Defeat!
Crushing defeat!
Lance Li's defeat was merely a loss to Evan Chu, but Quentin Quan lost his dignity, his potential, and even his future.
He hated, but he didn't dare hate Evan Chu. Instead, he hated himself—hated that he ever harbored killing intent toward Evan Chu. How could someone like that ever be his match? Now he could only regret it bitterly.
But none of that matters now. What matters is that Evan Chu won—he stands as the final king at the very summit.
"Hall Masters, please grant me the Dragon-Chen command banner!"
The four Hall Masters were silent for a long time. Finally, Trenton Zhan blushed and said, "Evan Chu, you're too arrogant. It's not good for you."
"That's my problem." Evan Chu shook his head and smiled.
What does it mean to be humble? No idea. Isn't cultivation all about standing above others, being stronger than everyone else?
Some might say Evan Chu is overbearing, but he doesn't care. If being wild makes him happy, that's reason enough.
With the curtain finally falling on this battle, it's over at last. Everyone who witnessed it was deeply shaken—none would forget it for a long, long time.
Three months later, Mad-Blade Li and the Blazing-Flame Legion returned in triumph—they had finally seized the star-region once held by the Monroe Legion. When Lord Jun Yang and Mad-Blade Li learned everything Evan Chu had accomplished in the Pearl-Mountain Star-Region and within the Frostbane Dynasty, all they could do was sincerely admire him.
Secretly, they sighed to themselves: I'm not as good as you!
No doubt about it—Evan Chu ascended the Throne, Nathan Yates was appointed deputy Throne, and together they carried the Dragon-Chen command banner out of the Frostbane base.
Violet Thunder and Lance Li went with them. By now, Violet Thunder had broken through again and again, reaching the peak of early Saint Lord Realm—always following close behind Evan Chu.
As the Destiny Guardian of the Third Person, his talent and potential were second only to Evan Chu. His mission was to grow and fight alongside Evan Chu, so now he left the Blazing-Flame Legion to join the Dragon-Chen Legion.
The thirty thousand troops of the Dragon-Chen Legion, riding thousands of Star-River warships, returned in full force—this time, loaded with spoils. But what thrilled Evan Chu most was that the Frostbane Dynasty finally gave in: for the Pearl-Mountain Star-Region's Starstone mines, he only had to hand over twenty percent, keeping the other eighty to use as he pleased.
No matter how much the other Seven Thrones protested, the four Hall Masters just tossed out one line: if you can take down Evan Chu, you can have the same deal.
And with that, everyone quieted down. Take down Evan Chu?
Maybe those Thrones who've reached the Holy Emperor Realm could do it—but then what? It'd be even more humiliating! As for those who haven't reached that realm, they just want to stay far, far away from Evan Chu.
Besides, Evan Chu's Dragon-Chen Legion now numbers seventy thousand elite troops, with countless Starstones pouring in. Against the other Frostbane legions, they could fight two to one—this is the true ace army!
With that kind of treatment, no one could say a word. And don't forget—Evan Chu is also the Third Person of the Trial World, a status no one else can touch.
"Throne Lord, are you really planning to let the Frostbane Dynasty take only twenty percent in tribute?"
Lance Li still found it hard to believe—such a move went against all the dynasty's usual rules!
"Twenty percent? No, that's too much. Half a tenth is enough."
"But..."
"But what? How much Starstone gets mined in the Pearl-Mountain Star-Region is up to me, and how it's used is up to me. Ever heard the saying, 'When the general is abroad, the command is not subject to the court'? Besides, even that five percent is equal to half of what the other legions get.
You don't understand yet, but once you've seen the Pearl-Mountain Star-Region, you'll know just how much and how fast my legion can mine Starstone."
After saying this, Evan Chu didn't say any more—he believed Lance Li would understand in time.
Lance Li didn't say much either; he was just asking. As for how much tribute Evan Chu offered or kept, it didn't concern him. He knew that from the moment he chose to follow Evan Chu, his life's path had already begun to change—and from now on, his journey would revolve around Evan Chu.
If Evan Chu flourishes, so does he; if Evan Chu falls, so does he. But is Evan Chu the kind to fall?
Lance Li was certain: Evan Chu would either soar to the very peak of the Star-River Dominion, or perish halfway, leaving only regret. But from the moment Lance Li honored his wager, he and Evan Chu were bound together.
When the army returned to the Pearl-Mountain Star-Region, Lance Li finally saw the completed Dragon-Chen Legion—and realized what kind of force it truly was.
The Dragon-Chen command banner fluttered in the wind. In that moment, Evan Chu truly stood as a Throne Lord, his name spreading far and wide through the star-region, and the Dragon-Chen Legion was officially recognized.
Yet the Dragon-Chen Legion's campaigns were only just beginning, and Evan Chu's path to glory had only just started.
The Duskmire Dynasty had already received word: Nathan Yates turned the tables with his forces, wiping out all the remaining Ink-Blood Legion troops. Meanwhile, the Skycrest and Pearlstream Dynasties learned that the Lanford Legion and Flowing-Light Legion had been annihilated in their campaigns abroad.
In that moment, both the Rivengrace and Phantom-Star Dynasties remembered Evan Chu's name well—for the destruction of their legions was inseparable from this man.
And so, a conspiracy targeting Evan Chu and the Dragon-Chen Legion began to unfold.
But Evan Chu knew nothing of this—he was busy cultivating, busy waging war. In ten years, he led the Dragon-Chen Legion to conquer sixteen surrounding mid- and small-scale star-regions around Pearl-Mountain, forging an ironclad stronghold. Nathan Yates's leadership made the legion ever stronger, building Evan Chu an unbreakable kingdom.
Starstone mining became ever more frequent—soon, a single Pearl-Mountain Star-Region could no longer satisfy Evan Chu's appetite. He began to set his sights on the territories of other dynasties…
Thirty years later, the Dragon-Chen Legion had reached an unprecedented peak—over fifty thousand star-boats and warships, each one top-tier. Such a force rivaled the combined might of Frostbane's four great legions.
After nearly fifty years of growth, the Dragon-Chen Legion now numbered a hundred thousand elite soldiers.
Recruitment for the Dragon-Chen Legion was strict, but its soldiers didn't come only from Frostbane. In this star-region, anyone chosen by Evan Chu, Nathan Yates, or Lance Li could be accepted.
As the Dragon-Chen Legion campaigned across the star-regions, its reputation soared. Many self-proclaimed talents flocked to join. Even though Evan Chu was only at mid Saint Lord Realm, no one cared.
Over the years, the Dragon-Chen Legion clashed head-on with many powerful armies—always outnumbered, never defeated!
As time passed—after another fifty years—a great war finally erupted in the southeast of the Star-River Dominion! A century later, Evan Chu had changed completely; he was nothing like before.