The young general was named Ye Weida, styled Xiao Yang, in his early teens, and at his age, he had not yet settled down, something his mother in the Capital City would typically arrange for him.

However, being just a young general in the army, no matter how capable he was, many thought that marrying him would mean following the army, and if not, they would be separated by distance, which made families who cherished their daughters disinclined to choose him.

Though of high birth, he was trapped by the preferences for literature over martial arts, within certain rules where military generals were labeled barbarians and boors.

Ye Weida remained unmarried for two lifetimes, not due to regrets over having no heirs, but because marriage without benefits would be irresponsible to offspring and his wife.

At sixteen or seventeen, always growing within the military, not even his mother could reach him to bring him back from the army, nor could she arrange a bride without seeing him.

The woman would also be unwilling, unless she came from a family of military generals.

Ye Weida knew his mother did not want him to marry into a military family, of course, because the status was too low.

She preferred girls from scholarly families, even if their family status was not as high as that of a Great General.

Yet many held titles and ranks like marquis.

Families without such inheritances, of fourth rank or above, would choose from families of good officials.

Another wish was to become the woman of a prince or emperor.

Regardless of how high, in their homes, a concubine's daughter was never the first choice.

The options for concubine's daughters were rather limited.

Who would tie their fate to another's waistband?

There was a chance to follow the army after marriage, with constant challenges at the border, so those who received the news felt it was still better to live in the Capital City than in smaller towns, where there was sufficient water, less so at the border.

Thus, some women turned to educated young men, but they were highly sought after, either becoming consort princes or being noticed by some superiors to become good sons-in-law.

With power in their hands, their children were also favored.

Ye Weida certainly wasn't troubled by marriage; how could he dream without controlling his fate?

Moreover, he wanted to change his family's fate and the fate of these hundred thousand troops.

It wasn't for the sake of the foolish monarch, nor for the ambition of certain egoists.

He just wanted his family to be well, wanted them to be safe and happy during their time of cultivation.

Since beginning his cultivation, Ye Weida no longer had much desire for ordinary men's daughters.

Even if he intended to leave heirs, they needed to share his ideals.

Parental commands and matchmaking talks—this lack of free choice he didn't consider.

Since beginning cultivation, his lifespan exceeded a hundred years.

In their nation, living to a hundred was rare; early marriage and having children without remedies posed risks.

Some even lost lives during childbirth; elders over eighty were scarce.

His partner naturally couldn't be so easily lost.

At the time of achieving success, he wanted a few years of freedom, didn't want constraints, nor shared secrets.

If he strengthened his family, the emperor might fear and seek to diminish his power.

Wasn't someone wary of them now?

Aiming to frame them with tricks.

Supervising here, Ye Weida ensured that without his command, without his order to open the city gates, no one exploited their ability to sneakily open them.

If they couldn't open the gates, they'd be clueless.

Only the Great General knew within the city and army.

Ye Weida maintained his vigilance; though some couldn't open the gates, those with eye power knew.

Exceptional people did exist.

Hidden talents included skills in various mechanisms and formation skills.

Yet such families or hidden talents were hunted or invited for special positions.

Ye Weida remained unaware of the newly appointed Marshal of the Barbarian Nation, who invited the State Preceptor to break his formation.

Always defending the city, not challenging others, left them helpless.

Of course, aiming to buy time, he intended to delay so his soldiers could strengthen their martial strength, needing time.

Ye Weida, his father, and relatives needed more time now.

Strength in combat power and human behavior were tests.

In the military, some were caught, yet not within elite squads where troublemakers were found.

Ye Weida guided more to learn martial strength, this ancient martial arts ability.

He was determined to train his team to be stronger.

Of course, he would train a group of his own elite.

Even elite members, he never aimed to cultivate them into Immortals.

Cultivation required resources he lacked time and energy to provide.

Jiang Tang's strand of divine sense was with him, guiding him during cultivation and military training.

Guiding him as he practiced various spells and learned skills.

He learned basic skills, aspiring to learn intermediate and advanced skills.

It all required time to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage, overcoming true martial arts masters.

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