This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Daji showed no reaction to these conversations, as if in her eyes, what seemed cruel to ordinary people was nothing more than a drop in the ocean to her.

Her gaze swept over the wild and untamed group, then she gave them only a disdainful look—the kind of mockery one gives to a subordinate.

"Alas, to this day, the Northern Region has not yet reclaimed the land it once lost. After so many years of war, a giant city was finally built on Yandang Mountain in the Northern Region, which finally locked the Wilderness to the north. That's why I say that the Wilderness is the true enemy of the Great Qian Dynasty, the kind that cannot be resolved. Given the opportunity, I believe that the Great Qian Dynasty will definitely wash the Wilderness in blood."

"But I'm very curious, why were these barbarians invited to the capital for this year's Poetry Conference? This has never happened before."

Faced with Lan Beitang's doubts, Xiao Xingchen also began to make his own judgments and guesses. It was nothing more than a matter of interests. Manghuang's participation in the Poet Immortal Gathering would be beneficial to the Great Qian Dynasty, but what would those interests be?

This is beyond the comprehension of someone of his level. At the national level, every individual is but an ant.

"According to what Brother Beitang said, the Wildlands seem to be the number one power on the continent,"

"Pfft," Daji's laughter echoed in Xiao Xingchen's mind, causing him to look at Daji in confusion.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"No problem, no problem, as long as you're happy."

Seeing Daji's smiling eyes, he felt like he had asked a stupid question.

But Lan Beitang couldn't bring himself to smile.

“Brother Xingchen is right. The people of the Wilderness are huge and muscular. Compared to our warriors, their individual combat ability is several times greater. Often, one of their warriors can take on five or even ten of ours. In addition, the environment in the Northern Region is harsh, and our army is at a great disadvantage there.”

"What about sword immortals? Aren't there highly skilled sword immortals and cultivators? Can't someone like you even do it?" Xiao Xingchen asked, voicing his biggest question. That's how it's always portrayed in movies—an invincible person appears and directly suppresses an entire nation.

"Sword immortals are also human. They will also become exhausted and tired when facing a continuous stream of enemies. On large-scale battlefields, the power of sword immortals will be greatly reduced. The greater significance of the existence of sword immortals is deterrence."

"That makes sense,"

"However, if it's the Swift Sword Immortal, then that's a different story,"

"How to say?"

"Because Xiao Jianxian is different, he can destroy an army of ten thousand with a single sword, which is something other cultivators cannot do. At that time, someone suggested that Xiao Jianxian go directly to the Northern Region, but he suddenly disappeared. To this day, no one has been able to find Xiao Jianxian's whereabouts, which has become one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in the world."

Xiao Xingchen nodded. His predecessor used gunpowder, an absolute weapon of war. Perhaps gunpowder posed little threat to sword immortals, but its effects were magnified infinitely in large-scale wars. No wonder Lan Beitang said that; if Xiao Jianxian hadn't been besieged and killed, perhaps the Wilderness Rebellion could have truly been quelled.

"Let's hurry and see who has come to the Wildlands this time. These are all our future enemies."

As the wild carriage approached Yong'an, Lan Beitang hurried forward anxiously.

Just as Xiao Xingchen was about to follow, Daji's voice rang out again.

"The people of the Wilderness possess demon blood, thus inheriting some characteristics of the demon race. This is one of the reasons why humans always suffer losses when fighting them. However, fate is fair; their innate power comes with a significant drawback, and this drawback is your only chance of victory against the Wilderness."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Xiao Xingchen paused, puzzled.

"Because you like to show off, I'm afraid you'll risk your life to go looking for trouble. Is that reason enough?"

"What? You've misunderstood me. I just want to keep a low profile, understand? As for this so-called wilderness, they're just savages. I have no interest in paying attention to them."

"That's for the best. Let's hurry up and leave. Lan Beitang has almost run away and there's no one left."

Daji rolled her eyes at him. "Low-key?" He probably misunderstood the word.

Xiao Xingchen snorted defiantly, then casually took Daji's hand. Unconsciously, Daji seemed to have gotten used to having her hand held, and now she didn't resist, letting him pull her forward.

Before even reaching the city gate, we were already surrounded by a sea of ​​people.

From afar, a large group of civil and military officials were waiting beneath the city gates; this procession was far more grand than that of the Princess's arrival in the capital.

He even saw many acquaintances.

Ye Yunfeng and Chen Miao from the Prime Minister's residence, along with Huangfu Lingxue, who should be settled in with the Eldest Princess, Huangfu Lingfeng, and many princes.

As for the Crown Prince, he must have just had a conflict with the Second Sage, and he'll probably be locked up to reflect on his actions.

He only recognized Chen Haoran among the officials at the front, but he did notice a few older men who caught his eye.

However, he didn't see any military officers, which puzzled Xiao Xingchen as to why no officers were present, especially given their status as enemies.

Even before the person arrived, the city walls of Yong'an were so quiet you could hear a pin drop; it was as if a formidable enemy was at stake.

The crowd of people stared angrily at the approaching blood-red flag, their hatred, deep within them, making no attempt to conceal it.

"Hahahaha, the Great Qian is indeed a land of etiquette, coming to the city gate to welcome us so early. Not bad, not bad, they know the rules."

A loud laugh rang out, the tone filled with contempt and disdain.

Xiao Xingchen looked up and saw a gigantic figure descending from the sky, crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. The powerful impact shattered the ground, sending dust billowing into the air.

"They're barbarians!" someone exclaimed.

When the dust settled, Xiao Xingchen was able to see the true appearance of the so-called barbarians.

Sure enough, compared to normal people, the Savage was over two meters tall, his body covered in explosive muscle definition. His upper body was bare, seemingly to display his physical strength, while he wore a pair of shorts and carried a spiked club on his back.

His face was weathered and worn, with a deep scar running down his entire head.

His gaze swept across the crowd, and his eyes lit up when he saw the woman.

"The women of Daqian are indeed all fair-skinned and tender. Whether you're playing with them or eating them, they're an absolute delicacy, haha."

"How dare you speak so disrespectfully in my Great Qian Kingdom! Are you courting death?"

One of the officials immediately spoke up to rebuke him, but was only met with disdain.

"I could crush several of you with one kick. Do you want to try and see who's really asking for it?"

"You..." The civil official's thin frame contrasted sharply with the barbarian's, which inevitably aroused anger in the crowd.

But that wasn't enough. In Xiao Xingchen's view, this barbarian seemed to be intentionally provoking public anger, or rather, he was trying to intimidate them.

"Are there no men left in this Great Qian Dynasty? Come on, man, try my club. If you're too scared, then kneel down and call me grandpa, and give me a few women. That way, I might consider giving you some face."

Arrogant, extremely arrogant. Xiao Xingchen laughed. What a brainless barbarian! The last one as arrogant as him was turned into a human sword, his bones scraped open with over a thousand cuts.

"What are you laughing at? Shouldn't you be angry like everyone else?"

Daji had been watching Xiao Xingchen closely, and upon seeing the smile on his lips, she immediately asked him a question.

"Why are you angry? Didn't you see that the top officials were as calm as mountains, as if they didn't even see anything?"

Xiao Xingchen looked around and saw that the people's anger had been ignited, but among the officials, the leading figures remained calm and composed, closing their eyes to rest, as if the barbarians were nothing more than flies.

One of them even impatiently picked at his ear, casually pulled out a piece of earwax, and disgustedly flicked it at the barbarian.