Gate of God

by Stayrr

This is a strange and inexplicable world…Mountains, water, stones, flowers, grass, trees, wood, the Sun, moonlight, stars… All creation under the Heavens and Earths are sources of energy. In this world, there are all the classics from his previous world, but there is a new addition: The Law of Dao. Fang Zhengzhi was conflicted. I can obtain power from reading books? Should I read T

13. 397

Read Gate of God - Chapter 397: Great opportunity online free - Light Novel Full

Chapter 397: Great opportunity

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

The wind continued to assault the people on the cliff. Fang Zhengzhi was they eye of the storm, the origin of this chaos.

The icy cold continued to intertwine with the rain, blowing Yun Qingwu's dress upwards.

No one wanted to get close, not voluntarily at least. However, Yun Qingwu stepped forward once again.

She was like a boat in the storm.

Alone and insignificant, but bobbing in the rough waters. No matter how strong the winds or how choppy the waters, the boat showed no sign of sinking.

"Fang Zhengzhi, if you want to kill Yun Qingwu, then you have to go through me, Si Ponan!" Just at this moment, another voice rang out. It was not loud, but everyone heard it.

Then, a figure stood up shakily, standing between Fang Zhengzhi and Yun Qingwu.

There were only three people on that cliff.

The only person who could put himself between Fang Zhengzhi and Yun Qingwu was the young, half kneeling vice domain chief.

However, this time, he did not address Yun Qingwu by her title. He called her by name.

Even so, Yun Qingwu did not seem to mind.

In fact, even Bai Xing, Wu Ji, and the dozens of demon elites were not stunned or shocked by this.

Because...

His name was Si Ponan!

"Si Ponan? That young demon... is from the Si Family?!"

"Is it that Si?"

"If that really is his name, then it has to be that family. There is only one family with surname Si amongst all the demons! Only one family that dares to take on that surname!"

When all of the candidates heard Si Ponan's voice, they stared right at him, their eyes filled with shock and awe.

The world of the demons was different from those of the humans.

The humans built an empire by handing the throne to their son. For the demons, their empire was supported by three major families.

This had something to do with their reproduction. No one could say for sure if the current demon lord would have a son.

Even if they did, they would not have many children, one or two at most. Furthermore, no one could guarantee that the children of the current Demon Lord could take on the responsibility of being the next Demon Lord.

As such...

Keeping this in mind, the demon race set up a ruling coalition with three families.

If the sons of one family were not up to the task, they would pick the lord from the other two. The criteria included their cultivation state, aura, demeanor, and contributions.

As such, after the death of a Demon Lord, the next Demon Lord may not share the same surname as the previous one, even if the previous one had children.

The three families were the Yun Family, the Si Family, and the Yu Family.

Si...

The same family as that of the Demon Lord Si Kong!

It was said that when Si Kong was in power, the demons were more powerful than they were at any time in history. The demon army even reached the gates of Yan Jing, almost snuffing out the human race.

This battle was at the gates of Yan Jing, and the rivers flowed with blood.

In the end, the Demon Lord Si Kong was killed in the Blood Shadow City. He was killed by the Sagely Battle God Meng Tian.

And now...

The sword continued to glow purple in Fang Zhengzhi's hand. The sword tip was lowered at Si Ponan's throat. Si Ponan's blood still stained the blade.

"Kaboom!"

The purple lightning shot across the sky and illuminated Si Ponan's face. His face was pale and powerless, but he was determined.

"Fang Zhengzhi, I know that the demons and humans have not gotten along. I will not blink when you strike. We are the superior race!" Si Ponan's blade continued to shake as he raised the blade. Just standing up took all the power that he had.

However, he still managed to stand up, letting the rain pummel his body.

"Si Ponan?"

"Si..."

"Die!"

Fang Zhengzhi murmured to himself. His raised sword stopped in mid-air, the lightsword in his eyes twirling manically.

It may have been a hallucination, but as the sword continued to swirl, the purple light around his blade also seemed to move, rings of purple exploding outwards.

"Hum!"

"Hum!"

The ripple-like killing aura that surrounded his body also became a lot more chaotic. It was a sharp lightsword one moment, and completely absorbed by the body the next.

"Kaboom!"

The thunderous boom echoed through the skies.

The Traceless Sword in Fang Zhengzhi's hand began to shake, a crisp whine and hum echoing out as the purple light blinked manically.

It felt like he was struggling...

