The Crown Prince of Qi was, naturally, the eldest prince of the Zhou Dynasty, the older half-brother of Zhou Yanwei, and the most likely candidate for the position of Crown Prince.
Previously, it was precisely because the Prince of Qi had gone north to fight the Night Barbarians that there were no Enlightenment Envoys overseeing things, giving Zhou Yanwei a chance to maneuver.
Now that the Prince of Qi had been unexpectedly captured by the Night Barbarians, should something happen to him, Zhou Yanwei would undoubtedly become the most probable successor.
Of course, nothing was certain just yet, because the Empress still had a younger son: the Third Prince, barely two years old.
Zhou Yanwei had seniority, but the Third Prince had legitimacy by birth. If Ji Chengtian played favorites, he might bypass Zhou Yanwei entirely and instead choose to groom the Third Prince from scratch.
After all, Ji Chengtian was only forty-two, still in his prime, and perfectly capable of raising a new heir from the ground up.
Though in Chen Kuang's view, it was quite possible Ji Chengtian didn't want to name a Crown Prince at all... because...
The man was actively searching for the Elixir of Immortality.
If one could live forever, who would bother grooming a successor?
Naturally, it's more gratifying to hold absolute power alone.
That said, even if this were the case, the Prince of Qi's misfortune was likely something Zhou Yanwei secretly welcomed.
That was what Chen Kuang thought, but the expressions of the three people present were anything but joyful. Instead, they were grim and heavy.
Clearly... the fall of the Northern Defense Line was far more serious than the capture of the Prince of Qi.
Zhou Yanwei clearly understood what others might assume, so he solemnly explained:
"The hardships of the world are greater than personal ambitions.
If the northern defense line collapses, it will not only spell disaster for the Zhou Dynasty but potentially bring catastrophe to the entire Central Plains... and the human race as a whole."
Chen Kuang knew he wasn't exaggerating.
Because the Liang Kingdom sat in the southeast region of the Central Plains, far from the Northern Wastelands, relatively peaceful and prosperous.
His memories of the Night Barbarians' invasions were vague.
But from what he'd heard in legends and oral history, he still knew the basics.
The Night Barbarians and humankind were mortal enemies for millions of years.
The root cause being that they survived on human flesh.
Though they could eat other meat or spirit beasts for a time, their vitality would quickly decline. Thus, the Night Barbarians were compelled to raid humans for sustenance.
In ancient times, the myriad kingdoms of humanity thrived under the leadership of the Human Emperor Shuo, and the Night Barbarians didn't dare act recklessly. They were driven beyond the Eternal Glacier, to rot in isolation.
But after the War to Hunt the Heavens, the Human Emperor perished, national fortune waned, and chaos reigned.
The Night Barbarians returned, skulking through battlefields, devouring corpses, growing in number, and launching fresh invasions into the Central Plains.
Originally, they weren't even called "Night Barbarians."
In ancient times, their name was much simpler: Demons.
Today, the Night Barbarians had grown strong in the north, amassing seventy-two tribes under the rule of their king, Ahus, and now set their eyes hungrily on the Central Plains.
The only reason they hadn't yet crossed Xunmi Mountain was twofold:
One, Xunmi Mountain was a colossal natural barrier, immense in both height and breadth, cutting off their advance.
A likely calculated move by the Human Emperor in the past.
Two, countless human soldiers and cultivators had formed a flesh-and-blood barrier, the Northern Defense Line, at a great cost.
And in fact, the main force there wasn't cultivators, but ordinary troops trained in formation-based combat, known as Formation Tactics.
Cultivators were powerful, yes, but far too few.
Night Barbarians bred rapidly, and their consumption of humans wasn't just physical, they could absorb Spiritual Energy, turning people into pure nourishment.
With this, they could rapidly grow to possess power comparable to the Innate Realm.
Even the strongest cultivators couldn't fight thousands if them forever. Eventually, they'd be overwhelmed.
