A gentle breeze swept across the training field.

It stirred up a cloud of dust and waves of heat.

The soldiers on the field stood straight, but their eyes all glanced toward the Spirit Stone Mountain nearby.

Most of them came from humble backgrounds, some even orphans from mortal villages, with no family or support, living in hardship.

They had hoped that by joining the Chen Long Army, they could embark on the path of immortality and seek eternal life. Unfortunately, they discovered that the rules of the cultivation world were no different from the mortal realm—still a place where the strong prey on the weak, and only those in power have a voice.

The Chen Long Body Refining Technique taught to the soldiers by the Gu Family was merely a Human Rank Qi Refining method. Even with the best aptitude, one could only cultivate up to the ninth level of the Golden Elixir, with no further breakthroughs possible.

These soldiers, having transformed from mortals into cultivators, merely gained an extra hundred years of life. But from then on, they risked their lives for the Gu Family, with their fate no longer in their own hands.

In the Chen Long Army, they had no support, no hope. Their superiors and comrades were the only ones they could trust. Yet, the Gu Family often withheld the pay that was rightfully theirs, leaving most soldiers barely surviving.

Living rough, with no guarantee of tomorrow, they saw no hope ahead and no retreat behind.

Most lived very difficult lives.

Faced with such a great temptation, they began to waver, each torn between conflicting thoughts.

Gu Feng's intention was clear: remain loyal to the Chen Long Army, or completely submit to him.

Two paths, you choose!

After a long silence, someone finally stepped forward, spat heavily on the ground, and walked toward the nearest pile of Spirit Stones. He grabbed dozens of stones with both hands and returned to the ranks without a word.

With a leader, two or three more soldiers stepped out and headed for the Spirit Stone pile without hesitation...

"Brothers, don't hesitate! What's in your hand is real! Let's follow the Sequence!"

One soldier shouted as he stuffed Spirit Stones into his clothes and pockets until his figure grew plump, then returned to the lineup satisfied.

As more people made their choice, the mental defenses of these low-ranking soldiers completely collapsed!

What honor! What mission! None of it compared to the tangible Spirit Stones before them!

With Spirit Stones, they could improve their lives;

With Spirit Stones, they could ensure their dignity wasn't easily trampled!

The entire training field began to boil, over a thousand soldiers and officers, without exception, began to orderly step out of the ranks.

In no time, the piles of Spirit Stones were divided cleanly among them!

Yet, not a single person chose to leave!

Their eyes were filled with a captivating brilliance. Gu Feng smirked wickedly and shouted, "Tell me! Is this your choice?!"

"Yes!!"

A thousand voices responded in unison.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Are you all women? Or did something go wrong during your cultivation?! Louder! I can't hear you!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

An unmistakably affirmative sound, deafening!

This was their heartfelt cry, their long-suppressed resentment!

"Very good!"

Gu Feng nodded with satisfaction, waving his hand vigorously. Two strong household servants immediately brought up a huge plaque!

The soldiers looked over, seeing the plaque covered by a black cloth, not knowing what was written beneath.

Seeing the curious eyes of the crowd, Gu Feng's face turned solemn. He turned around, made a funny face at Fang Feixue, then pulled off the black cloth in one swift motion!

Under the blazing sun, the three golden characters on the plaque danced with a majestic aura, sending a slight chill down one's spine!

"Royal Guards..."

A nearby soldier murmured.

"That's right, the Royal Guards! From today on, you are the officers and soldiers of my Royal Guards!"

With a light shake of the folding fan in his hand, Gu Feng was immensely proud. He had racked his brains for various resounding names, but none could compare to the awe-inspiring and majestic three characters from his memory!

Ignoring the crowd's shock, Gu Feng stood tall and proud, "Your enemies and opponents are not outside the city, nor are they the Southern Barbarian demon clans!"

Pointing towards Heroic Spirit City beside him, Gu Feng shouted loudly, "Your enemies are the powerful elders and Chosen within the city! And their disciples, visiting scholars, and lackeys!"

"I, Gu Feng, need you! I need you to be my eyes and ears! I need you to be my hounds! To monitor them! To gather every clue of their daily lives! When necessary, capture them all in one fell swoop!"

The entire training field suddenly erupted, these low-born soldiers never imagined such a bizarre thing, that the Sequence of the family wanted them to go against the Gu Family's elders and Chosen!

Weren't they supposed to be on the same side?! Moreover, they were insignificant, how could they dare oppose those people, whom they usually approached with trepidation, fearing to offend them, wasn't this a joke?!

With a slight smile, Gu Feng didn't explain further, he continued slowly, "Don't doubt! Don't panic! Do as I say, behind you is me, Gu Feng, the City Lord! Even the Divine King of the Eastern Region!"

"You are no longer the humble soldiers of the Chen Long Army, but the new nobles of Heroic Spirit City! You are the Royal Guards! Second only to one, above thousands, with power over life and death! From now on, you need not bow and scrape, nor fear anyone!"