"What's wrong with Fang Zhengzhi? Why isn't he striking? This is a great opportunity! He can easily defeat Si Ponan!"

"Could it be that he is afraid of the Si Family avenging Si Ponan? I doubt it. If he was scared, he should be more afraid of the Yun Family!"

"Could it be that he wants to let Yun Qingwu off? That doesn't seem likely... if he really wanted to let Yun Qingwu off, why would he go and stop her? Who would have forced him to go up there?"

"No no... Fang Zhengzhi doesn't look alright!"

"Was he ever alright ever since he regained consciousness?"

"It's not that, look... his aura is getting quite large, it feels as though he can't control it."

"Could it be that he can't control it because he's used up too much energy?"

All of the candidates looked at the purple glow on the cliff. Fang Zhengzhi's body kept radiating killing auras.

Xing Qingsui, Xing Yuanguo, Nangong Hao, Bai Xing, and Wu Ji were all confused by what they were seeing. The people from the Great Xia were anxious.

The demons were surprised at this turn of events.

They were just thrown a lifeline.

The demons were ruled by the three families. Yun Qingwu was not the most powerful child, but she was the one who commanded the most respect.

There was no one even close to her.

If the current Demon Lord was the most powerful one, Yun QIngwu was the most charismatic and intelligent. Furthermore, no one would dare to contest that ranking.

In actual fact, Yun Qingwu may have been born into a powerful family, but people rarely thought highly of her. Her gender was the first reason.

The second reason was her cultivation talent.

It was ordinary.

Extremely ordinary. Even though she was not at the very bottom, but amongst the demons, especially those of the big three families, Yun Qingwu was not held in high regard.

It didn't matter that her father was the current Demon Lord!

No one thought that the Yun Qingwu, who had little talent for cultivation, would be able to succeed the throne.

Even her father thought the same way.

The demons were different from the humans.

The demons did not bother about the lineage or bloodline. Yun Qingwu's father began to concentrate more on the other Yun disciples.

He wanted the Yun family to stay in power.

Yun Qingwu was not too bothered about this. Being born into this family meant that she could still be a princess.

Then, one day, she saw her father in the library. Her father was depressed, lost, even helpless.

As the Demon Lord...

Yun Qingwu had held her father in high regard. Her father was the Demon Lord, the leader of the demons, the most powerful demon there was.

He should be powerful, domineering, and happy.

But why?

Why was her father...

So depressed?

Yun QIngwu did not understand it. However, the next day, she heard that one of the Yu Family disciples had broken through to the Heavenly Reflection State at the age of 12.

Since that day, she did not see her father much.

That child of the Yu Family moved to her place, and she was sent to a residence miles away from the Blood Shadow City.

At that time, she was five.

Five years later...

Yun Qingwu returned to the Blood Shadow City. The disciples of all the three families, including that 12-year-old Heavenly Reflection State talent, gathered at the gates and welcomed her respectfully.

From that moment on, Yun Qingwu was rarely called by name.

Every demon called her...

Young Master!

Yun Qingwu was 10 that year.

Another five years passed in a flash.

Everyone knew that the demons had a mysterious young master, but they did not know she was Yun Qingwu.

Yun Qingwu smuggled her way into the human world and became an artistic talent in an instant. All of the boys loved her.

Yet, no one knew how she looked like.

Yet, her talent captivated all of the talents in the Great Xia Dynasty.

She went through all the cities and provinces of the Great Xia Dynasty, performing at all the hangouts for talents. If those places were mud...

Yun Qingwu was a white lotus flower who wasn't tainted by the mud around her.

Si Ponan was a talent who had attained the pinnacle Supernatural State before the age of 20. He was probably one of the top three disciples of the three powerful families.

Si Ponan was one of the contenders for the throne. However, he was willing to stand in front of Yun Qingwu without hesitation.

This was...

How powerful Yun Qingwu was.

She could move the powers of the ten domains at will. Any disciple of the three biggest families would willingly give up their lives for hers.

"Qingwu, this is your chance!" Si Ponan had no idea what was happening to Fang Zhengzhi, but he knew that Fang Zhengzhi was unstable.

This was clear for all to see.

As such, Si Ponan picked up on it quickly. Standing this close to Fang Zhengzhi meant that he was able to feel it even more keenly.

If his arms could still move...

He wouldn't hesitate to stab his Spectre Sword into Fang Zhengzhi's heart. However, he could not move his arm. Even holding the blade in his hand was taking all the energy he had in his body.

But this did not matter.

