Chapter 132: Your Kindness? I Don

The weather in the north is colder; the farther north you go, the more it becomes a land of ice and snow.

This time, the Snow Eagle Court abandoned open-field combat and retreated entirely into their fortresses, planning to leverage terrain advantages to drain the May Tian Ce Dynasty's army until their fighting spirit waned, then launch a counterattack.

How to respond is something General Guo Po should consider.

Xu Xu Zifeng, following his father, Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan's plan, began building his reputation within the camp.

Because Xu Xu Zifeng had a bad reputation in the capital and was the Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan's heir, he was unwelcome when he first arrived in the northern army.

Liu Hao, the deputy vanguard commander, fared better—his father had once served as a general in the north.

Even though the Liu clan's glory had faded for six hundred years, some still remembered.

Some soldiers were former subordinates of his father, so they treated him kindly.

But Xu Xu Zifeng was no ordinary man—he had his own methods.

He gathered the soldiers together and set up a fighting arena, saying bluntly: "I know you don't respect me, but this is a military camp—we settle things by strength.

My cultivation has reached the Six Realms Realm, but today, as I challenge you on this arena, I will not use meridian techniques—that would be cheating you. We'll fight with nothing but physical strength and combat skill.

Whoever defeats me gets my position as Vanguard Commander. If you're too scared to fight, shut up and obey!"

At these words, the camp erupted.

Soldiers debated among themselves—they admitted their cultivation was inferior to Xu Xu Zifeng's, but in physical endurance and combat experience, he couldn't possibly match them.

A debauched playboy, drained by wine and women—what could he possibly do against them?

Dozens rushed the arena, eager to challenge Xu Xu Zifeng, determined to claim the position of Vanguard Commander.

Seeing this, Xu Xu Zifeng merely smiled, and told them all to come at once—he would use his strength to conquer those who had doubted him.

For the next three days, as long as Xu Xu Zifeng stood on the arena, the fights never stopped.

The martial art he cultivated grew stronger the more he fought, bordering on cheating—but his extraordinary physical conditioning and refined combat skills, honed in battles against southern states, left every challenger on the ground.

Even soldiers from other camps came to test the Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan's heir—and all left defeated.

Some began urging Liu Hao to fight, and Liu Hao wondered inwardly: Do you really think I can beat Xu Xu Zifeng?

Or is it that you're not happy unless I get beaten?

As for Xu Xu Zifeng's record in the capital, the only one who ever knocked him down was Li Chen—no one else had ever bested him.

Li Chen was a Saint Realm cultivator—of course Xu Xu Zifeng couldn't beat him.

But the soldiers' momentum had built to this point—if Liu Hao backed down now, he'd look like a coward.

Soldiers despised cowards most of all, especially a newcomer.

So Liu Hao gritted his teeth and stepped onto the arena.

As expected, Liu Hao was brutally beaten—even harder than the others.

Because Xu Xu Zifeng believed: as his deputy commander, Liu Hao needed to be beaten harder—only then would he obey.

Whether Liu Hao accepted it or not, Xu Xu Zifeng needed him to fear him.

After days of fighting, Xu Xu Zifeng had won over most of the soldiers and now asked if anyone else dared challenge him—if not, the arena would close.

Having shown off for days and seeing the soldiers rally behind him, Xu Xu Zifeng was thoroughly satisfied.

Raised in the military since childhood, he understood this perfectly.

Just as he prepared to crown his triumph, a voice full of arrogance rang out:

"If I truly defeat you, will I become Vanguard Commander?"

Hearing this, Xu Xu Zifeng frowned and turned—there stood a man of ordinary appearance, yet radiating an unmistakable air of arrogance.

Xu Xu Zifeng glanced at his attire—he wasn't from his own camp; he must have come from elsewhere.

"Correct. If you defeat me, I'll speak to the General and have you appointed Vanguard Commander."

Xu Xu Zifeng remained confident—he didn't believe anyone here could beat him.

"Or wait a few days until you've rested—I wouldn't want to win against you in your current state."

The newcomer implied he could crush Xu Xu Zifeng easily—and feared Xu would make excuses.

This enraged Xu Xu Zifeng: Are you going to fight or not? Get up here and stop posturing.

