Ye Qing

Ye Qing . . . 

The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord nodded with a weighty gaze fixed on Qin Wentian. "Remember, the battlefield is nothing like this serene city. Conflict may erupt at any moment, and those who let their guard down will find themselves in the clutches of death. Wentian, should you join the war, you'll be treated on equal footing with others. You must heed every summons. Currently, you lack the strength, achievements, or merit to assume command of a regiment. I cannot show bias; you must comprehend this."

"I am willing to start from the bottom," Qin Wentian replied solemnly. His resolve was unshakable. He would adhere to every protocol and abide by all the laws of the army.

"Excellent. Head to the border between the Thunder and Jing Prefectures. Our forces are stationed in Yuan City. The Eastern Sage Immortal Sect has been relentless in their attempts to seize the city, continuously depleting our forces and preparing for a war of attrition. If they capture the city, they will gain control of Thunder Prefecture. The commander of their forces is none other than the Dream Demon King. The situation is currently unfavorable for us, so exercise extreme caution once you arrive there," the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord instructed. Qin Wentian nodded in agreement. "I understand."

"Very well, prepare yourself. Depart in a month's time," the Emperor Lord declared.

"Understood." Qin Wentian bid his farewell, and with Luo Huan and Qin Yao by his side, they left the Emperor Lord's palace.

"Wentian, are you truly ready to step onto the battlefield?" Qin Yao grasped his arm and inquired. While she hadn't witnessed an immortal war herself, she comprehended the formidable might of immortal-foundation experts. They operated in coordinated teams on the battlefield, making it a truly daunting place.

"Yes, the Dream Demon King will be there, leading his disciples. I must go," Qin Wentian responded with a steely resolve. "Sister Qin Yao, Senior Sister Luo Huan, the individuals who targeted both of you were none other than disciples of the Dream Demon King."

"Be vigilant on the battlefield, don't engage in needless risks, alright?" Luo Huan playfully chided, rolling her eyes at Qin Wentian.

"Understood, Senior Sister," Qin Wentian replied earnestly.

"Hehe, it's good that you understand. You should spend more time with Qingcheng. We'll let you off the hook for now," Luo Huan teased with a smile. The two women then parted ways with Qin Wentian, leaving only Little Rascal trailing behind him.

"We're parting ways once more," Qin Wentian sighed. Over the past seven years, he had shared nearly every waking moment with Qingcheng, exploring the particle worlds at their leisure. Yet, in the immortal realms, separations were an all-too-common occurrence. Many couples found themselves separated by life and death, their weakness preventing them from facing the trials of the immortal realms. Consequently, numerous individuals who had access to cultivation resources chose to wait until reaching the immortal king realm before seeking a dao companion and starting a family.

Returning to his residence, Qin Wentian conveyed the news to Qingcheng. Fully recovered, Qingcheng had no intention of obstructing his decision. She smiled and said, "Go ahead. I will dedicate myself to cultivation. Since experiencing the Sacred Luminance, I've felt a significant boost in my physical prowess. I'll ascend to immortality sooner or later, just like you."

Qin Wentian gently cupped her face and teased, "Oh, you're planning to surpass me, are you?"

"Who says I won't? Maybe I'll surpass you one day," Qingcheng replied with a sweet smile.

"Is that so? Then I'll be eagerly awaiting that day," Qin Wentian retorted, his eyes gleaming with affection as they rested on Qingcheng's radiant visage. Blushing, Qingcheng asked in a hushed voice, "What are you doing?"

"I'm contemplating how my wife is already so breathtakingly beautiful. Once you ascend to immortality and shed your mortal form, how much more stunning will you become? You'll surely enchant every man in the world," Qin Wentian declared with a playful grin, eliciting giggles from Qingcheng. "So, why aren't you properly cherishing this young miss right now?"

"Right, I intend to cherish her thoroughly right now," Qin Wentian declared with a mischievous glint in his eye. In a swift motion, he lifted Qingcheng off her feet and carried her into their room.

Mo Qingcheng let out a surprised cry and made a feeble attempt to resist. But how could her strength contend with Qin Wentian's? She could only cling to his neck, gazing at him with a cascade of emotions in her enchanting eyes. Her flawless, soul-stirring visage sent ripples through Qin Wentian's heart.

"Qingcheng, you are stunningly beautiful," he murmured softly. Mo Qingcheng's face flushed an even deeper shade of red as she buried her head in Qin Wentian's chest, holding him tightly.

Lost in the depths of their emotions, neither of them could bring themselves to let go.

...

A month passed, and Qin Wentian, accompanied by Jun Mengchen, Zi Qingxuan, Purgatory, and Little Rascal, presented their enlistment letters upon reaching Yuan City.

Yuan City stood at the juncture of Thunder Prefecture, adjacent to a vast expanse of desolation. A meandering river, spanning a hundred thousand meters, demarcated the borders between Thunder Prefecture and Jing Prefecture. In the thirteen prefectures, this river marked the dividing line between the territory of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor and the dominion of the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord.

As the impending war loomed, this boundary region was transformed into a battlefield. The Eastern Sage Immortal Sect continually launched probing assaults with their armies over the course of several years, rendering this desolate expanse the final resting place of countless immortals.

Many mortal inhabitants, those below the immortal-foundation stage, had evacuated Yuan City out of fear of being caught in the crossfire. Nevertheless, some immortal experts opted to stay, eager to witness the grand spectacle of an immortal war.

