Chapter 72: Pleas from the Prison Cage (3)

None of the soldiers failed to understand Yan Chuan’s intentions; he meant to lead all three thousand of them onto the path of cultivation. At this moment, everyone’s faces showed both relief and gratitude, treasuring the opportunity.

“Very well, then let us continue our drills!” Huo Guang commanded.

“Yes, sir!” The soldiers responded with spirits soaring to the heavens.

Though the formation they practiced appeared simple and unimpressive, the soldiers tackled it with great enthusiasm.

Mo Yuxi watched with a curious expression. “The Tiger Battalion’s formation?”

She then turned her gaze toward the central command tent, her face growing solemn. After a long moment, she inhaled deeply and made her way toward the tent.

Inside the command tent—

“My lord, in the past two days, no one has suffered from nightmares,” Liu Jin reported respectfully.

“This Nightmare is truly cunning,” Yan Chuan said gravely.

“My lord, Miss Mo requests an audience,” came a soldier’s voice from outside.

“Oh? Let her in,” Yan Chuan said in surprise.

“Yes, sir!”

Soon, Mo Yuxi entered the tent.

“Master Yan,” she greeted with a smile.

“Miss Mo?” Yan Chuan looked up at her.

“May I speak with you privately?” Mo Yuxi’s face grew serious.

“Liu Jin, leave us,” Yan Chuan instructed.

“Yes, my lord.” Liu Jin bowed and left the tent.

“Please, have a seat,” Yan Chuan invited her to the table and chairs at the side.

Mo Yuxi nodded.

A pot of tea sat on the table. Yan Chuan poured two cups.

“Plain tea, I’m afraid,” he said, handing her a cup.

“It’s already quite fine,” Mo Yuxi replied, accepting it gladly.

“Miss Mo, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Yan Chuan asked.

Mo Yuxi glanced outside the tent, frowning slightly. “I see you’ve gathered three thousand soldiers, providing them with meat, teaching them cultivation seals, instructing them in military formations. Do you truly intend to lead all of them onto the path of cultivation?”

“Why not?” Yan Chuan smiled.

“Many cultivators can barely secure enough resources for themselves, yet you intend to shoulder the burden of three thousand dependents? The cost in resources will be unimaginable. Do you truly possess so much? As I understand it, you have nothing at your disposal.

“Moreover, even if you exhaust countless resources to help them reach the Refined Stage, what then? Their strength will still be at the bottom. In the eyes of higher-level cultivators, they amount to nothing. Your three thousand soldiers cannot compare to even one of my Azure Dragons. Instead of spreading your resources thin to create a group of burdens, why not concentrate them to cultivate a few powerful followers?” Mo Yuxi asked curiously.

Yan Chuan looked at Mo Yuxi and smiled faintly.

Three thousand soldiers? Is that so many? In Yan Chuan’s eyes, it was not much at all. His grand ambitions were not something Mo Yuxi could yet comprehend.

Three thousand low-level cultivators? Yan Chuan had his own plans for them.

Resources? With an army under his command, what need had he to worry about resources?

“This is a family matter, Miss Mo. I would advise you not to concern yourself overly,” Yan Chuan replied coolly.

“Eh?” Mo Yuxi was caught between laughter and exasperation; her well-intentioned advice was met with such a response!

She took a sip of tea, her expression growing grave as she fell silent in thought.

Yan Chuan waited patiently.

“Master Yan, are you truly powerless to break this cage?” Mo Yuxi’s eyes shone with a trace of hope.

Yan Chuan shook his head. “I have concealed nothing from you.”

With a wry smile, Mo Yuxi said softly, “I understand. It was our fault to have made you our guide before. I only wanted so badly to obtain the item in the formation. For that, I truly apologize and beg your forgiveness.”

From her tone, Yan Chuan could sense her sincerity. In this adversity, her attitude seemed to be undergoing a subtle transformation; she no longer carried the same air of superiority as before.