In the second year of Yuanshou, Zhao Xing returned to Fengjing once again. Upon arrival, he made a brief visit to the imperial palace.
Since Emperor Jing's passing, Zhao Xing had visited the palace much more frequently. In just two years, he had already gone over a hundred times.
Whenever he had free time, he would wander around, chat with Ji Che, and often engage in deep, all-night conversations.
"The nations in the extreme west have always regarded our dynasty as the Celestial Empire," Zhao Xing remarked with a smile, "Big brother, when you go, you must demonstrate the great prestige of Great Zhou!"
Ji Che chuckled, his mood lifting upon hearing this. "Under heaven, all lands are the king's domain; along the shores, all subjects are the king's servants!"
"Rest assured, Fifth Brother. This time to the Western Territories, I will ensure those vassal states understand this principle." Ji Che's words brimmed with confidence.
He immediately called for a historian, instructing him, "Record these words and circulate them among the court officials."
The court historian quickly began writing, his eyes reflecting white light as his ears absorbed every word. His recording was flawless. Once he finished, Ji Che dismissed him and began speaking more candidly.
"Elder Brother, the Western Territories were left to me by Father to establish my reputation."
"This is the first time since I ascended the throne that I'm dispatching a senior official to oversee matters."
"If we can't handle even the petty disputes among these vassal states in the Western Territories, I will become a laughingstock. And those peace-loving ministers will likely seize the opportunity to attack you and me."
"I will handle this with care and ensure Great Zhou doesn't fall into the quagmire of war," Zhao Xing replied reassuringly.
When Zhao Xing had first received the imperial edict, he had immediately understood Ji Che's intentions. This wasn't a sentimental decision. Instead, the situation needed to be clearly addressed. The term "Western Territories" encompassed both geographical and administrative regions.
The geographic expanse of the Western Territories was significantly larger than Great Zhou's administrative jurisdiction.
In fact, Great Zhou's actual control extended to only one-thirtieth of the entire Western Territories (referred to below as the Western Continent).
This administrative region under Great Zhou's control accounted for more than sixty percent of the fertile lands on the Western Continent. The remaining areas were either isolated from Great Zhou's borders, home to vassal states, or barren and inhospitable wastelands.
The Shennong Division once estimated that even with their efforts to alter the heavens, adjust the earth's veins, and deploy the Tiangong Workshop for support, it would take over 400 years to develop the land. And that's assuming uninterrupted peace and diligent cultivation.
This calculation didn't even include the costs of garrison troops, civilian and military officials, or the migration of populations. Financially, the cost outweighed the return by a ratio of 10,000 to one.
It wasn't that Great Zhou couldn't conquer these lands but that the price was simply too high. Hence, the survival of numerous vassal states was allowed.
The farther west on the Western Continent one traveled, the more barren the land became. Beyond the "Heaven Frost Mountain Range," it wasn't even called the Western Continent anymore; instead, it was known as the Western Extreme Glaciers or the Western Glaciers, as there was no land—only vast layers of ice.
Understanding these conditions, even the most zealous proponents of geographic expansion hesitated to wage war there.
However, while Great Zhou had no intention of invading, the barbarians to the west had their eyes set eastward. Who wouldn't want to live on the warm, fertile lands of Great Zhou?
Some tribes, supported by Taizu, established states like the Moss Kingdom, a vassal state. Through the cultural enlightenment of Emperor Wen, these regions gradually adopted Great Zhou's ways, forming a defensive line in the Western Territories.
Given this situation, launching wars to expand territories or provoking large-scale conflicts would be a significant loss.
Sending military generals could easily result in impulsive decisions leading to unwanted battles.
Ji Che's decision to appoint Zhao Xing, the Chef of Shennong, was a calculated move.
The task was clear: to display the grandeur of Great Zhou as the Celestial Empire while avoiding dragging the Western Territories into a war, especially on a large scale. Should a war break out, Ji Che's appointment of Zhao Xing as a senior envoy would be deemed a failure, and both would face criticism.
Zhao Xing understood this well. During his discussions with Ji Che over several days, he noted Ji Che's enthusiasm but also observed his deliberate avoidance of the topic of war. He couldn't miss the Emperor's intent.
"We'll rally the strength of the vassal states to combat the barbarians. But unless absolutely necessary, I won't mobilize Great Zhou's Western Territories army," Zhao Xing stated. It was a strategy reminiscent of the legendary Wang Xuance.
Ji Che, seeing that Zhao Xing had grasped his intentions, laughed heartily. "With you going, Elder Brother, I have no worries."
"I've authorized you to mobilize the seven major Cave-Heavens, two Blessed Lands, and their military experts. Act according to the situation. Additionally, I've prepared an imperial edict allowing you to establish a provincial administration in the Western Territories, granting you full control over both military and political affairs if deemed necessary!"
Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
It hadn't been more than a century since King Liang's rebellion!
Moreover, Zhao Xing wasn't even Ji Che's biological brother. Working under Emperor Wu was truly satisfying.
However, as much as he appreciated the trust, Zhao Xing paused and analyzed the situation. "The unrest in the Western Territories is a minor ailment. Why such a grand mobilization?"
Ji Che's expression turned serious. "That's precisely what I wanted to discuss next. Based on the latest military reports and official analyses from the Western Territories, the court has discovered an alarming trend: the Sith Kingdom in the Western Continent has undergone an explosive expansion."
