Zhao Feng took one last look at the Spirit Stone nurturing Sun Wukong before shifting his gaze toward the distant mainland.
His eyes burned with ambition.
The curtain of conquest over the Immortal Realm was about to rise.
"Ao Lai Kingdom."
"First, I shall destroy this kingdom and establish a foothold in this realm."
"Then, I will launch my campaign and seize the entirety of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent."
"The Heavenly Court…"
Zhao Feng murmured to himself.
With that, he took a step forward.
In an instant, he arrived at the shores of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.
This was the easternmost region of the continent, near the Eastern Sea.
It was also the most eastern of the small kingdoms.
"Just as Ying Bu said, the people of this world resemble those of the Shang and Zhou periods of my past life their clothing, customs, everything. But the farther west one goes, the more different they become."
"The Ao Lai Kingdom is no exception. These people are completely of Huaxia descent."
"It seems that in ancient times, a part of my mortal world's land must have split off from this Eastern Victory Divine Continent."
Hovering above the coastal city of Ao Lai Kingdom
Zhao Feng surveyed everything with his divine sense. Not just the city but the entire kingdom fell within his perception.
This nation had no immortal mountains or sects.
It appeared tranquil.
Moreover, its population was small only ten to twenty million people.
Compared to the mortal world, this was a considerable number. But in the vast Earthly Immortal Realm, it was merely a tiny nation.
One had to understand
The Four Great Continents of the Earthly Immortal Realm were once part of the Primordial Desolation.
And how vast was the Primordial Desolation?
Even a Grand Luo Golden Immortal could not see its entirety.
Even though this was no longer the complete Primordial Desolation, the Four Continents remained immense beyond measure.
"No true cultivation techniques have been passed down, only basic breathing exercises. Without spiritual roots, one cannot even begin cultivation. Those with spiritual roots may barely enter the path."
"The mortal kingdoms of the Earthly Immortal Realm… are all ordinary humans?"
"It seems"
"This must be a scheme of the Immortals and Buddhas."
"They refuse to give mortals the chance to resist, ensuring they remain nothing more than livestock, forever trapped in servitude."
Through his divine sense, Zhao Feng quickly grasped the fundamental nature of the Ao Lai Kingdom and indeed, the broader reality of mortal nations across the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.
Before arriving in the Earthly Immortal Realm, Zhao Feng had assumed it would be teeming with immortals and cultivators.
But now, he realized
That was far from the truth.
"To change the Immortal Realm and reshape heaven and earth, the first step shall begin with Ao Lai Kingdom."
"However, conquering a mortal kingdom requires no use of my Black Armor Army. Let them continue their training in the small world."
"For now, my regular elite soldiers will suffice."
After a brief moment of thought, Zhao Feng made his decision.
Without delay
He descended outside the coastal city.
With a wave of his hand
"Great Qin's Elite Warriors, descend!"
Zhao Feng commanded with his divine sense.
From within his small world, he summoned one hundred thousand elite soldiers to arrive.
These were not the legendary Black Armor Army.
They were the ordinary elite troops who had been training in the small world, under the command of Wei Quan.
In an instant
A terrifying killing intent engulfed the entire Eastern Seashore.
Outside the city walls on the watchtowers
The soldiers and civilians of Ao Lai Kingdom were stunned by the sudden appearance of this army.
"What's happening?"
"Where did these soldiers come from?!"
"What do we do?"
The unexpected arrival of the black-armored army left the entire coastal city in shock.
And then
Fear.
"From this day forth, as we enter the Immortal Realm, our nation shall be named the Martial Kingdom, not Great Qin."
"All warriors, remember this well."
Zhao Feng transmitted his decree into the minds of all one hundred thousand elite warriors.
"We obey His Highness's command!"
The soldiers responded in unison.
The reason for not openly declaring Great Qin's name
Was to bide time and grow stronger in secret.
If the Heavenly Court caught wind of Great Qin's presence too soon, they would certainly intervene and suppress it.
Though Zhao Feng knew that eventually, his, conquest would draw their attention
The longer he could delay it, the more power and fortune he could amass.
"Annihilate this kingdom. Those who surrender shall not be killed."
Zhao Feng issued his command.
"By Your Highness's decree!"
Wei Quan responded loudly.
Then
He drew his sword from his waist, pointing toward the coastal city, whose gates had not even been closed in time.
"Martial Kingdom's Elite Warriors"
"Advance!"
With a single order
Fifty thousand elite soldiers, all at least at the Divine Ability Realm, charged toward the coastal city.
"Don't kill me!"
"I surrender!"
"Mercy! Please!"
As Great Qin's forces approached
There was no resistance.
The Ao Lai Kingdom's soldiers within the city immediately threw down their weapons and knelt in surrender.
The surrounding civilians followed suit, one after another.
"Your Highness."
"Why is this Immortal Realm's kingdom so weak?"
"They surrendered without even putting up a fight?"
