About three days later, Ling Feng bypassed the imperial capital and headed directly toward Tianmang Fortress in Nanjiang.

The situation remained unclear, so Ling Feng chose not to act rashly. His first priority was to reach Nanjiang and reunite with Jingwang, Mo Feng, and the others.

After all, most of the soldiers in the Tianbai Empire had simply been misled by Yan Jinghong. Ling Feng could not slaughter the entire imperial city.

No matter how the conflict unfolded, it was still a struggle for imperial authority. If they wanted to regain the support of the ministers in the imperial capital, brute force alone would make them no different from Yan Jinghong. However, if they helped Jingwang Mo Feng reclaim the Mo family's imperial authority, then their cause would be justified.

Over the past three days, city lords across the southern commanderies had begun pledging allegiance to Yan Jinghong as news spread from the imperial capital. Many declared loyalty to the new regime in hopes of avoiding further bloodshed among the people.

Only when Ling Feng reached Iron Wolf City on the southern frontier did the situation begin to shift.

The current city lord of Iron Wolf City was Long Xiao, a former general of the Black Armored Cavalry. He had a fairly good relationship with Ling Feng and had once helped Mo Feng gain recognition from Yuan Tiangang, the commander in chief of the Southern Army stationed at Tianmang Fortress.

Without that support, Yuan Tiangang might not have handed over military authority to Jingwang during this struggle for the throne. Without the army behind him, Mo Feng would never have had the means to raise a rebellion.

Even so, Tianmang Fortress alone could not match the strength of the entire empire. Nearly every region now leaned toward Yan Jinghong's rule.

Moreover, the soldiers on both sides were all subjects of the Tianbai Empire. Mo Feng had no desire to ignite a full scale war that would drain the empire's "vitality".

However, the former king had died under suspicious circumstances, and the Mo family's imperial authority had fallen into another's hands. As a descendant of the Mo lineage, Mo Feng had no choice but to fight.

Around sunset, Ling Feng arrived beneath a watchtower guarded by the forces of Tianmang Fortress. With the empire in turmoil, security across the fortress had become extremely strict.

"Who's there?"

The moment Ling Feng approached, rows of archers lined the walls and drew their bows. Every arrow pointed directly at him. At the slightest suspicious movement, they would unleash a deadly volley.

These arrows came from the Army-Breaker Crossbows. Even Human Emperor experts would struggle against the storm of arrows they could produce.

With a sharp burst of motion, Ling Feng shot upward into the sky.

"My name is Ling Feng. I have come to see Jingwang Mo Feng!"

"Impudent fool! Jingwang's name is not something you may shout so casually! Leave at once!"

The officer guarding the tower clearly did not recognize him. Ling Feng had gained some fame in Tianmang Fortress before, but he had stayed only briefly before departing.

After his departure, Jiang Xiaofan and Li Bufan had repeatedly distinguished themselves in battle. Their achievements quickly overshadowed Ling Feng's earlier reputation. Fewer and fewer soldiers still remembered his name. In their minds, Ling Feng had already left the fortress long ago and would not suddenly return.

"Only half a year has passed, and you have already forgotten me? How realistic!"

Ling Feng shook his head.

"Very well. I will not waste time arguing!"

In the next instant, blazing flames surged around his body. The fourth phase Devouring Flame erupted outward and wrapped him completely as he rushed toward the fortress wall!

"You reckless brat. Fire!"

The commander on the tower erupted in anger. The empire was in a state of emergency. They preferred to kill first rather than risk letting a threat pass.

With his order, countless arrows shot into the air. The arrow storm poured toward Ling Feng like a waterfall.

Before the arrows could even reach him, they touched the Devouring Flame surrounding his body and instantly burned to ashes.

"Soldiers, forgive me. I must see Jingwang immediately, so I will take my leave!"

In the blink of an eye, Ling Feng's figure vanished into the sky as he continued racing toward Tianmang Fortress.