"Since last year, Ji Si and others have combined intelligence and repeatedly simulated scenarios, arriving at a shocking conclusion: the Sith Kingdom has already overtly and covertly taken control of eighty percent of the small nations and tribes in the Western Extreme Glaciers."
Zhao Xing frowned upon hearing this. In his past life, he had indeed heard of the Sith Kingdom. After Emperor Wu's reign, it rose rapidly to become the dominant power in the west. But how could it already be gaining momentum so soon after Emperor Wu's ascension?
Perplexed, Zhao Xing began preparations for his departure in early April, accompanied by officials such as Mi Fu, Chen Shijie, Hu Yang, and Zhang Tianxing, along with the foreign delegation led by Prince Jinke. Traveling aboard the Shensu Warship, they began their journey.
The Shensu Warship was a lower-tier treasure-grade artifact bestowed by Emperor Wu.
As a warship, even a lower-tier treasure was remarkable. It was crafted by the Shensu Guards, one of the three elite imperial units. Although Zhao Xing hadn't specifically requested a retinue, commanding this military artifact required a sizable crew.
Thus, Emperor Wu had assigned five hundred Shensu Guards to his command.
The three imperial units—Shensu, Luan Yi, and Jinwu—hadn't been deployed even during Emperor Jing's campaigns against the barbarians. Now, Zhao Xing commanded five hundred of them.
"Ever since its founding in the first year of the Great Peace Era, the Sith Kingdom's national strength has grown at an extraordinary pace," Zhao Xing mused as he poured over all available intelligence about the Sith Kingdom.
He meticulously reviewed both the officials' analyses and the military intelligence reports.
"Li Boqian once achieved enlightenment in the Western Glaciers, and now the Sith Kingdom rises to power and continues to expand. Could it be that a super-dungeon truly exists in the Western Sea?"
"Judging by their rapid growth starting in the first year of the Great Peace Era, the Sith Kingdom must have gained some significant advantage earlier than that."
Deducing from this, Zhao Xing traced the timeline back to the Jingxin Era, reviewing old intelligence reports from that period.
"Even the Qitian Hall first emerged during the Jingxin Era, and there's evidence of the Flower Fairy's involvement in worldly affairs then. Could Li Boqian's enlightenment in the glaciers, the Sith Kingdom's rise, and the emergence of the Qitian Hall be connected?"
"These occurrences are too coincidental. There must be a major secret hidden within the Western Extreme Glaciers!" Zhao Xing's eyes gleamed with intrigue.
"If super-dungeons existed in the Xuanhuang Realm in my past life but weren't discovered by players, it's not impossible."
"If that's the case, I'd better start making preparations." Zhao Xing thought of the Mo Yun Vine seedling within the Pure Essence Space. "If I do uncover something extraordinary, I might just have to let Big Brother capitalize on it."
The Western Territories were located to the far west of Central Zhou, while Tianyong Province lay to the east. The two regions were separated by twelve major provinces, making the journey incredibly arduous. Without the Lihuo Altar's long-distance teleportation capabilities, maintaining such a vast empire would have been impossible.
Even with careful planning and taking the shortest route, Zhao Xing, Prince Jinke, King Bingtu, King Kuluo, and others spent over three months traveling before entering the Western Territories.
Once they reached the Western Territories, they could no longer rely on the teleportation range of the Lihuo Altar. The extreme cold of this region was beyond the reach of Lihuo True Person's dao.
The further west they traveled, the colder it became.
By the time they reached the western part of the Western Territories, passing through various counties, snow had already begun to fall.
"Setting off in April, traveling for over three months, and it's now mid-August," Zhao Xing observed. "Yet the western region of the Western Territories has already begun transitioning into winter."
"The seasonal qi commands of winter are starting to activate, slightly enhancing all cultivation techniques, martial arts, and spells related to cold, ice, and snow."
"Conversely, techniques and spells of the fire element are somewhat suppressed," Zhang Tianxing noted as he gazed at the snow-covered landscape from the ship. "It's so cold."
"I heard the people of the Western Territories have abundant body hair, are generally short in stature, and those from the Ice Lands even develop gill-like organs behind their ears. Truly, the environment shapes its inhabitants," Hu Yang remarked.
"Though the Western Territories are considered the richest region in the west, it's clearly a relative term," Chen Shijie added, looking down at the barren land below. "The earth's veins are weak, and the soil is impoverished, incomparable to other provinces."
"Only thirty percent of my plant-based troops can perform at full capacity here. The further west we go, the worse it gets," Mi Fu commented, meditating with his eyes closed and internally observing the environment.
"Only thirty percent?" Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing exchanged surprised glances with Mi Fu.
None of them had been to the Western Territories before, and their reactions were varied. However, Mi Fu's observation caught everyone's attention.
Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing even suspected that Mi Fu might be exaggerating.
However, Mi Fu wasn't exaggerating. The environment in the small world of the Star Ruins was extremely harsh. Having served as an official in such conditions for so long, even Mi Fu's troop types had evolved, adapting to the extreme environment. Mi Fu didn't bother explaining this to Zhang Tianxing and Hu Yang, as both of them came from noble families.
Over the past three months, Mi Fu had only maintained a superficial relationship with the two of them.
