Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Ruimo Island was originally a military camp for the Qiantang Navy. The island is shaped like a bull's horn, gradually curving and becoming sharp as it tapers from thick to thin. The river flows through it, splitting into three sections: left, middle, and right. A large number of naval troops trained here for a long time by observing the water monsters in the river. Over time, they forged one powerful army after another that was skilled in naval warfare.

In terms of naval generals and soldiers, Qiantang City was among the top 100 in the Python Sparrow Empire's navy. This was the foundation upon which the Li family of Qiantang City had stood for centuries. Without its powerful navy, the Li family would have become unremarkable, just an ordinary member among countless city lords.

In order to meet the challenge of ambushing the Dragon King of Guanjiang, the city lord Li Jiguang brought out his elite field army.

This elite field army, with a full strength of 450 men, is led by a peak-level cultivator of the Appetite Realm, four cultivators of the Appetite Realm, and the rest are all cultivators of the Poisonous Food Realm.

The Li family of Qiantang possessed three such war legions, totaling 1,350 men, all of whom were elite troops capable of being summoned at any time and fighting effectively.

Is it less? It depends on who you compare it to. Compared to the Sword Tower, it is naturally incomparable. The Sword Tower has a history of ten thousand years and a profound foundation. As a dominant force in the empire, it spends hundreds of billions of magic coins every year to maintain its army. Qiantang City has only been around for four hundred years. Even if it develops for another thousand or two thousand years, it still cannot compare to the Sword Tower. The two are not even in the same league.

It should be noted that it is very easy to raise an ordinary ragtag army, but it is not easy to maintain a special army of the Fiend, Poison, or Desire levels. The annual military expenditure alone is enough to bankrupt small and medium-sized city lords. Not many city lords are so wealthy and powerful.

Most of the time, the focus is on cutting military spending and maintaining the minimum necessary military expenditures.

When war breaks out, the entire territory is mobilized to conscript soldiers from the populace, and loyal vassals are called upon to bring their troops from all over the country.

To constantly talk about hundreds of thousands or millions of troops shows a complete lack of understanding of warfare.

Real wars are fought in localized battlefields consisting of countless thousand-man legions. Leaving aside the question of how many troops can be mobilized, there are problems with whether there are enough generals to command them. It is already difficult for an excellent general to lead a thousand men in battle. Any more than that is simply impossible to command. Usually, the generals will become disobedient, and the formation will immediately turn into chaos as soon as it changes. It is very easy for the troops to charge in a single direction, and then suffer a defeat, being slaughtered and losing their armor and weapons.

Commanding tens of thousands of troops, his military talent is unparalleled.

Throughout history, there have been only a handful of grand marshals who could command armies of 100,000 or even a million.

Li Jiguang's deployment of such an elite waterborne field army to ambush and kill the Dragon King of Guanjiang shows that he attached great importance to the matter.

If the situation were not urgent and time was limited, Li Jiguang would have mobilized the other two elite field armies to set up an ambush, and then gathered all the high-end combat forces within Qiantang to kill the Guanjiang Dragon King, ensuring that no accidents would occur. After all, the Guanjiang Dragon King was coming for his Qiantang City, and if he failed once, he would try again. If the Guanjiang Dragon King escaped, or if Zhou Qingfeng was accidentally injured, it would be enough to cause Li Jiguang a lot of trouble.

On Ruimo Island, the naval commander stationed there, wearing a communication bracelet, is communicating remotely with Li Jiguang.

Naval commander Li Jinnan's face was serious: "Yes, I understand, yes... I know, this subordinate will definitely complete the mission and will never fail the city lord's trust."

Li Jiguang: "Recite it again!"

Naval Commander Li Jinnan: "First, ensure Tian Xingyi's safety; second, ensure the killing of the Guanjiang Dragon King. City Lord, I have a question: who exactly is this Tian Xingyi, and why is it so important to ensure his safety? Could he possibly have some special identity?"

Li Jiguang: "Jinnan, don't ask so many questions. In short, he can't get into any trouble within the territory of our Qiantang City, not even a scratch!"

Upon hearing this, naval commander Li Jinnan's heart tightened, and he immediately replied, "Understood, this subordinate will resolutely complete the mission."

After the communication ended, Li Jinnan immediately summoned a messenger: "Order the entire army to set up an ambush and surround and kill the Dragon King of Guanjiang!"

At the command, the sailors of the legion reluctantly began to don their armor. Their sailor armor was made of rattan by the armorers, while only officers were qualified to wear paper armor. Compared to armor made of various metals, their armored armor was lighter and more flexible, and its defensive power was in no way inferior to heavy armor. Its only drawback was that it was vulnerable to fire.

Another drawback, though not really a flaw, is that it's incredibly low-class and has a very low standard. It looks like a ragtag bunch of mediocre people put together.

After all, the elite field armies of other countries wear cool and stylish heavy armor. Their rattan armor and paper armor are equally expensive, but they are inexplicably inferior. They are elite field armies, and each of them has considerable cultivation, but they are all wearing paper armor and rattan armor. It is too shameful, and they all feel embarrassed.

