Inside the reception hall.

The Governors of the three camps, A, B, and C of the Chen Long Army, had been waiting for quite some time.

Nalan Yuan had removed his golden armor and was dressed in simple blue and white attire, sitting calmly at the tea table on the left, leisurely savoring the Immortal Tea served by the maid.

This Immortal Tea, which Gu Feng had spent a fortune on, had star-shaped leaves that curled up upon contact with water, releasing waves of spiritual energy mixed with a light tea fragrance. A sip would nourish one's meridians, making it highly beneficial for cultivators, even if it wasn't a miraculous elixir.

Across from him, a female cultivator clad in full golden armor was glaring at him with disdain.

She was none other than Fang Feixue, the Governor of Camp B, known as the Cold-faced Rakshasa.

"Bang!" Fang Feixue, unable to hold back any longer, slammed the table and said, "We were told to arrive at midnight, and now it's almost dawn! This useless Sequence has such a big ego!"

"Feixue, calm down."

Beside her, a middle-aged man with graying temples sat with his eyes closed, dressed in simple cloth garments. Despite his graying hair, he had a very heroic appearance, with a tuft of white goatee adding a touch of age to his demeanor.

Lu Zhen, the Governor of Camp A, nicknamed the Kaleidoscope, gently advised her.

Fang Feixue, still fuming, frowned and said, "Adoptive Father, am I wrong? How long are we supposed to wait here, being treated like this?"

"Sigh... your temperament..."

Lu Zhen sighed deeply and said slowly, "How many times have I taught you? As a leader, you must avoid impatience. Plan before you act, and don't wear your emotions on your face. Remember, staying calm in the face of adversity is the key to controlling the situation. Have you forgotten all of this?"

"You were talking about the battlefield... not here..." Fang Feixue pouted, muttering to herself unhappily.

Lu Zhen stroked his goatee and said, "Although Heroic Spirit City isn't a battlefield, it's more dangerous than one. Even though we hold significant military power, we are merely vassals of the Gu Family. Above us are the City Lord and the Elders, below are their descendants and the Sequence Chosen. We can't afford to offend any of them. In the center of such a power vortex, we must be extremely cautious with every word and action."

Saying this, Lu Zhen glanced at Fang Feixue, seeing her pout like a wronged child, and shook his head.

"Moreover, although this Sequence appears to have low cultivation, he is crafty and resourceful. The Gu Family Elders have clashed with him several times without gaining any advantage, losing face completely. This shows he is not ordinary. Furthermore, there are rumors that the Divine King of the Eastern Region favors him, and the City Lord dotes on him. It's best not to offend him easily. Since he has summoned us here today, we should wait patiently and form a good relationship, which will only be beneficial."

"General Lu, you have great insight!"

Nalan Yuan couldn't help but raise his hand in praise, complimenting, "Just by this exquisite Immortal Tea before us, it's clear the Sequence values talent like us. Waiting a bit longer is no big deal. General Fang, please refrain from speaking such rebellious words."

"Opportunistic sycophant!" Fang Feixue was infuriated, disgusted by Nalan Yuan's sycophancy, and snorted, refusing to speak further.

Nalan Yuan wasn't angry, knowing Fang Feixue's nature well. On the battlefield, she was a fearless Rakshasa, and in private, she was a cold-faced fairy. Arguing with her was truly not worth it.

He remained silent, quietly sipping his tea.

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"Generals, my apologies! I was delayed by official duties, making you wait!"

Gu Feng, dressed in a loose white robe with a topknot still glistening with water droplets, entered the reception hall with a playful smile, accompanied by Jiu Long. He greeted the three with cupped hands and took the main seat, his face full of smiles.

"The Sequence is too kind! With your busy schedule, waiting a little while is nothing for us!" Nalan Yuan immediately stood, bowing deeply, his flattery echoing loudly.

"Hmph!" Fang Feixue sneered at this, almost retching, remaining seated without even glancing at Gu Feng.

Lu Zhen slowly stood and bluntly asked, "I greet the Sequence. May I ask why you have summoned us?"

Waving for them to sit, Gu Feng unhurriedly called for the maid to replace the cold Immortal Tea and serve various Immortal Fruits and delicacies, catching the three off guard.

After sipping the tea, Gu Feng looked up with a smile and said, "It's nothing major, just that I wish to borrow some troops from you three generals."

"Borrow troops?!"

Even Nalan Yuan was slightly taken aback, pausing with an Immortal Fruit in hand before slowly placing it back.

The Chen Long Army, with its ten thousand stationed soldiers, had over thirty thousand troops in each of the three camps, always under the direct command of the City Lord. Without the City Lord's personal order, no one was allowed to transfer military power. This was the rule of the Gu Family and the entire Heroic Spirit City!

Gu Feng's establishment of the Artifact Crafting Department had already caused a stir in Heroic Spirit City, with accusations of forming a private army and plotting rebellion.

However, after investigation, the Artifact Crafting Department was found to consist of only three thousand ordinary artifact refiners. Yet now, Gu Feng was personally asking them to "borrow troops"!