Instead, he got along quite well with Chen Shijie. "Shijie, you're skilled in the three techniques of Earth Palace, Earth Splitting, and Earth Repository. If you can split the earth and draw yang energy upward, then use the Earth Palace technique to block the descent of ground energy, and finally use the Earth Repository technique to stabilize the land veins, my plant-based troops will be able to exert their full potential."
Chen Shijie shook his head. "I'm not sure if that'll work once we descend. I've heard that some areas don't even have solid ground—only ice."
Hu Yang laughed. "Whether it works or not, we have to make it work! We're about to enter a war zone. We can't just sit back and let Lord Zhao take action."
Zhang Tianxing agreed, "Indeed."
The four of them chatted outside.
Inside the cabin, Zhao Xing was discussing the situation in the Sith Kingdom with Prince Jinke, King Bingtu, and King Keluo. In his past life, Zhao Xing had rarely visited the Western Extreme Continent, mainly because it was too impoverished.
There was simply nothing of value to exploit.
The Western Extreme Continent under the control of the Great Zhou was almost as vast as Pinghai Prefecture, yet it only contained two blessed lands and seven cave-heavens. The rest of the Western Land wasn't worth mentioning.
Transportation was also extremely inconvenient.
Performing missions or venturing into dungeons in such a place consumed time and effort, with little profit to show for it. There was hardly any motivation to come.
"Prince, which experts in the Sith Kingdom are worth noting?" Zhao Xing asked. Although he had already gathered some intelligence, Prince Jinke, being a local, might offer a different perspective or spot something unusual.
Prince Jinke replied, "The strongest individual is undoubtedly the King of Sith, 'Dius.' He calls himself the 'Great Lord of Sith,' though he's never been seen in action."
Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Never taken action? Or is it that everyone who's seen him in action has died?"
"Perhaps it's just as the Duke said—those who've witnessed his power are no longer alive," Prince Jinke said solemnly. "He's regarded as the strongest primarily because Dius commands fifty Respected Ones."
"Half of those Respected Ones were personally trained by Dius," he continued.
"They differ from other Respected Ones in that they refer to Dius as the 'Great Sage Master.'"
Zhao Xing listened intently.
According to intelligence, the Sith Kingdom's fifty Respected Ones were all at the pinnacle or perfection of the first rank in combat power.
Fifty experts at the Destiny Palace stage wouldn't stand out in the Great Zhou. However, on the Western Land, fifty pinnacle or perfected Destiny Palace practitioners were significant. The Destiny Palace stage, as the name implied, involved constructing one's Destiny Palace.
Reaching the pinnacle or perfection level meant their Destiny Palaces approached perfection. Every move they made aligned with the Dao of Heaven. At this level, they could even create a basic domain of rules.
Even if no one had seen Dius in action, the fact that he trained twenty-five Respected Ones alone made him worthy of the title of the strongest in the Western Extreme Glaciers.
"King Bingtu, King Keluo, you've both been at war with the Sith Kingdom since the era of Great Governance. Share your experiences," Zhao Xing said, looking at the two powerful figures. King Bingtu, already at the Destiny Palace stage, had faced Respected Ones in battle before.
"I've fought the Sith Kingdom's Respected One, 'Ulric,' seven times," King Bingtu recalled.
"The first time was in the twentieth year of the Jingxin Calendar. Back then, Dius hadn't established a kingdom yet. He was merely a great lord of the Sith tribe, and Ulric was one of his lords."
"At that time, I was tasked with mining polar ice at 'Mount Wei' in the Western Extreme Glacier. Mount Wei isn't an actual mountain but a continuous stretch of icy terrain. It's rich in rare materials such as Wei Mountain Ice Stones, Extreme Cold Ice, Frozen Marrow, and Jade Beads."
"My first encounter with Ulric was over the collection of these treasures."
"At that time, I was third rank, and he was fourth. He had no choice but to flee when he saw me. I knocked him into a sea chasm, assuming he was dead, and didn't bother pursuing him." King Bingtu reminisced, "But he didn't die. Fifteen years later, when we met again, he had broken through to the early stage of the third rank. By then, I was at the peak of the third rank."
"Our second encounter also happened at Mount Wei. He managed to escape from me once again."
"The following year, the Sith tribe declared the establishment of a kingdom. At that time, no one paid much attention, as the Sith tribe, despite being a large tribe, couldn't compare to our Moss Kingdom, and our territories didn't even border."
"It wasn't until the fiftieth year of the Great Governance Calendar, when Dius' Sith Kingdom began its relentless expansion, that they finally became a threat to our lands."
"Fifty years is a long time. I had almost forgotten about Ulric, but during their expansion, I encountered him again..."
King Bingtu's expression turned nostalgic. "At first, I didn't recognize him. It was only when he brought it up that I connected him to the minor lord I once fought."
"That time, we fought again. I was in the late stage of the second rank, while he had reached the early stage of the second rank."
"The result? I only had a slight upper hand."
Hearing this, Zhao Xing didn't find it unusual. It sounded like a typical tale of an extraordinary talent from another race rising to prominence. "Starting from the fourth encounter, I couldn't gain any advantage over him."
