After a rather awkward experience with Zhang Mei, it seemed they should have avoided each other for a long time, but as if fate itself was against them, Xie Qing was assigned as her assistant.


    "Lady Zhang Mei, the Master has sent me here to assist you in controlling the soldiers due to some disturbing actions by these people," Xie Qing''s monotonous voice sounded in one of the meeting rooms, where only Zhang Mei sat, working with papers. Hearing the man''s words, she looked up and frowned.


    "I do not require any assistance. You may leave," she coldly replied, and her indifferent and sullen behavior seemed to worsen.


    "Do not make this difficult for me, this is the Master''s order…" Xie Qing sighed.


    "Pfft…"


    Zhang Mei snorted in annoyance but seemed to stop insisting on his departure. Xie Qing sighed in relief.


    In any case, he himself did not expect this request.


    ***


    An hour earlier…


    "Zhang Mei''s unit has some problems. The army''s strength is over a hundred thousand, and they are more of a support unit, whose role is to supply formations with their Qi and create traps, etc. However, recently, there have been conflicts among them, which is hindering the operation," Xu Mei said,pletely naked.


    She was wiping fluids from her body while exining: "I find the soldiers'' behavior uneptable, and Zhang Mei is too busy to spare time. Her generals are not coping because their cultivation levels, let''s say, are not very satisfactory. Therefore, I am assigning this task to you."


    "To me?" Xie Qing was puzzled. He was just getting dressed when he froze, hearing Xu Mei''s request.


    "Yes. You are one step away from Divine Transformation, making your aura truly frightening. Moreover, you know how to take control of the situation, which is why I want to ask you to do this," Xu Mei nodded briefly, not averting her gaze and continuing her task: "Besides, this is an excellent opportunity to strengthen your authority.


    There are still people who are hostile towards you and doubt your abilities."


    "Hmm…"


    Xie Qing was not overly surprised. After all, he had not been seen on the surface for a long time, and when he suddenly appeared, he was dered a hero who helped start the operation to eliminate the devilish cultivators.


    However, many viewed this with obvious prejudice, believing that they were simply trying to raise the reputation of the Princess of Swords'' disciple.


    After all, Xie Qing''s recent achievements, although impressive, were not enough to make many cultivators, especially those above Soul Integration, start worshipping him.


    "So, your task is to subdue them. Understood?"


    "Yes, Master."


    Xie Qing smiled bitterly. In such situations, they were not lovers but Master and disciple. Therefore, he simply could not refuse her.


    ***


    And so, returning to the present time, Xie Qing stood on a hill not far from the camp where Zhang Mei''s army was located. It should be mentioned that seeing such an impressive number of soldiers was unusual.


    "I think I underestimated the righteous path," Xie Qing expressed aloud and nced at the three men beside him: "So. I need an exnation of the situation. Preferably brief."


    "Yes, young master."


    One of the men, General Liu Hao, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. He was a cultivator at the fifth stage of Spiritual Ascension and had vast experience.


    "The situation is as follows. The soldiers are dissatisfied with how the battle is going andin that they have to work too much. Moreover, most of them have, well… ''desires'' that they cannot satisfy. Because of this, there was a conflict with the alchemists'' unit, where there are many girls. Fortunately, the vitors were calmed down in time, and a scandal was avoided."


    "Hah…"


    Xie Qing raised an eyebrow. From his point of view, these lustful urges in the conditions of the battlefield were understandable, but understanding and epting are different matters. Therefore, his eyes immediately turned cold.


    "Commendable. They are confident enough to try to as**ult someone from the Sect of Nine Pills," Xie Qing said, and despite his own words, it seemed that coldness appeared in his eyes: "First, gather these vitors, and then I will appear before the army and give them an order. Understood?"


    "Yes, sir!"


    The men bowed and left, carrying out Xie Qing''s order. Although they initially doubted him, his power was convincing enough.


    ***


    Xie Qing looked at the twenty men standing at attention in a single line. All these people, due to their lust, had sneaked into the alchemists'' unit''s tents and tried to as**ult them.


