Chapter 437: Chapter 264: A Secret Report from the Front Lines, the Tragedy of the Song Country, Who Will Be Eliminated Next? The Champion Marquis Enters the Capital
At the same time, Hangjing was the hub of the entire Jingyun Continent, a place where resources, wealth, powerful experts, and beauties converged. As long as one had enough money, a Cultivator could buy anything they desired there.
The Song Dynasty was essentially an entire nation supporting a single city, in addition to its borders.
’How could a National Capital that was so easy to defend and hard to attack be breached so simply?’
Lu Mingyuan simply couldn’t figure it out.
’If a dynasty capable of this truly existed, I can first rule out the surrounding smaller kingdoms. They don’t have that kind of power.’
’The only likely culprit is the Silver Frost Empire.’
’Could it be that the Silver Frost Emperor was insatiable? Did he feel that one strand of Celestial Destiny and Fortune wasn’t enough and decided to plunder another, striking at the weakest and closest target, the Great Song?’
’In that case, how powerful would the mysterious expert who broke into the National Capital have to be? At the very least, at the Peak of the Twelfth Realm, right?’
’Weird. This is too weird.’
As Lu Mingyuan spoke, Yang Yingchan was also beside him, pondering the contents of the military report.
Suddenly, an idea struck Yang Yingchan.
She said, "I recently heard my father speak of a major event. Perhaps Your Highness will be interested."
"What is it?" Lu Mingyuan asked.
Yang Yingchan said seriously, "Not long ago, the Holy Nether Demon Country sent troops to invade our Great Yan territory. Many battles broke out in the Northwest, leading to immense bloodshed. The number of human Cultivators who perished was no less than the casualties from the turmoil on the Celestial Profound Continent."
Lu Mingyuan’s expression turned solemn as he asked, "What was the reason?"
"It’s said to be related to the Ten Underworld Races," Yang Yingchan said. "The major races of the Underworld each possess their own unique Lifebound Divine Techniques. This particular turmoil is connected to the Blood Race, one of the Ten Races."
Lu Mingyuan’s expression grew concerned. "Are you saying it’s highly likely that people from the Demon Country are behind this?"
"I’m not entirely sure, but it’s something to consider."
Yang Yingchan shook her head. "The fighting was extremely fierce and its effects were widespread, yet very few people know the inside story. In that war, the armies from every State and County suffered losses to varying degrees. Of course, the most prominent event was, without a doubt, the fall of Elder Mr. Qi."
"It’s related to Elder Mr. Qi?" Lu Mingyuan’s expression changed, as if he’d heard a vital piece of news. He pressed on, "Tell me everything. What abilities does the Blood Race possess?"
The death of Elder Mr. Qi had always been a source of pain for Lu Mingyuan. He couldn’t let even the smallest clue slip by.
Lu Mingyuan had never connected this incident with the Holy Nether Demon Country before.
’Now, it seems there’s a real possibility.’
Yang Yingchan continued, "The Blood Race has two primary Lifebound Divine Techniques. First, they practice Cultivation by consuming the blood of living beings. Second, they can take on the appearance of those they feed on and read their memories, allowing them to serve as perfect disguises."
"All the conflicts in the Northwest arose from this. Many of the armies in the States and Counties were infiltrated by Demon Fiends and then breached from within. The Northern Great Wall, as sturdy as it is, cannot hold against internal infiltration."
"The final battle in the Celestial Profound Mansion took place in the territory of Celestial Water City. It was precisely because Blood Race Cultivators had mixed in among the common folk, taking real citizens hostage, that Elder Mr. Qi was caught in a dilemma. He could only sacrifice his life for his cause."
"Elder Mr. Qi was indeed very powerful, one of the Saints and Sages of this era. However, he was ultimately just a Confucian Cultivator with a fragile Flesh Body. A direct attack would have been fatal. What’s more, he was besieged by three or four powerful Blood Race experts."
Lu Mingyuan’s hands clenched into tight fists. He squeezed four words from between his lips: "The... Blood... Race... Again."
He was no stranger to the Blood Race.
The Blood Burial Duke had died by his hand.
In the Grand Thousand Canglan Map, he was repeatedly targeted by the Blood Race.
In his first life, as a Martial Saint, he was ambushed by the Blood Race’s Divine Venerable, Liu Venerable.
In his second life, he was plotted against by the Blood Race’s Crown Prince, but thankfully, he managed to turn the tables and kill him instead.
’It seems the Blood Race is inextricably involved this time, too.’
The thought that he had inherited the throne while his father-in-law had perished filled Lu Mingyuan with immense guilt.
"I suddenly want to make a trip to the Song Dynasty," Lu Mingyuan said. "Not for any other reason, but to see just who is plotting to seize its Celestial Destiny and Fortune."
