Had Ye Huangyu not known this person's true nature beforehand, she might have been fooled by Hong Fang's words.

"Great General, you flatter me too much. I am but a wastrel, not fit for such great responsibilities." Nie Fengxing sneered inwardly.

If he couldn't see through such petty tricks from Hong Fang, he had no business mixing in the official circles.

Hong Fang's face stiffened, and finally, he made a resolute decision.

"General Nie, what exactly would it take for you to be willing to go to Qi City to discuss our plans?"

"General," Ye Huangyu also cast a meaningful glance to Nie Fengxing. Given Hong Fang's pettiness, if Nie Fengxing did not agree, the other party would definitely try to harm him in secret.

Nie Fengxing knew when to stop; how could he be unaware of the situation on the Xixia Plain?

The deaths of a few arrogant and ignorant generals didn't matter much, but if innocent soldiers and civilians were also dragged down and killed, he, Nie Fengxing, would become a sinner of the ages.

"It's simple: equality for all, a joint consultation on military affairs, and the establishment of a fair merit and penalty system."

Nie Fengxing downed the medicine given by Ye Huangyu in one gulp, winking at her.

After pondering for a moment, Hong Fang nodded, agreeing to Nie Fengxing's request.

Nie Fengxing then "sickened," leading an army of three thousand to Qi City.

Upon arrival at Qi City, Nie Fengxing promulgated a series of military orders, and both Hong Fang and Xia Houhong could only follow suit.

The new Daxia military orders were as follows:

Encourage all citizens to kill enemies; any civilian or soldier who makes great achievements during the Xixia beast chaos will be rewarded.

The new reward and punishment mechanism categorizes military exploits into three levels:

Special grade: Kill a Peak Spirit Beast above ninth grade.

First-level: Kill more than ten High-grade Spiritual Beasts.

Second-level: Kill more than ten Middle-stage Spiritual Beasts.

Third-level: Kill more than ten Low-grade Spiritual Beasts.

Accumulating ten third-level merits can be promoted to team leader; accumulating ten second-level merits can be promoted to Colonel. Accumulating ten first-level merits can be promoted to General.

Accumulating three special grade merits can be bestowed as a noble among civilians.

Once the orders were issued, it swept across the Xixia Plain like a hurricane.

Especially within the army, those old soldiers who had served for years all saw a grand path to promotion and fortune. They were keen to clash fists and rub palms, each one eagerly heading to the frontline to hunt beasts; the previously demoralized, fearful-of-death state was reversed overnight.

"Nie Fengxing is truly a military genius."

Even Dan City, relatively stable in the Xixia Plain, received this news; Ye Lingyue couldn't help but praise after seeing the new military orders.

Under heavy rewards, there must be brave men; this is an eternal truth.

Moreover, this military order also included civilians as well as some of the private military contractors and Martial Artists, allowing these people to join the massive force hunting beasts, no doubt greatly reducing the army's casualties.

Perhaps in the art of scheming, Nie Fengxing could not match Hong Fang, but in military operations, Nie Fengxing was absolutely a military genius. Perhaps in Daxia, only Lan Yingwu could compare with him.

"With such generous rewards, even I'm feeling tempted; I want to rush to the frontlines to kill some Spiritual Beasts, accumulate some military exploits, and snag the position of a Captain," Lan Cai'er, having seen the military order, was also very eager.

She was well aware that with her current strength, killing a high-grade or a Ninth-grade Peak Spiritual Beast was clearly impossible; that at least required the prowess of a Martial Artist in the Reincarnation Realm.

But killing a few middle-stage Spiritual Beasts and accumulating military merits to reach Fifth-grade Captain was still within her reach.

"Save your troubles and concentrate on your cultivation. Who was it that said they wanted to break through to the Great Primordial Dan Realm and claim a spot on the Qing Province Elixir List?" Ye Lingyue teased.

Ever since Ye Lingyue made a name for herself on the Qing Province Elixir List, Lan Cai'er had been greatly stimulated, declaring that as a sister, she absolutely could not lose to her younger sister, Ye Lingyue.

Lan Cai'er began to cultivate with determination, and in this half-month period, her cultivation had also increased substantially. She might break through to the Great Primordial Dan Realm any day now.

"The Qing Province Elixir List is a must, and I also aim to become a Fifth-grade Captain - that's what I call a win-win for fame and fortune. But I'd better listen to you and break through to the Great Primordial Dan Realm first. In a few days, the remnants of the Jin Wu Sect will be executed at the city gates, so we need to be cautious," Lan Cai'er put away her joking demeanor, her expression becoming somber.

Su Mu was dead, and the new City Guardian General had not yet been assigned; Dan City's defenses were currently weak.

Lan Cai'er worried that the remnants of the Jin Wu Sect, not yet giving up, might once again come knocking.

"You don't need to worry about that. The court has already issued an Imperial Decree stating that a new General will arrive to take up the post tomorrow afternoon," Ye Lingyue said. Holding two positions, both as Cauldron Master and being attentive to Dan City's defense, she indeed had her hands full.

Fortunately, the appointment of the new City Guardian General from the court came just in time to relieve Ye Lingyue of her immediate worries.

The next afternoon, indeed, a troop of the Daxia Army arrived at Dan City.

"I am Zhang Lou, acting on the orders of the court, I've come to take up the post of General of Dan City," the new arrival was a military leader in his early thirties, with thick eyebrows, a square face, and a robust figure, his cultivation roughly around that of the Great Primordial Dan Realm.

"General Zhang, we have been waiting for many days. From now on, we rely on the General to co-guard Dan City," Ye Lingyue was also very polite.

The two exchanged pleasantries.

As General Zhang entered the city with his soldiers, passing by Ye Lingyue, a glint of murderous intent flashed across his eyes, but it was so subtle that even the keen Ye Lingyue failed to notice.

That night, Ye Lingyue held a banquet to entertain the newly arrived General Zhang.

After three rounds of drinks, General Zhang suddenly noticed Little Zhiyo, who was diligently nibbling at a roasted chicken leg on Ye Lingyue's table.

The sight of Little Zhiyo caused General Zhang's eyes to shine, and he couldn't help but stand up.

"Cauldron Master Ye, is this Spiritual Beast yours?"

"Zhiyo~" Originally perched on Ye Lingyue's body, Little Zhiyo glared at him in anger.

Little Zhiyo was always very wary of strangers. Ye Lingyue patted its little head, signaling it to be polite.

"It's one I've raised by my side since it was little," Ye Lingyue replied casually.

"This is no ordinary Spiritual Beast, it looks like a very rare species," General Zhang remarked, and reached out his hand, intending to touch Little Zhiyo.

However, Little Zhiyo suddenly screamed in extreme disgust and bit General Zhang's fingertip, biting it until blood was dripping.

"Zhiyo!" Ye Lingyue exclaimed in shock. Although Little Zhiyo was shy, it rarely attacked people.

What happened this time?

"Zhiyo (It stinks; this person has the stench of a corpse on him)," Little Zhiyo made a disgusted gesture as if wanting to vomit.

With that comment from Little Zhiyo, Ye Lingyue looked at General Zhang again, only to see him quickly cover the wound on his finger.

But Ye Lingyue still keenly caught a glimpse of the blood oozing out of the wound, which was dark red, almost black.

How could the blood of a living person be this color?

Doubts began to surface in Ye Lingyue's mind.