"The fifth fight was in the seventy-fifth year of the Eternal Governance Calendar. By then, he had completely surpassed me, becoming a first-rank powerhouse, while I was still stuck at the perfection stage of the second rank." Zhao Xing matched the timeline in his mind. It was around five years later that Prince Jinke of the Moss Kingdom brought his five generals to seek assistance from the Great Zhou.
In their sixth encounter, King Bingtu returned with advanced techniques learned in the Great Zhou but still failed to defeat Ulric. However, he managed to break through to the first rank. The seventh fight was the one where Prince Jinke's younger brother died, and Prince Jinke himself lost an arm.
Many of Prince Jinke's strongest subordinates perished, leaving only King Bingtu, King Keluo, and a few others alive.
"In just 135 years since its founding, the Sith Kingdom managed to overpower the Moss Kingdom," Zhao Xing mused. "Ulric, a Respected One? Never heard of him... and there are fifty others like him?"
Listening further, Zhao Xing suddenly asked, "Do you know the age of Dius? And what about the fifty Respected Ones under him? What are their ages?"
"Age?" Prince Jinke thought for a moment before answering, "No one knows Dius' exact age. He's extremely secretive, but he should be over 500 years old."
"As for the Respected Ones under him, we don't know much about most of them. However, the twenty-five Respected Ones personally trained by Dius are all quite young. They were virtually unheard of before and only emerged in the past hundred years or so." King Bingtu added, "I can sense Ulric's life aura; he's roughly 250 years old."
Zhao Xing frowned slightly.
Ulric, at around 250 years old, had already reached the pinnacle of the first rank? That level of talent was extraordinary.
Zhao Xing was born in the 274th year of the Dingxin Calendar. The Dingxin Calendar lasted for 278 years, followed by the Jingxin Calendar, which spanned 37 years. Adding the Great Governance and Eternal Governance Calendars, totaling 158 years, plus the current Yuan Shou Era, made him 201 years old. Liu Tianning, who was 105 years his senior, was already 306 years old.
When Liu Tianning broke through to the first rank, he was also in his early 200s. Both he and Zhao Xing had climbed the ranks through self-cultivation.
Of course, age alone didn't fully measure talent.
Both Liu Tianning and Zhao Xing had long since comprehended rule domains, excelled in multiple methods, and cultivated with pure essence and solid foundations. Liu Tianning had worked to overcome the flaws of the myriad straw puppets, while Zhao Xing had nurtured his mountain-strengthening and fortune-enhancing domains. Still, based on the information and King Bingtu's description, Ulric was undeniably a first-class talent!
"If we assume all of them are equally young, then for there to be dozens of talents as strong as Ulric, or even stronger…"
"The Great Lord of Sith, Dius, has cultivated such a large number of powerhouses. The fortune of their nation is staggeringly strong," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
"Considering my knowledge from my past life, the Sith Kingdom later became the hegemon of the Western Extreme Continent. From the very beginning, their kingdom seemed divinely favored, producing so many powerhouses. It makes sense, especially now that the small world is showing signs of primordial energy tides. Perhaps this Great Lord of Sith has discovered a small world."
But as he pondered further, Zhao Xing couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
It wasn't impossible for another place to produce geniuses. However, for so many to emerge within just over a century, each reaching such heights, was undeniably extraordinary.
"If the Sith Tribe began gaining some kind of boost toward the end of the Jingxin Calendar, it couldn't have been due to primordial energy tides. Back then, even the Heavenly Realm wouldn't have shown signs of energy anomalies. The Qi Tian Hall was among the earliest beneficiaries, so there's no reason the Sith Tribe should have been earlier or stronger," Zhao Xing surmised, a multitude of theories forming in his mind.
"The seven spirit lakes within my body—the spiritual energy they produce, condensed into liquid, is immensely precious. If I wanted, I could also create batches of strong practitioners. It's just that I must consider the deliberate restoration of spiritual energy and conserve these liquids. This Great Lord of Sith must have obtained a similar opportunity."
Zhao Xing was now certain that the Great Lord of Sith, Dius, had access to an extraordinary opportunity—one that allowed him to produce powerful practitioners in a short amount of time. Whether this opportunity was connected to the ancient temple Li Boqian once mentioned remained to be seen.
"It would be best to capture Ulric and interrogate him."
"If the benefits prove substantial, we can mobilize a larger force to suppress them. With the Great Zhou's powerhouses, we could deliver a dimensional strike to crush them." The Great Zhou had refrained from conquering the Western Extreme Continent before simply because it wasn't profitable.
But if great rewards were confirmed, the Great Zhou would become a ravenous wolf, eager to ascend to greater heights! With a plan forming in his mind, Zhao Xing decisively declared:
"Prince, Ulric is the mastermind behind the invasion of the Moss Kingdom. He killed your brother, slaughtered Moss Kingdom citizens, and seized your lands. His crimes are unforgivable!"
"He must be eliminated!"
"I have been tasked with avenging you."
"Rest assured, no one can withstand the righteous soldiers of the Great Zhou—the unstoppable force of the King's Path. Ulric is as good as dead!"
After the grand promises laid out by Zhao Xing, Prince Jinke and King Bingtu were visibly moved, their emotions surging as they rose and performed deep bows in gratitude. Once the situation with the two was stabilized, Zhao Xing left the cabin and summoned Chen Shijie, Mi Fu, Hu Yang, and Zhang Tianxing for a meeting.