Pausing, Gu Feng's gaze was piercing, "The only person you need to obey is me!"

Gu Feng's voice seemed to possess a magical power, every word was a gem!

The soldiers in the training field were like they were possessed, extremely excited, their humiliation, their resentment, their long-suppressed anger, all ignited by Gu Feng at this moment!

He quietly gestured to Manager Wu behind him.

Manager Wu, who had been prepared, immediately stepped forward, raising his hands exaggeratedly, and with a burst of True Core shouted, "Under the Royal Guards! Iron Blood and Ruthless!"

Without a moment's hesitation, the thousand officers and soldiers' passion and excitement burned completely, they raised their hands high, following along in a loud chant!

"Under the Royal Guards! Iron Blood and Ruthless!"

"Under the Royal Guards! Iron Blood and Ruthless!"

"Under the Royal Guards! Iron Blood and Ruthless!"

Over a thousand liberated souls shouted the slogan together! They wore the Orient Loong God Flying Fish Robe, stepped on the White Cloud Purple Mist Boots, each shout accompanied by a unified raising of their hands!

Many were moved to tears, more were grateful to have been chosen and brought here!

"Royal Guards! Long live! Sequence! Long live!"

"Royal Guards! Long live! Sequence! Long live!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live!"

Led by someone unknown, they immediately switched slogans, shouting long live, echoing endlessly.

Gu Feng silently turned and left the command platform, behind him, the unified shouts had not ceased, he knew, these cultivators were now completely under his command.

Fang Feixue's gaze was dazed, she had hoped to take advantage of Gu Feng's lack of prestige in this new army to give him a hard time. Now, seeing the soldiers' frenzied actions, she knew it was no longer possible!

She didn't understand why just a few words from Gu Feng could completely win over these soldiers, as if she didn't quite understand human nature.

The martial world is not just about fighting and killing, it's about human relationships and affairs!

Gu Feng still remembered, this phrase should have been the famous saying of a peerless hero in his previous life!

To deal with these low-ranking soldiers, entice them with benefits, move them with emotion, promise them dignity! With these three steps, winning over people's hearts was just a matter of lifting a finger!

Fang Feixue stepped forward, sneering, "The Sequence truly has a way, just like that, winning over the hearts of a thousand Chen Long Army soldiers, this little girl is impressed."

Her words were full of sarcasm and bitterness.

Suddenly glaring at Fang Feixue, Gu Feng's face was full of anger, coldly reprimanding, "Fang Feixue! Understand your current status!"

"From now on, you are no longer the Governor of the Chen Long Army's B Camp! But the Chief Commander of my Royal Guards!"

Too lazy to look at her shocked expression, Gu Feng said word by word, "If you can't even maintain the most basic loyalty, I can have my father directly strip you of your cultivation status and expel you from Heroic Spirit City! Don't even think about returning to the Chen Long Army!"

Fang Feixue was shocked, stripping her of her cultivation status, expelling her from Heroic Spirit City! Where could she go then?!

Return to that dilapidated mortal village from before?

Her parents had long passed away, maybe there were still elders in the village who knew her, but! What meaning would that have?!

A strong sense of fear enveloped her heart, she was scared! Truly scared!

Fang Feixue suddenly remembered what her adoptive father Lu Zhen had said, after all, they were just vassals of the Gu Family in Heroic Spirit City!

That was just a nice way of putting it! In reality, they were dispensable pawns!

Manipulated at will, used without hesitation, discarded without concern!

She suddenly realized the terrifying nature of Gu Feng's status!

This huge disparity in status made her feel extremely frustrated! All her pride, all her self-esteem! In an instant, all collapsed!

Fang Feixue finally understood, she was no different in essence from the more than a thousand soldiers before her!

Giving her a sidelong glance, Gu Feng, though feeling a bit of pity, also knew that at this moment, he must not yield or show leniency.

"This little girl, if I don't straighten her out, she won't know how many eyes the Horse King has!"

Feeling secretly pleased, Gu Feng maintained a cold exterior, icily instructing, "The following matters are up to you, once arranged, I will have Manager Wu assign the upcoming Royal Guards' tasks to you."

"Oh, by the way!"

About to leave with Jiu Long, Gu Feng suddenly remembered something, turned back and reminded, "Your room has already been tidied by the maid, Qiong Feng Pavilion closes its doors every night at the hour of Hai. If you can't make it back, then don't bother returning! No women in Qiong Feng Pavilion are allowed to return late! Understood?!"

Fang Feixue bit her lips tightly, almost on the verge of tears from grievance, but alas, life is just so unfair, under the eaves, one must bow their head, she composed herself, slowly cupped her hands and said, "Fang Feixue, Chief Commander of the Royal Guards... will strictly adhere to the Sequence's orders..."