"Heh, big sis sees through everything."
Yun Jinghuai casually found a seat and sat down.
Clearly, here in Splendid Radiance Hall, he felt way more at ease than back in the imperial study.
Then he said, "Sis, for the past nine months, I've been secretly working on something big—something no one would ever expect. I've had the army covertly open a path through the Northern Reach Mountain Range."
Yun Liyue's expression instantly changed. "Northern Reach Mountain Range? That's a forbidden zone, filled with countless ferocious beasts and incredibly dangerous. During the ancient Great Wilderness era, that place was called 'Salt Mountain.' A forbidden overlord was born there. For the past ten thousand years, it's been a no-man's land."
Yun Jinghuai said, "Sis, we already sent men deep into the Northern Reach Mountain Range to investigate. It's dangerous, yeah, but not as terrifying as the outside world thinks."
"How many soldiers were lost?" Yun Liyue asked.
Yun Jinghuai paused for a while before answering, "Exactly 4,830. To keep Northern Yan from catching wind of it, all news of this is still locked down. But their sacrifice was necessary. Northern Yan poses too great a threat to Great Zhou. Every year, tens of thousands of our people die from their raids."
"And Northern Yan's defenses are so tight that we can't land a heavy blow from anywhere else. The only chance is to strike from a direction they'd never expect, right into their core."
"So you chose Northern Reach Mountain Range as the breakthrough point," Yun Liyue said.
"Exactly. It's a forbidden zone. Northern Yan would never dream we'd attack from there."
Yun Jinghuai said, "I came back to the capital to further lower their guard. The Northern Reach Mountain Range path is nearly complete. The moment the route opens fully, I'll rush back to the northern border and lead the expedition myself."
Yang Cheng listened from the side as his mother and uncle talked. Memories from his past life surged up.
Northern Reach Mountain Range… that place was a source of pain.
In his previous life, it was where his uncle had fallen.
Back then, to help Yang Cheng secure his position as crown prince, his uncle had to rush the operation without proper prep. He set off one month early.
Though the campaign was technically a win, the price was devastating. His uncle died, and the army was badly hit.
But now, fate had changed.
This time, his uncle was clearly better prepared.
Judging by his past record, there was no doubt he would win.
Yang Cheng's role now was to make that victory even more glorious.
"Uncle, I want you to take me out for fun," Yang Cheng said without hesitation.
Since Yun Jinghuai had returned, Yun Liyue had already ordered time off for Yang Cheng from Autumn Water Courtyard for the day.
This was the perfect chance. Yang Cheng had a lot he needed to talk over with his uncle.
"That depends on whether your uncle minds having you around," Yun Liyue joked.
"Haha, how could I ever mind my favorite little nephew?"
Yun Jinghuai grinned.
"Then go enjoy yourselves. Just be back before the banquet," Yun Liyue said.
With Yun Jinghuai escorting him, she had no worries at all.
Don't let his young age of seventeen fool you. Yun Jinghuai's martial talent outshone even hers. He had already reached peak Martial Saint.
If Yun Liyue hadn't received the Dark Bird Descends from Heaven blessing last time, she'd still be below him.
That only showed how useless Yang Cheng had been in his past life.
His innate bones were ruined early on by the Myriad Despair Divine Water, which affected him for life.
Even after he formed the Asura Demon Body later, he still couldn't compare to those dazzling geniuses born under the stars and moon.
Just look at Yun Jinghuai—he possessed the "Battle Saint Body."
In pure combat strength, that body surpassed even the Divine Dragon Sword Body and Heavenly Sword Sacred Body.
If Yun Jinghuai hadn't died so young in the past, he might have ranked among the top tier of Heaven's Chosen across the Myriad Worlds.
Unlike Yang Cheng, who had only managed a mid-to-low spot among them.
"Your Highness, where do you want to go?" Yun Jinghuai asked with a smile.
"Let's go hunting in Heavenly Cloud Mountain just outside the capital!" Yang Cheng said with excitement.
"That place…" Yun Jinghuai hesitated. It was pretty remote.
Besides, what did a one-and-a-half-year-old baby know about hunting?
"Uncle, watch this," Yang Cheng said.
He knew that talking wouldn't convince him—action would.
He walked out to the courtyard outside Splendid Radiance Hall, had a target set up under the tree, and brought out a ten-stone bow.
Yun Jinghuai's eyebrows shot up.
Anyone who could pull a ten-stone bow would be considered elite even in the army.
But recalling the rumors about the crown prince, he hesitated and didn't stop him.
The moment the bow arrived, Yang Cheng pulled it open easily.
"Shooting the Sun, activate."
Buzz!
The arrow shot out and slammed into the bullseye.
Yun Jinghuai's eyes lit up with delight.
His crown prince nephew actually had archery talent!
Then Yang Cheng fired ten more arrows, each one dead center.
He turned to look at Yun Jinghuai. "Uncle, what do you think?"
"Good! I'll take you," Yun Jinghuai said without another word.
"Mo Zhui, let's go!"
He picked up Yang Cheng and climbed onto his warhorse.
Mo Zhui was pitch black from head to hoof, and when it ran, it looked like a flash of dark lightning.
In less than half an hour, they had already reached the foot of Heavenly Cloud Mountain.
