The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Jiang Chuan nodded heavily and said, "This junior understands."

As Jiang Chuan continued reading, he discovered that the remaining content was missing. This disappointed him somewhat, but he was not discouraged. To cultivate this technique, he first needed to obtain enough food and spiritual herbs to meet the requirements for the first three stages of cultivation.

Jiang Chuan decided to take action. Late at night, Jiang Chuan, masked, crept through the streets. He arrived at a restaurant, and with a light leap, he scaled the restaurant's wall.

Upon entering the restaurant, Jiang Chuan went to the kitchen with ease, opened the kitchen cabinets, and stuffed all the ingredients inside into the bag he had brought.

He then went to a herbal medicine shop and, in the same manner, looted all the herbal medicines in the shop.

The next morning, the owners of restaurants and pharmacies in Heyang City were furious to find their shops had been looted.

They reported the case to the city defense forces, hoping that the forces could bring the thieves to justice as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chuan was in his courtyard, looking at the mountain of food and spiritual herbs before him, feeling joyful.

Jiang Chuan was about to take a significant step on his cultivation path. He placed the "Dragon Elephant Divine Demon Technique" on the stone table, preparing to begin his practice.

He looked at the words on the manual and silently thought to himself, "This manual advocates solving problems with strength, which is very much in line with my personality."

"Today, I will cultivate here and see what is so magical about the power of the dragon and elephant." With that, Jiang Chuan sat cross-legged on the ground and began to circulate his internal energy according to the instructions in the cultivation method.

As Jiang Chuan circulated his energy, the secret technique refined the energy within his body, transforming it into countless streams that flowed to his limbs and bones. He felt as if his body was filled with a powerful force, every muscle rejoicing.

On the other side of the courtyard, Qinglin and Luhao were playing.

Qinglin regarded Lu Hao as her "mother" and followed closely behind him.

Lu Hao would occasionally turn back to look at Qing Lin, his expression full of doting affection.

Jiang Chuan cultivated for a while and then felt a little hungry. So he got up, walked to the pile of food, picked up a piece of meat, and ate it in big bites.

Qinglin and Luhao saw Jiang Chuan eating and ran over as well.

Qinglin looked at Jiang Chuan with longing and said, "Brother, I want to eat too."

Jiang Chuan smiled and patted Qing Lin's head, saying, "Okay, there's everything, let's all eat together."

As he spoke, Jiang Chuan divided the meat in his hand among Qing Lin and Lu Hao.

Lu Hao hesitated as he looked at the meat in his hand. Jiang Chuan teased, "Lu Hao, don't be shy. This is for our cultivation. Eat more so you'll have strength."

After hearing Jiang Chuan's words, Lu Hao no longer hesitated and began to eat heartily.

And so Jiang Chuan continued his cultivation and eating in a cycle, and the energy in his body increased more and more until he gradually felt that it was somewhat excessive.

Jiang Chuan knew he couldn't continue like this, or it might harm his health.

So he stopped eating, sat cross-legged, and began to formally practice the "Dragon Elephant Divine Demon Skill".

Deep in the valley, there is a secluded place for cultivation, where Jiang Chuan is currently in seclusion.

For the past three days, Jiang Chuan has been frantically consuming the flesh and blood of rare beasts and spiritual herbs.

Each piece of rare beast flesh that entered his stomach felt like a surge of heat coursing through his body, and each spiritual herb that went down his throat infused his meridians with new vitality.

The power within him grew ever stronger, and the aura of the "Dragon Elephant Divine Demon Art" continued to rise.

Finally, at dusk on the third day, Jiang Chuan successfully cultivated the "Dragon Elephant Divine Demon Art" to the first level of entry.

He felt his entire body brimming with power, as if he could shatter a boulder with a single punch.

He excitedly leaped up and ran back and forth in the valley, feeling this newfound power.

"Haha, the power of this first level of entry into the Heavenly Realm is indeed extraordinary!" Jiang Chuan laughed loudly.

Jiang Chuan couldn't wait to go find Tao Hongjing.

Tao Hongjing was sitting at a stone table, leisurely arranging a few herbs.

Seeing Jiang Chuan rushing over in a flurry, Tao Hongjing teased, "Oh, judging from your appearance, you must have eaten all the rare beasts and spiritual herbs in the valley these past three days, right?"

Jiang Chuan scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Hehe, Senior Tao, this is all for cultivation."

"Look, haven't I successfully broken through to the first level of the 'Dragon Elephant Divine Demon Technique'?"

As he spoke, Jiang Chuan showed off his muscles, his strength seemingly overflowing.

