He felt a sudden urge to turn around immediately, pull Luo Ling'er into a tight embrace, and never let go, yet he fiercely suppressed the impulse.

He understood that his current strength was insufficient; he was not yet capable of confronting the Destruction Demons. If he acted rashly now, only one outcome awaited him: annihilation.

Even if his physical body wouldn't truly perish, if he sustained grievous injuries, it would take thousands of years to recover. By then, would Ling'er still be there?

“Does the Princess have any further commands?” Though his heart overflowed with profound emotion, with the tender sentiments of a lingering melody, though the woman he loved stood right before him, reachable with a single extended hand, yet not only could he not embrace her, but he had to feign utter indifference. What a brutally cruel agony this was.

“If you have time, come visit me here often, alright?” Although Ye Jingyu masked his feelings well, for some unknown reason, Ling always sensed that his heart carried an immense weight of sorrow.

Hearing Ling’s invitation, Mu, standing nearby, registered a flash of surprise, but quickly regained his composure. Princess Ling was simply too lonely; there wasn't another human here. She needed friends, a human friend.

“Yes, as long as I’m free, I will certainly come see you!” Ye Jingyu nodded heavily, preparing to step away, when Ling’er’s voice sounded again from behind him.

“Little Ye Zi…” The voice was crisp, undeniably sweet, yet it struck his chest like a sledgehammer. He should have felt bliss; he should have loved hearing her call him that, so why did it now sound so mournful? Hearing those syllables immediately summoned images of cherished, beautiful memories. Recalling that radiant past made the reality of the present feel starkly desolate, and that pervasive sense of helplessness and powerlessness caused him intense suffering.

“Take good care…” Luo Ling’er seemed to sense the anguish in Ye Jingyu’s heart as well. Seeing his right foot hovering mid-air, she softly spoke the words closest to her heart.

Take good care. Ye Jingyu’s heart trembled once more. Even if she had forgotten him, she still cared deeply for him.

The memories were gone, but the emotions remained. The profound, deep-seated connection between their souls persisted. It needed no explanation, no defense; only the most genuine feeling, perception, and affection were required…

“Thank you, Your Highness. I will certainly take utmost care of myself!” Ye Jingyu pronounced those words with great force, yet three more words were added in the silence of his heart: For you!

Saying nothing further, he suppressed the urge churning within him and walked out with Mu. Watching Ye Jingyu’s slowly receding figure, Luo Ling’er felt an emptiness settle in her chest, accompanied by a faint, growing worry. This feeling was novel, yet simultaneously so familiar, as if it had surfaced often before.

How could she recall that in her previous life, this exact sensation afflicted her every time Ye Jingyu departed for battle?

Ye Jingyu’s heart swelled with craving: a craving for immense power, a craving to establish his own forces, a desperate yearning to rescue Luo Ling’er sooner. He did not return to his residence; instead, he dispatched someone to notify Ni Bo and Xiao Taotao, and then followed Mu toward the Blood Demon Legion’s garrison.

When the several City Lords initiated the Blood Demon Legion formation agreement, they had already begun pooling resources. Thus, aside from the Commander, everything—the soldiers, the military supplies, and even the garrison site—was fully prepared. Ye Jingyu’s arrival as Commander signified the final maturation of the Blood Demon Legion.

The Blood Demon Legion’s headquarters was situated on a plain roughly three hundred kilometers east of Sand City. For Sand City, whose perimeter walls stretched for thousands of li, three hundred kilometers was hardly a significant distance.

Ye Jingyu, Ni Bo, and the others rendezvoused at the East Gate. Boarding the opulent carriage Yuan had gifted him, drawn by eight multicolored divine oxen, they raced eastward.

In mere moments, the group arrived at the legion’s base—a veritable small city carved entirely from stone. Calling it ‘small’ was only in comparison to a grand fortress like Sand City; in reality, its size surpassed that of Yun Jing, the former capital of the Southern Cloud Empire.

The city walls soared ten zhang high. Though heavily weathered, they had not completely collapsed. At the main gate stood two colossal doors fashioned from some unknown material. It was only through Mu’s explanation that Ye Jingyu learned this was indeed a former small city, annihilated by Yuan because its lord had offered insufficient tribute.

Normally, upon the Commander’s arrival, the legion’s officers and soldiers ought to have assembled outside the gates to greet him. However, when Ye Jingyu and his party arrived, there was nothing but empty silence at the gate—not a single figure to be seen.

Ye Jingyu knew this must be the work of those unruly elements attempting to deliver him a harsh welcome—a show of dominance. But he paid them no mind. There were no free lunches in this world; if he wished to build his own power, he needed to exert himself properly.

Mu’s face registered awkwardness. While he had anticipated the reception might be less than ideal, he hadn't expected such an extreme snub. No one emerging to greet them was utterly outrageous.

He was about to speak to Ye Jingyu when Jingyu suddenly leaped down from the carriage and strode directly through the main gate.

As a legion post, many structures within the city had been leveled to create a massive training ground. Only a row of buildings remained intact on the west side, presumably the soldiers' barracks.

Yet, even now, the vast city remained devoid of life. A force of one hundred thousand men, and not one soul left behind in the city? Ye Jingyu’s expression darkened. These men were showing him utter disrespect! Even if they intended to put him in his place, shouldn't they at least make an appearance? But now, not even a supply officer remained. What did this signify? Had the entire army deserted?

Just as Ye Jingyu and Mu stood perplexed, a massive roar erupted from outside the city walls, akin to millions of rhinoceroses stampeding. The very earth shuddered violently, and thick plumes of smoke billowed up, shrouding half the sky. How many men and how many mounts would it take to generate such a spectacle?

Boom! Boom! Loud impacts sounded simultaneously from all four city gates. Immediately afterward, four columns of men, radiating palpable killing intent, charged forward. One figure, massively built—standing at least three zhang tall and riding a great lizard resembling a Tyrannosaurus Rex—galloped directly before Ye Jingyu and his company, bellowing instantly, “What scurrilous vagrants dare trespass upon the Blood Demon Legion’s grounds? Do you court death?” As the words finished, he raised an iron hammer weighing tens of thousands of jin and brought it down ferociously toward Ye Jingyu’s head…

(There will be an update this afternoon. Gold bricks, recommendation tickets, and collections are needed!)