Just last year, there were rumors that a Master Realm cultivator had been cornered in the Northern Wasteland, drained of energy, and devoured alive.
By contrast, Formation Tactics, with well-trained mortals and a single low-level cultivator as the core, could unleash power far beyond their base.
Take Li Hongling's Black Armor Army, for example, they were a top-tier force. She had specialized in Formation Tactics.
Had she not been killed by Chen Kuang, she would've soon led the army north to assist the Prince of Qi.
The Zhou border lay closest to the north, its defense line was the first and most critical barrier.
If it fell, Zhou's borderlands would descend into chaos.
And if Zhou couldn't hold out...
The rest of the Central Plains would soon follow.
"And yet, even in this situation, Ji Chengtian is still diverting troops to annihilate the Liang Kingdom..."
Chen Kuang shook his head.
"His obsession with immortality is far too extreme."
Then again, he thought of Su Yu, and realized, most kings were probably the same.
Qi Sibai continued,
"The Northern Defense is a matter of utmost urgency. As a sect guided by destiny and one that advocates worldly engagement, the Heavenly Observatory Division must act."
"When the nation is in peril, every man is responsible, how much more so for cultivators like us?"
He had mentioned fate earlier, so Chen Kuang couldn't help asking,
"Didn't you say your destiny was to pursue the Demon Sword? Now that it's over... what will you do?"
Qi Sibai paused, then laughed with realization.
"Ah, Brother Chen misunderstood."
He smiled and explained,
"So that's why you came charging in, you were worried I'd lost my purpose?"
He shook his head.
"I am merely the only one who can see the Demon Sword's fate, but tracking it was never my only destiny."
Looking up toward the sky, he squinted as if counting something:
"Besides the Demon Sword... I still have roughly... twelve destinies left to pursue."
Chen Kuang: "..."
So the Heavenly Observatory Division gets fates... wholesale?
Still, he was relieved.
If Qi Sibai had lost his "destiny" because of him, he would've felt a little guilty.
Qi Sibai took his leave and departed for the north.
Turning back, Lin Eryou waved his feathered fan and said to Chen Kuang:
"We two won't be leaving just yet. With the Prince of Qi captured, Jishao Prefecture will surely fall under Her Highness' jurisdiction. It's the perfect opportunity."
Now came the real matter.
Chen Kuang understood clearly, this moment would determine Jishao Prefecture's future.
He nodded and said seriously:
"Then the Canal Gang shall be handed over to the Chen family. I already have someone in mind for the position of Prefect.
As for the Enlightenment Envoy, you two may decide, on the condition that you do not interfere in local affairs. How about that?"
His tone left no room for discussion, decisive and assertive.
Every major position in Jishao Prefecture had just been assigned by him, neatly and definitively.
The Enlightenment Envoy post, it was basically a symbolic figurehead.
And he had explicitly said, no interference allowed.
Their entire scheme had been turned to ash. On the floater ship, Lin Eryou might've tried to haggle.
But now?
Chen Kuang had proven himself capable of killing a peak Moon-Embracing Realm cultivator in direct combat.
And Lin Eryou, who was also at that realm, didn't dare test him.
He had to admit, he was now afraid of a Tower Ascension Realm cultivator.
Which once would've been unthinkable.
But facts were facts.
On top of that, a Dragon King now supported Chen Kuang.
"Sigh... Brother Chen, you're the hero who saved thousands in Jishao Prefecture."
Lin Eryou sighed and smiled bitterly.
"Naturally, you have the final say."
Chen Kuang chuckled.
"No need to be so modest. I'm sure after this, the other Enlightenment Envoys will get the message."
With that, Jishao Prefecture's new political landscape was set.
The mood relaxed. Lin Eryou raised his cup and apologized for all of his earlier scheming.
He drained it in one gulp.
Chen Kuang smiled politely,
"No need to be so formal over something so small."