The tower commander's expression changed dramatically. The Army-Breaker Crossbow formation could force even a Human Emperor to retreat. Yet this young man had ignored the entire formation and passed through without harming a single soldier.

Just who was he? How could someone so young possess such terrifying strength?

"He said his name was Ling Feng."

One of the commanders standing beside the officer suddenly spoke in a low voice.

"General He, I seem to recall that the commander of the Tianfeng Battalion is also named Ling Feng. General Li Bufan and General Jiang Xiaofan both serve under General Ling."

"The Tianfeng Battalion. General Ling?"

General He blinked in disbelief.

"Could it really be him? Even the Army-Breaker Crossbow formation cannot harm a single hair on his head. Just how powerful has he become?"

After taking a deep breath, General He straightened his expression.

"No matter who he is, someone has broken through our defenses. Commander Wu, send word to the fortress immediately. Whether he truly is General Ling or not, the message must reach them."

"Yes, General!"

...

The message proved unnecessary.

Ling Feng moved with astonishing speed. Behind the outer defenses of Tianmang Fortress lay eight additional checkpoints. Ling Feng broke through each one without wasting time. He harmed no soldiers and remained completely unharmed himself.

In less than an hour, he had passed through all eight gates and finally arrived outside Tianmang Fortress.

Returning to this familiar place stirred complicated feelings in his heart.

He had never imagined that his one year promise with Xiaofan and the others would be broken so early.

At that moment, the fortress walls stood heavily guarded. Even the rarely used crystal energy cannons had been brought onto the ramparts. Every soldier waited in full readiness.

Reports from the outer checkpoints had already reached the fortress. A mysterious expert had forced his way through the defenses and ignored the Army-Breaker Crossbow formation entirely. Naturally, the fortress commanders treated the situation with extreme caution.

Some messages also suggested that the mysterious expert might be Ling Feng himself. That possibility left many commanders feeling uneasy.

If it truly was Ling Feng, then all was well. If it were an impostor, however, such a powerful enemy could cause severe losses for the fortress.

On the fortress wall.

Jingwang Mo Feng stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His cloak snapped sharply in the wind as he stared into the distance.

A faint anticipation stirred in his heart. If Ling Feng had truly returned, then perhaps everything could finally be set right.

Even though Mo Feng now commanded the Three Armies, Ling Feng remained the one person he trusted without hesitation.

Because Ling Feng himself was a miracle!

Standing beside him were Yuan Tiangang, commander in chief of the Northwestern Army, and the adviser Sun Boce. Li Bufan and Jiang Xiaofan also stood nearby in full armor. Their expressions carried the hardened edge of battle.

During these past six months at Tianmang Fortress, both of them had grown tremendously.

"Bufan, could it be that Big Brother has returned?"

Jiang Xiaofan clenched his fists. His frame had grown noticeably stronger, and two swords rested on his back. One was light and slender. The other was heavy and broad.

His swordsmanship had already reached a state of natural unity and simplicity. Thanks to the Sacred Dragon Tyrant Blood Pill from Ling Feng and the power of his own Xuanwu bloodline, his cultivation had advanced rapidly. After only half a year, he had reached the peak of the Spiritual Sea Realm and stood close to breaking into the Human Emperor realm.

"Perhaps. If he truly has returned, then the current situation might finally change!"

Li Bufan tightened his fists as a trace of worry appeared in his eyes.

The Li family's roots lay within the imperial capital. Now that chaos had consumed the city, his family stood directly in the storm. The Li family patriarch served as the Grand Commandant and controlled military authority. He could not possibly remain uninvolved.

By now, the entire Li family had likely become prisoners.

During the past six months at Tianmang Fortress, Li Bufan had matured greatly. Otherwise he might have already rushed back to the imperial capital in a desperate attempt to rescue them.

Even though he never spoke of it aloud, concern for his family weighed on him constantly. Every passing moment felt like torture.