The commander of Yuan City bore the moniker General Ox, an imposing figure standing three meters tall with bulging muscles beneath his long robe. Despite his attire, the outlines of his mighty physique remained discernible. Qin Wentian sensed a familiar aura emanating from the Heavenly Talisman Realm.

General Ox, like Qin Wentian, hailed from the Heavenly Talisman Realm. His strength was unquestionable. Tasked with defending against the Dream Demon King, a renowned war general serving under the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, General Ox faced the looming specter of potential clashes. If he were not sufficiently powerful, the Dream Demon King could launch a silent, deadly sneak attack, eliminating him. Once the opposing commander fell, would there be any need for a battle?

"General," Qin Wentian addressed him as he handed over the jade slip provided by the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord. Here, titles like senior apprentice brother held little sway; this was a battlefield, and General Ox was its commander.

General Ox examined the jade slip and then turned to give Qin Wentian a penetrating look. He nodded in acknowledgment before issuing a command to one of his subordinates, "Attention."

As his command reverberated, a figure approached. General Ox instructed, "Make the necessary arrangements for their deployment in the war, assign them to any random captain."

"Understood," the subordinate replied and directed his gaze toward Qin Wentian and his companions. "Follow me."

"Alright," Qin Wentian agreed, and he trailed behind the man to the barracks. Although the barracks were meant for the army's accommodation, they were relatively well-maintained. Imposing buildings stretched into the distance, their extent so vast that it seemed to have no end in sight.

"Ye Qing," the man called out when they reached a courtyard. Soon, an immortal-foundation expert clad in fiery armor approached. Her figure was full, exuding a sense of allure, and her features were exquisite. While she might not be considered the epitome of beauty, she was undeniably attractive. Her armor accentuated her curves and bestowed her with an air of authority.

"I pay my respects to General Lan," Ye Qing bowed.

"Captain Ye, these few individuals will be under your command," General Lan said, indicating Qin Wentian and his comrades. Ye Qing surveyed them and nodded in acknowledgment. "Understood."

"From now on, you will follow Captain Ye's orders," General Lan instructed. Qin Wentian and his companions nodded, and Ye Qing led them into the courtyard. A few empty houses stood within, and there were already a number of people in the courtyard. Some of them emerged to greet the newcomers.

"Captain, newcomers again?"

"Wow, they're quite easy on the eyes," one man commented, his eyes shining as they roamed over Zi Qingxuan and Purgatory. While Ye Qing was beautiful, Zi Qingxuan and Purgatory surpassed her in looks.

"Control yourself," Ye Qing admonished the man, who immediately responded, "Yes, Captain!"

Ye Qing then asked, "What are your names?"

"Captain, my name is Tianwen," Qin Wentian replied, opting to use a different name on the battlefield. After all, he held a prominent position in the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect, and if any of these experts were core members of the sect, they would surely recognize his name. He wanted to avoid receiving special treatment and didn't want the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect to take "special" care of him. Otherwise, he would face a difficult time on the battlefield.

"I'm Jun Mengchen."

"I'm Zi Qingxuan."

"Purgatory."

"My name is Little Rascal," Little Rascal's youthful voice chimed in, eliciting a smile from Ye Qing. The little fellow was utterly adorable. However, she swiftly composed herself and stated, "Tianwen, your cultivation bases are still relatively low. Don't be a burden to your comrades on the battlefield. I'll introduce you to the others so you can familiarize yourselves with our team's formation."

"Yes, Captain," Qin Wentian affirmed. A man leaning against a wall lazily commented, "Captain, these people's cultivation bases are rather low. They won't be of much use even if they join our formation. Let's not waste everyone's time."

"Hao Yang, since they've joined our team, they must become familiar with our formation. We could lose our lives on the battlefield at any moment. If they don't understand our battle formation, it could be even more dangerous," Ye Qing responded curtly, challenging Hao Yang's assessment.

"Yes, Captain," Hao Yang agreed, though his expression indicated that he wasn't particularly bothered by it.

"Find a place to bunk in first. Later, meet at the training grounds," Ye Qing ordered.

"Understood," Qin Wentian and the others replied before heading to a distant house. Jun Mengchen grinned and remarked, "The captain is quite the charmer. While she may not be as beautiful as Senior Sister Qingxuan, she's still quite pretty."

"Lower your voice," Qin Wentian chided Jun Mengchen with a stern look.

Jun Mengchen chuckled, "Well, it seems like everyone thinks our cultivation levels are a bit on the low side."

"This is an immortal-ranked war, and even the weakest participants are at the immortal-foundation level. Based solely on cultivation, we are indeed among the weakest. All we can do is give our best performance on the battlefield," Qin Wentian remarked.

"Understood," Jun Mengchen replied, brimming with anticipation.

At the training grounds, a gathering of numerous experts could be seen. There were hundreds of individuals with varying cultivation levels. One person even grumbled, "Ah, Captain, our overall team strength is on the weaker side. Why doesn't General Lan send some stronger individuals to join us? Look at these newcomers; their cultivation levels won't bolster us."

"Quiet down. If you have time to complain, you should think of ways to survive on the battlefield," Ye Qing scolded.

"Understood. But honestly, I doubt these few fellows can survive even a single battle. There are even two beauties among them, what a shame," the team members remarked. While they were delighted to have beautiful women join them, they couldn't help feeling a bit down about the newcomers' apparent lack of strength. They would have preferred more powerful recruits to enhance the overall strength of their team and increase their chances of survival. After all, weaker teams were more likely to meet their demise on the battlefield!