the Second Master's eyes lit up the moment he saw it.

Since Lü Bu disliked it and Guan Yu wasn't the one fighting, Ye Wen casually flipped his hand and produced a set of red armor. This time, Lü Bu didn't show aversion. After examining it from top to bottom, he seemed quite satisfied. He casually asked Ye Wen how to wear it and then donned the Divine Armor.

"A pity there's no cloak; that would make it perfect!"

After putting on the armor, Lü Bu first patted his left side, then his right, finally looking at the pauldron on his left shoulder, which looked like a beast's head with a single horn, resembling a horse's head.

Then, reaching out, he found that the Divine Armor came with a matching shield, not large, but sufficient for defense. Touching the shield again, he found something stored inside. He pulled it out: a strange weapon about the length of a forearm, slender overall, with one end shaped like an unopened lotus bud.

"What is this?"

"This weapon is called the Lotus Brand. It’s considered an unusual exotic weapon. Besides being usable as a short club, it contains a sharp spike that can be ejected, connected by a silk thread!"

Lü Bu examined it, then casually tucked the weapon away: "I don't like this one; this feels better!" He hefted the Seven Star General Slaying Spear and immediately soared into the sky, preparing to engage the Victorious Fighting Buddha.

Ye Wen and the others followed closely behind. Zhou Guan, who had also been present, finally approached Ye Wen and whispered beside him, "This... is that armor suitable for that general?"

Ye Wen felt a dark line form on his forehead. He replied only, "It's a temporary measure; just use it for now!"

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