Chapter 45: Liu Ruyan

While Han Yu was busy with various matters in the Chihuo Dynasty, the news of Ji Yanling ascending to the throne as Country Lord had already been relayed back by the intelligence organizations of the major powers.

The Great Yan Imperial Dynasty, within the imperial court.

The Imperial Lord Ji Huamao sat upon the imperial throne, looking down from a high position at the civil and military officials below.

"Regarding the affairs of the Chihuo Dynasty, what are your opinions?"

Ji Huamao asked.

The civil and military officials looked at each other, and after a moment, a civil official spoke up.

"Jiu Gong Zhu is also a member of our Great Yan Imperial Dynasty's royal family; now that she has become the Country Lord of the Chihuo Dynasty, the two countries should be more harmonious. This is a good thing!"

Many civil officials chimed in, feeling that what that person said made a lot of sense.

Civil officials have always favored peace, as this is often more beneficial for their cultivation.

Seeing the civil officials speaking in unison, a military official suddenly sneered.

"Heh, although the Ninth Princess has the royal bloodline of our Great Yan Imperial Dynasty, I fear her heart is now leaning toward the Youxian Sect!"

"Without the intervention of Youxian Sect experts, how could she have ascended to the position of Country Lord so quickly?"

"This Youxian Sect repeatedly opposes our Great Yan Imperial Dynasty; I believe we should send troops to suppress them and let them know what the dignity of an imperial dynasty is!"

At this, the civil officials became dissatisfied and immediately retorted.

"Heh, is the Youxian Sect a soft persimmon that you can just say you'll destroy it?"

"Well said. If our Great Yan Imperial Dynasty and the Youxian Sect fight until both are severely wounded, it will only allow the Tianshui Sect to reap the benefits!"

"We cannot fight the Youxian Sect, but surely we can fight the Chihuo Dynasty? The current Chihuo Dynasty must have completely submitted to the Youxian Sect; if we sit idly by, it will surely become a disaster in the future!"

Both sides argued incessantly.

After a long while, Ji Huamao finally spoke to stop them.

"Enough. It is indeed not appropriate for us to go to war with the Youxian Sect right now, but the situation in the Chihuo Dynasty must also be resolved."

"Pass down the order: mobilize the major kings, have them lead their troops, make preparations, and march on the Chihuo Dynasty!"

Hearing Ji Huamao's words, everyone understood that this Imperial Lord had already made up his own mind.

And discussing it in the imperial court was merely going through the motions.

After the court was dismissed, Ji Huamao found the Chi Hu Emperor and said.

"How have you handled the Tianshui Sect side?"

"They have agreed to help us contain the Youxian Sect; after the matter is accomplished, they want half of the Chihuo Dynasty's territory."

"Hmm, that is acceptable. Even if we gave them the entire Chihuo Dynasty, what of it? It is not territory that I want."

Ji Huamao revealed a confident smile.

He thought to himself silently.

"If I can have the help of Little Nine's constitution, my own constitution will surely be able to ascend to a higher level. At that time, I will certainly be able to break through the Imperial Realm barrier and step into that Venerable Realm!"

"Little Nine, oh Little Nine, do not blame your father. Who told that so-called senior brother of yours from Shangzhou to have no significant background? Heh..."

"A tiny Youxian Sect actually wants to use these smoke bombs to deceive this Emperor. Fortunately, I had the Chi Hu Emperor go and investigate, otherwise, I might have really been bluffed by you."

Ji Huamao gave a few more instructions to the Chi Hu Emperor, and the latter left the imperial palace.

Arriving outside, the Chi Hu Emperor's mouth curled slightly, and he thought to himself.

"Ji Huamao, oh Ji Huamao, who told you to be so stupid as to offend Brother Han."

"Since you made me step into a pit, then I shall use your corpse to fill it!"

The two of them were each harboring their own ulterior motives, calculating differently.

Meanwhile, within the Youxian Sect, Tianji Peak also relayed the recent intelligence from Qingzhou to Liu Ruyan.

When Liu Ruyan heard the news of Ji Yanling sitting on the throne as the Country Lord of the Chihuo Dynasty, a look of shock appeared on her beautiful face.

"How is that possible? Isn't she only at the Core Condensation Realm? How exactly did she manage it?"

Because this news was significant, the Tianji Peak Master Li Wanji came to report it personally. Hearing Liu Ruyan's confusion, he was also filled with deep emotion.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, based on various clues, I feel that this matter is very likely related to Junior Brother Han!"

"The intelligence we gathered here is that on that day, the major kings of the Chihuo Dynasty were at the city gates, but not long after, they gradually retreated, and a few days later, Little Junior Sister Ji ascended the throne as Country Lord."