Could it be that this Sequence, with only a third-level Qi Refining Realm cultivation, truly intended to rebel while the City Lord was in seclusion?!

The reception hall fell into a terrifying silence.

Suddenly standing up, Fang Feixue, with her fiery temper, directly rebuked, "Gu Feng! Are you mad? As a Sequence of the family, don't you know the rules of Heroic Spirit City?! Do you think you can just borrow troops?!"

Coldly glancing at Fang Feixue, Gu Feng maintained his smile.

In truth, despite her armor, Fang Feixue's graceful figure and striking appearance were evident, with her long black hair tied up, adding a touch of fierceness to her beauty.

Her reputation was well-known to Gu Feng.

Fang Feixue was originally the daughter of a mortal woodcutter from a village in the outer city of Heroic Spirit. At four, she was discovered by Lu Zhen, who was passing through the village. Impressed by her cultivation talent, he negotiated with her parents to adopt her, bringing her back to the Chen Long Army for careful training.

By fifteen, she had reached the seventh level of the Golden Elixir Realm, leading troops in battles against the Southern Barbarian demon soldiers. Her fierce and icy demeanor earned her the nickname Cold-faced Rakshasa.

Of course, that was over sixty years ago. Her mortal parents had long passed, while Fang Feixue, having embarked on the path of cultivation, had extended her lifespan. Now, she was the Governor of Camp B, commanding thirty thousand cultivator soldiers, her cultivation at the fifth level of the Elemental Infant Realm, far beyond her past.

Such women usually have high aspirations and are hard to subdue by any man. But once conquered, they become gentle and dependent, overwhelming those around them.

Having lived two lives, Gu Feng had honed his ability to read people to perfection. He wasn't angered, merely observing Fang Feixue intently.

Before long, his lecherous gaze made her uneasy, a slight blush appearing on her fair cheeks.

"Feixue, don't be rude! Sit down!"

Lu Zhen tapped the table, scolding her.

Fang Feixue, though stubborn, was always respectful to her adoptive father. Reluctantly, she sat down.

Cupping his hands, Lu Zhen straightforwardly said to Gu Feng, "My adoptive daughter has spent years on the battlefield with me, her personality is straightforward. If she offended you, I hope the Sequence won't hold it against her."

"General Lu, you're too kind. Young people are full of vigor. I actually admire General Fang's character, so how could I blame her?"

Gu Feng adeptly deflected, knowing well that Lu Zhen essentially controlled the Chen Long Army. Many mid and lower-level officers followed his lead, and his influence in the army was deeply entrenched. Winning him over was akin to winning over the entire Chen Long Army.

However, this old fox was no easy opponent, having experienced countless battles and seen more people and events than Gu Feng had absorbed Spirit Stones. Dealing with such a person required utmost care.

Lu Zhen smiled, nodding as he stroked his goatee, then shifted the topic, "But, what Feixue said isn't entirely wrong. Heroic Spirit City has strict rules. Apart from the City Lord, even the family Elders have no authority over the Chen Long Army. The Sequence's request to borrow troops is indeed a bit abrupt."

As expected, the older the ginger, the spicier it is. The same meaning, expressed differently, felt entirely different.

In Gu Feng's mind, two words emerged—"praise to death"!

First, they elevate you high, then silently bring you down. This is the so-called "praise to death"!

To subdue the enemy without fighting, this old fox was indeed formidable!

"General Lu, may I say a word?" Gu Feng toyed with the teacup before him, leisurely avoiding the verbal trap.

"Please speak, Sequence."

Setting down the teacup, Gu Feng lightly tapped the white jade table and said, "As you know, our Eastern Region Divine Continent will soon be at war with the Southern Barbarian demon clan again. During this time, it's inevitable that demon spies will infiltrate the city to gather intelligence. The Divine King has always been on good terms with me and has repeatedly reminded me to strengthen patrols, ensuring that not a single demon spy escapes, even if it means killing a thousand by mistake!"

Pausing, Gu Feng glanced at the three, continuing, "My father is currently in seclusion, attempting to break through a bottleneck, leaving him unable to attend to these matters. As a Sequence of the family, I must take responsibility. Therefore, I wish to establish a new force in the city, dedicated to patrolling, capturing, and gathering intelligence. Unfortunately, I'm short of capable people, which is why I thought of you three generals. If you could spare a thousand men, it would be a blessing for our Eastern Region, and I could report back to the Divine King."

Hearing this, Nalan Yuan kept his head down, unsure how to respond.

He was willing to provide troops, but the key issue was that, apart from the City Lord, the real power of the Chen Long Army was entirely in Lu Zhen's hands.

His Camp C was usually only responsible for some security work in the city, and he had no say in such matters.

Lu Zhen remained expressionless, slowly stroking his goatee.

He could easily discern Gu Feng's intentions—using the pretext of capturing Southern Barbarian demon spies to request troops, while also borrowing the Divine King's authority.

The logic and legality were entirely on this young man's side!

As for whether there were demon spies in the city or if the Divine King had actually said those things to him, only the heavens knew!