Many soldiers, thrilled to see someone dare challenge Xu Xu Zifeng, cheered, urging the newcomer to climb up.

Others recognized his attire—he was from the Central Command Tent.

This quiet, arrogant man was Chen Qiluo Xuan, the second Qi Yun Zi to arrive in the north.

Chen Qiluo Xuan's goal as a son-in-law was to help Li Ling ascend the throne as Empress, so he could pull the strings from behind the scenes.

He had observed briefly and concluded Xu Xu Zifeng was indeed powerful, fierce in battle, and grew stronger with each fight.

But Chen Qiluo Xuan had been a Supreme Saint in his past life—he didn't believe Xu Xu Zifeng's level could match his own.

Besides, without using meridian techniques, his true strength wouldn't be exposed—he saw this as the perfect chance to shine.

If he seized the Vanguard Commander position, he'd gain immense merit—and then he could find ways to help Li Ling establish authority, the first step toward his grand ambition.

Liu Hao had a faint memory of Chen Qiluo Xuan—he recalled him as Princess Li Ling's husband, who had also joined the northern campaign.

But was there really such a formidable figure in the capital?

It wasn't that Liu Hao looked down on Chen Qiluo Xuan—he himself was among the top talents in the capital, and even he couldn't beat Xu Xu Zifeng; how could anyone else?

Most soldiers shared this doubt, eyeing Chen Qiluo Xuan skeptically. Chen Qiluo Xuan was used to this—he'd just wait for them to be humiliated.

Amid the crowd's encouragement, Chen Qiluo Xuan stepped onto the arena.

He stood with arms crossed, assuming a posture of invitation.

This infuriated Xu Xu Zifeng even more—he wanted to cripple him.

More and more soldiers gathered around to watch. Just as the duel was about to begin, a horn blared, shattering the sky.

It was the assembly call—soldiers had to drop everything and gather immediately.

Xu Xu Zifeng and Chen Qiluo Xuan could only exchange a final threat before returning to their respective units.

Both thought: If it weren't for the interruption, I'd have crushed the other today.

This assembly meant General Guo Po had finalized his strategy—the northern campaign had officially begun.

Meanwhile, in Qingqiucheng:

Wang Wang Shizi Li Yu received word that the northern army had clashed with the Snow Eagle Court; the Khan of the Snow Eagle Court urged Li Yu to launch an attack on the capital while the north was distracted.

They had a "cooperation agreement"—if Li Yu attacked now, pressure on the northern front would ease.

Moreover, the Snow Eagle Court had sent a Saint Realm cultivator to assist—if Li Yu did nothing, he'd face immense pressure.

Li Yu was shrewd—he knew this was only the beginning of war. If it were me being attacked, you wouldn't be in such a hurry.

So Li Yu devised two excuses.

First: he would wait until the eastern May Tian Ce army moved north, then immediately march west.

The eastern army's relocation depended on the northern conflict reaching a fever pitch.

Only then would his strike have a high chance of success—otherwise, if the northern army turned back to attack him?

Second: Li Yu would orchestrate an assassination in the capital. If Li Chen died, he could inherit the throne by succession.

The second prince had already been branded a traitor, and Li Chen had no heirs—the imperial clan would have no choice but to install him.

The Snow Eagle Court's Saint Realm cultivator found this plan dubious—he'd never met a Supreme Saint, but he knew the Lord of the Nine Abyss Sacred Domain wasn't an ordinary Saint. Even with surprise, he'd failed to kill Li Chen—how could Li Yu possibly succeed?

Li Yu smiled and replied: A Saint might fail, but a woman can succeed. Don't forget how the late Emperor died.

The Snow Eagle Court's Saint Realm cultivator fell silent—could Li Yu have been involved in the late Emperor's death?

In truth, he overthought it—Li Yu wasn't so audacious as to commit regicide; he merely knew something.

A few people in the capital knew the Empress Dowager and some imperial consorts had ties to the fallen dynasty's remnants.

Li Yu, as direct imperial blood, would never join the remnants in rebellion—it offered him no benefit.

But like his brother Li Ran, Li Yu knew people of extraordinary status. Li Ran had used such contacts to help Li Chen obtain the Emperor Dragon Sacred Scripture.