When the army stormed into the city and took control of the coastal stronghold, Wei Quan looked at Zhao Feng with a face full of astonishment.
Clearly
He had been expecting a fierce battle.
But in the end, there was no battle at all. Wherever their army advanced, the mortal nations of the Immortal Realm simply surrendered without resistance.
This completely shattered Wei Quan's expectations.
"Don't assume that the Immortal Realm is full of immortals."
"The mortal nations here have long been controlled by the immortals and deities, as have the cultivators."
"The immortals and Buddhas do not need too many cultivators. They do not want them to consume the world's spiritual energy, and even less do they want them to have the power to resist."
"This is the essence of it all."
Zhao Feng smiled faintly.
The reason why a country with tens of millions of people lacked cultivators, and why even their strength was inferior to the commoners of the mortal world's Great Qin, was naturally the result of control by the immortals and buddhas.
"Then wouldn't it be incredibly easy for our Great Qin to conquer the mortal nations of this Immortal Realm?" Wei Quan's eyes lit up as he spoke with a smile.
"I will give you an army of one hundred thousand."
"Seize control of Ao lai Nation as quickly as possible."
"As always, follow the military code of our Great Qin spare those who surrender and do no harm to the civilians." Zhao Feng said in a firm voice.
"Rest assured, Your Highness."
"I understand."
Wei Quan responded immediately.
"Go and carry it out."
Zhao Feng nodded.
With a single thought, he summoned another fifty thousand soldiers from the small world into the city.
Within that small world
Aside from the one hundred thousand elite Xuanjia Army
Each of Great Qin's other military divisions had been stationed with one hundred thousand warriors. This served two purposes: to allow them to cultivate in the small world and to be readily available for Zhao Feng to deploy.
But conquering Ao lai Nation? That was a trivial matter.
"First, we swallow Aolai Nation, then we gradually annex the surrounding mortal nations to establish our foothold."
Zhao Feng had already laid out his strategy for conquest.
First, destroy Ao Lai Nation to secure a stronghold, and then launch full-scale expansion, annexing the neighboring lands.
"Your Highness."
"This is the commander of this city his name is Li Tao."
Zhang Ming and several personal guards led the coastal city's general before Zhao Feng.
"Y-your humble servant greets the great lord."
As soon as Li Tao arrived, he knelt before Zhao Feng.
"I ask, you answer."
"Otherwise, you die."
Zhao Feng looked at Li Tao and spoke.
"I will tell you everything I know!" Li Tao nodded frantically.
"Why are there no immortals in the Aolai Nation?" Zhao Feng asked directly.
He had no interest in how many troops the Ao Lai Nation possessed.
A mortal army
A mere thousand of his warriors could easily suppress them.
Their power levels were simply not on the same scale.
"Reporting to the great lord!"
"Our Aolai Nation indeed has no immortals. The immortal sects have established their bases in other nations. Our country is small and weak, with thin spiritual energy, so no true immortal sects are stationed here."
"However, every year, immortals come to recruit disciples. Thousands, even tens of thousands, of our people receive the fortune of joining the immortal sects and stepping onto the path of immortality." Li Tao replied at once.
"They come every year?"
"Have they come this year yet?" Zhao Feng asked.
"The Ascension Ceremony is in three months," Li Tao replied immediately.
"Where is it held?" Zhao Feng asked.
"In the capital city."
"At that time, all youths under the age of fifteen throughout Aolai Nation will have the opportunity to undergo a spiritual root test," Li Tao, frightened out of his wits, explained everything in full.
"You are quite useful."
Zhao Feng nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you for your praise, great lord."
Li Tao responded humbly, looking utterly servile.
"Your Highness."
"With our current speed, we can sweep through Aolai Nation within half a month."
"By then"
"We can see for ourselves how this so-called Ascension Ceremony unfolds."
"And when the time comes, we'll slaughter those so-called immortals!" Zhang Ming sneered.
Hearing this
Li Tao, who stood nearby, shrank back in terror, staring in disbelief.
Clearly
Hearing someone utter the words "slaughter the immortals" was utterly blasphemous to him or rather, to any mortal in the Eastern Continent.
The divide between mortals and immortals was like an uncrossable chasm.
Mortals could only revere the immortals.
Yet this army before him intended to slay them.
What kind of shocking heresy was this?
In the presence of an immortal, even a mortal king was but an ant.
Slaying immortals!
If word of this got out, it would bring disaster upon their entire nation.
Immortals were not to be defied.
"Let's finish conquering this country first." Zhao Feng said calmly.
"And what of its name?" Zhang Ming asked respectfully.
"Have you not noticed that the people of this nation are no different from our Huaxia people?" Zhao Feng smiled faintly.
"Your Highness."
"Could it be that all humans in this Immortal Realm are of the same lineage as our Huaxia?" Zhang Ming asked in shock.
"That should be the case."
"Though there are likely some branches within this world's human race as well."
"In any case, the humans of this Eastern Continent shall be treated as our people." Zhao Feng said.