He may not be able to move, but Yun Qingwu could.

At this distance...

With him as her meatshield, Si Ponan was sure that Yun Qingwu would not miss.

The rain continued to pour, flowing down Si Ponan's sleeves and onto his hand and sword.

The forked blade glimmered icily.

Yun Qingwu was extremely close to Fang Zhengzhi. If not for Si Ponan, she may even be able to hear Fang Zhengzhi's breathing.

Many people thought that Yun Qingwu would have some protective treasures or a powerful demon protecting her from the shadows.

But the truth was...

She had neither.

When she roamed the Great Xia, she only brought along 49 servants. They were all in the Heavenly Reflection State.

However, they knew one sword formation, one created by Yun Qingwu.

This was the formation that blocked the pinnacle Supernatural State Nangong Hao's attack.

Since she didn't bring along any protective treasures in the Great Xia, why would she bring any here?

As such, when Fang Zhengzhi had rushed to the top of the cliff and lowered his sword at her throat, the only thing she could do was take the hit.

She couldn't do anything but wait for Fang Zhengzhi to slash.

It may have seemed unbelievable that the young master of the demons would not have any protective treasures.

Yun Qingwu had thought that way. Furthermore, she had already made the necessary preparations. No one knew what Yun Qingwu was thinking...

Except herself.

At that moment, she was very calm.

"Why did you have to stop?" Yun Qingwu looked at Fang Zhengzhi and asked. However, it was quickly clear that it was a rhetorical question.

Her arm was already raised...

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Chapter 398: Breakthrough to the Supernatural State

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

"Crush!" The blade was driven into Fang Zhengzhi's chest. It was a fine blade, but it was extremely sharp and clean from the washing it got from the rain.

This blade was named Spectre.

Si Ponan had no energy to raise the blade. It wasn't Si Ponan who drove the blade into Fang Zhengzhi, it was Yun Qingwu.

Blood rushed out from the wound and onto the blade. It was washed to the ground by the rain, staining the ground red.

Si Ponan was stunned and surprised to see this. He knew that Yun Qingwu would attack, but he didn't expect Yun Qingwu to be so decisive.

The reason wasn't very obvious.

As the young master of the demons, Yun Qingwu would never show a human talent mercy.

But...

Si Ponan kept thinking about what Yun Qingwu had said, "Why did you have to stop?" He heard this clearly.

Even though he had no idea why Yun Qingwu would ask a question like that, it did not matter. Yun Qingwu had attacked.

Silence.

Other than the sound of rain, the entire arena was quiet. No one spoke, their breathing light.

"Fang Zhengzhi... failed?!"

"Yun Qingwu actually managed to stab Fang Zhengzhi!"

"How did this happen?"

All of the candidates and soldiers could not find an answer to that question. No one could believe their eyes.

Bai Xing unclenched his fists. He had no idea what just happened, but he was glad that Yun Qingwu decided to kill Fang Zhengzhi.

That meant that...

Fang Zhengzhi would not survive.

"Stab!" The sound pierced through the rain.

This was not the sound of the Spectre blade being removed from Fang Zhengzhi's body. This was the sound of Traceless falling to the ground.

It stabbed the ground like a knife through butter.

The strange purple light shot to the sky like a pillar, intertwining with the purple lightning in the sky.

Yun Qingwu gripped the hilt of Spectre tightly. She stared at Fang Zhengzhi, watching those eyes that were filled with killing intent.

Then, the spinning swords in his eyes slowed down.

To be more precise...

They were disappearing, almost like a cloud of smoke. They cleared from his eyes, together with that strange shade of purple...

The lake was filled with clear water.

Fang Zhengzhi was confused when he saw the lady in the white dress and the lake. Why would he appear in the World of the Sage?

This...

Where was this?

Was he even in a dream?

All of these questions flew past in his mind, but there was no one to answer him. The only moving person was the lady in the white dress.

"Why don't I capture and interrogate her?" Fang Zhengzhi smirked with lust momentarily.

But it did not last very long.

He remembered that he had the same thought before. However, when he jumped into the water, he could not find the lady in the white dress.

He had already been fooled once.

He was not going to be fooled again.

So...

If he could not get close and interrogate her, how was he going to find out the true identity of the lady? How was he going to escape this place?

Fang Zhengzhi began to think about the scene back at the Divine Constabulary's Heavenly Treasure Hall.

He remembered that when he last saw this lady in the white dress, he had understood the essence of the Heavenly Reflection State.