"Uncle, I've got a surprise for you later," Yang Cheng said.
He silently chanted in his heart, 'Blood Shadow Guard, activate!'
"What kind of surprise?" Yun Jinghuai asked, intrigued at first. But his eyes suddenly sharpened as he snapped toward the woods ahead and shouted, "Who's there?"
"Don't worry, Uncle. That's the surprise I prepared for you," Yang Cheng replied.
Yun Jinghuai's face filled with shock. He could sense a strong aura of bloodlust coming from the forest ahead.
Clearly, a group of people who had taken countless lives were hiding there.
With no one else around, Yang Cheng had nothing to hide.
With a thought, 1,000 Blood Shadow Guards stepped out from the woods.
As the thousand men appeared, Yang Cheng's eyes gleamed. 'Worthy of a system reward.'
All 1,000 Blood Shadow Guards wore black robes, each holding a crimson sword. Every single one of them was at the late-stage Xiantian realm.
When Yang Cheng received the system reward, he had also received all relevant information.
The initial cultivation of the Blood Shadow Guards was tied to his own. Afterward, they cultivated on their own. They specialized in slaughter, growing stronger through battle and killing.
"Good soldiers!" Yun Jinghuai praised in shock.
Though their realm wasn't high, their energy, spirit, and discipline were elite-level. Even his own veteran troops might not match them.
Yang Cheng said, "Uncle, you can take them with you the next time you go to war."
The fastest way to raise the Blood Shadow Guards' strength was through battle. Letting them follow Yun Jinghuai was definitely the best path.
"You're not even going to ask if I'll take them. But are you really willing to hand them over to me?" Yun Jinghuai chuckled.
Yang Cheng said, "Uncle, your soldiers are my soldiers. My soldiers in your hands are still mine. Why wouldn't I be willing?"
Yun Jinghuai was stunned for a second, then burst out laughing.
He loved how his nephew spoke to him. It showed that Yang Cheng didn't treat him as an outsider.
After laughing, he nodded seriously. "Chengcheng, you're right. My soldiers are your soldiers. I'll make sure to train these 1,000 men well for you."
"Uncle, I've got another top-secret piece of intel for you," Yang Cheng said. "The Primordial Thunder Bell in the imperial capital of Great Yan won't activate for six hours every year. Based on this year's pattern, it'll be inactive seven days from now, between Mao and Si hours."
Both Great Zhou and Great Yan had National Guardian Divine Artifacts—the core of their nations' power.
Great Zhou's was the Ancestral Dragon Cauldron.
Great Yan's was the Primordial Thunder Bell.
If a nation's Guardian Artifact was active, the enemy would never dare to attack their capital directly.
Yun Jinghuai's eyes went wide. "Your Highness, are you certain?"
"Absolutely," Yang Cheng said.
This information had come from Yang Xiu's investigation in his past life. Yang Xiu had used it to strike a heavy blow against Great Yan, paving his way to becoming the Eastern Wastes Alliance Leader.
Without the 1,000 Blood Shadow Guards, Yun Jinghuai might not have believed Yang Cheng.
After all, this matter was enormous.
If Yang Cheng were wrong and he marched an army to attack Great Yan's capital, it would be total annihilation.
But the 1,000 elite guards proved Yang Cheng's extraordinary nature. Yun Jinghuai could now talk strategy with him seriously.
That alone gave Yang Cheng's words major credibility.
Yun Jinghuai's breathing quickened. Right now, he could see the opportunity for immortal glory.
That very night.
Emperor Qian Yuan hosted a grand banquet to welcome Yun Jinghuai back. The whole court quickly learned that Yun Jinghuai had returned to the capital.
But—
Before dawn the next day, Yun Jinghuai quietly left and rushed back to the northern border at lightning speed.
Two days later—
The imperial court erupted in joy.
"Your Majesty, glorious news! General Zhuang's envoy mission to Great Yan was a huge success. He convinced Great Yan to sign a ten-year non-aggression pact with us!"
"The northern border is now safe for the next decade! This is a legendary achievement!"
"With such merit, the court should grant General Zhuang a noble title!"
The ministers from the Zhuang clan were the most excited.
Zhuang Yi, the envoy general, was Noble Consort Zhuang's elder cousin and a pillar of the Zhuang faction.
"General Zhuang has rendered great service. The matter of his reward will be discussed by the Grand Secretariat and presented for my review," Emperor Qian Yuan declared.
He was genuinely pleased.
Great Zhou and Great Yan had fought for over a thousand years and had never signed a peace treaty this long.
In the harem—
Noble Consort Zhuang walked tall with pride.
With Zhuang Yi earning such a massive achievement, her status in the palace soared as his younger sister.
But the joy at court didn't last long.
Soon after, news broke that shocked every minister.
Just after Zhuang Yi secured the treaty, the northern army had launched a surprise attack on Great Yan.
Instantly, not only the Zhuang faction but even neutral ministers were furious.
"Unbelievable!"
"What the hell is Yun Jinghuai doing?"
"Reckless! He's throwing the nation's peace away for his own ambition!"
It was as if the entire court erupted in rage.
By that afternoon, over 1,000 students from the Great Zhou Dao Academy gathered outside the palace gates, demanding Emperor Qian Yuan immediately strip Yun Jinghuai of his command and bring him back for punishment.