Li Yu's words calmed the Snow Eagle Court's Saint Realm cultivator.

He stepped out of the palace and gazed westward.

He thought to himself: Soon, I will return to the capital.

The Crown Wang Wang Shizi is dead—Yun Shang is mine.

Li Yu knew Yun Shang was an ambitious woman. If she wanted to be Empress, he would become Emperor.

To win a kingdom for the woman he loved—how romantic.

Surely, Yun Shang would be moved to tears.

Li Yu's thoughts were correct—but Yun Shang had skipped his romantic plan entirely and was now courting the current Emperor.

If Li Chen weren't wary of overly forward women, Yun Shang might already be crying.

!

Naturally, Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan was also closely monitoring the northern front.

Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan had a backup plan: if the northern army won decisively, he'd wait as planned for Xu Xu Zifeng to gain status and seize northern cities to declare himself king, then join forces with his son to strike the capital.

If the northern army suffered defeat or became bogged down, he'd order Xu Xu Zifeng to retreat, then immediately march north himself.

His son's safety mattered—he would have attacked long ago otherwise.

At this moment, Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan didn't know his own home was being invaded.

In the southern Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan's Mansion—palace-like in grandeur—the Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan's Lady received a secret letter from her sister.

Its contents were much like what Li Chen had told Ji Ji Lianyu.

Wang Wang Shizi Wang Wang Shizi Zhenan's chances were slim, so he dared not move.

After all, he was merely a vassal prince—he could only act when the May Tian Ce Dynasty descended into chaos.

But now, Li Chen had eliminated the second prince and reclaimed several factions.

Almost all senior military officers in the imperial capital were united; the garrison commanders of major cities were either subordinates of those senior officers or fence-sitters who, seeing Li Chen's overwhelming strength, now naturally pledged their loyalty.

The Southern Wang Wang Shizi's hope of marching north grew ever slimmer.

Ji Ji Lianyu wrote to her sister, urging her and the Ji family to prepare contingency plans—do not tie their lives and fortunes to the Southern Wang Wang Shizi; if he were truly crushed, wouldn't the Ji family be finished?

Moreover, Xu Xu Zifeng's appointment as vanguard commander of the northern expeditionary force was secured by Ji Ji Lianyu's plea to Li Chen, aimed at granting Xu Xu Zifeng military merit—should the Southern Wang Wang Shizi fall, Xu Xu Zifeng could redeem himself with his achievements and avoid punishment.

The Southern Wang Wang Shizi's consort had no understanding of military affairs, and the Southern Wang Wang Shizi forbade her from meddling; hearing her sister's words, she found them entirely reasonable.

After all, her marriage to the Southern Wang Wang Shizi was merely the Ji family's bet; now was the time to place another, so she sent messengers to notify the current head of the Ji family to discuss matters.

The Southern Wang Wang Shizi may not be as weak as Ji Ji Lianyu claimed.

But the problem was, even if the Southern Wang Wang Shizi won, Ji Ji Lianyu would remain the Ji family's discarded pawn—a negligible existence; even if he became emperor, her status would not change.

If Li Chen won, Ji Ji Lianyu would become the Ji family's savior, cherished and adored by her kin.

So even though Li Chen had not asked her to do so, Ji Ji Lianyu would still firmly stand by Li Chen and do everything within her power to ensure his victory.

Once she began persuading the Southern Wang Wang Shizi's consort, the Ji family would surely act.

In the imperial palace, Li Chen was now in a phase of pure indulgence; while war raged in the north, he prepared his next move: securing the Nine Abyss Sacred Domain.

According to the data provided by the Lady Youlan Immortal, the May Tian Ce Dynasty had three major sects: the Piaomiao Immortal Alliance, the Nine Abyss Sacred Domain, and the Zixiao Heavenly Palace.

Beyond these, there were also reclusive ancient sects.

These sects had existed since ancient times; unless cosmic upheaval occurred, they would never emerge into the world.

As long as they didn't cause trouble, Li Chen had no interest in meddling.

First, deal with the sects causing chaos in the central May Tian Ce Dynasty.

Due to the Lady Youlan Immortal and Yuehua Immortal, Li Chen became deeply intrigued by sect cultivators.

These were all righteous practitioners, never cultivating demonic arts—perfect targets.