"I plan to capture Ulric, the Respected One of the Sith Kingdom, alive. I suspect that their ambitions run far deeper than we've seen so far," Zhao Xing stated.
Chen Shijie, who was well-acquainted with Zhao Xing's mannerisms, felt something strange about his words, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.
Zhao Xing continued, "Hu Yang, Zhang Tianxing, take my official seal and immediately return to the Seven Cave-Heavens and Two Blessed Lands of the Western Extreme Province via airship. Notify the stationed commanders to prepare for combat. My demand is simple: the moment my orders arrive, they must be ready to intervene in the battlefield of the Western subordinate states and conduct a war of annihilation!"
Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing exchanged surprised glances. Still, since it was Zhao Xing issuing the command, there was no room for doubt. "Understood!"
The two promptly retrieved Zhao Xing's official seal and departed via airship. This crucial task was best entrusted to Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing, as their noble bearing and authoritative demeanor made them reliable emissaries. Mi Fu and Chen Shijie, by contrast, lacked the aristocratic air required for such missions.
Once the two departed, Mi Fu asked with some concern, "What's going on? Weren't we planning to use barbarian forces against barbarians? Now we're preparing to intervene ourselves? Such large-scale mobilization feels a bit rash, doesn't it?"
A less understanding superior would have been irked by Mi Fu's directness. But Zhao Xing was familiar with Mi Fu's blunt nature—this was the same man who dared to argue with Emperor Wu and slash the military budget without hesitation. His questioning tone was already considered mild.
Zhao Xing chuckled, "The vassal states aren't fools. We need to put on a convincing act. If we don't even make the effort to prepare, how can we expect them to believe in us?"
Mi Fu nodded in agreement, understanding Zhao Xing's reasoning. His primary concern was the burden war would place on their own citizens, while the well-being of the vassal states—the so-called barbarians—was outside the scope of his patriotism.
Chen Shijie, meanwhile, focused on the specifics of the plan. "You intend to capture Ulric, the commander leading the campaign against the Moss Kingdom. According to the intelligence we have, his strength is at the peak of the Destiny Palace Realm. Capturing him alive won't be easy. The Moss Kingdom's forces alone are unlikely to pressure Ulric into personally taking the field."
"If we want to trap him, we'll need to assemble a strong coalition army to lure him out."
Chen Shijie paced around the map table before pointing to a specific area on the map. "Besides the Moss Kingdom, the Northern Tu, Sak, and Ander Kingdoms all share borders with the Sith Kingdom's territory. Forming a coalition from these four nations should be relatively easy. Once the coalition is established, we can attack the defensive lines east of the Weishan Glacier. This will force Ulric, who is currently engaged in the south with the Jialan Tribe, to personally lead troops to respond."
"If we choose the battlefield, the chances of capturing him increase significantly."
"He won't have much of a choice," Chen Shijie added. "The Jialan Tribe is merely a small tribe, but defeating the coalition of four nations would allow the Sith Kingdom to seize vast tracts of land in the southeastern regions of Weishan. Such an opportunity will undoubtedly tempt Ulric to take the risk."
Zhao Xing praised, "Well said, as expected of you."
Initially, Zhao Xing had worried that Chen Shijie's long tenure as the Governor of the Plains might have dulled his military acumen after over a century away from the battlefield. However, it was clear that Chen Shijie's grasp of strategy remained sharp. In just a short moment, he had devised a comprehensive plan.
The discussion between Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie soon drew in Mi Fu as well. Zhao Xing found their thoughts aligned with his own; in some areas, Chen Shijie's plans were even more meticulous. It was evident that Chen Shijie had thoroughly prepared for this role over the past few months. His diligence stemmed not only from his personality but also from his belief that his promotion was entirely due to Zhao Xing's favor.
Compared to the formidable strength of Mi Fu, the triple-path cultivator, or the combination of Hu Yang and Zhang Tianxing's aristocratic lineage and prowess, Chen Shijie felt he had little to offer other than hard work and competence.
The three discussed the plan at length.
When the Divine Resting Warship finally reached the borders of the Moss Kingdom, it activated its stealth mechanism. Zhao Xing split off his avatars to secretly meet with the kings of the Moss, Northern Tu, Sak, and Ander Kingdoms.
By late August, the plan was in motion. In the Moss, Sak, and Ander Kingdoms, progress was smooth. These nations, already vassals of the Great Zhou, revered its culture and had been influenced by the teachings of Emperor Xu and Emperor Jing for generations. Zhao Xing's arrival as an envoy of the celestial empire instantly bolstered their confidence, and they quickly agreed to dispatch troops.
The Northern Tu Kingdom, however, posed a challenge.
Although the Northern Tu King initially greeted Zhao Xing with warmth and hospitality, their discussions stalled whenever the topic of military aid arose. The king became evasive and shifted the conversation. By the sixth day, he outright refused to meet Zhao Xing, and the attitudes of his envoys turned noticeably cold.
"It seems the Northern Tu King harbors rebellious intentions. Hmph, barbarians are indeed untrustworthy!" Mi Fu grumbled after yet another dismissed audience. "I'd bet he's already aligned himself with the Sith Kingdom."
"Not necessarily," Chen Shijie interjected. "The king's initial enthusiasm didn't seem feigned. This sudden shift likely means the Sith Kingdom's envoy has also arrived."
