Chapter 719

Green Hill City

The courtyard, meticulously designed by several Wei ancestors who had defected to Linghu Qingqing, is magnificent—like a fairyland, like a dream, like a landscape scroll; in short, it is so beautiful it seems not of this world.

Amidst the misty mountains and waters, a small building entirely inlaid with various colored crystals blends perfectly into the scenery, harmonious and natural, as if born of nature itself.

Linghu Qingqing sat on the second floor of the small pavilion, before her a dark‑blue‑green crystal long table piled with documents of all kinds.

Before him lay an opened statistical report; in each hand he held a specially made small abacus, his fingertips leaving after‑images as he clicked the beads with a crackling sound, a smile he could not hide on his face.

Yin Yu'er sat gently beside him on a plush silk cushion, her gaze fixed only on his face.

On the dueling battlefield, Linghu Qingqing and Gongyang Sanlü laid bare many things to each other, including Yin Yu'er.

Now Yin Yu'er has completely severed ties with Gongyang Sanlü, body and soul, and has become Linghu Qingqing's most beloved imperial noble consort.

Compared to usual, Yin Yu'er's figure has become slightly fuller, her belly noticeably swollen.

Empress

Crown Prince

Old Master Hu had already been beheaded by Wu Tie, and Linghu Gu also had a large group of Linghu Qingqing's proud descendants who fell on the dueling battlefield.

New life represents new hope.

Especially, Yin Yu'er is a woman he himself chose, a woman he likes.

As for Old Master Hu and Linghu Gu's descendants, speaking of which, Linghu Qingqing's earliest marriage, the woman he was wed to, was also a matter of family alliance.

Are those women the ones Linghu Qingqing likes?

Undeniably, after bearing his children and spending thousands of years with him, he has developed familial feelings toward those women.

Wise and Divine Martial

Great Martial God State

Saying that is very unfair to Linghu Qingqing's women.

But the fact is just that; only the child that Yin Yu'er is carrying in her womb is the true love child of Linghu Qingqing and a certain woman.

Therefore, as long as Yin Yu'er gives birth to this child, Linghu Qingqing will defy all opposition, make her empress, and make the child crown prince.

Now Linghu Qingqing has enough confidence to do this; even the Linghu clan's long‑winded clan elders and Elders cannot shake his authority.

Teacher of the World

Now Linghu Qingqing's achievements surpass all; he is the foremost figure of the Three Kingdoms.

Even counting the founding ancestors of the Three Kingdoms, who could match Linghu Qingqing's world‑surpassing merit? With the Three Kingdoms united, he, Linghu Qingqing, is an unprecedented sage‑king whose achievements exceed those of any person in history, a ruler who has expanded the realm.

There was a minister skilled at flattery who once memorialized requesting that Linghu Qingqing award himself the title 'God of War' to honor Linghu Qingqing's peerless martial prowess, whereupon Linghu Qingqing ordered him dragged out and beaten with a hundred blows of the court staff.

It's utterly nonsensical; the title 'Illustrious and God of War' is fine, fine, but the two characters 'God of War' inevitably remind people of the great Wu Shen State that Linghu Qingqing destroyed… so the term is a bit embarrassing; those flattering fools can't they think of a better, more fitting honorific to showcase Linghu Qingqing's great achievements?

But this also highlights the authority Linghu Qingqing now wields.

Against the backdrop of the halo brought by this great feat of unifying the Three Kingdoms, gods slay gods, Buddhas slay Buddhas; within the Three Kingdoms, Linghu Qingqing feels there is nothing he cannot dare to do or cannot accomplish.

Even, even if it's the Martial King Huo Xiong who occupied the former territory of the Great Martial God Kingdom, and the Wen King Gongyang Sanlü who took away one-sixth of the former Qingqiu God Kingdom's territory, Linghu Qingqing feels that given him a little time, he could also take care of those two guys.

Hmm, the most unforgivable is still Gongyang Sanlü.

Really, old and shameless, Wu Tie's title of Martial King was given by Linghu Qingqing offhand because of the territory he was about to take.

And Gongyang Sanlü?

Wen King?

Hmph, the old thief's intentions are unfathomable; he truly deserves extermination of nine clans—the title 'Wen King' really lets Linghu Qingqing's imagination run wild…… Linghu Qingqing has also read many ancient remnants and secret files.

Wu Tie, this Martial King, looking at his righteous aura, he poses a threat to Linghu Qingqing, but the threat won't be too great.

And Gongyang Sanlü, this old thief, having been a 'Teacher of the World' all his life, taught so many civil officials, and among his many disciples and even himself, not a single one cultivated righteous aura…… Clearly, Gongyang Sanlü and his disciples are a bunch of hypocrites.

Hypocrites, yet they gave themselves the title of Wen King.

His heart is unfathomable, simply like Sima Zhao's heart—known to all.

