Chapter 540: Chapter 535: Ascending the Throne! Empress and Imperial Consorts (Part 3)
Handling some simple matters is easy to do at one’s convenience.
And to prepare for the future.
Ding Ling handed over all the great army to Xiao Feng to command, instructing him to conquer Tubo.
Xiao Feng had deep discussions with Ding Ling throughout the night and, realizing Ding Ling’s grand ambitions and given Ding Ling helped him kill Murong Fu and seek Murong Bo, coupled with Ding Ling’s sincere invitation, Xiao Feng couldn’t refuse and agreed to assist Ding Ling in uniting Jiuzhou.
However, he is a Khitan, so it wasn’t appropriate for him to target the Liao Kingdom, and having vowed not to kill Han people, he naturally refrained from attacking the Great Song.
Therefore, he led the great army to charge towards Tubo.
Jiu Mozhi wore a bitter expression as he was Tubo’s Kingdom Guardian Dharma King!
Yet he personally witnessed Ding Ling shattering a ten-thousand-strong army.
Naturally understanding Tubo couldn’t possibly withstand Ding Ling.
He proactively volunteered to lead the way, preparing to persuade Tubo to surrender to Ding Ling.
If they refuse to surrender, they could fight later.
Xiao Feng was naturally delighted at this prospect; conquering Tubo without losing a single soldier? That couldn’t be better!
...
...
As for Ding Ling becoming the Emperor of Western Xia.
Through the dissemination and embellishment by players.
The news had already spread across the Jiuzhou Land.
For a while.
Various countries’ reactions differed.
Some scornfully doubted Ding Ling could defy the heavens thus;
Some directly sent people to investigate;
Others simply killed those spreading rumors...
The myriad of human attitudes varied endlessly.
However, it was undeniable that Ding Ling, through this battle, had utterly sparked well-known fame.
His mission 3 progress thus surged ahead without obstacle.
[1: Defeat more than 20 Plane World experts: 28/20.]
Previously it was 15.
Then defeated Helian Tieshu, Li Qiushui, and others, raising it to 28.
Because there were over ten First-class experts in the army, Imperial City, and Imperial Palace.
Ding Ling had successively found excuses to spar with and defeat them over these few days.
[3: You must make your World’s Number One name resonate throughout the entire Plane World. 53%/100%.]
Undeniably.
After becoming an Emperor.
Mission 3’s progress visibly skyrocketed.
This was much faster than seeking out individuals one by one for challenge.
Even winning against someone, time was required for fermentation.
The speed was far behind the means Ding Ling now employed.
After becoming an emperor.
Ding Ling also initiated the Imperial Examination.
Indicating that anyone from Jiuzhou Land could come to take the exam.
Players who admired him, Natives who feared him, or Natives passionate about being officials, or those living at the social bottom, talented but unfortunate, all came to participate in this Imperial Examination.
Ding Ling was decisive and clean in his execution.
He eliminated those families who had attempted assassination on him in one go.
These families.
Without exception.
In Western Xia, these were families of great influence, deeply rooted, capable of covering the sky with one hand.
Their oppression of good citizens was innumerable.
Ding Ling annihilated these few families.
Winning immense support from the common people.
Numerous cheering, tearfully joyful citizens expressed gratitude.
Evident these families’ evil deeds were truly countless!
Ding Ling never expected his casual deed would invoke such profound fondness from the masses, also attracting quite a few genuine talents thereby.
These talents were all upright, resplendent, seeking true ambition fulfillment, unwilling to collude with those familial powers, previously marginalized, oppressed, later, overwhelmed and resigned from office.
Or having heard of court affairs, simply refraining from serving as officials!
Now knowing Ding Ling’s character and deeds, they all came forth to try.
Although Ding Ling was erudite and learned, his wisdom was far inferior to Zhuge Liang, yet all his skills in Music, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting, Military Strategy, Confucian School, Military School were Full Level!
His question-setting and evaluation were smooth like flowing water, naturally fitting.
This Imperial Examination indeed discovered quite a few talents, promptly promoted!
Due to these talents joining.
Western Xia became increasingly vigorous, as if entering a rapid, bright development channel in an instant.
With these talents assisting.
After spending a little over a month in Western Xia.
Seeing the court stabilize.
He seized Li Qiushui and flew towards Lingjiu Palace.
During this period, Li Qiushui was imprisoned alone in a room.
She knew she was destined to die.
Over these days, her demeanor was very Zen-like.
Not sure if she hoped Ding Ling could spare her, or she truly saw through life.
She even expressed some words to Ding Ling:
"Your Majesty, these past few months, I introspect daily, now realizing how absurdly I’ve lived before. I merely wish to see my husband Wuya Zi one last time before I die, thus I would die without regrets."
"Wuya Zi is already dead."
Ding Ling replied.
"But, I heard from the Alien he wasn’t dead."
"He wasn’t dead earlier. But on my journey to Western Xia, he imparted all his power to someone else and died."
"..."
Li Qiushui fell silent, sighed, and said nothing more.
Ding Ling shook his head, did not console her.
Li Qiushui was extremely fierce, merciless, highly skillful; Ding Ling couldn’t keep her in Western Xia, for Zhong Ling and others’ sake.
But just handing her over to Heavenly Mountain Granny?
Ding Ling considered the replies sent by Western Xia’s commander during this time.
Ding Ling personally penned an invitation letter to Heavenly Mountain Granny inviting her to Western Xia Imperial City.
He was refused.
Ding Ling was not surprised.
Evidently, Heavenly Mountain Granny was deeply wary of him.
But if she refused when he brings Li Qiushui to see her?
Ding Ling didn’t mind sparring a bit with her.
Although this Granny was quite kind to her own, she was ruthless to outsiders.
Especially against men, she resorted to all sorts of torture! It’s said her twisted nature reached its zenith.
Ordinary men rescuing her would likely be killed by her.
The original Xuzhwu survived only because he was related to Wuya Zi, whom she cherished, besides, Xuzhwu lacked scheming, earning Heavenly Mountain Granny’s favor and trust.
Ding Ling had clear knowledge of this. It was due to receiving increasing information about Heavenly Mountain Granny recently.
Knowing she currently hated men intensely.
Female players visiting Celestial Mountain Piaomiao Peak was acceptable.
Male players visiting would be one hundred percent killed or cursed with Life and Death Talisman, facing fates worse than death, ending up committing suicide for relief, and after resurrection, dare not visit Piaomiao Peak again. Staying far away from Heavenly Mountain Granny.
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On this day.
Ding Ling arrived at Tian Mountain Lingjiu Palace.
He flew up the mountain using Lightweight Skill, seeing people from Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands kneeling all over, with heads chopped off.
Lingjiu Palace’s entrance was a river of blood.
Listening closely.
He heard the Lingjiu Palace folks saying there was a rebellion among these people.
Turns out Heavenly Mountain Granny’s powers depleted recently, requiring retraining, incited by players, the Cave Masters, Island Masters, stormed Illusory Peak.
Unbeknownst to them, a female player joined Piaomiao Peak, warning the Granny.
