402: Chapter 402 Emperor Mulan, Two Forces

In the east of the Black-Corner Region, in the Mu Lan Empire, was the emperor, Mulan Emperor.

On the periphery were four great dynasties that engaged in constant warfare; these four dynasties shared a common goal: to destroy the Mu Lan Empire.

By doing so, they could carve up the Mu Lan Empire's providence. How could they not rely on this to break through the shackles of a dynasty in one fell swoop?

The capital of the Mu Lan Empire was Luoyan City.

Outside the imperial palace, Crown Prince Lanjing arrived with a group of powerful experts, travel-worn and weary, returning from the outside world.

The group entered the main hall directly, their expressions carrying a hint of excitement.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has returned!" a minister said.

"Oh? Has the matter in Tianjue City been settled?" Mulan Emperor said with some surprise. He then passed down an oral decree, summoning Crown Prince Lanjing for an audience.

"Your Majesty, those four great dynasties probably have no need to exist anymore. We allowed them to exist back then only to train our troops, to lay a solid foundation for unifying the Northwest Continent and entering the Central Plains!"

"They are no longer needed now. Indeed, Your Majesty!" a general beside him said.

"By wiping out these four great dynasties, our Mu Lan Empire will be an empire in more than just name. While we're at it, we can also destroy the Dazheng Dynasty in the Black-Corner Region."

Another general added.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Once we unify the Black-Corner Region, we only need a short period of recuperation before we can send out troops to destroy the Tianshe Empire and the Izumo Empire, thereby unifying the Northwest Continent and marching into the Central Plains..."

"At that time, we will officially advance to an Empire," the previous general said excitedly.

Mulan Emperor looked at the two excited generals, shook his head slightly, and spoke: "For a kingdom to advance to a dynasty, sufficient providence is all that is required!"

"However, for a dynasty to advance to an imperial court, providence alone is not enough. One also needs a precious item!"

"Eh?" The generals were confused.

"The imperial seal of the celestial dynasty!" Mulan Emperor took a deep breath. Currently, the Mu Lan Empire only had the name of an imperial court, but not the reality.

In a strict sense, it was at the limit of a dynasty!

But it was only one step away from becoming an imperial court. It was this very step that had blocked countless dynasties!

"The imperial seal of the celestial dynasty?" everyone asked in confusion.

"Correct. To be a celestial dynasty, one must possess an imperial seal from a celestial dynasty in history. As for the highest level of celestial dynasty, don't even think about it!"

"On the Fighting Qi Continent, no one knows how to advance to a celestial dynasty. Those who knew all perished in ancient times... otherwise, there wouldn't be a lack of even a single celestial dynasty!"

Mulan Emperor said.

"I see!" The civil and military officials frowned.

"The Grand Empress!" At this moment, a general spoke respectfully. Everyone looked over to see a woman wrapped in a black robe slowly approaching.

"Greetings, Grand Empress!" everyone said respectfully.

"Mhm!" A raspy voice came from the black robe. Looking at the black-robed woman, Mulan Emperor's eyes held a hint of impatience, annoyance, and guilt!

"Your Majesty, we shall take our leave!" The crowd withdrew from the hall.

"Mhm!" Mulan Emperor waved them away.

"Why didn't you tell me you were back!" The Grand Empress walked over and reached out to smooth the wrinkles on his clothes. He stood with furrowed brows, motionless.

It was as if he was unwilling to let the Grand Empress touch him.

Yet he still suppressed the impatience in his heart and allowed the Grand Empress to proceed.

"I was worried about you!" Mulan Emperor said.

The Grand Empress fell silent for a moment, then her figure left with a somewhat desolate air without saying a word. Mulan Emperor's feelings were incredibly complex.

"Crown Prince Lanjing has arrived..." a eunuch announced loudly outside the hall.

"Come in!" Mulan Emperor took a deep breath and said coldly.

"Your son pays his respects to Father Emperor!" Crown Prince Lanjing said respectfully. Mulan Emperor waved his hand!

"How did the matter in Tianjue City go?"

"It failed. The Feng Shui array was broken. What Mud Bodhisattva said was true; the world-shaking demon, the Heavenly Evil Demon Emperor, the army of four hundred thousand, and nearly a million citizens of Tianjue City were all killed!"

