Inside the Small World!
Over ten thousand people entered.
The moment they stepped inside, a look of confusion appeared on every face.
"Welcome to a brand-new world," Zhao Feng's voice echoed throughout the realm.
"In this world, there is no war, no slaughter."
"In this world, you can earn food, clothing, shelter, and even status through labor."
"You will be the first original inhabitants of this world."
"Chen Lin."
"I entrust this first group of people to you. From now on, they will live and prosper in this world."
"Understood, my lord!"
The hidden warriors stationed in the world immediately obeyed, beginning to organize and settle the people in an orderly fashion.
Zhang Han and Tu Sui also briefly remained in the world.
When they emerged, their eyes were filled with awe and curiosity.
"If you have something to say, just say it. If you need to fart, just let it out," Zhao Feng scolded, seeing their hesitant expressions.
"My lord," Zhang Han smiled awkwardly before asking, "Was that truly another world just now?"
"Yes."
"Another world, entirely under my control."
"In that world, you can think of it as my private domain."
"It is safe," Zhao Feng replied with a smile.
"My lord is truly divine!"
Both Zhang Han and Tu Sui spoke with heartfelt reverence.
"A warrior in the Xiantian Realm can live for 150 years."
"A Grandmaster can live for 300 years."
"A Great Grandmaster can live up to 500 years."
"You both have already stepped into the Grandmaster Realm, meaning your lifespan should have reached 300 years," Zhao Feng said slowly.
Hearing this, Zhang Han and Tu Sui's eyes lit up.
"My lord, does that mean we can live for 300 years?"
The concept of martial cultivation extending lifespan was something their lord had never mentioned before.
Under Zhao Feng's abundant resources and the rich spiritual energy of this world, many of his subordinates had already reached the Grandmaster level.
"There is a force in this land of Shenzhou that suppresses the lifespans of martial artists. Normally, a Grandmaster should live for 300 years, but they are always restricted to just 150 years."
"But once inside my world, that suppression disappears," Zhao Feng explained.
Hearing this, both men suddenly understood.
"My lord," Zhang Han spoke, "do you mean that our future lies in the world under your control?"
"Not our future, but rather, our backup plan."
"If I cannot break the limits on lifespan in this world, then the small world will be our refuge," Zhao Feng said solemnly.
"We understand!"
Both men nodded.
"These ten thousand people are far from enough."
"My world spans a thousand miles, enough to sustain a population of a million. And in the future, it can expand even further."
"Leave trusted subordinates to guard this valley. From now on, it will serve as a military training ground for the Wu'an Camp. No outsiders may enter."
"Every so often, I will come to transfer more people into the small world."
"Understood!" the two immediately responded.
"By the way, my lord," Zhang Han asked curiously, "this time, you arrived without a horse or an escort. How did you get here?"
Zhao Feng smiled.
His body slowly lifted off the ground and soared into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Seeing this, both men were stunned.
For a long moment, they remained speechless.
"Our lord can fly..."
The two exchanged astonished glances.
Above the Clouds.
Zhao Feng called forth the Black Dragon, allowing it to carry him back at an even greater speed.
Chu Kingdom, Chu Fang City.
"Lord Changping,"
"Was it you who leaked the information? Is that why Huan Yi discovered our plans?"
Xiang Yan sat at the head of the hall, with Mi Qi seated to his left.
Both men looked grim.
This time, they had suffered a major loss.
Not only had they failed to destroy the Hangu Camp, but they had also lost several cities.
Danyang City, along with several others captured by Qin's army, had been burned to the ground by Qin troops.
It was after the Chu army had entered the cities.
The Qin soldiers who remained inside had set themselves on fire, causing heavy casualties among the Chu forces.
In total, five cities had been burned, inflicting enormous losses.
Additionally, tens of thousands of displaced citizens now needed to be resettled by the Chu Kingdom.
This tactic had caught Xiang Yan off guard.
Perhaps the Qin state would not normally target civilians, but since the Chu had yet to submit, all methods of warfare remained on the table. Moreover, Qin did not massacre the populace but instead expelled them from the cities.