"It is very likely that during this period, Junior Brother Han used force to suppress all the kings of the Chihuo Dynasty!"

After Li Wanji finished speaking, even he felt it was somewhat unbelievable, but this was the most reasonable deduction.

He then added.

"I suspect that the Body Cultivator who destroyed two major sects and killed the First Prince some time ago was one of Junior Brother Han's people!"

"Perhaps Junior Brother Han really does have a great background, just as the rumors we spread suggested!"

"If there is that mysterious Body Cultivator's help, suppressing the several kings of the Chihuo Dynasty is quite logical and reasonable."

After Li Wanji finished his analysis, he noticed that Liu Ruyan did not show any look of surprise.

His heart stirred, and he cautiously asked.

"Sect Master, did you already know about this?"

Liu Ruyan nodded.

"I had my guesses some time ago; now the facts have been confirmed."

Hearing this, Li Wanji could not help but sigh; she is indeed the Sect Master, truly full of wisdom.

He suddenly thought, could it be that by allowing Han Yu and Ji Yanling to go to the Chihuo Dynasty, Liu Ruyan was playing a game of chess?

Thinking of this, Li Wanji could not help but ask.

"Sect Master, was the matter of Junior Brother Han and Little Junior Sister Ji something you had foreseen long ago?"

Liu Ruyan shook her head, revealing a bitter smile.

"I know that the Great Yan Dynasty is using the Chihuo Dynasty to test my nephew, but I really didn't expect him to bring the entire Chihuo Dynasty under his command."

"That kid really knows how to play, but everything he does is for Ji Yanling, yet he hasn't gained any benefits for himself; isn't he being a bit too dutiful as a senior brother?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, even I am a bit envious!"

Li Wanji was also filled with emotion.

"Junior Brother Han is truly doting on little Junior Sister Ji, but the Chihuo Dynasty is a vassal force of the Great Yan Dynasty. Now that little Junior Sister Ji has become a princess, I wonder if it will provoke the dissatisfaction of the Great Yan Dynasty."

"So what if the Great Yan Dynasty is dissatisfied? They must have long since sent people to monitor the Chihuo Dynasty in secret. Since nephew Han Yu has taken the position of Country Lord, it shows they also know nephew Han Yu has a great background, so they surely wouldn't dare to make a move against him."

Liu Ruyan did not care.

Li Wanji thought about it and realized this was indeed the logic.

The two discussed some more intelligence, and then Li Wanji took his leave.

But not long after he left, he came running back in a hurry.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, something terrible has happened! The scouts we left in the Great Yan Dynasty just sent back a flying letter, saying that the Great Yan Dynasty seems to be gathering troops, preparing to attack the Chihuo Dynasty!"

"What? How could he dare?"

Liu Ruyan frowned deeply.

"Could I have guessed wrong? Did I overlook some detail?"

Liu Ruyan truly could not understand; no matter how one looked at the strength Han Yu displayed, he had a great background. How could Ji Huamao dare to send troops?

Even if he thought Han Yu had no great background, he still had the Youxian Sect behind him.

For this guy to send troops against the Chihuo Dynasty so wantonly, does he not put the Youxian Sect in his eyes?

Could this guy have some trump card?

Liu Ruyan could not figure it out.

What she did not know was that Ji Huamao dared to make a move against the Chihuo Dynasty only because of the deception of the traitor, the Chi Hu Emperor.

Just as Liu Ruyan was completely baffled, another secret letter arrived from Tianji Peak.

After reading the contents of the secret letter, Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes flickered repeatedly, and a beautiful curve appeared at the corners of her mouth.

"My nephew has played quite an insidious game!"

This secret letter was sent by Han Yu from the Chihuo Dynasty, and its main content was to ask her to cooperate.

After reading it, Liu Ruyan narrowed her beautiful eyes.

"Then your senior aunt will play along with you, you brat!"

Chihuo Dynasty, somewhere in mid-air.

Han Yu flew on his sword, searching for the second investment target according to the system's prompts.

"You broken system, you gave such a large range, couldn't you have made it smaller?"

"Fortunately, my sword-flying speed is fast enough, otherwise I would definitely have wasted quite a bit of time!"

Han Yu complained incessantly in his heart.

The range this system gave him was as large as the entire Chihuo Dynasty territory; it would only prompt him when Han Yu was within a certain distance of the investment target.

Han Yu cursed in his heart, what a pain in the ass.

Just at this moment, the system sent a Jieji.

【Ding! The second investment target has appeared within a ten-mile radius, please pay attention, Host!】