As if in a fleeting moment, a whole month had passed.

During this period, Ye Chen had been confined to the Heavenly Blade Sect. His master had imposed this punishment upon him, partly to discipline him, and partly to shield him from the outrage of the people.

Word had spread like wildfire that Ye Chen was a demon's accomplice.

However, there were still some who stood by him.

Elder Hua and her followers, who believed in Ye Chen's integrity, were among his staunch supporters.

There were also his loyal friends from different factions who refused to let the rumors tarnish Ye Chen's reputation. Unfortunately, their efforts at restoring Ye Chen's reputation yielded no good results.

Lastly, the only member of the royal family who still had faith in him was the second princess, Wang Ying.

As all of this unfolded, significant events were unfolding in the Empire as well, with the triumphant return of the Crown Prince from the demon battlefront.

Despite failing to capture the Demon Princess, his faction had succeeded in securing the coveted Yin Spring.

This was a momentous achievement, and in honor of his son's victory, the Emperor arranged for an extravagant feast upon the Crown Prince's return.

The news of this event spread like wildfire, and the entire capital was abuzz with excitement and anticipation as they awaited the arrival of the victorious Crown Prince.

Over the past month, Wang Ying had been making good use of Ye Chen's extensive network within different factions.

With calculated steps, she had managed to infiltrate numerous organizations, engaging in secretive negotiations with several influential members of the Mystic Creature Handlers Union, the Brotherhood of the Steel Fist, the Crimson Guards, and the Iron Mercenaries.

Her efforts were aimed at forming alliances and strengthening her position in preparation for the political upheaval that seemed inevitable.

After successfully securing alliances with several powerful organizations, Wang Ying wasted no time in putting her newfound connections to work.

She began to create chaos for her rivals' factions through two distinct strategies.

Firstly, by using her discounts on the services of these organizations, Wang Ying was able to secure multiple trade routes.

This involved tasking one mercenary group to attack caravans, while another group would protect them. These groups would switch their roles depending on the region they were operating in.

Often, the targets of these groups were caravans belonging to clans, sects, or organizations that were affiliated with Wang Ying's rival factions.

The Brotherhood of the Steel Fist and the Iron Mercenaries were the primary groups involved in these raids.

Secondly, Wang Ying used her informants within these organizations to stay ahead of her rivals by learning of their plans and targets before they could execute them.

This kept her faction a step ahead and gave her an advantage in the ongoing power struggle.

Wang Ying's rivals, particularly the Crown Prince's faction, soon became aware of her tactics and began planning to counter them.

As for the third prince's faction, it remained relatively stagnant.

Despite keeping a low profile, he was still actively supporting the growth of the Miracle Angel Tribe and the Crimson Mammoth Tribe.

These tribes were slowly gaining strength and influence, and it seemed that the third prince was biding his time to make his next move.

Notably, the faction of Wang Jian experienced some significant developments during this time.

One of the most notable events was the expedition led by Su Xian and her team to the perilous Blackthorn Forest.

Their objective was to retrieve 41 tusks from the ferocious Crazy Mammoths.

This was a daunting task, as they had to live in the forest, build their own shelters, and subsist off the land.

The first week was the most challenging, as they faced numerous obstacles such as obtaining food, and water, and managing their shifts.

However, this challenging experience provided valuable opportunities for Su Xian to hone her leadership skills and direct her disciples effectively.

Meanwhile, Meng Xiangyi played a crucial role as Su Xian's assistant, helping her to manage complex matters and serve as the group's second-in-command.

Throughout the months that Meng Xiangyi had spent working for Wang Jian in the Empire, she had gained a wealth of knowledge and experience.

She was grateful for this opportunity, as it had opened her eyes to new perspectives and ways of doing things.

One of the most surprising things she learned during her time with Su Xian was that she was originally from the Zhenguan Region.

Su Xian regaled Meng Xiangyi with stories about Wang Jian, recounting his many acts of kindness and happy memories they had shared together.

These stories slowly but steadily improved Wang Jian's image in Meng Xiangyi's mind, and she began to see him in a more positive light.

Over their time in the Blackthorn Forest, Meng Xiangyi confided in Su Xian about her thoughts and feelings regarding Wang Jian and the events that had transpired in the Windhaven Kingdom.

