Chapter 35: The Trial of the World Will

Currently, the cavalry under Liu Bian's command only numbers thirty thousand from the Xiliang Army and fifty thousand Bing Province Wolf Cavalry under Zhang Liao; the fifty thousand troops who joined later don't even have warhorses yet!

This will have to rely on Zhang Liao going to Bing Province himself to take them from the Xiongnu.

Warhorses at this time are extremely hard to buy; even if there were channels to purchase them, the exorbitant price is not something Liu Bian could afford.

"Minister, you handled this matter splendidly. This is a Marrow Cleansing Pill; I bestow it upon you as Imperial Grace."

Seeing that Wang Yun had handled the matter well, Liu Bian didn't know what reward to give him.

In the end, he decided to exchange for a Marrow Cleansing Pill as Wang Yun's reward. After all, as a qualified Imperial Majesty, combining kindness with authority is the correct approach.

Wang Yun respectfully accepted the Marrow Cleansing Pill, holding it carefully in his hands, a flash of excitement passing through his eyes.

He knew that the current Liu Bian was shrouded in mystery; whatever he produced was never subpar, so this Marrow Cleansing Pill was surely a fine treasure.

"This minister thanks Your Majesty. May I ask what effects this Marrow Cleansing Pill has?"

Wang Yun was hearing of the Marrow Cleansing Pill for the first time and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"This Marrow Cleansing Pill has the effect of casting off the hair and cleansing the marrow. It can improve the constitution of the one who takes it, unblock the meridians, and enhance the body's quality."

"After Minister takes this pill, you may begin Cultivation."

Liu Bian explained the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill to Wang Yun, and at the end, he didn't forget to remind him.

"This Old Minister thanks Your Majesty. This minister shall surely exert every ounce of effort for Your Majesty until death!"

Upon hearing the effects of the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Wang Yun was immediately overwhelmed with gratitude toward Liu Bian, trembling all over with excitement, and knelt on the ground to offer thanks.

"Minister need not stand on such ceremony. This is what you deserve. Once you return and complete the Refining, you may begin Cultivation."

"I obey the decree. Then this minister shall take his leave first!" Wang Yun bowed to Liu Bian and said respectfully.

"Go. Return and cultivate well." Liu Bian gave Wang Yun a slight wave of his hand and said softly.

Watching Wang Yun depart, Liu Bian wanted to check how much National Fortune Value he had. The second batch of Sweet Potatoes had all been distributed yesterday, so it was about time for results.

……

System: Wanjie Emperor System

Host: Liu Bian

Realm: Postnatal Seventh Heaven

Talent: Hongmeng Grade

Physique: Supreme Emperor Body

Divine Ability: Probe Eye

Cultivation Art: Supreme Emperor Art

Equipment: Emperor Sword, Emperor Armor

System Space: National Seal

National Fortune Value:

"Hahaha, it seems this batch of Sweet Potatoes has taken effect. I didn't expect it to directly add five hundred thousand National Fortune Value for me. With this, I can break through to the Innate Realm."

Seeing that it had actually increased by five hundred thousand National Fortune Value, Liu Bian was somewhat surprised, but the more of this stuff, the better, naturally.

Immediately, he decided to first raise his own cultivation to the Innate Realm; after all, the National Fortune Value was sufficient.

If it weren't for needing to reserve a portion as backup, this National Fortune Value would have been enough to raise him all the way to the Martial Ancestor Realm.

"System, raise my cultivation to the Innate Third Level realm." Without further hesitation, Liu Bian immediately said to the system.

"Ding. The system has received the Host's request. The National Fortune Value required for this strength enhancement—seventy thousand seven points—has been deducted. Host's remaining National Fortune Value points."

As the system prompt just fell, Liu Bian's aura began to slowly rise.

Houtian Seven Heavens Peak……

In an instant, he broke through to Houtian Eight Heavens……

Houtian Nine Heavens… Houtian Nine Heavens Peak……

Just as Liu Bian was about to break through to the Innate Realm, a vast pressure of Heaven and Earth filled the entire world, and the sky over Luoyang instantly turned pitch-black……

Liu Bian felt even more intensely that he was locked onto by a massive aura—this power was absolutely not something the Innate Realm could possess.

