14: The Peerless Emperor (Part 8)

The Xiang Estate.

It was magnificent and opulent, filled with guests.

Today was the eighteenth birthday banquet of Xiang Tian, the only son of Marshal Xiang Tong. Within the Imperial Capital, almost all the young talents affiliated with the First Prince's faction had arrived.

At the banquet, cups were clinking, and the sound of flattery was endless.

Xiang Tian was surrounded by the crowd in the center, wearing a look of arrogance, holding court.

"The Langxu Kingdom in the north is nothing but barbarians who repeatedly violate our borders. In my opinion, we should gather the three major legions with a thunderous momentum and flatten their royal court within half a year!"

"Young Master Xiang Tian has deep insight!"

"That's right, mere Langxu, not worth mentioning!"

The surrounding Young Masters chimed in, the atmosphere reaching a fever pitch.

Just then, an untimely voice drifted lightly from the entrance.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Everyone looked toward the sound.

Wu Yun was seen in black robes, alone, standing before the door with his hands behind his back.

He had no invitation, yet he walked in leisurely as if he were the master of this estate.

The entire venue fell silent instantly.

Everyone's gaze focused on this uninvited guest, some with astonishment, some with mockery, others with hostility.

Xiang Tian's expression sank on the spot.

Wu Yun, how did he come here?

A follower immediately jumped out, pointing at Wu Yun's nose and shouting: "Wu Yun! Who let you in? You are not welcome here!"

Wu Yun didn't even glance at him, his gaze falling directly on Xiang Tian, a playful smile on his lips.

"Young Master Xiang has quite the grand display. However, I just heard that Young Master Xiang intends to flatten the Langxu Kingdom within half a year. I wonder, has Young Master Xiang considered the issue of provisions and fodder?"

Xiang Tian snorted coldly: "Our Empire's troops are strong and horses sturdy, and provisions are naturally abundant. Why would I need you to worry about it?"

"The north enters winter extremely early, with heavy snow blocking the mountains. Once the supply route is cut, what will the million-strong army eat? Will they eat snow?"

Wu Yun's voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered everyone's ears.

"This..."

Xiang Tian was momentarily speechless. He had studied military manuals since childhood, but most of it was armchair strategy; he had never considered such practical details.

Wu Yun took two steps forward and continued to ask.

"The terrain of the Langxu Kingdom is complex, with many mountains, forests, and swamps, rendering the advantage of cavalry useless. If the enemy forces break into smaller units to skirmish with our army in the mountains and forests, how would Young Master Xiang respond?"

"I..."

Cold sweat appeared on Xiang Tian's forehead.

Wu Yun pressed on, his voice becoming increasingly cold.

"The Langxu Kingdom has a populace where everyone is a soldier; their folk customs are fierce, and they have formed alliances with several surrounding small nations. If a large army presses the border, it will inevitably trigger a chain reaction. When surrounded on all sides, has Young Master Xiang thought about the consequences?"

"..."

Xiang Tian was completely speechless.

With every question Wu Yun asked, his face went paler.

The Young Masters who were just flattering him now looked at Xiang Tian as if he were a fool.

The difference was immediately clear.

Every question Wu Yun raised was like a sharp blade, precisely piercing the vital points of Xiang Tian's seemingly perfect battle plan.

These insights were not at all like words a youth raised in a sheltered environment could speak; instead, they sounded like a veteran general who had experienced many battles.

"Knowing nothing of military strategy, yet speaking recklessly of war. Young Master Xiang, you, as the son of a Marshal, are truly ridiculous."

Wu Yun left these heart-piercing words behind, stopped looking at the pale-faced Xiang Tian, and turned to leave.

In the entire banquet hall, one could hear a pin drop.

Xiang Tian stood where he was, trembling all over, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. The vanity stripped away in public transformed into endless humiliation and resentment, crazily breeding in his heart.

Wu Yun!

I must defeat you completely in military affairs!

The night was like ink.

Wu Yun walked on the road back to his mansion, his expression indifferent.

He knew that his actions tonight had completely enraged Xiang Tian and offended Xiang Tong.

But this was exactly what he wanted.

The fish should have taken the bait.

The moment he turned into a secluded alley, a feeling of deadly crisis struck him suddenly.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Five black shadows, like ghosts, silently rushed out from the shadows of the alley.

Each figure exuded the terrifying pressure of the Spirit King Realm!

Five Spirit Kings!

What a grand gesture!

This power was enough to easily annihilate a first-rate Family.

"Your Highness, run!"

An aged figure instantly appeared in front of Wu Yun; it was his Dao Protector.

