Chapter 161: Shu Han

Tiangong?

Zhao Yun and others who were unaware were all startled, gazing at Guan Xing and Zhuge Liang with astonishment and confusion.

Zhuge Liang smiled without speaking, stepped forward to stand beside them, and bowed respectfully to Li Shimin on the dragon throne.

“Your Majesty!”

“Prime Minister, no need for such formalities… Li Xian, offer a seat.”

“Yes.”

Li Xian waved his hand; the nanometal streams already clinging to the wooden chair surged forth, lifting it into the air and settling it beside Zhuge Liang.

Seeing this, everyone was startled again.

Li Shimin raised his gaze; an indescribable aura rose with his movement, like a dragon rearing and a tiger glaring, solemn as an abyss, imposing an overwhelming pressure upon them all.

In this crushing weight of majesty and silence, even the most defiant Wei Yan lowered his head, secretly astonished, daring not to meet those eyes as stern as heaven.

Seeing this, Li Shimin finally smiled in satisfaction.

He turned to Zhuge Liang beside him and said: “Prime Minister, the time has come.”

Zhuge Liang bowed again, rose to his full height, and gazed sharply at all of them: “In ancient times, King Wu received the white fish, the red crow carried the vermilion book; Gaozu slew the white serpent, Guangwu received the red fu—these four signs all indicated Heaven’s mandate, enabling them to sweep away decay and achieve great deeds.”

“Now, Your Majesty, under the protection of Gaozu and the revelation of the Heavenly Dao, has traversed a thousand years in dream, recalling his past life.”

“Just as the True Lord of the Cosmos descended, meeting Your Majesty in dream, it became clear that Your Majesty is not of this world, but a reincarnation of a celestial True Lord…”

Zhuge Liang cited classics and spoke with clarity, slowly revealing what had befallen Li Shimin.

The others listened, stunned, unable to help turning their gazes toward Li Shimin—some in sudden understanding, others in awe.

What they understood was the mysterious weapons that had appeared these past months; what awed them was the Emperor’s true identity, and the celestial relic Zhuge Liang had mentioned at last.

So the question arises: what is this “celestial relic”?

Since it is celestial, everyone’s first thought was immortality.

Coupled with Zhuge Liang’s reversal of aging, five generals—including Wei Yan—could not help but grow excited, their eyes burning with fervor as they gazed upward at Li Shimin.

Meeting their gazes, Li Shimin spoke slowly: “As the Prime Minister said, I have returned from Tiangong, granted a celestial relic: the first is the Longevity Pill, capable of extending a mortal’s life by decades.”

“The second is the Dragon-Tiger Pill; consuming it grants the strength of dragon and tiger—tearing tigers and leopards apart, boundless power!”

“Both were gifted by the Immortal Lady Linghua of Tiangong, without falsehood—but I have now resumed my position as True Lord of Heaven, so these pills are useless to me. Thus I have summoned you all here to bestow them upon you…”

Here, Li Shimin paused, his gaze sweeping over the five late Shu Han generals.

Feeling the Emperor’s scrutiny, everyone—including Zhao Yun and Guan Xing—grew tense and uneasy.

Especially Jiang Wei, who already felt unworthy to be present, felt even more nervous than the others.

At that moment, Li Shimin suddenly spoke: “Marquis of Yongchang!”

Zhao Yun, over sixty, with white beard and hair, brightened instantly, lifting his head; his aged tiger eyes blazed as he declared firmly:

“Your servant is here!”

Li Shimin smiled gently: “General Zhen Dong, valiant and battle-hardened, feared throughout the land, loyal and tireless—when you saved my life at Changban Slope, had you not risked all, I would never have had the chance to return to Tiangong!”

At the words “Uncle Yun,” Wei Yan and the others sighed inwardly, knowing Zhao Yun would surely receive the celestial pill.

Indeed, even setting aside seniority and merit, those two past rescues alone were beyond their reach!

Li Shimin smiled and said: “Li Xian!”

Li Xian bowed: “Your servant is here.”

“Bestow one Longevity Pill and one Dragon-Tiger Pill!”

“Yes!”

Li Xian obeyed, immediately pulling out two brocade boxes from his sleeve and stepping forward to present them to Zhao Yun.

“Thank Your Majesty’s heavenly grace!”

Zhao Yun kowtowed in gratitude, then rose, his trembling hand accepting the brocade boxes, his aged face flushed with emotion.

Li Shimin smiled: “The Longevity Pill takes two hours to take effect. Uncle Yun, remain in the palace until the extension is complete before departing.”

“As for the Dragon-Tiger Pill, unlike the Longevity Pill, it requires only injection to grant dragon-tiger strength. If you have no objection, Uncle Yun, demonstrate its effect before your comrades—so the generals may understand what awaits them…”

Hearing this, Wei Yan and the others brightened again.

The Emperor never acted without purpose; if he wanted Zhao Yun to demonstrate the Dragon-Tiger Pill before them, it meant they too would have a chance to receive the celestial pill after Zhao Yun!