Su Xian was secretly thrilled to hear this, as she saw it as an opportunity to sway Meng Xiangyi to their side and bolster Wang Jian's faction.

She went on to describe some of the ways in which Wang Jian had aided others. She shared how he had provided assistance during natural disasters to the people in the Zhenguan Region and sponsored the education of children in an orphanage who could not afford it.

Meng Xiangyi listened attentively, deeply impressed by Wang Jian's kindness and compassion.

After taking a break to rest, Su Xian continued her praises of Wang Jian. "Being with Wang Jian is truly wonderful," she said. "He takes care of us and ensures that we have everything we need to thrive."

Meng Xiangyi was astounded by the level of care and attention that Wang Jian showed for his women. "That's truly remarkable," she said.

Su Xian grinned. "Indeed it is. Think about when was the last time you saw a man allow his wife to create and manage her own force?"

Meng Xiangyi was taken aback by Su Xian's words and realized that she was right.

In reality, even though Meng Xiangyi's mothers were powerful cultivators, they had been reduced to mere housewives, with no influence within or outside the Meng Clan, which her father managed.

"It's not just me," Su Xian continued. "Jian has also allowed Shuying, Huian, and Xifeng to manage their own forces. He does provide us with some guidance, but that is his prerogative as the faction leader."

"You're correct," Meng Xiangyi whispered. "I never realized this until now."

Su Xian went on to discuss the importance of teamwork and collaboration, explaining how Wang Jian valued input from everyone on the team.

As Meng Xiangyi heard these words, she felt a sense of camaraderie and understood why Su Xian held Wang Jian in such high regard.

Turning to Su Xian, she said hesitantly, "He sounds like a truly exceptional leader."

Su Xian nodded, understanding Meng Xiangyi's hesitation.

"I know you must have some doubts about him, especially given his actions towards your lover, but I believe he must have had his reasons," Su Xian explained. "After all, why would he travel all the way to the Windhaven Kingdom and kill someone who was insignificant? It doesn't make sense."

Meng Xiangyi nodded thoughtfully, realizing that what Su Xian said made sense. "I appreciate your words. I was hoping that Zhang Fei wasn't guilty, but it seems that he was. This is why His Highness Jian dealt with him so severely, even going so far as to eliminate his entire clan," Meng Xiangyi acknowledged.

Su Xian sensed that Meng Xiangyi was on the verge of being convinced, so she continued to persuade her.

"When Jian returned from the Windhaven Kingdom, he mentioned that he had put a stop to a rebellion. I strongly suspect that he was referring to Zhang Fei," she added, solidifying her argument.

Meng Xiangyi's eyes widened at the revelation. "A rebellion?" she repeated, shocked. "Zhang Fei involved?"

Su Xian nodded. "Yes, and that's why Wang Jian had to take such drastic measures. It was necessary to ensure the stability and safety of the kingdom."

Meng Xiangyi's expression was conflicted as she thought about Zhang Fei's past behavior and arrogance.

"Yes, you are right," she finally conceded. "It is difficult to believe, but it is not impossible."

Su Xian smiled gently. "I'm glad you understand, Xiangyi."

Following their lengthy conversation, Meng Xiangyi found herself growing much closer to Su Xian.

The perilous moments they had faced together in the Blackthorn Forest, coupled with Su Xian's heroism in coming to her aid, only deepened Meng Xiangyi's adoration and respect for her.

Unbeknownst to Su Xian's team, Lady Zhuoran had been ordered by Wang Jian to protect them secretly. Her strict orders were to keep a low profile and defend the team from all potential life-threatening attacks without revealing herself.

However, she was only allowed to reveal her presence in the case of a King Realm beast or warrior threatening Su Xian's team.

The reason for Wang Jian's covert directive to Lady Zhuoran was to ensure Su Xian's confidence and trust in herself without putting her in actual danger.

His intention was to provide her with a sense of security while still allowing her to experience the challenges of the journey.

The concept of growth was intrinsically tied to a feeling of peril and uncertainty. Individuals needed to face challenges and difficult situations to develop and improve their skills and abilities.