"I understand, Your Highness." Zhang Ming nodded.
Coming back to his senses.
Zhang Ming glanced around and was about to leave with Li Tao, but upon seeing the expression on Li Tao's face, he laughed and said, "What's with that look on your face?"
"Are you scared?"
"Don't worry."
"Since you've surrendered, our soldiers won't harm you. From now on, just live in peace."
Li Tao trembled as he spoke, "General... General, I know you won't kill me, but... but your words just now desecrated the immortals. Aren't you afraid?"
"Desecrating the immortals?"
Hearing this, Zhang Ming was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "Immortals are just powerful cultivators. How is that desecration?"
"And if they dare to come, my sword can cut them down," Zhang Ming said coldly.
"You... you mean to say that you are immortals?"
"But how can immortals have an army and invade our mortal kingdoms?" Li Tao asked in confusion.
"Because we are not immortals," Zhang Ming replied with a smile, unwilling to explain further.
"Have the troops speed up the attack."
"Advance separately."
"Since mortals in the Immortal Realm fear the immortals so deeply, our army should display some martial arts techniques in battle. That way, the mortal armies will surrender without a fight."
Seeing how terrified Li Tao was of the immortals, Zhao Feng immediately adjusted his strategy.
Their fear of the immortals was engraved in their very bones, rooted deep within their souls.
If that was the case…
Then showcasing the might of the Great Qin's martial arts would have the same impact as the destructive power of the immortals, striking just as much fear into the hearts of the mortals.
"Understood!"
Zhang Ming immediately took the order.
Time flew by!
In just a few days.
Unsurprisingly.
The capital city of Ao Lai Kingdom.
The city gates were wide open.
The king of Ao Lai, along with his civil and military officials, came outside the city and all knelt on the ground, displaying extreme humility and reverence.
As Wei Quan walked forward at a steady pace, his face carried a trace of helplessness.
Behind him.
Many elite soldiers shared the same feeling.
In just seven days.
At first, all the elite warriors thought that invading the Immortal Realm would bring about intense battles, clashing head-to-head with fierce opponents.
But in reality, they had been overthinking.
Since the crown prince had given the order to display some martial techniques as a demonstration of power
Everything had changed.
Wherever they marched, Ao Lai Kingdom simply surrendered without resistance, rendering combat unnecessary.
And now.
They had arrived at the capital of Ao Lai Kingdom.
"Immortals above!"
"I am Chen Dao, king of Ao Lai Kingdom, and I lead my officials to greet the immortals."
The king of Ao Lai knelt on the ground, trembling with fear as he spoke.
"So they're surrendering just like that?" Wei Quan asked, his voice tinged with resignation.
"With immortals descending to the world, our Ao Lai Kingdom willingly submits."
"With immortals guarding our kingdom, Ao Lai will surely prosper," the king of Ao Lai said humbly.
Seeing this.
Wei Quan didn't bother saying more.
"Enter the city and station our troops."
Wei Quan gave the command.
"Yes!"
The elite soldiers responded in unison.
They marched into the city in an orderly fashion.
On both sides of the streets, soldiers and civilians of Ao Lai Kingdom knelt on the ground, displaying utmost humility.
They gazed upon the elite soldiers of Great Qin as if they were heavenly warriors, filled with reverence and awe.
"Leave a thousand soldiers to guard the capital."
"The rest will continue advancing into the surrounding nations of Ao Lai Kingdom."
"Before the Ascension Ceremony, take as much territory as possible."
As the words fell.
Zhao Feng's figure appeared out of thin air beside Wei Quan.
"He truly is an immortal!"
"I, your humble servant, greet the immortal!"
Upon seeing Zhao Feng materialize out of nowhere, the king of Ao Lai and all his officials immediately prostrate themselves in deep reverence.
Witnessing this.
Zhao Feng shook his head helplessly.
In ancient times.
The human race thrived through self-reliance.
They had survived in this land since the distant past by defying the immortals and refusing to be bound by their rules.
But now.
The humans of Dongsheng Shenzhou, and even the entire Celestial Immortal Realm, were completely controlled by the gods and immortals. Their fear of immortals had seeped into their very bones.
The spirit of self-reliance was gone.
"With humans like this, it's no wonder their fate has been stolen by the immortal sects, and their destiny is dictated by the gods."
"Centuries of captivity and enslavement have stripped them of their fighting spirit. They cower before the immortals without even thinking of resistance."
"If we are to change this, we must spread martial arts, and we must slay the immortals before their very eyes."
"Only by making them witness the fall of the so-called immortals will they understand that our people can stand strong on their own."
Gazing at the kneeling masses, Zhao Feng's heart burned with determination.
All of this could change!
"All of you, stand up."
Zhao Feng's voice was firm.
"Yes!"
The king of Ao Lai immediately stood up, bowing deeply in submission.
"From this day forward, Ao Lai Kingdom shall cease to exist."
"It will be renamed the Wu Kingdom," Zhao Feng declared.
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