So… how many celestial pills did the Emperor still hold?

They did not know, only feeling the Emperor grow ever more mysterious, ever more majestic.

As long as they followed him, over time, all of Shu Han might ascend to heaven!

As the others stirred with excitement, Zhao Yun did not hesitate:

“By Your Majesty’s command, how could I refuse?”

Hearing this, Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, signaling Li Xian to administer the serum.

Li Xian opened the brocade box, took out the syringe filled with blue liquid, and before their expectant gazes, removed Zhao Yun’s armor and injected the full dose into his body.

“Ugh…”

Zhao Yun grunted, sank to one knee, brows tightly furrowed, expression showing clear pain.

Guan Xing and the other three beside him were startled, glancing toward Zhuge Liang and Li Shimin on the dragon throne.

Zhuge Liang lightly pressed his feather fan, signaling the generals to remain calm, not to panic.

He had experienced the Longevity Pill’s effects—he knew the purification of marrow and sinew inevitably brought pain, so he remained calmer than the others.

Soon, Zhao Yun’s exposed right arm swelled; his previously withered muscles became full, his skin cracked like a dried riverbed, dead flakes bursting under the force of new muscle, revealing fresh, delicate skin beneath.

Moreover, his white hair and beard fell rapidly, replaced by black ones.

His facial features remained unchanged, but with black hair and beard, he appeared at least ten years younger.

“Roar!”

Suddenly, Zhao Yun let out a beast-like growl, then slammed his fist into the ground.

“Boom—”

A thunderous crash—the hard stone tiles instantly sank and shattered, cracks spreading like spiderwebs.

All the generals were startled, instinctively gripping their sword hilts, staring at the re-empowered figure before them.

Li Shimin smiled, raising a hand to gesture for the generals not to panic.

Zhao Yun quickly regained composure, bowing his head to the ground in shame:

“Your servant lost control—please, Your Majesty, punish me!”

Li Shimin laughed: “No need. First consuming a celestial pill requires release. Uncle Yun, do not hold back—let your body stretch and flow freely.”

The others heard this and were baffled; only Zhao Yun understood.

Grateful, he kowtowed again, then rose, stretching his arms wide, his entire body trembling as he unleashed the endless power surging within him.

In an instant, his clothing was shredded by the force, revealing an awe-inspiring upper body.

This was not merely the serum’s power—it was Zhao Yun’s own supreme martial skill, and his exquisite control of force.

Only now did the generals realize: Zhao Yun’s hand, which had shattered the tiles, was utterly unharmed!

…This is what is called dragon-tiger strength?

Gazing at Zhao Yun’s scarred, muscular frame, the generals’ eyes burned with fervor, desperate to take his place and feel the power for themselves.

Li Shimin smiled lightly: “General Zhen Dong, how do you feel?”

Zhao Yun knelt on one knee, eyes blazing: “Your Majesty, next year’s northern campaign—I beg to lead the vanguard, to seize the first city for you!”

Li Shimin laughed, shaking his head: “General, receiving the celestial pill has already stirred envy among your comrades. If you now vie for glory, will you not provoke their resentment?”

Zhao Yun froze, then noticed the four fiery gazes behind him.

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao laughed: “Indeed, Uncle Four—let us younger ones take the vanguard!”

At this, Wei Yan and Jiang Wei both dropped to one knee, clamoring to lead the charge.

Li Shimin and Zhuge Liang exchanged a smile.

He waved his hand and declared: “Next year’s northern campaign—each of you four generals shall command one army.”

“Whoever leads the first assault, breaks the enemy line, slays the general, or seizes the banner—shall receive one Dragon-Tiger Pill.”

“Whoever first enters Chang’an and captures Sima Yi and Cao Cao—shall receive one Longevity Pill and one Dragon-Tiger Pill!”

All of them brightened instantly, crying out fervently: “We shall give our lives!”

Li Shimin clapped his hands and laughed, announcing the army’s full adoption of firearms, to be taught by Li Xian beside him—vowing to raise the Shu Han army to at least first-class standards.

Thus, Shu Han’s new formation was finally complete.

The generals, now aware of the celestial pill’s secret, threw themselves into learning the tactics of firearm units.

Even without the super-soldier serum, they were confident they could lead the charge, break lines, slay generals, and seize banners!

…

…

While Li Shimin assembled Shu Han’s new formation, Fan Xian returned to the Qinyu Year world due to a certain matter, busy as ever, sending wedding invitations to the group members.

Indeed, after over a month, Fan Xian and Lin Waner’s wedding was finally about to take place!

At this moment, the group’s activity had grown to 38,284; at a daily increase of seven hundred, it would precisely reach its milestone the day after Fan Xian’s wedding.

Such a coincidental event was truly double joy.

Group members all offered congratulations, promising to cross realms and attend the wedding—none would miss it!

(End of Chapter)