The Silver Road fell into silence.
Where merchants once argued over prices and guards haggled for protection fees, only whispers remained. The banners of old factions were gone, replaced by a simple black flag.
No crest.
No name.
Just fear.
And everyone knew who it belonged to.
I stood at the center of the trade route, watching caravans move again—this time under my control.
No extortion.
No chaos.
Just order enforced by strength.
The system panel hovered before me.
[DING!]
Territory Count: 3
– Blackstone City
– Iron Ridge Outpost
– Silver Road Trade Route
Regional Influence: Rising
Fear absorption: Continuous
Power +6.
I exhaled slowly.
Each new territory felt like a step up an invisible staircase.
But the higher I climbed—
The more eyes turned toward me.
Kang Yu approached from behind, his expression serious.
"Scouts have returned," he said.
"What did they see?"
He hesitated.
"An army."
The system pulsed immediately.
[DING!]
Major hostile force detected.
Faction: Iron Banner Legion
Estimated combatants: 400+
Commander-level officers: 8
High Commander detected.
Threat Level: Extreme.
I smiled faintly.
"So they're not sending hunters anymore."
Kang Yu swallowed.
"This isn't like the factions we crushed," he said.
"The Iron Banner Legion is organized. Disciplined. Ruthless."
Good.
Discipline made fear more valuable.
We climbed a nearby ridge.
From there, the distant plains stretched endlessly.
And in the distance—
Dust rose into the sky.
A moving wall of iron and banners.
The legion had arrived.
Rows of armored soldiers marched in perfect formation. Their armor gleamed dull red under the sun. Spears and shields moved in unison, like the limbs of a single massive creature.
At their center rode a figure on a black warbeast.
Tall.
Still.
Heavy aura.
The system pulsed again.
[DING!]
Primary target detected.
Name: General Huo
Rank: High Commander
Threat Level: Catastrophic.
Survival probability:
Direct confrontation — 21%
Kang Yu's face turned pale.
"That… is General Huo," he whispered.
"He's conquered entire territories."
I kept watching.
Good.
The stronger the enemy—
The more valuable the victory.
The legion stopped a few hundred meters away.
Their formation shifted smoothly, forming a massive semicircle around the trade route.
No panic.
No shouting.
Just silent, disciplined movement.
General Huo dismounted and stepped forward.
Even from this distance, I could feel his presence.
Like a burning furnace.
He raised his voice.
"Zhang Wei!"
The sound carried across the plains.
I stepped forward.
"I'm here," I replied calmly.
He studied me from afar.
"So you're the one causing all this noise," he said.
I didn't answer.
"You've taken a city," he continued.
"An outpost. A trade road."
His eyes narrowed.
"But you've gone too far."
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Major war event detected.
Iron Banner Legion intends full suppression.
Event Type:
Regional War Phase.
Victory rewards:
– Major rank advancement
– Legendary title progression
– System evolution trigger
Failure consequences:
– Territory loss
– Authority collapse
My blood stirred.
This was what I needed.
General Huo drew a massive spear from his back.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as his aura surged.
"I'll give you one chance," he said.
"Kneel. Hand over your territories. Serve under the legion."
Silence spread across the plains.
My subordinates behind me shifted nervously.
Kang Yu clenched his fists.
I stepped forward.
"Or what?" I asked.
General Huo's eyes hardened.
"Or we erase you," he said.
I smiled.
"I've heard that before."
The system pulsed violently.
[DING!]
High Commander pressure detected.
Extreme Domination condition available.
Growth potential: Massive.
I stepped down the ridge.
Alone.
Kang Yu called out behind me.
"Zhang Wei! That's an army!"
I didn't turn.
"I know," I said.
The legion watched as I approached.
Hundreds of eyes locked onto me.
Some curious.
Some cold.
Some eager.
General Huo planted his spear into the ground.
"You came alone," he said.
"I don't need anyone else," I replied.
A few soldiers laughed.
General Huo didn't.
He studied me carefully.
"You're either very brave," he said,
"or very stupid."
"Both work," I replied.
The system panel flashed red.
[DING!]
High Commander duel conditions met.
Victory probability: 33%
Adaptive Growth Overdrive available.
Accept engagement?
"Yes."
General Huo pulled his spear free.
The ground trembled.
His aura surged like a wildfire.
I stepped forward.
Shadow Step activated.
The world blurred.
I appeared within striking distance.
Our attacks collided.
The impact shook the plains.
Shockwaves rippled through the legion ranks.
Soldiers staggered.
Dust filled the air.
General Huo grinned.
"Good," he said.
"Finally, something interesting."
Our weapons clashed again.
Spear against fist.
Power against power.
Each impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
The system pulsed repeatedly.
[DING!]
High Commander combat detected.
Growth acceleration active.
Power +10
Power +15
Power +18
Heat surged through my body.
My aura thickened.
Stronger.
Sharper.
General Huo's grin widened.
"You really do grow in battle," he said.
He raised his spear high.
Energy gathered around it.
Dense.
Crushing.
"This ends now."
The system flashed.
[DING!]
Lethal strike detected.
Extreme Domination event available.
Success probability: 36%
Accept risk?
I smiled.
"Yes."
General Huo's spear descended.
The air screamed.
I stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
Our attacks collided.
The plains exploded.
Dust swallowed everything.
For a moment—
There was only silence.
When the dust cleared, both of us still stood.
But General Huo had taken a step back.
His eyes widened slightly.
Interesting.
I smiled.
Because this battle—
Was just beginning.