Once Linghu Qingqing frees up his hands, nurtures his essence and spirit, recovers some strength, the first target will be to exterminate the Gongyang clan. As for an excuse, Linghu Qingqing has already prepared one.

The Linghu lineage is also quite extraordinary, descendants of the legendary nine-tailed celestial fox; although over the ages they have become a military family, appearing only capable of fighting, in fact Linghu Qingqing's strategies, especially his IQ, are extremely high.

With both hands manipulating two abacuses, eyes fixed on statistical documents, while calculating the huge numbers above, his mind can still wander over these problems.

Linghu Qingqing finally tallied up the pleasing numbers on the document.

This is the total tax revenue of the Qingqiu God Kingdom over the past year.

"Rolling in wealth!" Linghu Qingqing sincerely sighed.

Indeed, the income has increased more than twofold.

Wu Tie took over the former territory of the Great Martial God Kingdom; Gongyang Sanlü took one-sixth of the former Wei lands, enfeoffed Li Guang, Xiang Feiyu and other surviving heroes from the duel battlefield, and also divided the original territory of the Qingqiu God Kingdom into over two hundred prefectures.

Even so, the territory now directly under Linghu Qingqing's control—grain, gold and silver, essence crystals, medicinal herbs—has tax revenue for the past year reaching over three times the previous total of the Qingqiu God Kingdom, i. e., an increase of more than twofold in tax revenue.

This income can be called astronomical.

As long as Linghu Qingqing wishes, he can now communicate with the heavenly gods, granting the Linghu clan another batch of Divine Realm experts.

Of course, things cannot be done that way.

Internally, the Linghu clan also needs balance, needs absolute control.

Which lucky ones will be able to ascend to the Divine Realm? Hehe, of course it's the obedient ones first; those troublemakers, the clan members who have an attitude toward Linghu Qingqing… you just wait quietly.

"Hahaha!"

Thinking of his delight, Linghu Qingqing couldn't help bursting into loud laughter; he pushed the two small abacuses forward lightly, rose to his feet, hands behind his back, and spun rapidly twice in the room.

"Beloved consort, have someone prepare a few of your favorite delicate dishes; I'm happy and want a drink."

Linghu Qingqing, smiling broadly, ordered Silver Fish.

Silver Fish smiled gently, responded, filled with satisfaction and happiness, carefully, with hands lightly protecting her belly, she walked step by step to the stairwell.

Linghu Qingqing watched Silver Fish's actions with a smile, inwardly laughing at her for being overly cautious.

Nowadays, Yinyuer has at least over a hundred defensive secret treasures personally blessed by Linghu Qingqing hanging on her; even if she jumped off a ten‑thousand‑zhang mountain, not a single hair would be hurt—there's really no need to be this cautious.

However, he could understand Yinyuer's feelings, so his heart was both apologetic and delighted.

The apologetic part is that old thief Gongyang Sanlü actually dares to threaten Yinyuer into being his tool, using her to scheme against Linghu Qingqing—he deserves death ten thousand times.

The delighted part is that Yinyuer has wholly become his person; he will devote this lifetime to caring for and protecting her… those wanton, lewd, cheap women in the imperial city, each sticking out their buttocks like hungry dogs eyeing a banquet table, staring at the woman on the empress's throne—hehe, let them envy, jealousy, and hate…

Linghu Qingqing was in high spirits, and she couldn't help bursting into another "hehehe" silly laugh.

Linghu Ayi let out a "whoosh", appearing beside Linghu Qingqing like a ghost; Linghu Qingqing was also startled by his sudden appearance, and her laugh caught in her throat.

"Ayi, from now on keep your distance and report before appearing… don't scare Yinyuer, or don't blame me for personally whipping you." Linghu Qingqing glared fiercely at this loyal old servant who had followed her all her life.

Linghu Ayi gave a dry laugh, glanced nervously at Yinyuer standing at the stairwell looking back, hurriedly bowed to her, gave a respectful chuckle, then turned to Linghu Qingqing: "Your Majesty, Elder Li Guang is outside requesting an audience… there's an urgent matter."

Linghu Qingqing stared blankly.

Li Guang, the Supreme Grand Elder of the Qingqiu Li clan, inheritor of the name Li Guang, and the foremost archer of the Qingqiu Divine Nation.

After leaving the duel battlefield, Li Guang counts as one of the Qingqiu Divine Nation's strongest top-tier Divine Realm experts; combined with the power the Li clan controls, Linghu Qingqing generously selected more than a dozen fertile prefectures within the Qingqiu Divine Nation's territory and granted them to the Li clan.

Li Guang and the other Li clan elders were also very sensible; after receiving their fief, these Li clan Divine Realm elders immediately led a large batch of elite juniors out of Qingqiu City to directly take over and develop their territories, and they even proactively had the Li clan officials in the court resign—about thirty percent of them stepped down, freeing up many official posts.