But there was nothing they could do; after all, Qiantang City had made its fortune through naval warfare, and only by being proficient in naval combat could they secure a place in the empire.

Time flies like an arrow, and it was already noon the next day.

A large fishing boat slowly entered the waters near Ruimo Island. A warship bearing the Li family's battle flag came head-on and stopped a thousand feet away. Upon seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng immediately grabbed Li Hongji's shoulder, soared into the air, and transformed into a streak of light, landing on the warship. Jin Wei followed closely behind.

As for the people on the boat, Zhou Qingfeng had already greeted them, so they all jumped into the river and used their skills to quickly move away from the fishing boat and swim rapidly towards the warship, attempting to board the waiting boat and escape together.

Once everyone on the fishing boat had been reunited, Li Jinnan immediately ordered the boats to turn around and move away from the impending battlefield.

The warships disappeared into the river, protected by a water-repellent shield. The warships moved swiftly through the water like swordfish, their speed incredibly fast.

"Who is Tian Xingyi?" Li Jinnan scanned the group of people in front of him.

Zhou Qingfeng stepped forward and smiled slightly.

Upon seeing this, Li Jinnan bowed to Zhou Qingfeng and said, "Li Jinnan, the naval commander of Guanjiang, greets Mr. Tian. The city lord has ordered me to prioritize your safety. I will now escort you to Qiantang City. As for the Guanjiang Dragon King, the legion soldiers will surround and kill him in the waters of Ruimo Island. Please rest assured."

Zhou Qingfeng stepped forward and took Li Jinnan's arm, smiling slightly, "General Li, there's no need for such formalities."

As soon as he finished speaking, the river water churned, and the warship rocked and rolled out of the river. Zhou Qingfeng steadied himself and turned to look in the direction of Ruimo Island. He saw a giant demon with a height of 10,000 feet appear out of nowhere, with the array around it flashing incessantly. Four cultivators of the Gluttony Realm with a height of 10,000 feet were fighting against the giant demon, while hundreds of cultivators of the Poisonous Realm were interfering from the side.

Although these lower-level Poison Realm cultivators couldn't inflict any damage on the Guanjiang Dragon King, they could constantly harass him, like hundreds of flies swarming around him. They couldn't harm him, but they could still make him very uncomfortable. Even if they could only delay the Guanjiang Dragon King for a moment, it would allow the other four Gluttony Realm cultivators to seize the opportunity and unleash a smooth combo that dealt explosive damage.

A large number of water demons, killed by the aftershocks, floated on the river, including some thousand-foot-tall, malevolent water demons.

Standing on the warship, Zhou Qingfeng glanced at the breathtaking battle from afar, a sense of awe rising in his heart. Even with the warship's protection, he could still feel the oppressive force of the battle's aftershocks. Each clash was like a deafening roar, shaking the very heavens and earth, making one's heart pound wildly.

"Is this a duel between 'gods'?" Zhou Qingfeng murmured softly, "Every strike contains earth-shattering power."

The Food Demon Realm, to put it nicely, is called elite or preparatory 'gods'; to put it bluntly, it's high-level cannon fodder.

Among low-level cultivators, those at the Devouring Fiend Realm are considered experts, but only those who truly cross over to the Devouring Poison Realm can be called 'gods' who have mastered the rules.

In a fierce battle between two gods, those below the level of gods are not even qualified to watch from afar.

Even if a 'god' war breaks out, low-level cultivators below the 'god' level can only flee for their lives.

Those who escaped a little too slowly were caught in the turmoil, like the water monsters in the river, and died inexplicably.

Zhou Qingfeng witnessed the power of the strong once again, and his desire for power grew even stronger.

He did not feel sorry for his own insignificance; on the contrary, he saw a greater power, which strengthened his determination to climb to the top.

"Let's go." Li Jinnan's voice broke the silence, and the warship started up again, speeding towards Qiantang City.

The warships were very fast and arrived in Qiantang City that very evening. Because Zhou Qingfeng had specifically mentioned that his identity should be kept secret, there was no grand welcoming ceremony. They simply entered the city lord's mansion under Li Jinnan's guidance and met with Qiantang City Lord Li Jiguang.

During this period, Zhou Qingfeng paid the boat fare, and all the agreed-upon fare was given to Li Hongji and the others without missing a penny.

Pang Xie, Shui Sheng, and Jing Ge were naturally delighted to collect their money and leave. The earnings from just one trip on the boat exceeded what they had made in two or three years.

Li Hongji and Zhou Qingfeng were left alone to say their final goodbyes.

Zhou Qingfeng stood with his hands behind his back and said with a smile, "Kid, think about it. Work for me from now on. Don't go to the Myriad Realms Void Sea anymore."

He genuinely admired Li Hongji, because he saw that Li Hongji was a man destined for great things. He believed that if Li Hongji honed his skills under his guidance for ten years, he could achieve great things. It would be a real pity to let such a talent slip away, so he extended an olive branch, hoping that Li Hongji could abandon his ideals and follow him to accomplish great things.