The old man's beard and hair stood on end. Without hesitation, he burned his own Origin, erupting with the most brilliant radiance of his life as he faced four of the black-clad figures.

"Boom!"

Violent spiritual power exploded, and the entire alley instantly turned into dust.

The Dao Protector used his life to buy a glimmer of survival for Wu Yun.

But there was still one left.

The last Spirit King expert followed like a shadow, striking a palm toward Wu Yun's heart.

Before the palm wind arrived, the overbearing force had already caused the bones in Wu Yun's body to groan under the unbearable weight.

A matter of life and death!

There was not a trace of panic in Wu Yun's eyes.

The combat experience of three lifetimes of Reincarnation exploded at this moment.

His body twisted at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding the vital point of his heart, while simultaneously using the force of the palm wind to propel himself forward like a cannonball.

"Eh?"

The Spirit King made a sound of surprise, clearly not expecting that a mere Ninth Level Spirit Transformation Realm could dodge his must-kill strike.

Wu Yun did not stop at all, tapping his toes on the wall repeatedly, his figure speeding through the broken walls, constantly changing direction.

The Spirit King pursued relentlessly, his palm wind whistling, every strike containing destructive power.

Wu Yun dodged in a wretched state, new wounds constantly appearing on his body, fresh blood staining his black clothes.

But he was always able to avoid fatal attacks at the most critical moment with the minimum cost.

The Spirit King became more and more alarmed as he fought.

Is this brat really in the Spirit Transformation Realm?

If this continues, it might attract the Imperial Guards!

Thinking of this, murderous intent flashed in the Spirit King's eyes. He no longer held back, pointing a finger, and even the space solidified.

Wu Yun had nowhere to dodge!

Just then, an angry shout exploded like a thunderclap.

"How dare you!"

A golden light descended from the sky, slamming heavily between Wu Yun and the Spirit King.

The terrifying shockwave blew the Spirit King away. He spat out a mouthful of blood and, without hesitation, escaped into the darkness and disappeared.

The Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

Emperor Shenwu looked at the blood-covered, pale-faced Wu Yun, his face sinking until it seemed water could drip from it.

"Snap!"

The imperial brush in his hand was crushed into powder.

"Good, very good! In my Imperial Capital, to brazenly assassinate my prince, do you really think I am dead!"

The Emperor's rage made the temperature in the entire hall feel as if it had dropped to freezing point.

What pleased him was that Wu Yun's talent far exceeded his expectations.

Ninth Level Spirit Transformation Realm, holding his own against a Spirit King for so long! What a Heaven-Defying achievement!

This child has the potential of the Earth Spirit Realm!

Such a Prodigy almost died tonight!

Wu Yun coughed up blood at the right moment and said weakly: "Your Majesty... the assassin's Cultivation Technique... was cold and treacherous, it seems... to be the style of the northern Langxu Kingdom..."

Once these words were spoken, Emperor Shenwu's eyes instantly became sharp.

Langxu Kingdom?

He immediately associated it with more.

Wu Yun was assassinated just after coming out of Xiang Tong's mansion. Xiang Tong, as the military Marshal, was unaware? If he wasn't guilty, he was incompetent!

Either way, it was unforgivable!

Murderous intent surged in Emperor Shenwu's eyes.

The next day, at the morning court.

Emperor Shenwu was furious in court, using thunderous means to dismiss over a dozen city defense officials related to Xiang Tong.

Marshal Xiang Tong was publicly reprimanded, pushed from his semi-retired state directly to the front line, and ordered to make amends by personally taking charge of the war against the Langxu Kingdom.

In the court, Wu Yun stood out.

"Your Majesty, if the youth are strong, the country is strong! The future of the Empire lies in our generation of youth. I request to form a 'Martial Prodigy Army' composed of the Empire's young Prodigies, to march to the northern border, serve the country, and temper ourselves in the flames of war!"

Once this was said, the civil and military officials of the court were shocked.

Emperor Shenwu looked at the spirited youth below, and the Dragon's face was greatly pleased.

"Request granted! I appoint you as the commander of the Martial Prodigy Army, to be formed immediately!"

The news spread, and the entire younger generation of the Empire was stirred.

And inside the Marshal's mansion, Xiang Tian heard the news that Wu Yun had become the commander of the Martial Prodigy Army, while he had to take orders under him, and was so angry that he smashed his most beloved jade artifact on the spot.

"Wu Yun! A piece of trash who only knows how to talk, and he is fit to be a commander?"

"I want to see if you can still be as full of Divine Qi on the battlefield as you were that day at the banquet!"