Now, with tens of thousands of homeless refugees, it was Chu who had to deal with the crisis.
"When I made my move, I sealed off the entire city. There's no way the information could have leaked," Mi Qi insisted.
"Is it possible that the leak came from your side, General Xiang Yan?" he asked pointedly.
"Impossible," Xiang Yan retorted firmly.
"The only ones who knew about this operation were myself and my guards. Before we even left Chu Fang City, my officers were still trying to persuade me not to mobilize the army."
"If that's the case, how did our plan get exposed?"
"As it stands now"
"The Hangu Camp remains intact. Qin's national strength is undiminished. The Qin King will surely increase military pressure."
"If that happens, Chu will be in grave danger."
Mi Qi spoke with deep concern.
At this moment, a strong sense of regret welled up in his heart.
Originally, he had planned to cut off supplies and betray the nation to annihilate the Hangu Camp, thus securing a great merit for returning to Chu. With such an achievement destroying a major Qin military camp he would surely gain a significant position in Chu.
But now, not only had he failed to obtain any credit, but he had also earned the stigma of a traitor.
For Mi Qi, this was an absolute disaster.
Returning to Chu as a hero with merit and returning as a failure were two entirely different things. He could already sense the change in Xiang Yan's attitude toward him.
"Right now, Huan Yi is not launching an offensive but is instead fortifying the Qin border cities for defense."
"Moreover, he has become even more cautious. From now on, he will proceed steadily and won't act rashly again," Xiang Yan said solemnly.
At that moment
"Report!"
"A secret intelligence report has just arrived from Qin."
Xiang Yan's personal guard commander hurried in, holding a confidential report in his hands.
"Hand it over!"
Xiang Yan immediately ordered.
Taking the report, he read it carefully. As he did, his expression shifted dramatically, revealing an expression of utter disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
"How did Zhao Feng find out about Mi Qi's betrayal of Qin? How did he manage to inform Huan Yi in advance?"
Xiang Yan's face was filled with complexity he had not anticipated this turn of events.
"Zhao Feng?"
"What does this have to do with him?"
Mi Qi asked in confusion.
Without responding, Xiang Yan simply handed him the intelligence report.
As Mi Qi read the contents, his expression darkened.
"Zhao Feng."
"How could it be him?"
"How did he find out?"
"Even if he suspected something because I sealed off the entire city, how did he manage to send out the message?"
Mi Qi was utterly perplexed.
"You must have someone close to you who is working for Zhao Feng."
"Otherwise, the information could not have been leaked," Xiang Yan stated with certainty.
"General, are you doubting me?"
Mi Qi frowned, his tone turning cold.
Back when they persuaded him to defect to Chu, they had promised him many rewards, even supporting him as a future king. But now that the plan had failed, Xiang Yan's attitude had taken a sharp turn, making Mi Qi furious.
Sensing the displeasure in Mi Qi's tone, Xiang Yan's eyes narrowed for a moment. However, after a brief silence, he shook his head.
"Lord Changping, there is no need to be upset. The fact remains that the plan has failed."
"Qin has not suffered any real losses, and Chu is now in grave danger."
"Now that you have returned to Chu, I have arranged for you to be sent to the capital," Xiang Yan stated calmly.
"Then, when will the promises you made to me be fulfilled?"
Mi Qi asked coldly.
Xiang Yan knew exactly what he meant.
"Once we have repelled Qin, I will honor my word," he replied without hesitation.
Of course, in Xiang Yan's mind, this promise was already meaningless.
Originally, he had only made it because Mi Qi was useful in dealing a severe blow to Qin. Now that Mi Qi had failed and was just an isolated individual, he no longer held any real value.
Xiang Yan intended to string him along for now.
Once Mi Qi reached the capital, he would be completely at Xiang Yan's mercy.
If necessary, Xiang Yan wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him.
"That is good to hear."
Mi Qi sighed in relief.
He was worried that Xiang Yan would go back on his word. Now that he was branded as a traitor, returning to Qin was impossible.
With no other path left, he had no choice but to see this through to the end.
"Guards, escort Lord Changping to rest."
