54: Nineteen Chaotic Domains of Central Plains

Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty, Imperial Palace.

Inside the grand Divine Phoenix Hall, the furnishings were well-ordered and spotless.

Wisps of smoke rose from several spiritual incense burners, bringing peace to the mind.

The Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty's officials stood in ranks on either side, their expressions respectful and reverent.

Seated on the Imperial Throne was the first female Emperor in the Four Seas and Five Regions, from ancient times to the present.

Phoenix eyes, a golden crown, and a cold countenance.

On the pattern of her cloud-brocade Imperial Robe, a Divine Phoenix suppressed a True Dragon.

Several different golden Phoenix patterns, like spiritual beings, soared forth, circling and softly crying, adding to her majesty.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the people from Black Dragon Terrace have successfully brought Princess Wuhuang back; she just passed through the border a while ago,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Divine Phoenix Imperial Guards reported respectfully.

“Your Majesty, since Princess Wuhuang has returned safely, should our army retreat?”

In the main hall, Spirit Phoenix King Shangguan Yue’s spiritual avatar inquired.

The Empress pondered, but remained silent.

After a moment of silence in the main hall, a veteran official stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, the Great Wu Dynasty is strong on the outside but weak on the inside; it has long lost its former might. This time, the Jade Luan Army has achieved consecutive victories.

Even the Heavenly Martial Army of the Wu Dynasty would find it difficult to contend with its sharp edge. This old official believes we should seize this opportunity to expand our territory and display the Divine Might of our Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty!”

“This subject seconds the motion!”

“The internal strife in the Wu Dynasty is severe, and not long ago, a tragic palace coup erupted. Of the four major military camps in Wu Prefecture, all but the Winged Dragon Camp now exist in name only.”

“Now is the perfect time to capture the Wu Dynasty’s capital in one fell swoop!”

“The Heavenly Martial Army can barely contend with the Jade Luan Army; if our Dynasty dispatches another elite force from the Southern Border, the Wu Dynasty will surely be unable to resist!”

“This subject seconds the motion!”

“This subject requests to go to war!”

The officials of the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty were eager to try; the achievement of expanding territory would surely be remembered for a thousand years, and everyone wanted a piece of the pie.

The Empress slightly raised her hand, silencing all voices.

Her pair of majestic Phoenix eyes gazed at Shangguan Yue’s spiritual avatar, and she asked coolly, “Without deploying a single soldier from the Southern Border, Shangguan, how confident are you in taking the Wu Dynasty’s Imperial Capital?”

“Less than sixty percent.”

Shangguan Yue said frankly, “A centipede dies but never falls. If the Wu Dynasty truly reaches a precarious state, on the verge of collapse, the Cultivators of the entire nation will be roused to fight, becoming a formidable army.

Although the Great Yuan Imperial Dynasty in the Northern Plains has offered the Blue Phoenix Totem as tribute to our Dynasty and promised to contain the Xu Family’s army in the northern lands, if it truly comes to that, the war situation can change in an instant… everything will be very difficult to control.”

“Then have the Jade Luan Army withdraw from the Northern Border.”

The Empress’s words were golden and unquestionable.

“The progress of conquering the Southern Border is urgent, and the Nineteen Chaotic Domains of the Central Plains must also be incorporated into the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty’s territory.”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

Although the officials’ proposals were rejected, no one dared to argue further.

“Shangguan, you will lead the Jade Luan Army to the northwest front, enter the Jinmu Kingdom, take control of the government, and from this point, eliminate the Seven Kings City and pacify the Nineteen Chaotic Domains.”

“Yes!” Shangguan Yue respectfully received the order… The Nineteen Chaotic Domains, adjacent to the Tianyuan Lake in the very center of the Central Plains, spanned a vast area of nineteen prefectures, and was also the junction of the Great Wu Dynasty, the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty, and the Great Yan Dynasty.

Although there were kingdoms here, it was exceptionally chaotic.

To the west, the Great Yan Dynasty occupied three prefectures, establishing the Eastern Capital Prefecture.

To the east, the Jinmu Kingdom occupied three prefectures, located between the Wu Dynasty and the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty.

There were also the Snowman Clan Dynasty with one prefecture, the Sky Fox Clan Dynasty with two prefectures, and the Blood Clan Dynasty with three prefectures.

And the most special Seven Kings City, each occupying one prefecture.

The Seven Kings City, also known as the Seven Great Free Cities, were the seven largest cities in the Four Seas and Five Regions.

They were controlled by a group of outliers (anomalies) who worshipped ancient evil gods. The cities had no rules or regulations, serving as a paradise for the strong and a Hell for the weak, attracting countless desperate individuals from the Four Seas and Five Regions.

Over thousands of years, the Seven Kings City had been razed several times by allied armies of various Imperial Dynasties, but each time they managed to rise again.

In the current chaotic world, their power had grown even stronger, reaching an unprecedented peak. They had already begun to raid surrounding kingdoms, and even the borders of Imperial Dynasties, acting with extreme arrogance, yet no single power dared to truly go to war with them for the time being.

Blood Clan Undying Kingdom.

Blood Spirit Prefecture, where the Wu Dynasty army was stationed.

Xia Ying’s main body and her Blood Fetus Clone were both in the tent, listening to her subordinates’ reports. Her expression beneath the silver mask was somewhat ferocious, her eyes sharp and piercingly cold.

“Hmph, what a Emperor Wanwu, what a Xia Xuan!”

Her mind matured early; at the age of ten, she remained in the army, secretly Cultivating the Blood God Art, setting up the Blood Fiend Sect and the Wu Dynasty Imperial Capital, and gradually infiltrating and gaining control of the Killing Altar.

She had waited too long for this day of palace coup and regicide.

Unfortunately, she ultimately lost to Emperor Wanwu’s ruthless calculations and the sudden rise of the King of Chu.

Now that her true intentions were revealed, the Wu Dynasty no longer had a place for her.

Fortunately, over the years, she had accumulated a considerable fortune; the one hundred thousand Iron-Blooded Army stationed in Blood Spirit Prefecture of the Undying Kingdom were fiercely loyal to her.

“One day, I will reclaim everything I lost in the Wu Dynasty!”

Xia Ying looked at the map of the Nineteen Chaotic Domains, her gaze gradually shifting towards the territory of the Great Yan Dynasty in the Western Desert.

Her lips moved, secretly transmitting a message.

A moment later, a beautiful, charming woman with snow-white skin, blood-red pupils, disheveled clothes, and a purple scorpion tattooed on her full breasts, entered the tent, asking with confusion:

“How did the little demoness suddenly come to her senses? Is it because she’s been watching elder sister and your vice-generals enjoying themselves these past few days, and couldn’t resist?”

“Watch your mouth!”

Xia Ying coldly reprimanded, “Do you really think everyone in the world is as filthy as the people of your Desire King City? This Marquis only discusses transactions with Lord Yan.”

The blood-eyed woman laughed, shaking like a flower branch: “You’re already willing to serve Lord Yan, yet you still speak so righteously. Once you, little demoness, experience the Divine Might of Lord Yan, who has three thousand women, I hope you can still be so stubborn.

Tell me, what do you want? Lord Yan is quite infatuated with an unyielding icy beauty like you.”

“The three prefectures’ garrison of the Great Yan Eastern Capital, at This Marquis’s disposal. If you agree, This Marquis will let Lord Yan do as he pleases.”

Xia Ying’s true body slowly removed her mask.

This face was so beautiful it was almost demonic, surpassing her Blood Fetus Clone a thousand times over.

Years ago, the Wu Dynasty Imperial Capital had no title of ‘Four Great Beauties.’ Her birth mother, the foremost beauty of the Wu Dynasty, died at Emperor Wanwu’s hands in the prime of her life.

Xia Ying perfectly inherited her noble consort’s beauty and the Blood Jade Physique, making her a perfect cauldron for all Cultivators of the Blood Dao in the world.

Lord Yan did not Cultivate the Blood Dao, but he was keen on collecting beauties with various unique Physiques from all over the world.

“You want to move against the Seven Kings City?”

The blood-eyed woman frowned and said, “I advise you not to court disaster; their backing is not as simple as you think.”

Xia Ying sneered, “Deliver my message well, and don’t interfere too much.”

“Hmph, that decaying Great Yan Dynasty is nothing to rely on. If you want to borrow power, you might as well join our Desire King City. With your beauty, everyone in the city would be willing to let you ascend to the position of City Lord.”

The blood-eyed woman scrutinized Xia Ying, her gaze lewd.

“Get out!”

...Wu Dynasty, New Imperial Palace.

The new palace, built with Emperor Wanwu’s entire private treasury, was a hundred times more magnificent than the former Imperial Palace.

Within the yuanfu mountain great formation, palace walls stretched endlessly. As far as the eye could see, shimmering light danced, golden and splendid, grand and majestic, with pavilions, terraces, and immortal palaces standing like a forest.

The Bronze Sparrow Terrace had also been moved there by Xia Xuan.

At this moment, by the mythical wine pool.

Xia Xuan rested his head on a beauty’s lap, his consciousness sinking into the star-filled space of the lottery.