After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

Soon, the people in the city spontaneously set out to leave, and the crowd grew larger and larger. There were laborers carrying stretchers, doctors carrying medicine chests, and old women carrying water jugs.

They spontaneously joined the cleanup of the battlefield, carefully helping up wounded comrades and silently closing the eyes of fallen soldiers.

Looking at the corpses scattered all over the battlefield.

The people's joy was somewhat overshadowed by a heavy sorrow.

Jiang Yan saw this, stepped out from the crowd, and soared into the air, standing in mid-air above the battlefield.

Everyone looked up.

"Gentlemen."

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone on the battlefield could hear it.

"Those who die on the battlefield today all died protecting our homeland."

"Their names will all be engraved on the Monument to the Heroes. They are the heroes of Chang'an City, and the most memorable people in the history of the human race in the Demon Realm."

"As long as this monument stands here, their achievements will be immortal."

Jiang Yan paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping over each face below.

"The families of all those who died in battle will be provided with unified relief by Chang'an City, with each family receiving monthly payments without fail, and their children will receive financial assistance from the City Lord's Mansion to continue their studies until adulthood."

Soon, even louder shouts erupted on the battlefield.

From this moment on, no force in the Demon Realm will dare to easily invade Chang'an.

Only then did the city truly gain a foothold on this land.

……

One day later.

Yes, even for cultivators, it still took a whole day to clean up the battlefield.

The bodies of the fallen were collected one by one and buried neatly in the newly established cemetery in the west of the city.

The casualty figures for the Chang'an army were quickly tallied.

The Monument to the Fallen Heroes has also been expanded.

Beside the original ten-zhang-tall black stone tablet, a new tablet of the same height was erected, its surface inscribed with the names of those who died in this battle.

The area below the inscription was crowded with people. Some were whispering the names on the inscription, while others were gently placing white flowers in front of the base of the monument.

Jiang Yan stood not far away, without going forward.

The wind blew through the Forest of Steles, making a mournful sound.

The main hall of the city lord's mansion was brightly lit.

All the familiar faces were there.

Wen Chaosheng leaned against the wall inside the palace gate, holding a wine pot in his hand.

Liu Qingyi and Jiang Shouzhuo stood on the other side.

Jiang Yan sat at the head of the table, his gaze slowly sweeping over each face, the corners of his mouth gradually curving upwards.

The feeling of having everyone there made him feel more at ease than winning a battle.

Many people in the audience looked at Jiang Yan on the stage, and then at the group of women around him, their eyes filled with strange expressions.

These women all came from incredibly powerful backgrounds.

Needless to say, their cultivation levels were all incredibly high.

Lu Fa whispered to Tu Shanye, "Boss is too strong. He can take on a hundred men on the battlefield, and he can take on several men in love."

Tu Shanye didn't answer, but silently counted on his fingers, his face full of admiration.

Liu Qingyi leaned back in her chair, watching this scene with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Jiang Yan noticed their strange looks, coughed twice, and steered the conversation back on track.

There were many things to do after the war, from repairing city defenses to replenishing supplies; he had to make all the decisions personally.

After all the important matters were discussed, Jiang Yan stood up.

"This battle against the allied forces was the true test of Chang'an's survival." He looked at the people in the hall. "From now on, this day will be Chang'an's victory celebration. Every year on this day, the whole city will celebrate together."

Everyone smiled and nodded upon hearing this.

Chang'an City truly needs a festival of its own.

The celebration began the next day.

The city lanterns were lit up once again.

This celebration was much more lively than the last one.

As night fell, the banquet at the city lord's mansion was in full swing.

This time, Cang Yao did not occupy the seat next to Jiang Yan all to herself.

Ruoshui sat on the other side of Jiang Yan, her fox tail swaying leisurely. She raised her wine glass and clinked it with Jiang Yan's several times, her cheeks flushed slightly.

Jiang Yan carried a wine bowl and walked through the crowd until she reached a corner inside the palace gate.

Wen Chaosheng leaned against the wall, holding a wine pot in his hand, not participating in the commotion, but just watching quietly.

Jiang Yan stopped beside him and raised the wine bowl in her hand.

Wen Chaosheng smiled, picked up his wine jug, and clinked it against his.

The two tilted their heads back and drank it all.

"You rascal, I really envy you." Wen Chaosheng's voice was a little hoarse as his gaze passed over the noisy crowd and landed on the star-studded night sky outside the hall.

Jiang Yan held the wine bowl without saying a word.

He didn't know what to say.

Wen Chaosheng didn't need his answer.

Night fell, and the banquet ended.

Those who were drunk were carried back to their rooms by their comrades, while those who were still sober left in twos and threes.

Jiang Yan saw Wen Chaosheng off from the city lord's mansion, and the two walked slowly along the bluestone path.

After using the secret technique, Wen Chaosheng aged considerably. Silver streaks appeared at his temples, fine lines were etched around his eyes, and he even walked slower than before.

The night wind blew down from the city wall.

"When I was young, I also had six sworn brothers and sisters," Wen Chaosheng suddenly said, his voice low and hoarse from the alcohol.

"I was the third child, and I was really full of vigor back then. I felt like I was destined for greatness and that there was nothing I couldn't do."

"Just like you are today."

He shook the wine jug in his hand, tilted his head back, and took another gulp.

"We traveled together through the Vast Domain, discussed swordsmanship with sword cultivators in the Upper Pure Domain, debated scriptures with an old monk in the Brahma Domain, and later returned to the Myriad Demon Domain, wanting to accomplish something great."

He slowed his pace and looked toward the monument to the fallen heroes in the distance.

"You've probably heard what happened next. In short, in the end, I was the only one left who survived."

Jiang Yan nodded.

Wen Chaosheng stopped in his tracks; they had already reached the doorway.

He turned to look at Jiang Yan, his gaze particularly complex in the moonlight.

His eyes held envy, relief, and a hint of inexplicable sense of relief.

Then he sighed.

"In youthful arrogance, one always believes that there is nothing in the world that cannot be done."

"As time goes by, I finally realize that everyone's strength has its limits."

He then turned around and walked towards the door.

Jiang Yan watched his retreating figure and said, "Stay."

Wen Chaosheng waved his hand, his voice carried away by the night wind: "We'll talk about it later."

His back view was slightly unsteady.