...Though deep down, he hadn't forgotten.
After all, Lin Eryou had indirectly caused him to be hunted by three Martial Saint Pavilion elites.
Lin Eryou flipped his hand and presented a jade pendant.
"This is a Wanlin Merchant Guild VIP token. Only sixteen have ever been issued.
With this, you can stay at any guild station and receive top-tier protection and service.
If you want an item, the guild will prioritize it, and if we don't have it, we'll find it.
All purchases are 90% off.
Any reasonable request will be fulfilled."
"This is my apology gift."
Lin Eryou's smile was equal parts sheepish and professional.
For a moment, Chen Kuang thought he saw a modern-day salesman.
Ah right, this guy's also the heir to a major merchant guild...
Wanlin Merchant Guild.
They specialize in Spiritual Treasures!
Chen Kuang blinked, accepted the token, and smiled:
"Between us, what grudge could there possibly be? Aren't we just old friends at first sight?"
He tucked the token away and poured himself a drink.
"Come, cheers!"
The two laughed together.
From Zhou Yanwei's perspective, it looked like a pair of conniving rogues conspiring in broad daylight.
Zhou Yanwei shook his head and asked,
"Brother Chen, you fooled us pretty badly before.
Your disguise was flawless, Tower Ascension Realm, and yet you looked like Qi Opening Realm..."
Chen Kuang blinked and raised an eyebrow:
"Disguise?"
He spread his hands:
"Other than my face, I never disguised anything."
The smiles on their faces froze and slowly faded.
They had spent hours with Qi Sibai, analyzing how Chen Kuang's sudden leap in power had happened.
They'd concluded he must've disguised his true cultivation aboard the floater ship.
Even though none of them had noticed any fluctuation...
That had to be it.
There was no way someone could leap from the Qi Opening Realm to the Tower Ascension Realm in just a few days.
So clearly, it was a brilliant disguise technique!
Lin Eryou asked cautiously,
"Brother Chen... are you joking?"
Chen Kuang nodded, then looked at them both with a faint smile:
"What's wrong? Don't believe me?"
He sighed and shrugged.
"Alright, alright. Let's just say it was a disguise then."
Zhou Yanwei took a deep breath, and suddenly bowed.
"Brother Chen, if you need it, I can have Old Ma escort you out of Liang Kingdom."
Old Ma, the elderly master always by his side.
It wasn't about protection, this was a political signal.
A sign of Zhou Yanwei's, and the Zhou Second Prince's, full support.
But Chen Kuang declined.
"Brother Yanwei, your heart is righteous, and I thank you.
But I don't want you to get yourself into danger because of me."
He clapped him on the shoulder.
"Being willing to take a knife for a friend doesn't mean you actually have to stab yourself."
Zhou Yanwei fell silent.
What he was offering... was effectively open rebellion against Ji Chengtian.
If he backed Chen Kuang, he'd be betting that Ji Chengtian would choose to stabilize Liang over chasing its remnants.
But since Chen Kuang declined, he wouldn't insist.
Chen Kuang had achieved what he came for, and now it was time to go.
As he stepped out with Lin Eryou and Zhou Yanwei seeing him off, a sudden clamor of cultivators arose outside.
"The Canglang Evaluation has updated!"
"What?! Wasn't there an update just this month?! Why now?!"
"You seriously don't know? Were you asleep last night?! After what Chen Kuang pulled, how could there not be an update?!"
One cultivator climbed onto a rooftop, unfurled a scroll that he got in advance, hung it in the air, and shouted:
All eyes turned toward it.
Chen Kuang looked up as well.
There, printed in clear characters:
Chen Kuang: Rank 15
"Wha-?!"
A wave of stunned exclamations erupted.
Two updates in a single month.
The first time, he entered directly at Rank 33.
Now, he was Rank 15!
Never has there been someone like him, and never will there be anyone like that again!
Unprecedented and Unrepeatable!