"Tomorrow, dispatch a thousand elite soldiers to escort him to the capital," Xiang Yan ordered.
"Understood!"
His personal guard commander immediately carried out the command.
Once Mi Qi was gone, the guard commander returned.
"General."
"Mi Qi is no longer useful. We had hoped to use him to wipe out the Qin forces, but since that has failed, he serves no further purpose. If he arrives in the capital and things do not go his way, he might hand over your personally written letter. That could cause serious trouble," the commander warned.
"Mi Qi is indeed useless for now but only for now."
"At the end of the day, he is a legitimate royal of Chu with a claim to the throne. If I want to contend with the Three Families in the future, I may need a king of my own."
"And Mi Qi is the perfect candidate. He has no supporters, no allies in Chu. He is completely within my control," Xiang Yan said with a sly smile, his mind already made up.
For him, loyalty was not a priority.
In fact, in the political landscape of Chu, loyalty barely existed.
In Chu, the power of the monarchy was weak. Ministers and noble families manipulated kings, installed kings, and even deposed or killed kings.
The government had always been controlled by powerful families.
Previously, there had been Huang Xie and then Li Yuan. Now, it was the Three Families and Xiang Yan who ruled.
They all acted in the interest of their own families.
History has recorded a famous saying that has echoed through the ages:
"Though Chu has three households, it will still bring down Qin."
This referred to the Three Families that wielded the real power in Chu.
They were the largest clans in the state, controlling its military and political affairs, as well as most of its land.
In short, the lifeblood of Chu was in their hands.
"General."
"Although the Qin army has yet to move, our forces remain insufficient. We need to request additional troops from the court," the commander suggested.
"I have already submitted the request."
"But when we say 'requesting troops from the king,' we mean from the Three Families."
"If they do not commit their full strength to this war, I might as well let everything fall apart," Xiang Yan said coldly.
Chu had an army of over 700,000, including local militias.
However, 80% of this force was under the control of the Three Families. Most of the officers in the army were their appointees. While some might have had a sense of duty to the state, most served their family's interests first.
Xiang Yan had ambition, but his survival came first.
If he suffered a crushing defeat and lost his personally commanded forces, the Three Families would never spare him.
Chen Ying City.
"General."
"All of Mi Qi's close associates have been dealt with."
"Over a thousand were executed."
"In addition, we have received a new supply of provisions, and the crisis has been resolved."
Li Xin entered the grand hall and reported to Huan Yi.
"Do you feel like you barely escaped disaster?"
Huan Yi looked at Li Xin and asked.
"Indeed."
Li Xin nodded, his face still showing lingering fear.
"If not for the warning from Lord Wu'an, our army might have been wiped out. Hangu Camp would have been destroyed."
"Everyone in the Hangu Camp must remember this debt."
"It is a debt of survival."
"More than that it is a debt of kindness repaid with betrayal," Huan Yi said solemnly.
"I understand."
Li Xin nodded firmly.
"Lord Wu'an."
"He is only twenty-four, a full generation younger than me. Yet his mind and resolve surpass mine," Huan Yi said with admiration.
"General."
"We nearly fell victim to treachery. Now that the crisis has passed and our logistics are secured, I request permission to go on the offensive!"
Li Xin looked up, his eyes burning with the flames of vengeance.
Although there were no major losses this time, the fact that the Hangu Camp was nearly wiped out was an unforgivable hatred that must be avenged.
"Xiang Yan is stationed at Chufang City. This city is built relying on the mountains, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."
"Our army cannot launch a direct assault on the city. We can only attack from both flanks."
"Pass down my orders."
"You will lead your main force to attack from the left flank."
"Send orders to General Sima Chong to attack from the right flank."
"Seize every city along the way and create a siege around Chufang City." Huan Yi immediately commanded.
"Yes, General!" Li Xin bowed deeply and withdrew at once.
After he left, Huan Yi fell into deep thought once again.
"Zhao Feng…"
"He is truly a peerless genius."
"I am not his equal. No one in this world can match him."
"Lord Wang Jian has truly found himself an exceptional son-in-law."