Crown Prince Lanjing said, his eyes still filled with the scene of the Heavenly Evil Demon Emperor devouring living beings.

"Oh?" Mulan Emperor asked in surprise.

In a mountain forest in the Black-Corner Region!

General Ye Wudi was clad in armor, looking incredibly steady. The dozen or so large mountains before him were in ruins, with a large number of corpses on the ground; a sect had been cleared out!

"You can't kill me, I belong to Mulan Emperor's forces, you can't kill me..." a man said in terror.

Before General Ye Wudi, a man covered in blood was being held down by soldiers.

Mulan Emperor? Mu Lan Empire...

"Set up camp, I want to interrogate him!" General Ye Wudi said indifferently.

The soldiers behind him made arrangements and organized the information they had obtained. General Ye Wudi frowned and exchanged looks with several generals.

"Return to the capital immediately and report to His Majesty!" General Ye Wudi said to a commander.

"Yes!" The commander took the order and left.

"Marshal, should we keep him in custody?" a commander beside General Ye Wudi asked.

"No, we have a mission to carry out. We can't keep him with us forever. If only a few people guard him, what if he escapes?"

"His Majesty's great cause must not be compromised; no one is allowed to sabotage it. Kill him!"

General Ye Wudi made the decision immediately.

After the prisoner was executed, the army continued its operation.

In the Black-Corner Region, in Chang'an City, inside Hun Tiandi's study!

Yun Xiao stepped inside. Behind the desk, Hun Tiandi, who had returned to the capital three days ago to preside over the city, was writing something with a brush.

Beside him, Princess Nian Youyou was carefully grinding ink.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Empress!" Yun Xiao said respectfully.

"Jie jie, Yun Xiao, there's no need for such formality. In court, we are sovereign and subject; outside of court, we are friends!" Hun Tiandi put down his brush and smiled.

"Yes. There is a matter regarding the Mu Lan Empire that I need to discuss with Your Majesty!" He glanced at Princess Nian Youyou beside him.

Seeing Yun Xiao's expression, Hun Tiandi smiled slightly: "Youyou is my wife. When I am not present, she can make all decisions on my behalf!"

Hearing His Majesty say this, Yun Xiao's expression froze, and he glanced at Princess Nian Youyou with some surprise.

He nodded and said: "Please do not take offense, Empress. Military matters are of great importance, so..."

"It's no matter!" Princess Nian Youyou said with a smile.

"What happened?" Hun Tiandi inquired.

"We have already analyzed the Mu Lan Empire's surface strength and made preparations, but this empire's hidden strength is also not weak!"

Yun Xiao sighed.

"Oh?" Hun Tiandi asked in confusion.

"The Mu Lan Empire's strength is fully capable of unifying the Northwest Continent and entering the Central Plains, yet they insist on staying in this remote corner. This shows their Emperor has great vision and strategy!"

"Based on our analysis, the Mu Lan Empire still has two forces!" Yun Xiao said calmly.

"Two forces?"

"The first is the Grand Empress of the Mu Lan Empire. This woman was previously Mulan Emperor's most beloved wife. A hundred years ago, the Emperor obtained a fragmented cultivation technique of immense power. He found the person closest to him to practice it, and that was the Grand Empress!"

Yun Xiao frowned.

"What happened after?" Princess Nian Youyou asked.

"Afterward, the Grand Empress spent her days wrapped in a black robe, and Mulan Emperor did not dare to touch her again!" Yun Xiao said.

"Oh?"

"He never dared to touch her again, but her position is very stable; no one can shake it. Once, a favored concubine slandered the Grand Empress, but she was thrown into the cold palace and never came out again!"

Yun Xiao sighed.

"Are you trying to say that this Grand Empress possesses some kind of terrifying power?" Hun Tiandi's sword-like brows twitched.

"Most likely!" Yun Xiao said.

"We'll deal with it when the time comes!" Hun Tiandi thought for a moment.

"As for the second force, it is the Heavenly Snake Sect. It has some connection with the Mu Lan Empire, and a branch of the sect is stationed within Luoyan City!"

Yun Xiao frowned.

"Indeed, I have sent people to investigate. This Heavenly Snake Sect seems to have contact with the Heavenly Serpent Mansion of the Northwest Continent!" Hun Tiandi nodded.