Zhao Xing mused, "The Northern Tu Kingdom has yet to directly face the Sith Kingdom's aggression and may still hesitate to make a firm decision. The Northern Tu King is a powerful figure—stronger than the rulers of the other three nations. If there's a chance to win him over, we must try."
"We'll wait for news from Zhang Ning."
Zhang Ning, the envoy stationed in the Northern Tu Kingdom, had lived there for over a century, having been assigned during the early years of the Great Governance Era. As soon as Zhao Xing mentioned him, a towering man clad in battle armor and carrying a sharp sword entered the room in haste.
"Lord Chen'an, esteemed gentlemen, I've received urgent news. The Northern Tu King has secretly met with the Sith Kingdom's envoy and has also suddenly reinforced the defensive formations of the royal city. It appears he intends to side with the Sith Kingdom! Before he issues formal orders, I recommend we leave immediately!"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "We cannot leave."
"My lord, if we delay any longer, it will be too late," Zhang Ning said with urgency.
"Zhang Ning," Zhao Xing said calmly, "have you managed to find out where the Sith Kingdom's envoy is staying?"
"I have," Zhang Ning confirmed, nodding. "Do you mean to..."
"Exactly," Zhao Xing's eyes glinted with a cold determination. "We'll eliminate the Sith Kingdom's envoy. Once that is done, the Northern Tu King will have no choice but to commit to our side."
For nearly two centuries, the Great Zhou had refrained from asserting its dominance in the Western Extreme Province. Zhao Xing understood the Northern Tu King's position well—his hesitation, his calculations. The Northern Tu King's principle was simple: ally with the stronger side. If Zhao Xing abandoned the effort now, the Northern Tu King would undoubtedly align himself with the Sith Kingdom.
"Kill the Sith Kingdom's envoy?" Mi Fu asked, his voice tinged with a mix of concern and approval. "A bold move. Once this happens, there'll be no going back."
"That's precisely the point," Zhao Xing said. "If we let him sit on the fence, the scales will tip against us. Our mission here is to secure commitment, not entertain indecision."
Zhang Ning hesitated before speaking, "I can take you to the location. But the Sith Kingdom's envoy will surely have strong protection."
"I'll handle the protection," Zhao Xing replied confidently. "What matters is that we act swiftly and decisively. Once the envoy is dead, we'll leave no room for hesitation."
In another part of the Northern Tu royal city, within a well-guarded guest house, the Sith Kingdom envoy, Wuyuan, rested. His appearance bore distinct traits of the Sith people—gill-like features behind his ears and faint blue glowing lines across his forehead. Around him, several other Sith representatives waited in quiet vigilance.
Suddenly, a figure burst into the room, his voice trembling with urgency. "Envoy Wuyuan! I've just received word—the Northern Tu King has been swayed by the Great Zhou envoy. The city's defenses have been reinforced, and he appears determined to launch an attack on our kingdom!"
"This place has become unsafe. Envoy Wuyuan, you must leave immediately!"
Wuyuan's pupils contracted at the news. His expression darkened as he processed the implications.
The Northern Tu royal palace, built atop the tallest peak of the city, stood as a symbol of the kingdom's strength. Inside one of its grand halls, the Northern Tu King stood on an elevated platform, gazing down at the sprawling city below. His stern demeanor carried the weight of a seasoned leader.
"Father," a voice called from behind him.
The Northern Tu King turned to see his eldest son, Yi, approach. Yi, with his golden hair and piercing blue eyes, was a formidable figure in his own right, a cultivator at the peak of the Destiny Palace Realm.
"How did the task go, Yi?" the Northern Tu King asked.
"I've leaked the information to both the Great Zhou and Sith Kingdom envoys," Yi replied. However, a trace of confusion lingered in his tone as he continued, "Father, whose side are we actually on? Why did you send out false information to both parties?"
The Northern Tu King remained silent for a moment before asking, "What do you think, Yi?"
Yi pondered for a moment before answering, "The Sith Kingdom, while smaller compared to the Great Zhou, poses an immediate threat. Their ambitions are evident, especially with the enigmatic and powerful Grand Sovereign Diesus at their helm."
"The Great Zhou, on the other hand, is a giant—its might and influence undeniable, yet distant. For decades, its focus has shifted away from the Western Extreme Province."
"If it were up to me," Yi concluded, "I would choose to align with the Sith Kingdom."
"And why is that?" the Northern Tu King asked evenly.
"Ulric is a formidable force, while this so-called envoy of the Great Zhou, Zhao Xing, is merely at the second-rank level," Yi reasoned. "The Moss Kingdom has sought Great Zhou's aid for years, yet only low-ranking officials have been sent, clearly indicating that the Great Zhou views the region as peripheral."
"Moreover," he added, "this Zhao Xing claims to be the new emperor's brother, yet he doesn't even share the royal surname Ji. His credentials seem more like a ploy than a true statement of power."
"The weakening control of the Great Zhou over its vassal states in recent decades, whether intentional or due to other factors, suggests its declining influence in this region. Based on these observations, I believe the Sith Kingdom is the better choice."
The Northern Tu King responded calmly, "The Northern Tu people fight for themselves. We will side with whichever power demonstrates the greater resolve."
He turned back toward the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Watch and wait, Yi. Let's see which side shows its strength."
