"Heh, that's true. Regardless, thank you for saving me. Stay and lend me your strength from now on. But can you tell me how those mechanism beasts are forged? Besides your Zhuge family, are there any other factions that possess them?" Ye Jingyu reflected; the notion of destiny was too ethereal. All he needed to do was tightly grasp the present; what did the rest matter?

"Besides our Zhuge family, the Lu family also knows how to forge mechanism beasts. In fact, their primary occupation is forging all manner of mechanism beasts, and our Zhuge family only dabbles in it to pass the time..." Zhuge Yishi continued speaking calmly.

"To pass the time?" Ye Jingyu was momentarily perplexed.

"Yes. Wenqu for Zhuge, Wudou for Xuanyuan. Our Zhuge family excels at strategy and counsel; these mechanism beasts are merely unorthodox side pursuits," Zhuge Yishi stated with considerable pride. To be ranked alongside the Xuanyuan family, who held the title of supreme combat prowess, certainly provided ample reason for arrogance. (Read the full text novel at .1.(1.m.wenxue.net)

Following this, Zhuge Yishi imparted further knowledge about the mechanism beasts to Ye Jingyu.

It turned out that in this world, besides Soul Masters and Martial Artists, there existed other professions. Mechanists were one such group. They possessed neither powerful soul arts nor formidable martial skills, yet the mechanism beasts they forged wielded extremely potent combat power. Legends even spoke of a supreme expert from the Lu family who once forged a super mechanism beast capable of slaying a Martial Saint.

Forging a mechanism beast was by no means simple. It required finding metals capable of autonomously absorbing the energy of heaven and earth; only this could resolve the beast’s energy consumption issues. Besides rare metals, the Mechanist's own knowledge was critically important.

Most standard mechanism beasts could execute attack commands received from their Mechanist. However, legends suggested that some super mechanism beasts possessed their own consciousness, making them even more terrifying than an intelligent computer.

Yet, across the entire Douhun Continent, only the Zhuge and Lu families could forge mechanism beasts. Since both families traditionally kept to themselves and avoided worldly affairs, mechanism beasts were exceedingly rare on the Douhun Continent, almost impossible to encounter.

However, Zhuge Yishi subtly hinted to Ye Jingyu that behind the Tianyuan Empire, there existed an extremely powerful yet profoundly mysterious sect—the Yuanling Cult—which likely possessed a large number of mechanism beasts. This, however, was merely speculation from the Zhuge family, lacking any concrete proof.

Having roughly grasped the fundamental principles behind manufacturing mechanism beasts, Ye Jingyu dimly realized they were essentially super intelligent automatons. This world was indeed vastly different from what he had imagined. How many more secrets awaited his discovery?

Regardless, having a sage like Zhuge Yishi by his side was undeniably a good thing, especially since Zhuge Yishi was naturally candid and hid nothing from him. This honesty had greatly earned Ye Jingyu's favor.

For the days that followed, Ye Jingyu spent almost every moment immersed in cultivation. He knew clearly that the upcoming journey to the Hu Kingdom would be fraught with near-certain death. He could not afford to die; more than that, he had to return laden with honor. Only then could he attain even greater strength.

Whether for revenge or to bestow the utmost happiness upon Luo Ling'er, both required a powerful foundation.

In one month, Ye Jingyu failed to break through. Although the True Qi within him had thickened considerably, he remained stuck at the Martial Master realm. His Soul Power was still at the Condensing Soul realm, though it had consolidated significantly, and the color of the "Raging Tyrant Battle Mark" he emitted had deepened considerably.

As for the army of over ten thousand composed of martial arts practitioners, under the tutelage of Chen Qi, Bieli, Ye Longyi, Yue Youqun, and Ying Xiaoxiao, while their rogue spirit remained, they had now acquired the bearing of an army. At the very least, they understood formations and tactics.

Zhuge Yishi had also not been idle. He managed nearly all the administrative matters, large and small, of the State Protector's Residence, saving Ye Jingyu a significant amount of time.

His talent was fully showcased here. In just one month, the State Protector's Residence had genuinely transitioned from a nouveau riche household into the true aristocratic circle. At the very least, the princes and nobles had begun to grudgingly accept the reality of Ye Jingyu, a man who had risen to the rank of Great General overnight, without the outright ostracism or petty sabotage he previously faced.

Furthermore, Zhuge Yishi had improved the army's heavy crossbows, increasing their power by a full thirty percent.

All of this was merely the tip of the iceberg of his strategic genius.

One month passed quickly. During this period, Luo Ling'er had only visited three times, and each time she was accompanied by Luo Ruofeng. Following that assassination attempt, Luo Xiaofeng would not allow her to leave the palace unaccompanied. Nevertheless, every visit brought Ye Jingyu immeasurable joy.

Today was the official day of Ye Jingyu's departure. He wore a suit of silver-white Fanged Armor, his long black hair flowing behind him, mounted atop a jet-black warhorse. Guarded by eighty Scarlet Yi tribesmen and twenty Fox Yan tribe archers, he swaggered from the State Protector's Residence to the military camp. Upon entering, he saw the more than ten thousand soldiers standing rigidly arrayed in five formations, their faces etched with solemnity and gravity—gone was the lazy demeanor from just over a month ago.

"Your subordinate, Chen Qi..."

"Your subordinate, Bieli..."

"Your subordinate, Ye Longyi..."

"Your subordinate, Yue Youqun..."

"Your subordinate, Ying Xiaoxiao..."

"Leading all the soldiers of the Iron Army, we salute the General..." Seeing Ye Jingyu ride in on horseback, the five men standing at the forefront—Chen Qi and the rest—stepped forward simultaneously, kneeling before Ye Jingyu on one knee. Behind them, the more than ten thousand men standing in five formations also knelt on one knee, their armor clanking with a crisp sound as an intense might surged skyward.

Sensing this formidable presence, sensing the Iron Army, so utterly transformed from a month prior, a faint smile touched Ye Jingyu’s lips. This was an army, a genuine army. When they returned from the battlefield, they would have matured into a true Iron Army, an army truly his own.

Luo Xiaofeng, you wish to use this knife to kill them; how can I grant your wish?

Xiao Geng, though you set ten thousand traps, why should I fear you?

"Generals, rise," Ye Jingyu's voice rang out with powerful resonance, and a towering fighting spirit erupted skyward.