Tao Hongjing put down the herbs in his hand and said seriously, "Jiang Chuan, your power has indeed increased rapidly. However, you must know that your power is restricted by the Heavenly Dao. If you break through to the Nine Cauldrons and want to reach the Ten Cauldrons, that will be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

But once you reach the Supreme Realm, the suppressive power of the Heavenly Dao will rebound, and at that time, cultivators of the same realm will find it difficult to match you.

Jiang Chuan was secretly surprised: "Senior Tao, I understand."

I will definitely cultivate diligently and reach the Supreme Realm as soon as possible.

Tao Hongjing nodded, pointed to the sword furnace beside him, and said, "In that case, you should go and practice sword forging."

Forging a sword is not merely about creating a weapon; it's about honing your mind and strength.

Jiang Chuan strode to the sword furnace and firmly grasped the Xuanjin Hammer with both hands.

The Xuanjin hammer in his hand seemed to come alive, trembling slightly with his movements.

Jiang Chuan swung the Xuanjin Hammer and smashed it towards the sword blank in the sword furnace.

"Bang, bang, bang," each hammer blow sent sparks flying.

In the bustling Chamber of Commerce, Manager Dong stood respectfully before Yu Youwei, reporting on the situation in Handan.

“Miss Yu, He Zongtang has been subdued by us, and Prince Zhao Huan of Yan has become a puppet. The situation in the northern region of Yan has basically stabilized.” Manager Dong said with his head down and his voice steady.

Yu Youwei sat in the chair, gently stroking the teacup in her hand: "Well, the Northern Region has been settled, and the Southern Region is also in the final stages."

Xian Zhen's 200,000-strong army is also about to arrive.

Manager Dong said with some concern, "Miss Yu, although the situation is good, Jiang Chuan..."

Yu Youwei waved her hand and said confidently, "Don't worry about Jiang Chuan. With Xie Xuan and Tao Hongjing by his side, he'll be fine. Both of them are exceptionally strong and will definitely be able to protect Jiang Chuan."

Meanwhile, at the "Kaitai" restaurant, Mu Chen and his sister were warmly inviting Jiang Chuan and the alchemist Qing Tian to dinner.

The restaurant owner sighed and lamented, "I don't know what's going on these past few days, but the ingredients in my herbal medicine shop and kitchen keep getting stolen. How am I supposed to keep this business going?"

Jiang Chuan forced a calm expression and gave an awkward smile: "Boss, maybe some small animal slipped in."

Mu Qingling looked at Jiang Chuan curiously and asked, "Brother Jiang Chuan, where have you been these past few days? I haven't seen you at all."

Jiang Chuan quickly replied, "I've gone to Dushan to collect materials for forging swords. There are plenty of spiritual materials in Dushan."

Mu Chen and Qing Tian exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. Mu Chen said, "Jiang Chuan, your strength has improved too quickly! You weren't this powerful before, but now you seem much stronger."

Jiang Chuan chuckled and shamelessly said, "There's nothing I can do about it. I'm a genius. Cultivation is a piece of cake for me."

Meanwhile, in the city lord's mansion, Zhao Dun paced anxiously back and forth. He glanced out the window every now and then, as if waiting for something.

"Why hasn't Xian Zhen's army arrived yet? What should we do?" Zhao Dun thought anxiously.

A soldier rushed in and knelt on one knee: "Lord, the general guarding Dangyang Pass has sent word that he is refusing to send troops to support us because he is worried about an invasion by the Qi Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dun's face instantly turned extremely gloomy: "This general guarding Yangguan is so cowardly and afraid of trouble at this critical moment! The situation in Yan is so dire, yet he only cares about his own territory."

Zhao Dun stopped in his tracks, pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "No, I have to find someone. Only he can ignite the morale of the three armies and face Xian Zhen's army of the dead."

Xian Zhen's army is coming this time with the goal of Hulao Pass, to fight Xie Xuan to the death.

That night, the city of Heyang was quiet, and most of the people were fast asleep. Suddenly, a series of urgent alarm drumbeats shattered the tranquility.

The drumbeats were deep and urgent, one after another, like heavy hammer blows striking the hearts of everyone. In an instant, the entire city of Heyang was plunged into panic.

Messengers rode swiftly through the streets and alleys, shouting urgently, "Enemy attack! Enemy attack! The whole city on alert!" Their cries quickly spread throughout the city.

The residents were jolted awake and hurriedly got up. Some frantically dressed, while others grabbed their children in a panic, creating chaos inside the house.

Jiang Chuan was also awakened by this sudden change.

The green scales beside him were still fast asleep, unaware of the danger outside.

Jiang Chuan gently patted Qing Lin's back and whispered, "Qing Lin, wake up, there's danger."

Qinglin opened her eyes groggily and saw Jiang Chuan's serious expression, which immediately sobered her up a bit.

Jiang Chuan continued, "Quickly, transform into your true form and hide in my arms. It's not safe here anymore."