In the Great Zhou envoy's quarters, Zhao Xing received Zhang Ning's intelligence report. He shook his head with a slight smile. "Leaving is not an option."
"My lord, the city's defenses have tightened, and the situation is growing more dangerous by the minute," Zhang Ning warned again.
"Zhang Ning," Zhao Xing asked, "do you know where the Sith envoy is staying?"
"I do," Zhang Ning replied cautiously. "Are you planning to..."
"Exactly," Zhao Xing said, his voice cold and decisive. "We will kill the Sith envoy. Once that's done, the Northern Tu King will have no room for hesitation."
The calculation was clear in Zhao Xing's mind. For nearly two centuries, the Great Zhou had refrained from asserting its dominance in the Western Extreme Province, leaving a vacuum of influence. The Northern Tu King's indecisiveness was a direct result of this neglect. Zhao Xing understood that the king's ultimate allegiance would go to whichever side demonstrated the greatest strength and determination.
"If we retreat now," Zhao Xing concluded, "the Northern Tu King will undoubtedly side with the Sith Kingdom."
"The Northern Tu King, a seasoned powerhouse, couldn't possibly have such poor control over his intelligence network to let palace secrets leak so easily," Zhao Xing remarked coolly. "If I retreat now, it will prove to the Northern Tu King that the Great Zhou lacks resolve and commitment to this cause."
"Now that you've located the Sith Kingdom's envoy's residence, it's evident that the Northern Tu King deliberately let us know their whereabouts," Zhao Xing continued. His tone sharpened, and his gaze locked onto Zhang Ning. "Zhang Ning, are you willing to follow me to strike and demonstrate the might of our dynasty?"
Zhang Ning grinned, determination lighting up his eyes. "Lord Zhao, when I came here, I donned armor and carried a sword, fully prepared to meet death."
"Good. Lead the way," Zhao Xing commanded decisively.
"Understood!" Zhang Ning acknowledged without hesitation.
Zhao Xing, Zhang Ning, Mi Fu, and Chen Shijie swiftly left the envoy quarters and navigated through the broad avenues of the Northern Tu royal city. Their destination: the Sith Kingdom's envoy quarters. When they arrived, they found the place completely deserted.
"Hmm? Empty?" Zhang Ning's expression shifted slightly. "I personally verified this location. They were definitely staying here."
"Could they have gone out or left already?" Mi Fu speculated, his tone uncertain.
"The belongings remain, but the people are gone. Leaving under such circumstances is highly unlikely," Chen Shijie observed, scanning the surroundings. "Look, many ceremonial items unique to the Sith Kingdom remain untouched. They would never abandon these so carelessly."
"That leaves only one possibility," Zhao Xing said, a sly smile curling at his lips. "The Sith Kingdom envoy likely had the same idea as us—they've set out to kill us."
"Let's go. We're heading back!" Zhao Xing commanded sharply.
This time, Zhao Xing didn't bother concealing their movements. With confidence and clarity, they walked openly back toward their own quarters.
Just as they exited the envoy residence, they encountered a group of eight figures marching toward them. The leader bore three glowing blue horizontal markings across his forehead, dressed in the distinctive black battle armor of the Sith Kingdom. The others wore ceremonial attire or armor adorned with the Sith Kingdom's unique triple-stripe sigil.
Shua, shua, shua—
The moment their eyes met, both sides instantly confirmed the other's identity.
"Kill!" Zhao Xing roared.
"Kill!" Wuyuan, the Sith Kingdom envoy, echoed the command with equal ferocity.
Without a moment's hesitation, both sides clashed.
Wuyuan's figure blurred and disappeared. A split second later, he reappeared in the sky above, launching a thunderous punch. Boom! The force of his strike shattered the air as Zhao Xing's form dissipated into fragments.
However, more images of Zhao Xing emerged from all directions. Wuyuan furrowed his brows, his sharp instincts kicking in.
He was at the late Destiny Palace stage, while Zhao Xing was only at the pinnacle of the second rank. By all logic, locking onto such an opponent should have been effortless. Yet, the Zhao Xing he struck turned out to be an illusion.
Shua, shua, shua, shua, shua!
Wuyuan's speed reached its peak as he ascended into the sky. In an instant, hundreds of afterimages filled the heavens, each one appearing behind Zhao Xing. His fists crackled with eerie, interwoven energy beams, creating the illusion of three spatial rifts. With a resounding punch, he obliterated all the Zhao Xing images in one go.
Boom!
Hundreds of Zhao Xing forms vanished.
Yet, above them, an identical number of Zhao Xing figures appeared once again.
"Another set of illusions?" Wuyuan's astonishment deepened.
The first time could have been an oversight. The second time, he chose to eliminate all possibilities. But how was it that the more he fought, the more Zhao Xing duplicates appeared?
From one of the illusions, Zhao Xing's true form emerged, watching the chaos below with an enigmatic calmness. Ever since cultivating the Soldier of Grass and Wood Technique, his mastery of Self Straw Puppet had undergone a transformation.
He no longer required living plants to execute his jumps.
Zhao Xing's true form could now leap from any of his replicas at will.
"Perish! Black Abyss Divine Prison!" Wuyuan roared, his presence radiating overwhelming malice. Black energy erupted from him, shrouding the entire battlefield in a suffocating darkness.