"System, what's going on?" Liu Bian was utterly shocked by this. Wasn't he just breaking through to the Innate Realm? Why did it feel like he was undergoing a tribulation?

"Ding. The Host's current world has never seen the emergence of supernatural power. The first person to break through to the Innate Realm must pass the trial of the World Will before advancing to the Innate Realm." The system explained to Liu Bian.

"System, are you sure I can pass this trial? This aura feels like it's already reached the Martial Ancestor Realm. With my current strength, I can't possibly contend with an existence at the Martial Ancestor Realm!"

Hearing the system's explanation, Liu Bian was utterly shocked. He hadn't expected that breaking through to the Innate Realm would actually require passing the trial of the World Will.

"Ding. Host need not worry. The strongest this realm's World Will reaches does not exceed Xiantian Nine Heavens. This is the imposing pressure produced by the World Will gathering the fortune of all living beings in this realm, intending to use its aura to destroy the breakthrough cultivator's Dao Heart."

"The actual attack will not reach the Martial Ancestor Realm. Moreover, with the Host's strength at Xiantian Nine Heavens, even ordinary Martial Ancestor Realm strong ones would not be the Host's match."

The system explained to Liu Bian.

"So I was bluffed by it. It seems this World Will truly cannot be underestimated."

……

"Your Majesty, disaster has struck……"

Just as Liu Bian was breaking through, Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng burst in, shouting anxiously to Liu Bian.

"Your Majesty……"

When he entered and saw Liu Bian in the midst of Cultivation, the aura emanating from him made it feel as if his entire body would be pressed to the ground. He hurriedly knelt before Liu Bian, desperately resisting this pressure.

"What happened?" Seeing Li Liangcheng burst in, Liu Bian glanced at him and rebuked him in annoyance.

This time, if he hadn't used National Fortune Value to enhance himself, with someone barging in like this, his breakthrough might have been interrupted, and in serious cases, his meridians could have been damaged.

Therefore, Liu Bian looked at him with great displeasure, and a flash of killing intent even passed through his eyes.

"Your Majesty, This Servant did not know Your Majesty was in Cultivation and disturbed Your Majesty. This Servant deserves death ten thousand times over!"

"The ministers were urgently requesting an audience with Your Majesty. Right now, the entire Luoyang City is shrouded in Heavenly Punishment. The common people are in utter panic, saying someone has angered the heavens and brought down Heavenly Punishment."

Li Liangcheng hurriedly spoke quickly to Liu Bian in order to save his own life.

"Go tell the Hundred Officials that this is not some Heavenly Punishment — it is the World Will's trial brought on by the Emperor's breakthrough to the Innate Realm. Tell them to soothe the city's common folk and not to worry."

Liu Bian gave the arrangement to Li Liangcheng.

"What — Your Majesty is breaking through to the Innate Realm? Then, Your Majesty, there won't be any danger, will there?"

Hearing that this was caused by Liu Bian's breakthrough to the Xiantian Realm, Li Liangcheng was first startled, then asked Liu Bian with concern.

"A mere trial from the World Will cannot harm the Emperor. Go tell everyone — just set their minds at ease."

The corner of Liu Bian's mouth twitched slightly as he spoke with disdain.

"That's wonderful. Congratulations, Your Majesty, on breaking through to the Xiantian Realm. This humble one will take his leave first!" After bowing to Liu Bian and finishing his words, he turned and left the Grand Hall.

"Eunuch Chief Li, what did His Majesty say?" Outside Dian, the waiting Hundred Officials saw Li Liangcheng come out and hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

"My lords need not worry. This is not some Heavenly Punishment — it is the World Will's trial brought on by His Majesty's breakthrough to the Innate Realm."

Looking at the anxious crowd, Li Liangcheng explained to everyone with a smile.