After this period of transition, Lingtian Dingtian Shiren completed his handover with Pang Jin and notified the other sects of the Nine Abyss Sacred Domain.

Lord Dingtian Dingtian Shiren's defeat was shameful, but since they were all part of the same alliance, they would at least extend some courtesy.

Besides, Lord Dingtian Dingtian Shiren had once aided them.

The meeting was set in Yunhai City, between the central May Tian Ce Dynasty and the imperial capital.

As one of May Tian Ce's core cities, Yunhai City possessed formidable military strength and was densely populated with sects—perfect for Li Chen to meet these sect leaders.

Mu Mu Qingrou, the mistress of Zi Yun Immortal Mansion, naturally received an invitation from the Tianyan Tianyan Shen Zong—or rather, from the Nine Abyss Sacred Domain.

In truth, she had no desire to come; her sect was entirely female, disliking worldly affairs, let alone dealings with the imperial family.

Yet as a member of the Nine Abyss Sacred Domain, with such a major event unfolding in the alliance, she, as a key figure, had to attend.

Plainly put, Mu Mu Qingrou believed Tianyan Tianyan Shen Zong intended to gather all sects to pressure the court into releasing Lord Dingtian Dingtian Shiren.

With so many powerful cultivators present, surely the new emperor, a Saint-level adept, would show some respect.

If he refused, don't blame them for being ruthless.

This was a world of survival of the fittest—sects towered above the court and the mortal realm.

Lord Dingtian Dingtian Shiren's defeat did not shake Mu Mu Qingrou; she was a long-established Saint-level adept and saw no reason to believe herself weaker than him.

Like other sect cultivators who had never met Li Chen, they all assumed Lord Dingtian Dingtian Shiren's loss must have had other causes.

The Qingming Immortal Sect, one of the Four Core Powers of the Nine Abyss Sacred Domain, was peculiar: its sect master had supposedly entered seclusion and sent his wife, Dai Dai Hongling, along with the sect's elders.

This was within the Lady Youlan Immortal's expectations; all Nine Abyss sects knew the Qingming Sect's master was an extreme egoist and a patriarchal relic of the past.

How could he possibly show his face after such a disgrace?

It was said he had recently quarreled with his wife, Dai Dai Hongling.

That was precisely why the Lady Youlan Immortal said Li Chen would have little trouble with her.

The method was the same as with the Lady Youlan Immortal: once the first breakthrough was achieved, the rest would be easy.

Li Chen increasingly felt the Lady Youlan Immortal was his soulmate—this woman was capable in every conceivable way.

Perhaps Lord Dingtian Dingtian Shiren had never known how to develop her; Li Chen believed he could fully unlock her potential.

In truth, the Lady Youlan Immortal was eager to act, but Lord Dingtian Dingtian Shiren had never needed her—so she had suppressed herself; now the opportunity fell to Li Chen.

Finally, the Lingyan Dao Sect: this sect was relatively harmonious; its master and his wife were both calm, gentle people, and their daughter was the darling of the entire Nine Abyss Sacred Domain.

The idol of countless disciples.

One of the very few young women the Lady Youlan Immortal had ever seen who could rival Chu Chu Ruoyan in beauty.

Whether she had a lover, the Lady Youlan Immortal did not know; but she felt Li Chen's chances were good—after all, even she, a married woman, could not resist Li Chen, let alone a young woman.

The Nine Abyss Sacred Domain had dozens of other sects, none with Saint-level cultivators—no threat.

The Lady Youlan Immortal assured Li Chen that when the time came, if he took interest in any of them, she would do her best to arrange it.

These words did surprise Li Chen—was this woman addicted to matchmaking?

Or had she herself fallen, seeking solace in dragging others down with her?

Still, Li Chen would not merely acknowledge her goodwill—he would accept it outright; no need for politeness.

All these discussions occurred only when they were alone; when Yuehua Immortal was present, the Lady Youlan Immortal still pretended she acted "for the sect."

Yuehua Immortal knew nothing of Li Chen and the Lady Youlan Immortal's affair.

Often, she even forgot her original purpose, content merely to indulge herself.

Several days later, a grand assembly was held in Yunhai City!

(End of Chapter)