Wang Dahu and his men moved with incredible speed. Each stride they took covered a full zhang (around three meters), and what was more astonishing was that every soldier moved in perfect unison. Their formations were tight and synchronized, giving the illusion of flying over the ground while maintaining discipline.
Currently, Xuanhuang Village had adopted modern military training techniques as part of their daily regimen. Formation drills and marching exercises were mandatory—foundational practices that fit the current situation perfectly. After just a few days of such training, results were already beginning to show. Even at full sprint, their formations remained intact.
The shock delivered by this kind of tightly organized charge was immense.
"Lord, you've returned!"Wang Dahu came to a halt before Yi Tianxing, transitioning from full sprint to complete stillness in an instant. So did the entire unit behind him. There wasn't even the slightest hesitation. Their movement was smooth as flowing water, and when they stomped the ground in unison, it let out a booming echo.
"Swift as rabbits in motion, still as virgins at rest!"This phrase perfectly captured their presence—intense and awe-inspiring.
Yang Ye and his sons instinctively narrowed their eyes. This kind of soldier was on an entirely different level. Their speed could match that of warhorses, and their power, explosive force, coordination, and presence were extraordinary. The murderous aura surrounding them wasn't any less potent than that of the famed Yang Family Army.
"Too strong… These soldiers, this army… they've already surpassed the realm of ordinary men. These people are all cultivators," Yang Ye thought to himself in awe. Though Yi Tianxing had mentioned it before, seeing it firsthand still came as a shock.
He couldn't help but wonder: If an entire army was made up of cultivators, how terrifying would their combat power become? The thought alone made his eyes light up.
"These men are stronger than any soldier in the Yang Family Army," muttered Yang Yanping.
"As long as we get to cultivate, we'll be even stronger. The Yang Family Army won't lose to anyone," said another Yang soldier with determination. Although they were envious, none were discouraged. Instead, it lit a fire in their hearts. They firmly believed that with access to cultivation techniques, they would surpass these men.
"Lord brought back so many villagers? There must be over ten thousand people here!" Wang Dahu's voice was filled with admiration. "Last time, he brought back a large group. Now he's done it again! Lord is truly remarkable—he left for only a day and returned with enough people to fill a town. Xuanhuang Village is going to grow even stronger now!"
"Lord, Elder Huang had hot fish soup and meat broth prepared when he heard you'd returned. We're ready to welcome the new villagers and give them a warm reception. He asked me to come personally to greet you," Wang Dahu reported respectfully.
Yi Tianxing nodded and turned to the surrounding villagers."Everyone, this is Xuanhuang Village. Now that you're here, you are part of us. From this day on, you are villagers of Xuanhuang. You share the same status as everyone else. Come—let's return home!"
Return home!Just those two simple words seemed to wash away the last traces of doubt in the villagers' hearts. Instantly, a sense of belonging settled over them, and their previously anxious faces softened.
"We're home… We're really home.""Xuanhuang Village… This will be our true home from now on."
Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. Yi Tianxing led the way, followed by a vast sea of people, marching toward the village with hope in their hearts.
"Hey, brother, come here—hot fish soup just finished boiling. It's made from man-eating fish caught from the river—you won't find this anywhere else. Come warm up!"
"Sis, this way! We've got hot meat porridge made from premium rice and beast meat—it's just right now. Have a bowl to settle your stomach. You're safe here now. Once you've eaten, the men will help build your house—no more sleeping in the wind and rain."
"Come quick, the grilled meat is ready! Eat it while it's hot—that's when it's best. Beast meat tastes better than any regular meat. The doctors say it's super nutritious."
The villagers from Yang Family Village were stunned the moment they stepped into Xuanhuang. Beyond the neatly built structures, they were immediately surrounded by the overwhelming warmth and hospitality of the locals. Before they could process anything, they were pulled to fire pits, handed bowls of hot soup, porridge, and meat.
Any previous feelings of strangeness vanished completely.
Any sense of awkwardness melted under the warmth of such a welcome.
A sense of belonging surged into their hearts.
As they ate and chatted, the strangers around them quickly turned into familiar faces. There was laughter, some even cried from emotion. But in the glow of the fire, everyone now shared the same identity—they were villagers of Xuanhuang. This was their shared home.
Wang Dahu brought Yang Ye and his sons, along with the Yang Family Army, into the barracks. There, hot broth also awaited them. As fellow soldiers, they quickly hit it off. For warriors, strength was everything—they spoke bluntly, respected achievements, and valued courage.
The Yang soldiers respected Wang Dahu's strength and valor, while Dahu's men admired the Yang Army's unbreakable will.
Their conversations were filled with mutual admiration and hearty laughter.
Inside the main residence.
Yi Tianxing and Huang Chengyan sat together in discussion.
"Lord," Huang said seriously, "the appearance of a phoenix is a divine omen. It never lands where there's no treasure. In legend, even the Heirloom Seal of the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang was made from the Heshibi jade, which was said to be discovered where a phoenix once landed. That valley where the phoenix descended must hold an extraordinary treasure."
"I know the saying well," Yi Tianxing replied calmly, "but that place is deep within the valley—even farther than Yang Family Village. It's unexplored and likely filled with danger. Even if treasure lies there, we can't afford to chase dreams right now. It's better to focus on building up Xuanhuang. If our foundation is strong, all else will follow."
He clearly knew the value of the treasure, but to him, treasure without strength was just moonlight on the water, a flower in the mirror—beautiful, yet unreachable.
"Haha, Lord, your journey to Yang Family Village has been a huge success," Huang Chengyan said, stroking his beard with a smile. "With nearly ten thousand new people, we've made up for our greatest weakness. With people, we can grow—and quickly."
"With those migrants plus the ones I rescued from the ogre camp," Yi Tianxing added, "we now have over ten thousand residents. In the old world, that would already be a sizeable town. But more people also means more complexity. We'll need clear institutions and management systems."
He paused, then spoke gravely.
"In this chaotic world, old rules and orders have crumbled. Now we must rebuild from the ruins—construct a framework, even a simple one, to keep things orderly and efficient. A snake without a head cannot move. Without leadership and structure, resources will be wasted, and development will stall."
"Well said, Lord," Huang nodded, eyes gleaming with wisdom. "I was about to suggest the same. Now is the perfect time to build your own foundation of power—to establish a proper governing body. Once a framework is in place, it'll be easier to expand and improve over time."
He had already been planning this. With few people before, things had run like a simple village. But now, they had evolved into a society—and society brought complexity.
"I've thought about this too," Yi Tianxing replied. "But we'll need to discuss it in detail. At the very least, we must establish a basic governing structure."
"Lord, do you already have something in mind?" Huang asked with curiosity.
"A power structure must have two pillars: military and civil," Yi Tianxing began. "The military is a sword—used to fight enemies and protect the people. It must have its own clear hierarchy and laws. The civil government manages daily life and cannot interfere with the army, and vice versa. Though we're not at that point yet, I plan to establish a Military Affairs Bureau (军机处)."