"It's a pity Zhao Feng was not born in my Hangu Camp. Wang Jian got lucky with this one." Huan Yi thought with some envy.
Sha Village
The sky had just begun to brighten.
"Father, look!"
"I can lift this huge rock now!"
Zhao Qi lifted a massive stone weighing several hundred pounds, his face beaming with pride as he called out to Zhao Feng.
"I can do it too!"
Zhao Ling also stepped forward and lifted a stone.
If there had been ordinary servants instead of the elite guards watching, they would have been utterly shocked.
Two seven-year-old children, born with extraordinary strength, lifting such heavy rocks!
However, this was only because the two little ones had just stepped into the Houtian realm.
With Zhao Feng's martial arts teachings, combined with medicinal pills and abundant resources, their cultivation would progress rapidly. Moreover, as Zhao Feng's bloodline, their innate talents and physique were exceptional.
"Be careful!"
"Don't hurt yourselves!"
Xia Dong'er, standing nearby, watched with deep concern.
It seemed she had also been taught Zhao Feng's martial techniques; otherwise, she wouldn't be so calm about it.
"Grandmother, aren't we amazing?" Zhao Qi lifted his head proudly.
"Mother."
"Now that the children have started cultivating, you should practice diligently too."
"In the future, our family can be together for a long, long time." Zhao Feng turned to his mother and spoke gently.
"Yes."
Xia Dong'er nodded.
Seeing firsthand how powerful martial arts were, she finally understood why her son was undefeated in battle.
Deep down, though, she still worried about her beloved Zheng Gege.
If he could cultivate as well, then their family could truly stay together forever.
Because Zhao Feng had told her that practicing martial arts could grant longevity.
However…
Xia Dong'er didn't dare bring it up yet.
After all, the father and son had not yet reunited, and she wasn't sure how Zhao Feng would react.
"I'll just wait for Feng'er to talk to his father himself."
"It won't be long now."
"Looking at things now…"
"It seems my worries were unnecessary. No one in this world can hurt Feng'er anymore." Xia Dong'er thought to herself.
She had been utterly shocked when she learned that Zhao Feng had taken down Wang Wan and eradicated his entire clan.
Beyond that, there was Zhao Feng's terrifying martial prowess.
It was clear that ordinary people could no longer threaten Zhao Feng.
All these years, she had worried endlessly, but now she realized she had been overthinking.
Her son had grown into someone even she, as his mother, could hardly fathom.
And this realization finally gave her confidence.
For so long, she had feared that once the world was unified, Zheng Gege would summon her back to Xianyang and formally reunite with Zhao Feng.
She worried that their family would once again become powerless, just like they were in the Xianyang Palace more than twenty years ago.
But now she saw that this was never going to happen again.
Her son was strong enough to protect her.
Strong enough to protect their entire family.
At that moment
"My lord!"
"A secret envoy from the King has arrived!"
Zhang Ming approached respectfully and reported.
"A secret envoy?"
Zhao Feng's expression became serious, and a thought immediately crossed his mind.
"Let's go."
Zhao Feng immediately headed for the main hall.
With his elite guards on watch and no servants allowed near, Zhao Feng had no concerns about security.
Inside the main hall, a middle-aged man was waiting.
When he saw Zhao Feng enter, he immediately bowed. "Greetings, my lord."
"What secret decree does the King have for me?" Zhao Feng asked directly.
In truth, he already had an idea of what it might be.
"Please, my lord, take a look."
"After reading, you must depart immediately." The man respectfully handed over the decree.
Zhao Feng took it and read through it.
A smile soon formed between his brows.
"Go back and report to His Majesty that Zhao Feng will set out at once," he said decisively.
"As you command!"
The middle-aged man did not linger and swiftly left the hall.
"Pass down my orders!"
"Leave one thousand elite guards to protect the Shaqiu residence."
"All others, prepare to depart for Yunzhong!" Zhao Feng commanded Zhang Ming.
"My lord."
"Does this mean we are finally marching against Chu?" Zhang Ming's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yes." Zhao Feng nodded, his gaze sharp as a blade.
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 375+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader