55: Chapter 54 The World Shocked

Great Yan Imperial Calendar, First Month of the First Year of yuanchun, 23rd Day.

On the day Crown Prince Xiao Xuan returned to the capital, a heavy snow fell upon the city.

When the army entered the city from the North Gate, the sky was already dark. Thick snow had accumulated on the eaves along the long street, reflecting a warm yellow light under the glow of lanterns. The commoners stood on both sides of the road; no one spoke, they simply watched this army that had returned from the Northern Border in silence.

Thirty thousand men had set out; after half a month's journey, three thousand had died. Those who lived were covered in wounds, and bloodstains that hadn't been cleaned off still marked their armor. Yet they marched straight and tall, like thirty thousand unsheathed blades.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan rode at the very front, with General Xiang Yu following behind him. The tiger-headed coiling dragon halberd rested across the saddle, the two characters for 'Overlord' on the blade flashing with a cold light in the snowy reflection. He didn't let a single trace of his aura leak out, but everyone who saw him felt the same sensation—standing there was not a man, but a mountain.

General Dian Wei, General Guan Yu, and General Lu Bu followed behind. Four True Gods—one True God Great Perfection and three in the Early Stage of the True God realm—such a lineup had never been seen in the entire Great Yan Dynasty. Zhang Liang stood before the mansion gates, watching the figure drawing closer. He had grown thinner and darker, but his eyes were brighter than before.

"Your Highness has returned," he said softly.

Strategist Guo Jia stood beside him, his gaze falling upon General Xiang Yu. "Who is that person?"

Zhang Liang was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "General Xiang Yu."

Strategist Guo Jia sucked in a breath of cold air. He was a strategist, but he had read the history books. He knew better than anyone what the name Xiang Yu signified.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan reined in his horse, looked at them, and smiled. "Let's talk inside."

The first basement level.

Everyone had arrived. Zhao Gao, Strategist Jia Xu, Xiao He, Chen Qingzhi, Di Renjie, Master Lu Ban, Zhangsun Wuji, Jiang Ziya, Zhang Liang, Strategist Guo Jia, General Guan Yu, General Dian Wei, General Lu Bu, and the newcomer, General Xiang Yu. Fourteen people crowded the entire hall to capacity.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat in the main seat and recounted everything that had happened at the Northern Di Royal Court. The Heavenly God from beyond the heavens, whose cultivation was sealed at the True God Great Perfection; the remains of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor; and the power scattered across various parts of the continent. He spoke calmly, as if telling a story that had nothing to do with him. But everyone knew that this story concerned the life and death of Great Yan.

Zhang Liang was the first to speak: "Your Highness, where is that Heavenly God now?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan shook his head. "I don't know. He took a fragment of the Heavenly Emperors remains and left."

Strategist Jia Xu stroked his beard and said, "He will surely go to other places to find fragments. Each of the Four Great Empires and Six Great Sects might be hiding one."

Strategist Guo Jia added, "The point is, he doesn't know Your Highness also has one. This is our advantage."

Zhang Liang nodded and looked at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan. "Your Highness, I suggest we spread the news of Northern Di's destruction throughout the world. Once the Four Great Empires and Six Great Sects know, they will surely send people to investigate. The more people come, the more clues we can find."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan thought for a moment and nodded. "Good. Let's do it that way."

He stood up and walked to the territorial map. On the map, Great Yan no longer had enemies to the north. But to the east was Great Qin, to the west was Great Zhou, and to the south was Great Shang. Although Northern Di was gone from the north, Great Xia was still there. Four Great Empires, four tigers, were lurking on all sides.

"Zi Fang," he suddenly spoke, "do you think that Heavenly God might have already joined forces with one of the Four Great Empires?"

The hall fell silent. Everyone was considering this question. If a Heavenly God joined forces with an empire, then Great Yan would not be facing a single person, but an entire nation.

Zhang Liang was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "It is possible. Furthermore, I believe the possibility is highest for Great Xia."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at him. "Why?"

Zhang Liang said, "Great Xia is the head of the Four Great Empires, is closest to Northern Di, and most desires to annex Great Yan. The Heavenly God needs someone to help him find and seize the Heavenly Emperors remains. Great Xia needs the Heavenly God's power to deal with Great Yan. It's a matter of mutual benefit."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent for a long time. Then he smiled. "Then we'll strike Great Xia first."

The next day. Morning court.

Chengde Palace.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan sat on the dragon throne, his face ruddy and his eyes filled with smiles. His son had destroyed Northern Di. The lives of one hundred and thirty thousand Northern Di people had bought three hundred years of peace for Great Yan's northern border. This was the news he had waited twenty years for.

"The Crown Prince arrives—"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stepped inside. Today he wore the Crown Prince's court robes—black base with gold patterns, a white jade belt at the waist, and a purple-gold crown on his head. Behind him followed one person—General Xiang Yu. He wore no armor, only black casual clothes, and did not bring the tiger-headed coiling dragon halberd. But simply by standing there, the entire Chengde Palace fell silent. Those court officials in the True God Realm turned pale one by one. Because they felt it—this person was stronger than all of them combined.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan felt it too. He looked at General Xiang Yu, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Old Seventh, this person is—"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said, "Father, this is General Xiang Yu, a new guard I have recruited. He is at the True God Great Perfection."

The hall erupted in an uproar. True God Great Perfection? Among the Old Ancestors of the Great Yan Dynasty, the First Old Ancestor was at True God Perfection, while the Second and Third Old Ancestors were at the Late Stage of the True God Realm. True God Great Perfection—that was the Peak this world could accommodate. In the entire Great Yan Dynasty, not a single person had reached this Realm.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Good, good, good." He said 'good' three times in a row, then looked at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan. "Old Seventh, how do you plan to handle Northern Di?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said, "Northern Di is destroyed. A Northern Border Protectorate will be established on its land, with General Li Mu serving as the Protector. The surrendered Northern Di people will be entered into the Great Yan household registry and settled with land grants."

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan nodded. "Approved."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan continued, "I have one more matter."

"Speak."

"The Great Xia Empire has frequently provoked us at the border in recent years. I request an imperial decree to reorganize the army and prepare for war against Great Xia."

There was another stir in the hall. Great Xia? The head of the Four Great Empires? The Crown Prince wants to go to war with Great Xia?

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan looked at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan for a long time. Then he spoke only one word: "Approved."

The capital, a restaurant in the west of the city.

Grand Elder Renxuanzi stood by the window, holding a secret letter in his hand. The letter had been sent from Great Xia, and it contained only one line: 'The Emperor of Great Xia has secretly met with the Heavenly God; the two sides have formed an alliance.'

He held the letter over a candle flame to burn it, watching the fire consume the characters on the paper. A Disciple stood behind him and asked cautiously, "Elder, the Crown Prince is going to war with Great Xia. What shall we do?"

Grand Elder Renxuanzi was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "Send the letter to the Crown Prince."

The Disciple was stunned. "Elder, this is Great Xia's top-secret intelligence—"

Grand Elder Renxuanzi interrupted him. "I said, send it to the Crown Prince."

The Disciple bowed. "Yes."

As he turned to leave, Grand Elder Renxuanzi called out to him, "One more thing."

The Disciple stopped in his tracks.

Grand Elder Renxuanzi said, "Pass down the order: all secret agents of the Renxuan Sect in Great Xia are to fully cooperate with the Crown Prince. I want to know every move Great Xia makes."

The Disciple gasped. "Elder, this is revealing all of the Renxuan Sect's hidden trump cards."

Grand Elder Renxuanzi smiled. "Trump cards? Things kept hidden are trump cards. Those played out are called a token of loyalty."

North of the city, the Great Qin Empire's embassy.

Prince Ying Zheng sat in the courtyard, a thin layer of snow resting on the chessboard before him. He didn't brush it away, simply watching it quietly. An old servant stood behind him and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince has destroyed Northern Di and gained a fierce general at the True God Great Perfection. Now he is going to war with Great Xia."

Prince Ying Zheng nodded. "This prince has heard."

The old servant said, "Your Highness, should we do something?"

Prince Ying Zheng was silent for a moment, then picked up a black piece from the board and placed it on the 'Tian Yuan' center position. That move was called a 'Stab'. "Pass down the order to prepare. Tomorrow, this prince shall go to the Crown Prince's Mansion."

The old servant was startled. "Your Highness wants to see the Crown Prince?"

Prince Ying Zheng smiled slightly. "This prince wants to see exactly what kind of person makes even Great Xia afraid."

Crown Prince's Mansion, the first basement level.

The night was deep. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat alone in the main seat, the fragment of the Heavenly Emperors remains brought back from the Northern Di Royal Court spread out before him. The fragment was only palm-sized and entirely pitch-black, carved with fine, intricate patterns. Under the lamplight, those patterns seemed alive, flowing slowly.

He reached out and touched the fragment. The moment his fingertips made contact, a vast power surged into his body. It wasn't spiritual energy, but something older and purer. His cultivation broke through directly from the heaven-man realm Perfection to the Early Stage of the Void God Realm. Then it continued to rise—Middle Stage Void God, Late Stage Void God, void god perfection. It stopped right before the threshold of the True God Realm.

[System Notification: Host has absorbed a fragment of the Heavenly Emperors remains. Cultivation increased to void god perfection. Current Luck value: 3900/1000. Three summons can be performed. Summon immediately?]

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was in no hurry to summon. He opened his eyes and looked at the fragment in his hand. A palm-sized fragment could make him break through from the heaven-man realm to void god perfection. If he collected all the fragments, could he break through directly to True God? Or even higher?

The door was pushed open, and Jiang Ziya walked in.

"Your Highness," he glanced at the fragment on the table, "this thing cannot be used a second time."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked up. "Why?"

Jiang Ziya said, "The power of the Heavenly Emperors remains is too overbearing. Your Highness's current body has already reached its limit by enduring it once. Using it again will cause problems."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded and put the fragment away. "Master Jiang, when do you think Great Xia will make its move?"

Jiang Ziya was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "It won't be long. The Emperor of Great Xia has allied with the Heavenly God; with such backing, he will surely strike while Great Yan has not yet fully recovered its Origin Qi. Three months—at most three months."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the snow had stopped. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, shining on the accumulated snow with a piercing brightness.

"Three months," he murmured to himself, "that's enough."

He closed his eyes and sank his consciousness into his mind.

"Summon."

A golden screen of light lit up in his mind. This time, it wasn't one figure, but three.

The first figure was tall, with a face like a dark red date, holding a green dragon crescent blade—no, it wasn't General Guan Yu, it was someone else. The man's face was resolute, his gaze like lightning, and his entire body radiated a sharp Saber Intent.

[Summoned Character: Yue Fei]

[Courtesy Name: Pengju]

[Dynasty: Southern Song]

[Realm: Middle Stage of the True God Realm]

[Position: Military General]

[Abilities: Serving the Country with Supreme Loyalty, Yue Family Army Soul, Grandmaster of Military Strategy, Wumu's Art of War]

The second figure was stalwart with a rugged face, holding a pair of iron whips, his entire body radiating a blood-and-iron Killing Intent.

[Summoned Character: General Yuchi Gong]

[Courtesy Name: Jingde]

[Dynasty: Early Tang]

[Realm: Early Stage of the True God realm]

[Position: Military General]

[Abilities: Might of the Door God, Armor-Breaking Iron Whips, Peerless Bravery, Death-Defying Guardian]

The third figure was lean with an elegant face, holding a longsword, standing there like a pine tree.

[Summoned Character: Xin Qiji]

[Courtesy Name: Courtesy Name of Xin Qiji]

[Dynasty: Southern Song]

[Realm: Early Stage of the True God realm]

[Position: Strategist/Military General]

[Abilities: Dragon Among Poets, Taking the Head Amidst Ten Thousand, Military Strategy and Tactics, Eternal Loyalty and Righteousness]

The three of them knelt on one knee in unison.

"Yue Fei!"

"General Yuchi Gong!"

"Xin Qiji!"

"Greet the Lord!"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at the three figures before him, his heart greatly settled. One Middle Stage True God and two Early Stage True Gods. Added to General Xiang Yu's True God Great Perfection, Jiang Ziya's Middle Stage True God, and the Early Stage True Gods of General Lu Bu, General Guan Yu, and General Dian Wei. By his side, he already had one True God Great Perfection, two Middle Stage True Gods, and five Early Stage True Gods. With such a lineup, he wouldn't even fear a direct war with Great Xia.

"Rise." He helped the three up and looked at Yue Fei, "Pengju, you've come at the perfect time. I intend to reorganize the army and prepare for war. How many men do you need?"

Yue Fei thought for a moment. "Your Highness, the Yue Family Army's formation requires thirty thousand men."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan nodded. "Good. The thirty thousand of the White Robe Army are yours."

Yue Fei cupped his fists. "I lead the command!"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan then looked at General Yuchi Gong and Xin Qiji. "Jingde, Courtesy Name of Xin Qiji, you two stay in the mansion for now. When the war starts, there will be plenty for you to fight."

The two cupped their hands together. "Yes!"