Yang Yingchan had long suspected that the relationship between Lu Mingyuan and Qi Xingyan was more than just that of a father- and son-in-law. It was likely something more akin to a teacher and student, or perhaps even a Guardian. So, when she heard Lu Mingyuan make this decision, she wasn’t the least bit surprised.
However, she would never allow Lu Mingyuan to take such a risk. She immediately tried to dissuade him, "The Song Dynasty is in the north, near the Wilderness. Your Majesty, you are now the Venerable Emperor, the ruler of our nation. I implore you to reconsider."
Lu Mingyuan’s gaze hardened.
’Only then did I remember who I am now... The Great Yan Emperor, the King of the Great Yan Dynasty.’
’Generally, I cannot leave the Capital City, not even for a single step.’
’In a way, I’ve become Great Yan’s mascot.’
He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. "I never thought that after leaving the Cold Palace, I would just find myself trapped in the Capital City."
Seeing his expression, Yang Yingchan’s heart ached for him. "I don’t know what’s truly happening in the Song Dynasty; I was merely presenting a possibility," she said. "With the descent of the Celestial Dao Fortune, all the major Dynasties are coveting the Celestial Destiny and Fortune, each hoping to become the next Celestial Destiny Dynasty. The Blood Race isn’t the only possible explanation. Your Majesty must consider this from a long-term perspective."
Although Yang Yingchan’s words were veiled, Lu Mingyuan understood her meaning.
’The Celestial Dao Fortune has descended. Now is a time of war; the great struggle for dominance has begun.’
’As the Emperor, I cannot leave the National Capital at will.’
Yang Yingchan added, "Of course, it’s also possible that another Dynasty is coveting the Song Dynasty’s Celestial Destiny and Fortune. If so, it will be even more difficult for Great Yan to acquire a strand of it from any of the other Dynasties."
During his enthronement ceremony, Lu Mingyuan had heard Wen Sheng mention that the ancient texts contained records of small kingdoms plundering the Celestial Destiny and Fortune of great nations.
For someone to have already made the first move was definitely not good news for Great Yan.
The Great Sui, Nanli, and Silver Frost were all massive Dynasties that had evolved from the Middle Ages. With their long histories, their influence among the great Dynasties was second only to Great Yan.
Even when his Imperial Father was on the throne, he would not have gone to war with them lightly.
Once war broke out, rivers of blood would surely flow and bodies would litter the fields.
Lu Mingyuan’s emotions gradually calmed, and he began to think seriously. "All the more reason," he said, "that I must make a trip to the Six Kingdoms."
"But..." Yang Yingchan started to object.
Lu Mingyuan’s gaze was firm, and he cut her off. "Of course, not right now," he continued. "But if one day I can break into the Upper Three Grades, or even surpass the Martial Saint, then I will have few rivals in this world. At that point, not even a Saint Ancestor Master would be my match."
Seeing that Lu Mingyuan’s mind was made up, Yang Yingchan didn’t press the matter. "An ordinary person would never be able to infiltrate a heavily guarded national capital," she said. "But if Your Highness had Mastery of the Transformation Skill, combined with strength on par with a Confucian Saint, a Buddha Bodhisattva, or a Taoist True Immortal, then you could certainly try."
"That day will come," Lu Mingyuan replied.
...
「Great Yan Capital City.」
The evening wind was piercing, and a steady autumn rain fell. The wind-whipped raindrops felt like knives, stinging the skin on contact.
The army entering the city left a trail of muddy footprints on the ground outside the walls.
A General on the city wall watched with a smile as the army returned.
At the head of the column was an exceptionally handsome and heroic-looking man. He wore a red cloak, and his familiar face suggested a high status. Having removed his armor upon his triumphant return, his jet-black hair fell loosely over his shoulders as he walked at the very front.
A massive banner bearing the character for "Huo" fluttered in the wind.
The residents of the Capital City’s neighborhoods peered through their windows, and upon seeing the scene through the curtain of rain, they began to buzz with joyful chatter.
"It’s the Champion Marquis!"
"After all these years, he’s finally driven off all the Demon Fiends on the border!"
"This is wonderful! We don’t have to worry about war breaking out. I’ve heard so many people saying lately that we might go to war soon."
"There’s no need to worry now. With the Champion Marquis here, this is the safest place in the world."
Hearing the talk on the streets, some of the tension eased from Huo Qing’s body, which had been exhausted for days.
His gaze fell upon the people lining the road, and the conviction in his heart grew even firmer.
’As long as I live, I cannot allow the chaos of war to descend upon the people of Great Yan.’
’The new Emperor is on the throne. Everything is in place.’
’I will surely be able to end this mess left behind by the previous dynasty, just as I did when I was eighteen.’
Lost in these thoughts, his carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace moments later.
...
