Hong Fang's heart was already filled with envy and resentment towards Nie Fengxing, and now, being blocked by an ordinary soldier evoking Nie Fengxing's name, Hong Fang's aggravation can easily be imagined.

After being scolded by Hong Fang, the Tiger Wolf Army soldier hesitated, but did not immediately make way.

These soldiers from the Tiger Wolf Camp, illiterate and straightforward, didn't care about any titles like Secondary First-rank. For them, on the Xixia Plain, Nie Fengxing was their only boss.

"Insolence." Hong Fang was furious, a surge of Primordial Power already gathering in his palm, ready to strike, when Nie Feng, followed by a soldier, walked up from behind.

"Stop the impudence, let General Hong through."

Only then did the soldier step aside.

Witnessing this, not only did Hong Fang not thank Nie Fengxing, but a cold sneer also lifted at the corner of his mouth.

What a Nie Fengxing, strutting in front of him.

He was curious to see, in the days to come, just how long Nie Fengxing could continue this bravado.

Fuming, Hong Fang entered Black Valley with Nie Fengxing's company.

The Black Valley, once teeming with Spiritual Beasts, was now empty, but corpses of mid to high-level Spiritual Beasts could be seen everywhere, and the stench of char was pervasive.

The once lush valley floor was now completely barren, the dense Ancient Wood and various plants all incinerated clean by the unforeseen meteorite-induced Heavenly Fire.

Seeing the chaos within Black Valley, both Hong Fang and Nie Fengxing were more and more shocked the more they observed.

Especially Nie Fengxing, who could imagine how many Spiritual Beasts had fled the valley due to this natural disaster.

After this incident, it was likely that the beast unrest on the Xixia Plain would become even more severe, and the crises faced by the Tiger Wolf Army would also increase significantly.

"Ahead is the deeper part of Black Valley, once strictly forbidden by the Ancient Three Sects and Nine Schools," Nie Fengxing reached the deeper regions of Black Valley, the territory once occupied by the Cannibal Flower.

Oddly, compared to the outer regions of Black Valley, the deeper forbidden zones had fewer traces of beasts lurking.

Only a huge pit lay before everyone's eyes.

Upon seeing the crater, several dozen feet in diameter, Hong Fang initially felt a wild joy, but then, he realized that the meteorite that should have been with the crater had vanished without a trace.

No meteorite meant no Meteorite Iron either.

"General Nie, what exactly is going on here? I clearly saw a meteor heading towards Black Valley from Qi City last night. Logically, there should be a massive piece of Meteorite Iron here. Meteorite Iron is a possession of the court and must be confiscated." Hong Fang was very dissatisfied.

"General Hong, what do you mean by this? I had prohibitions set up outside this afternoon and can confirm that no one had entered or left Black Valley. If you don't believe me, the brothers from the Tiger Wolf Camp can testify." Nie Fengxing heard him clearly—Hong Fang was obviously suspecting that he had taken the meteorite.

Hong Fang knew that a fallen star turns into Meteorite Iron Stone, and how could Nie Fengxing not know as well.

"Those are all people from the Tiger Wolf Army; who knows if they would take your side," Hong Fang thought of the lost chunk of Meteorite Iron, his heart bleeding.

He was originally planning to use this batch of Meteorite Iron to craft a set of armor, which would give him a greater advantage and accumulate more military achievements when fighting the enemy.

"Hong Fang, make yourself clear. Do you think I, Nie Fengxing, would covet thousands of pounds of Meteorite Iron? If you continue slandering, don't blame me for being impolite," Nie Fengxing, dropping all formalities, said with a chilling gaze.

He was never of good temperament, and Hong Fang's suspicion had directly infuriated him; were it not for the fact that Hong Fang was a newly appointed general of the court, he wouldn't have even bothered to explain.

"I had almost forgotten, General Nie has another identity. Should I address you as General Nie, or Heir Nie?" Hong Fang's tone was dripping with sarcasm.

The reason Hong Fang found Nie Fengxing disagreeable stems not only from Nie overshadowing him in the Xixia Plain area but also due to Nie Fengxing's background.

Nie Fengxing, famed across the Xixia Plain, had another identity before joining the army.

He is the eldest son of Marquis Guanwu, the only progeny of Princess Consort Nie, and the Princely Heir of the Nie Residence.

Although Hong Fang held his status today, his background had always been a thorn in his heart; his mother was merely a foot-washing maid.

When Nie Fengxing was a child, Hong Fang had seen him several times.

Back then, Nie Fengxing was fair and adorable, attracting the Empress and concubines in the palace to vie for holding him during feasts, while Hong Fang could only pretend to be Heir Hong's servant, hiding in a corner and enviously watching Nie Fengxing.

Yet, it was this very Nie Fengxing who, despite being a well-off Princely Heir, abandoned the luxurious life of the Marquis Mansion at the age of a teen to join the desolate frontier forces of Daxia.

Hong Fang thought that someone like him, a pampered young master, wouldn't last long and would flee back to Xia Capital, becoming the laughing stock of everyone.

Yet, Nie Fengxing shockingly disappointed everyone; from a lowly soldier, he climbed to the position of a Third-grade General, and even after Marquis Guanwu ordered his return to Xia Capital, he continued doing his own thing as the Tiger Wolf General.

Moreover, Nie Fengxing, a noble birth mixing among ordinary military leaders, was a rare figure in Daxia, supported by both nobles and the common soldiers.

What Nie Fengxing discarded was precisely what Hong Fang had been desperately pursuing for many years, how could this not make Hong Fang frustrated.

Thus, he naturally harbored animosity towards Nie Fengxing.

"Since the Western Expedition General does not trust the people of Tiger Wolf Camp, we two are not from the Tiger Wolf Camp. You should believe our words, right? Let alone Meteorite Iron Stones, we haven't even seen a single stone," as they were talking, Ye Lingyue and Lan Cai'er approached.

Seeing Ye Lingyue and Lan Cai'er, Hong Fang was dumbstruck, especially at the sight of Ye Lingyue, who was unharmed, wondering why she would appear in Black Valley.

"Princess Ye and Commandery Princess Lan are correct. They both witnessed the meteorite's landing last night with their own eyes. It couldn't be clearer whether I've embezzled anything or not. Does the General think that I could pocket such a large chunk of Meteorite Iron Stone right under the eyes of the two Princesses?" Nie Fengxing looked at Hong Fang with sarcasm.

The staunch advocacy of Ye Lingyue only made Hong Fang even more convinced that the Meteorite must have been embezzled by her and Nie Fengxing.

This young woman, despite her age, had a heart darker than crows; Hong Fang had long been acquainted with her methods.

"Alchemist Ye, why are you in the Black Valley? According to the Imperial Decree of the court, you should be on your way to Dan City for your assignment by now. Leaving Dan City without permission constitutes dereliction of duty, an offense that deserves punishment." Seeing that he couldn't pick out any fault in Nie Fengxing, Hong Fang then turned his spear towards Ye Lingyue.