Martial arts mastery? But I'm just a spoiled brat!

Yan Qing could only say that the feeling of "transforming strength" was something that could only be understood intuitively and could not be explained in words.

However, the day after Lan Yue entered the Transformation Realm, Wan Xing also entered the Transformation Realm.

Previously, Wanxing and Lanyue addressed each other by their given names, but later Wanxing began to call Lanyue "elder sister".

However, Yan Qing just smiled after learning all this and didn't say anything more.

However, it's different from Yan Qing's situation of having a beautiful woman in his arms and by his side.

Cao Ying led an army of 400,000 to withdraw from Jin Province and headed directly to the capital to support his brother Cao Kun.

Yan Fengqi led an army of 200,000 men straight up the mountain and easily occupied Hebei Province.

This was actually within Yan Fengqi's expectations, after all, compared to the Yan family's 200,000-strong army, the Zhang family in the Northeast was the Cao family's real opponent.

The Zhang family in Northeast China had a core army of nearly 400,000 men, and with other affiliated warlords, their strength was even greater than that of the Cao family.

Most importantly, the Zhang family not only had a strong and well-equipped army, but also a diverse range of military units, including land, sea, and air forces.

In a real fight, the Cao family's extra troops would be at a significant disadvantage.

Therefore, the Zhang family in Northeast China is currently the Cao family's number one enemy. As for the Yan family, it's not too late to deal with them after the Zhang family is defeated.

However, although Cao Ying's army returned to reinforce immediately, he didn't even have time to pay attention to Ji Province, which was Cao Ying's base of operations.

In the end, however, it was still too late.

The Zhang family from Northeast China came with great force, advancing directly from Hebei Province into the capital.

With the air force's superior aircraft, Cao Kun's 200,000-strong army guarding the capital was unable to mount much resistance and was driven into the capital by the Zhang family.

In the end, Cao Kun could only lead his remaining troops to join Cao Ying's 400,000-strong army, and then head towards Tianjin together.

That area is also Cao family territory. As long as they hold onto Tianjin, they may be able to avenge this grudge someday.

However, they underestimated the determination of the Zhang and Yan families in Northeast China to eliminate the Cao family.

The Zhang family from the Northeast led their army in pursuit all the way from the capital, while Yan Fengqi led his troops to set up an ambush from the bottom up in Hebei Province.

The Zhang family pursued relentlessly, while the Yan family laid an ambush, and the two armies began their encirclement and suppression.

"Brother!! We can't drag this out any longer. If we keep fighting like this, the morale of our troops will collapse. We have to make a decision!"

Inside the Cao family's army tent, the burly Cao Ying felt extremely aggrieved. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up from his seat, and looked at his eldest brother, who was sitting at the head of the table, and spoke.

They used to completely disregard the Yan family.

Even the Zhang family, they have the strength to go toe-to-toe with.

But now that the Zhang family has gained the upper hand, and the Yan family is clinging to them like a leech, they feel powerless.

Most importantly, Cao Ying couldn't understand how that opportunist Yan Fengqi had joined forces with the Zhang family in Northeast China.

He even now has some suspicions that Yan Fengqi's southward march was a trap set specifically for the Cao family, meant to lure them into a trap.

"The Zhang family's firepower is too fierce; a head-on confrontation would likely result in heavy casualties. However, intelligence indicates that the Yan family has a master at the peak of the Gang Jin realm... They won't be easy to deal with!"

Cao Kun sat upright in the head seat, frowning as he spoke.

"What's so difficult about dealing with him? That peak Gang Jin expert is enough for me and Lao Yang. Two against one, even if we can't beat him, we can at least hold him off."

Cao Ying had no goodwill towards the Yan family; in fact, she could be described as hostile.

After all, his current predicament is entirely due to the Yan family, especially since his only son probably died in Shanxi Province.

Therefore, if he had to choose between the two, he would definitely choose the Yan family.

"good!!"

Upon hearing his younger brother volunteer, Cao Kun's eyes lit up. He then stood up, pointed to the map behind him, and began to speak:

"Then we'll lead the army this way. This is the only way to Tianjin, and the Yan family will surely set up an ambush here."

I'll first have 50,000 troops hold off the Zhang family, then concentrate my forces here for a decisive battle against the Yan family.

"Once we defeat the Yan family, we can march straight into Kinmen. With the concessions there, even the Zhang family wouldn't dare launch a full-scale attack on the city."

Cao Kun must have been prepared, as he laid out all his arrangements in one go. He was just waiting for Cao Ying to step forward and hold off the Yan family's peak-level expert in the Gang Jin realm.

That's a peak-level expert in Gang Jin (罡劲), someone could die if you're not careful.

However, if left unchecked and given the opportunity to assassinate, it would be an extremely terrifying entity.

So Cao Kun didn't assign the task at first; he waited for his younger brother, Cao Ying, to take it on.

"Let's do it!!"

Cao Ying observed Cao Kun's reaction, but he did not dwell on the matter. Instead, he directly approved Cao Kun's plan.

He had always known that his elder brother was good at scheming, and the two brothers' rise to prominence was due in part to his elder brother's shrewdness.

So although he could see that his brother was scheming, at this critical moment of life and death, he no longer had time to dwell on it.

However… before leaving the camp, Cao Ying thought of her son.

He paused in his steps as he headed out, but ultimately didn't ask the question.

As I said before, there's no need to create any rift between brothers at this moment.

The specific details can be discussed once things have completely settled down.

Cao Kun may have had a bad temper or been good at scheming, but his strategic vision was absolutely impeccable.

When he led his army to the designated location, he could vaguely see strongholds and trenches on a hilltop in front of him.

Cao Ying's army had rushed back from Jin Province, while Cao Kun's army had hastily withdrawn from the capital. Therefore, the entire army lacked heavy firepower.

However, the Yan family was in a similar situation. They were also in a hurry to get on their way, and they couldn't carry many of their heavy artillery pieces.

At present, both sides only have a few heavy machine guns that can be considered heavy weapons.

So next... unless one side backs down, a large number of people will definitely need to fill the gap.

However, once a decision is made, there is no room for regret, especially when there is pursuit from behind, so there is no need for further words.

"Bang!!"

The battle began immediately after the first shot was fired.

……

Leaving aside the offense and defense on the battlefield, the top martial artists from both sides had already met on a hilltop not far from the border.

The Yan family only has Chief Steward Cao, while the Cao family consists of Cao Ying and another Gang Jin martial artist, Yang Xing. As for the other Hua Jin martial artists, they cannot play a decisive role in the current martial arts duel.

"A martial artist like you is certainly no nobody. Dare to leave your name?"

Cao Ying looked at Steward Cao and asked directly.

Among martial arts practitioners, those who can cultivate to the level of Gang Jin are rarely unknown figures.