Chapter 223: Towards the Mighty

With the deliberate return of reason.

In the mysterious realm, Zhang Gui pioneered the Brand-New Civilization Path with the 'Capital' Element as its Foundation Stone.

It began to draw the Judicial Authority, spawning an unprecedented Legal System Element in this world.

And on this 'Foundation Stone' of the Brand-New Civilization Path, it constructed a 'Superstructure' at the ideological level.

The only regret is that, unlike the last time when cultivating the 'Capital' Element with the power legacy of the Xi Zhou Ancient God, this cannot be accomplished in a single step.

Relying on Zhang Gui's own ability to create the Legal System Element requires a long gestation period.

Even the rapid shaping bonus of the enlightenment period only mastered the first Element rule, the 'Punishment'.

"Again singing high‑tone that the essence of the Legal System is 'where the law forbids nothing, everything is permitted'."

"Saying it's 'Protection' rather than Punishment is also useless."

A Legal System derived from strong power could not possibly not have deterrent 'Punishment' as its primary characteristic.

Even the second rule would not be 'Protection', but should be 'Equality'.

Or, if the Legal System Element is not forged in the Supernatural World with mysterious forces, then 'Equality' should be its primary characteristic.

Moreover, this 'Equality' should be the equality that the Stronger yields to the Weaker.

Overwhelmed with surprise, Zhang Gui could not suppress the myriad thoughts rising in his mind.

At the same time, in the unseen, he sensed that the Ancient Ritual bestowed upon him Authority.

It has already begun to ascend from the 'Territory, Mighty, Unique', the most limited Territorial Divine Authority among the three lower‑to‑upper levels, toward the Mighty Divine Authority.

Although he does not yet know how long it will take to complete this ascent.

But since the ascent has already begun and is on the correct path.

Zhang Gui's journey to Yuanshan has already yielded a thousand‑fold, ten‑thousand‑fold return!

And Zhen Ciyun, who sat beside him finishing fish and sipping warm wine, is no ordinary person.

Sensing the subtle transformation of Zhang Gui's Body, Heart, Spirit, for an instant he could not keep his gentle temperament, his eyes bulged wide.

"What's wrong with you? We were just peacefully eating fish, drinking wine, chatting."

"Why does your qi suddenly become increasingly mysterious."

"What have you done?"

"No, what mysteriousness? I don't understand."

Zhang Gui showed a bewildered expression, opened his eyes and blurted nonsense, saying:

"Miss Zhen, you cultivate the Five Senses Divine Ability, so your perception of the outside world may be overly sensitive…"

"If you don't want to speak, then leave; don't treat others like fools."

"Please, this lady hasn't forgotten to divide her heart while dining, and her cultivation remains unfallen."

"Such asceticism, you truly deserve a sudden enlightenment."

Zhang Gui, hearing this, stopped forcefully lying, smiled, poured himself a drink and fell silent.

When all evolutions of the Body, Heart, Spirit settled like dust, he finally spoke:

"Noble Lady Zhen, actually the most important reason I came to Giant Wolf Capital this time is that I'm afraid something happened to Jiujiang."

"Is he now also at Xianhezhai?"

"Yes."

"However, your fine companion does not have the supple 'physique' and agile mind that you have."

"He couldn't tolerate that Huaihe Xiansheng sealed the gate of the Ming Song Qingdou Academy, yet fled to the enemy nation Yuanshan to start the Xianhe Book Study."

"He locked himself in a secluded room where sunlight is seldom seen, neglecting his grooming and languishing in a dull stupor."

"He feels somewhat like a mad demon."

"I won't conceal anything from you; I will only speak flattering words."

"Elder Brother Jiujiang's character is good, but his talents, even among ordinary people, are only 'Average'."

"He cannot see through the reasoning that you and I can grasp with a simple shift of mind…"

"That is his innate simplicity, his ability to uphold justice, a rare virtue."

"If everyone under heaven were 'smart people' like us, then the Human Realm's righteous path would collapse!"

Zhang Gui can call his junior partner a 'foolish underperformer', but cannot tolerate others giving him a 'bad review'.

Zhen Ciyun, hearing this, gave a helpless smile, did not retort, but instead showed appreciation,

"Alright, I was wrong."

"In a moment we'll both return to Xianhezhai, and I'll take you to meet him."

"Thank you, Noble Lady Zhen, for facilitating."

"By the way, can you now freely return to Ming Song?"

"Huaihe Xiansheng, citing that 'one must not lightly abandon study at the book study', refuses to let us leave."

"Has this old fellow already become so indifferent to the noodles?"

"In the past, we studied at Qingdou Academy, unless the academy sent a master to travel with us."

"Otherwise, only during the Spring Holiday in the first month of the year could we return home once."

"So it can be said there is an old calendar to follow."

"Moreover, many families received secret letters, allowing them to stay peacefully in Great Wolf Capital."

"Some even used care as an excuse, moving their families and servants here to set up enterprises."

"To be frank, my family is just like that."

"The tree hasn't even fallen, and the monkeys are already scattering."

Zhang Gui made a comment, finished his drink with Zhen Ciyun, settled the bill, and left Bai Xian Lou.

The two returned to the foot of Tianyuan Mountain.

Suddenly, from afar, a drum‑bearer beat a waist drum and shouted loudly:

"Great victory, great victory!

Our Yuan Mountain Army has never been defeated in a hundred battles, has won ten consecutive victories, and has already broken through the Ming Song Kingdom's capital Yanjing!

Great victory, great victory, our Yuan Mountain Army… has already taken Yanjing of the Ming Song Kingdom…."

Even though the Yuanshan Empire has enjoyed a smooth run of victories for several decades, seizing countless territories.

But it has never, in just three years, achieved the glorious feat of conquering the capital cities of several great nations on Dongsheng Continent!

In an instant, the entire Great Wolf Capital boiled with excitement!

The night sky was covered by multicolored fireworks, dazzling even more than the midday sun.

Under the fireworks.

Zhang Gui and Zhen Ciyun stared at each other, at a loss for how to react.

"Has the Ming Song Kingdom fallen so easily?"

After an unknown amount of time, Zhen Ciyun finally regained her senses.

"The Ming Song Kingdom, after all, is a great empire that has been established for hundreds of years; even if its national strength collapses, it would not be overturned so easily.

The most likely scenario is that Yuanshan has indeed captured Yanjing.

But previously, the Hezheng Emperor had already gone to 'summer‑avoidance'.

His destination was either the Zhenchuan Province in the Northern Frontier, the most stable and hard‑to‑capture region, or the Golden Ridge Capital Region in Nanguo.

He has become neighbors with your Huayu Zhen Family."

Zhen Ciyun thought it over, acknowledged it with a nod,

"That makes sense; the Ming Song Kingdom could not have vanished so silently.

Let's go; we can't possibly go celebrate the Yuanshan people's great victory, so let's do whatever we need to do."

Zhang Gui had no objection to that.

In fact, for him as the Founding Emperor of the True Dragon Kingdom, the Ming Song Kingdom is theoretically also a rival.

From an emotional perspective, whether the Hezheng Emperor lives or dies, whether the Ming Song Kingdom perishes or not is fundamentally meaningless.

But Zhen Ciyun is different.

Although she comes from a venerable lineage that places the clan above the nation.

Yet before the Hezheng Emperor's rule, the Ming Song Kingdom was a powerful empire showing signs of revival.

No one could have imagined that the next emperor would so quickly squander the ancestors' foundation.

Moreover, the scions of the great aristocratic families have, from birth to now, taken great pride in the nation.

In this situation, their steps could not help but disperse.

(End of chapter)