    Therefore, upon meeting them, Xie Qing''s face became grim and sullen, and his previous carefree demeanorpletely disappeared. His posture was straight, his shoulders broad—overall, he gave the impression of a strict and powerful man.


    And considering that over time, his face had be more masculine, and including his height… the soldiers became nervous.


    "So, it seems these are all of them, General Liu?" Xie Qing asked calmly, but his face remained just as cold.


    "Yes, sir. Starting from the left, this is soldier He…"


    "I am not interested in their names; you need not bother," Xie Qing interrupted the general sharply, who simply nodded and stepped back. The man turned his gaze to the soldiers and narrowed his eyes: "So… animals. You have vited the regtions, attempted tomit a crime. As a result, you could have caused a serious conflict that would have slowed down the operation.


    Moreover, attempts to provoke other soldiers were noticed, which resulted in a brawl."


    As Xie Qing read out the charges, the soldiers'' faces became gloomier and gloomier, and when the man fell silent and looked at them with a piercing gaze, those with weak psyches trembled and lowered their eyes.


    "Hmm. It''s amusing that you fear someone who is decades younger than you," Xie Qing smirked and continued, turning his gaze to the general: "Under normal circumstances, we would simply treat them as sinners and imprison them. However, during wartime, imprisoning someone is too costly. Therefore, there is only one… execute them."


    "Wh-what?!"


    One of the soldiers, shocked, could not hold back his cry, and even General Liu Hao was surprised and darkened.


    In any case, it was the truth. During wartime, imprisoning someone is a trivial waste of resources. However, executing them was too cruel. But…


    "Understood, sir."


    Liu Hao did not intend to argue with Xie Qing. Initially, the entire situation was mainly due to him. However, the general was not punished because he always responsibly performed his task.


    "N-no…"


    Hearing that the general agreed with their punishment, the soldiers paled and began to resist. However, soon…


    Thud.


    Their headsnded on the ground, and the cut was so clean that even Xie Qing whistled.


    "Good job," he said and smiled, walking past General Liu Hao and patting him on the shoulder: "I will make sure to request a promotion for you. Count on it."


    "T-thank you, sir!"


    It seemed that from this one promise, General Liu Hao''s face brightened.


    ***


    Xie Qing stood on a small hill and looked down at the assembled soldiers—there were a hundred thousand of them, and it seemed like there was no end in sight.


    "So, soldiers. I am Xie Qing, the heir of the Sect of Heavenly Sword, an imperial censor, and also one of the greatest geniuses of this generation," Xie Qing said calmly, but with unmistakable arrogance in his voice.


    The soldiers frowned. Of course, it was unpleasant to see someone younger mocking them, but they remained silent—they had no other choice, as even General Liu Hao, whomanded them all, stood silently behind.


    This meant that the status of this arrogant man was not simple. The soldiers simply hoped there would be no foolish orders.


    "So, I won''t dy and say this. An order hase from Sovereign Zhang Mei for me to oversee the discipline among the soldiers," Xie Qing said, and hearing a few smirks, he also smiled, and then…


    BOOM!


    …he released his aura.


    "Aaagh!"


    "C-can''t… b-breathe!"


    "Damn…"


    The soldiers, who a second ago had looked at the arrogant man with a smirk, now could barely stand on their feet. This was due to Xie Qing''s aura, which was at the brink of Divine Transformation.


    Even Liu Hao, with his high level, could not help but tremble with fear. There was a huge difference between him and Xie Qing, who had already begun to touch upon thews.


    Observing this amusing, in his opinion, scene, Xie Qing loudly proimed, "I hope that all of you will know your ce and obey the rules and orders. By following the rules, you ensure your future. I can guarantee that obedient soldiers will receive an increase in mary rewards, and those who achieve many aplishments will have the right to make an individual request."


    Xie Qing calmly smiled and withdrew his aura, allowing the soldiers to recover. This method of intimidation was not the most effective, but ifbined with a reward, everything should be in order.


    After all, everyone who came here harbors only one hope—to achieve sess and return home, and then live a prosperous life.