The Black Abyss Divine Prison was not merely an illusion of darkness affecting the five senses. It extended its suppression to one's very soul, severing the ability to perceive destiny.
However, the technique's power had its limitations. It couldn't black out the soul sense of those at the Destiny Palace or Heavenly Luck stages entirely. Nonetheless, within the third tier of its domain, the overwhelming pressure should have been sufficient to annihilate someone of Zhao Xing's level.
Yet, contrary to all expectations, Zhao Xing remained.
Hovering high above, Zhao Xing continued to survey Wuyuan with a detached gaze.
From a distant peak in the royal palace, the Northern Tu King stood observing the battle unfold. His sharp eyes revealed a trace of surprise.
Wuyuan's strength aligned perfectly with his calculations. However, Zhao Xing's performance far exceeded his expectations. Though he had noted the Great Zhou envoy's unusual aura, he never anticipated that Zhao Xing would prove to be this extraordinary.
"To think he can leap within Wuyuan's domain of rules so effortlessly. What sort of technique is this?" the Northern Tu King mused aloud.
As an experienced ruler, he prided himself on his knowledge of the world. Yet, this was a phenomenon he had never encountered before.
"A person cannot exist without a true form," the Northern Tu King thought to himself. While he couldn't discern Zhao Xing's real body among the illusions, he remained confident it was hidden within them somewhere.
Yet, how was it possible for Zhao Xing to move so freely within Wuyuan's domain, even without his own rule domain active? It was baffling.
High in the sky, Zhao Xing reappeared, his gaze steady as he regarded the bewildered Wuyuan.
It wasn't that Zhao Xing lacked a domain. In fact, his domain had been active all along.
"After comprehending the Heavenly Timing Doman in the ninety-second year of the Eternal Governance era, I reached another breakthrough with the Self Straw Puppet Domain at the end of Yuanshou year one. This allowed me to achieve true 'rule-jumping.'"
"With the countless replicas of the Self Straw Puppet, the domain's range is entirely determined by the number of replicas."
Using the Self Straw Puppet as an anchor point, Zhao Xing could jump freely across the inner world of the five elements. This was an unprecedented form of the Self Domain.
It was Zhao Xing's fusion of the Substitute Straw Puppet from the spiritual qi revival era, combined with the Yin-Yang Self Canon and Soldier of Grass and Wood Technique, that gave rise to this innovation.
"Mastering this Self Domain has granted me an unparalleled life-saving technique. However, it's not yet equivalent to the original Substitute Straw Puppet. True jumping between replicas is still beyond my reach," Zhao Xing mused.
Through the inner world of his Self Domain, Zhao Xing could perform these jumps even under the suppression of an enemy's rule domain. This was the true brilliance of his technique.
Unlike traditional rule domains, the Self Domain was entirely self-contained, a personal world that was minimally influenced by external rules. Even within Wuyuan's Black Abyss Divine Prison, Zhao Xing could leap freely.
"Even a genuine first-rank expert would struggle to locate my true body within this domain," Zhao Xing thought calmly. The complexity of training his Self Straw Puppet and further mastering the Self Domain was staggering. It required an extraordinary blend of spiritual qi, profound comprehension of Soldier of Grass and Wood Technique, and vast resources for experimentation.
Yet Zhao Xing had succeeded. His efforts had propelled his capabilities far ahead of his peers, granting him a life-saving technique that was leagues ahead of the current standard.
Wuyuan, meanwhile, couldn't hide his growing unease. He muttered, "This Zhao Xing… his techniques and movements are unlike anything I've encountered. His methods don't align with what we know of Great Zhou officials."
Wuyuan's expression darkened further as he recalled the intelligence reports. "The information suggests Zhao Xing is merely a second-rank envoy. Yet his combat techniques, his adaptability—they're far beyond his cultivation level. Could he be hiding an even greater secret?"
He cast his thoughts to his brother, Wulike, whose exploits as a formidable warrior had been etched into the annals of the Sith Kingdom's history. If Zhao Xing's abilities were any indicator, Wuyuan knew defeating him could yield invaluable intelligence for their nation.
"This ends now," Wuyuan declared, his fists glowing with the eerie light of interwoven rule-based energy.
In response, Zhao Xing smiled faintly, unperturbed by Wuyuan's growing hostility. "You'll find my domain less accommodating than you think," he murmured under his breath.
"Try experiencing my domain instead," Zhao Xing called out, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
For the fourth time, Zhao Xing deliberately drew Wuyuan into an aerial exchange. However, this time, the situation changed drastically. Just as Wuyuan prepared to launch another devastating strike, Zhao Xing's figure vanished completely.
"What?! Where did he go?" Wuyuan's gaze darted around the battlefield, but Zhao Xing was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, Wuyuan found himself enveloped in an unfamiliar space. Thick clouds swirled in every direction, their movements slow yet deliberate, as though obeying some invisible command.
"What is this technique?" Wuyuan exclaimed, alarm creeping into his voice.
The clouds around him began to shift, rotating faster and faster until they formed a vortex. In the distance, Wuyuan noticed something unnerving—a series of radiant orbs began to emerge, each resembling miniature suns.
Hummm—
The vortex intensified as the cloud space spun into a frenzy. Above, ten blazing suns aligned, their heat and light intensifying with every passing moment.