The vacant posts left by the Li clan were filled by Linghu Qingqing with some surrendered officials from the Great Wei and Great Wu dynasties; thus the Qingqiu Divine Nation's court became harmonious, and even among the surrendered families there were not many complaints.

Li Guang and the Li clan's such sensible behavior made Linghu Qingqing extremely satisfied.

Upon hearing that Li Guang had actually left his own fief and come to Qingqiu City to seek an audience, Linghu Qingqing couldn't help but stare blankly: "Is it just him alone… or have all the Li clan elders come?"

To be frank, the Qingqiu Divine Nation's strength is currently in an extremely awkward low point.

Not only the Qingqiu Divine Nation, especially the Linghu clan—only a few Divine Realm elders remain; as for the Li clan, on the duel battlefield they benefited from Wu Tie's protection, and their Divine Realm combat strength suffered little loss.

Just counting the number of Divine Realm elders, the Li clan even surpasses the royal Linghu clan.

This situation is extremely dangerous.

If it weren't for the Linghu clan's national‑treasure divine artifact weighing them down… Linghu Qingqing would probably have long been unable to eat or sleep in peace.

So, Li Guang's sudden appearance makes Linghu Qingqing's biggest worry whether he brought all the Li clan elders, and even several other martial‑house elders along.

Back then, the Linghu clan could overthrow the Sima clan and seize their realm.

Today, Linghu Qingqing absolutely will not allow the same thing to happen on her watch… absolutely not.

"Just Elder Li Guang alone… and he looks a bit disheveled, his breath a little unsteady, as if… he's injured?" The white‑haired Linghu Ayi answered Linghu Qingqing very seriously: "Your Majesty, that's right—he must be injured, and the injury comes from an extremely yin‑cold force; even from over a hundred zhang away I can feel a chill rushing at me."

"Yin‑cold power?" Linghu Qingqing stared blankly, then seriously began calculating the inherited techniques of the Qingqiu Divine Nation's major martial houses and clans.

No, none of the martial houses or clans cultivate yin‑cold power.

Well, actually not—among those who have defected to Linghu Qingqing are two remaining elders of the Wei Li clan; they practice the Li clan's Shui Jing Zhu, a water‑based technique… but water‑based techniques and yin‑cold attributes are still quite different.

"Yin‑cold power? Not soft‑water power?" Linghu Qingqing asked Linghu Ayi again.

"Your Majesty, it truly is yin‑cold power—Elder Li Guang standing on the ground has frozen the nearby streams." Linghu Ayi again confirmed he wasn't mistaken.

A short while later, Linghu Ayi escorted Yinyuer with a few palace maids to the sleeping quarters, and the somewhat disheveled Li Guang stood before Linghu Qingqing.

Linghu Ayi's wording was still a bit cautious, but Li Guang's state was hardly just a little disheveled—he was utterly disheveled.

He wore a set of soft armor made from flood‑dragon hide, but now the armor is torn to shreds, only a few broken scales clinging to his body. Though Li Guang was originally quite handsome, his face is now bruised and swollen, the bruises frozen by ice shards and refusing to thaw.

What shocked Linghu Qingqing even more was that although Li Guang's left arm appeared to hang naturally, looking at his arm it was clear his left arm bone was broken into at least seven segments!

Moreover, his internal organs were surely severely injured by the cold qi, and Linghu Qingqing could indeed feel a terrifying blast of freezing air blowing toward her.

"Beloved minister, how did this happen?" Linghu Qingqing exclaimed in shock: "In the Qingqiu Divine Nation, who could, who would dare… do this to you?"

Linghu Qingqing felt a mix of shock and anger—could it be that a new faction daring to assault martial‑house elders has emerged on the Qingqiu Divine Nation's territory?

"Your Majesty, the enemy comes from outside Qingqiu." Li Guang said through gritted teeth: "Your Majesty, you should know our Li clan's tradition: every three years we hold a major hunt to train the juniors' archery skills and boost their competitive spirit."

"Thanks to Your Majesty's grace for granting the Li clan such a vast northern border territory, this time I have led the clan into the northern mountains… pondering, to go to new lands and witness new fierce birds and beasts…"

Li Guang's face showed shock; he looked at Linghu Qingqing and said solemnly: "As a result, I discovered that a terrifying force is invading from the north. The enemy is extremely strong, utterly barbaric, like wild beasts—almost impossible to communicate with them normally."

"I led the clan's juniors in a slight probe… the result… was this disheveled." Li Guang gave a wry smile: "I snipered seven of their Divine Realm elders, but I barely escaped being surrounded and beaten to death."

"Your Majesty, the enemy comes with overwhelming force; we Qingqiu must prepare early!"

Linghu Qingqing's body swayed, as if struck by a hammer to the forehead, and she nearly burst out cursing heaven and earth.

How long has this calm lasted?

How long has this calm lasted?

How come the drums and gongs are sounding again?

How come the drums and gongs are sounding again?

"Summon the civil and military officials… I will kill them, leaving not a blade of grass!"