Qinglin nodded obediently, instantly transforming into a beam of light and burrowing into Jiang Chuan's arms.

Jiang Chuan quickly donned his armor and donned his sword, his movements practiced and efficient.

After dressing properly, he immediately went out of the room, led his warhorse, mounted it, and galloped towards the city gate.

Along the way, the city was already in chaos.

The soldiers were rushing around, some assembling their ranks, others carrying weapons.

The refugees fled in all directions, their cries and footsteps mingling together.

Jiang Chuan struggled to move forward on his horse along the city road, his path blocked by the crowd.

He looked anxiously at the chaotic scene before him, "With this much chaos, when will we reach the city gate?"

Left with no other choice, he could only use his sword control technique. With a flick of his longsword, he soared into the air and flew towards the city gate.

Jiang Chuan quickly arrived at the top of the city wall. Mu Chen, Lu Qian, Zhu Shiwu, and Lu Zheng were already there.

Their faces were solemn, their eyes fixed on the darkness outside the city.

Suddenly, a monster's roar echoed from the darkness, deep and terrifying, sending chills down one's spine.

Upon hearing the roar, Jiang Chuan recalled the horde of monsters that Tao Hongjing had mentioned.

His face grew increasingly grim, and he worried inwardly: "Could it be that these demonic beasts have been summoned by Xian Zhen? What if they join forces with the army of the dead to form a powerful demonic beast cavalry? Such an army would probably be difficult for even the Great Zhou Iron Cavalry to withstand."

The crowd stood silently on the city wall, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe. Something seemed to be slowly moving in the darkness outside the city.

Finally, from the darkness, Xian Zhen's 200,000-strong army slowly emerged. They were arrayed in neat formation, their steps steady, carrying siege engines, and marched towards Heyang City. The soldiers defending the city walls immediately tensed, gripping their weapons tightly.

As the enemy drew closer, the soldiers discovered that these troops were merely passing through Heyang City and showed no signs of stopping or attacking it.

Lu Qian watched the enemy army depart and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "It seems that Xian Zhen's target is not our Heyang City."

Zhu Shiwu continued, "Then where would his target be?"

Lu Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Could it be Hulao Pass?"

If Xian Zhen's target is indeed Hulao Pass, then Hulao Pass is likely in imminent danger. Once Hulao Pass falls, Heyang City will also face a great crisis.

On the city wall, the generals of Heyang Army looked in the direction the enemy had gone with some worry.

That night, no one in Heyang City could sleep. The people of the city hid in their homes, anxiously awaiting dawn. The soldiers, on the other hand, remained steadfast at their posts, daring not to slacken their efforts.

Finally, dawn broke.

Sunlight shone on Heyang City, bringing some warmth to this city that had experienced a night of panic.

Marquis Mu of Heyang returned with the wind. The garrison was overjoyed to see their lord and immediately opened the city gates to welcome him.

Ye Xuan, the patrol commander of Hulao Pass, also arrived in Heyang City. He brought with him a secret letter from Xie Xuan.

The letter stipulated that seven days later, the Heyang army would leave the city and attack Xian Zhen's army formation from the flank, creating a breach.

Ye Xuan added, "Grand Marshal Wang Lang is also at Hulao Pass. The key turning point of this battle will be on the seventh day."

Mu Suifeng turned to Zhao Dun and asked, "Mr. Zhao, what do you think of Xie Xuan's chances of success?"

Zhao Dun spoke solemnly: "My lord, we don't have much time left."

Zhao Dun and Mu Suifeng went to a secret room and began to discuss their conspiracy with Li Tianxing.

Their original plan was to sit back and watch Hulao Pass, let Xie Xuan and Li Tianxing fight a decisive battle, and then let the Heyang army clean up the mess after both sides were exhausted.

Zhao Dun analyzed, "My lord, it seems that Xian Zhen will not allow our Heyang army, this threat, to exist."

Moreover, Xie Xuan and Li Tianxing are not fools; they surely wouldn't be completely unprepared for our Heyang City.

Mu Suifeng looked worried and asked, "Then, in your opinion, what should we do?"

Zhao Dun sighed and said, "We must fight this battle, which concerns the life and death of the Southern Region, and we must win it."

Winter is coming to an end, the consequences of going against nature are fast approaching, and we really don't have much time left.

In the dimly lit room, Jiang Chuan's hands trembled as he opened the letter in Xie Xuan's handwriting that Ye Xuan had handed him.

The handwriting on the letter was strong and forceful, yet every word struck Jiang Chuan's heart with heavy force.

"Leave the city immediately and head to Hulao Pass. You must enter the pass before Xian Zhen's 200,000-strong army arrives, or your life will be in danger."

Given the formidable strength of Xian Zhen's army, if I were truly blocked outside the pass, my life would likely be forfeit. (End of Chapter)