Upon hearing this, Li Hongji showed signs of struggle. Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng did not urge him but waited quietly for his reply.

Honestly, Li Hongji really wanted to work for this good brother in front of him. He also realized that this good brother was no ordinary person, otherwise the naval commander of Qiantang City would never have personally escorted him. Following this good brother would surely lead to a meteoric rise and a smooth path. When the good brother said he would take him flying, it was definitely not an empty promise.

But Li Hongji had his own path to follow. Faced with readily available temptation, if he agreed, his future would be bright. But did he really have to give up his ideals? Wasn't he supposed to swear to go to the Myriad Realms and the Void Sea to find endless treasures and make a name for himself?

After a long silence, Li Hongji's expression hardened again: "Brother Tian, ​​I want to go to the Myriad Realms Void Sea. This is my ambition. I know that one day I may regret it, but I don't want to give up my ambition. Even if I get hurt, I want to stick to it to the end. Please forgive my ignorance."

After saying this, Li Hongji promptly bowed ninety degrees to apologize.

Jin Wei frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but after glancing at Zhou Qingfeng's expression, he chose to remain silent again.

Zhou Qingfeng was silent for a moment, looking at the young man in front of him. He reached out and gently supported the young man's arm, and smiled slightly: "Very good. A young man should have the spirit to move forward without hesitation, not be hindered by external things, and not forget his original intention when faced with temptation. This is very rare. I believe you can make a name for yourself in the Myriad Realms Void Sea."

“Brother Tian…” Li Hongji felt a warmth in his heart.

Zhou Qingfeng shook his head: "Don't say anything more. Before we part, I'll give you a piece of advice: never give up no matter how great the difficulties you encounter. Remember your current perseverance and original aspirations. When your body is exhausted and can't hold on any longer, don't give up, because your will will lead you out of the encirclement and your faith will lead you over mountains and rivers."

"Brother Tian's teachings are etched in my heart." Li Hongji pursed his lips, clasped his hands in a salute, turned and strode away. After walking several dozen steps, he turned back to Zhou Qingfeng and said loudly, "Brother Tian, ​​I, Li Hongji, will never forget your kindness and teachings. The mountains and rivers will remain unchanged, and we will meet again in the martial world!"

Zhou Qingfeng was slightly taken aback, then smiled freely, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "See you in the martial world."

Li Hongji had no more regrets and strode towards the riverbank dock.

Jin Wei shook his head as he looked at him: "I don't know how much opportunity this kid has given up. He missed out on a chance to rise to the top in one step."

Zhou Qingfeng smiled faintly: "Everyone is the protagonist of their own life story, not an appendage of someone else. The path they choose has its own brilliance."

Choices are certainly important, but not everyone can make the right choice at crucial moments in life. Does making the wrong choice mean the end of life? No. The wonder of life lies in the fact that as long as you are alive, you have infinite possibilities. As long as you don't give up, get back up, and keep going, you can still have a wonderful life and extraordinary achievements.

When you finally succeed, looking back at the difficulties you encountered along the way, they will all turn into wonderful moments and medals of honor.

In the study of the city lord's mansion in Qiantang City, General Li Jinnan, accompanied by Zhou Qingfeng and Jin Wei, came to visit Li Jiguang, the city lord of Qiantang City.

"Lord, the person has been safely brought here." General Li Jinnan clasped his hands in a salute.

Li Jiguang was working late into the night reviewing reports submitted by officials from various parts of the country. Upon hearing Li Jinnan's words, he rubbed his temples, casually tossed the report onto his desk, and wearily waved his hand at Li Jinnan: "General Li, you can wait outside."

"Your subordinate obeys." Li Jinnan clasped his hands in a fist salute, took a few steps back, then turned and strode out of the study.

Li Jiguang scanned Zhou Qingfeng and Jin Wei, his sharp eyes scrutinizing them, and calmly said, "Could you two please remove your disguises?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng reached out and touched his face, removing the human skin mask. This human skin mask was also a demon-grade magic artifact. It had no other use than to allow him to freely adjust the shape of his face and block most detection spells of the same level, making it impossible for cultivators of the same level to see the true face beneath the human skin mask. Even cultivators of a higher level, unless they had studied detection spells, could not easily see through the disguise of the human skin mask. This item was considered an essential item for traveling in the wilderness, killing and arson, and for both home and travel.

When Li Jiguang saw Zhou Qingfeng's face, he nodded slightly. He then glanced at the holy ring on Zhou Qingfeng's thumb and the Xiuyan jade snake bracelet on his wrist. He was basically certain that the person in front of him was Zhou Qingfeng, because there are countless ways to fake a face through plastic surgery, but the Xiuyan jade snake bracelet and holy ring cannot be faked.

"The Xiuyan Jade Snake Bracelet is the first city lord's personal possession for a thousand years, and it is unique in the world."

"The Holy Ring, the identity token of the number one on the Heavenly Ranking."

"Hehehe... Nephew, welcome to Qiantang City." Li Jiguang smiled brightly, stood up, walked around the desk, and opened his arms to Zhou Qingfeng.