But this time...

He did not feel anything.

Hang on, he was feeling something. Fang Zhengzhi turned to look at his surroundings. There were trees, grass, and a lake.

This was a world without any wind. There were no ripples on the surface of the lake. The surface was so calm it was almost like a mirror.

It was very clean.

Clean?

"It's calm!" Fang Zhengzhi's eyes brightened. At that moment, he knew what the feeling was. It was calmness.

Even though the lady in white was constantly moving, dancing on the surface of the water...

It was precisely this movement that allowed Fang Zhengzhi to realize the calmness in this world.

The surface of the water was calm, the surrounding woods were calm, the grass was calm, even he was calm.

Seeing something move allows one to understand calm?

Fang Zhengzhi never really tried to understand these theories. However, he recalled the incident back at the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet.

He did not know why he managed to escape.

But...

Now, he understood.

He had moved!

He had disturbed the calm!

That time, Fang Zhengzhi had thought that he had disturbed the cleanliness by bathing in the lake. In actual fact, he had disturbed the calm!

By disturbing an otherwise calm world, he had broken the rules of the world. Without rules, the world would implode.

To be more accurate...

The world would reject Fang Zhengzhi and expel him from it. Fang Zhengzhi had broken the calm, so he was kicked out.

"Heaven Dao Sage Tablet... was I expelled by the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet? Then... why am I back?" Fang Zhengzhi remembered that Chi Guyan and Ping Yang had told him something...

Each Heaven Dao Sage Tablet embodied an extremely powerful Dao.

Anyone who could understand it would become a Sage.

Since he managed to figure out why he was expelled from this place before, he could guess that this Heaven Dao Sage Tablet had something to do with "calm".

Calm?

Was it to do with the heart?

Or was it that he had to be as calm as the water?!

If that was the case, the water and the lake in front of him could be explained. However, the trees and the grass...

What could explain those?

That was not it. If the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet represented a powerful Dao, the Dao could not be this simple. However, what could calm represent?

Calm...

If it was not as calm as water, what other calm could there be?

Cleanliness?

Fang Zhengzhi reverted to his original train of thought. When he thought about that, his eyes brightened.

That was it!

Calm. In the ancient times, calm and cleanliness meant the same thing. The word clean was made up of the words green and determination.

Green represented life in its nascent stage. Determination meant that one would preserve what was important.

Calm meant that one would preserve the initial purity and character.

There was mention of this in the "Six Secret Teachings".

And again in the "Book of Songs"...

All of these passages regarding calm flooded Fang Zhengzhi's mind. He began to think about them individually.

Contemplating...

Fang Zhengzhi realized that he was becoming calmer and calmer. He began to assimilate into the lake and the vegetation around him. His vision also began to clear.

After some time, when he looked at the lady in white, he seemed to be able to make out her lips.

Those exquisite, luscious lips.

They were very familiar.

Almost as if he had seen them somewhere before.

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to get a closer look, but he realized that the appearance of the lady was blurry. No matter how hard he tried, he could not see what she looked like.

Why was that?

He wasn't very far away. Why can't he see her clearly?

Why did she feel so familiar?

Fang Zhengzhi kept thinking about these questions. However, he did not want to harp on the same question over and over again.

He tried to put it out of his mind.

However...

Just as he found some success, he saw the white dress and began thinking about it again.

"I have seen her somewhere!" Fang Zhengzhi looked up and still saw that her face was blurry. This time, even her lips were blurry.

Must he be calm in order to see the lady's appearance?

Fang Zhengzhi had seen this lady twice now.

If...

He did not even get a good look at her, was he still a man?

With that goal in mind, he began to take steps in the appropriate direction. He calmed himself down, even kneeling on the ground to help himself calm down.

The lady continued to dance on the lake.

Hang on.

He felt as though his vision was different from before. All of his cells were in a strange state. They felt calm and clean...

Calm and clean.

Cells!

The Supernatural State!

It was said that the Supernatural State occurs when one's on the brink of death. The state was characterized by the vitality of the cells.

No!

It is not the vitality, it's the calmness and cleanliness!

The cells are all calmer and cleaner than ever before. This allows the body to rid itself of illness and injuries and revert to its original state.

Fang Zhengzhi's heart jumped, then calm down. Then, it jumped again before calming down. He felt as though he was going in circles.

When he first accessed Dao, he had started from his body.

At that time, he felt that he could control every cell, every drop of blood, every muscle in his body.

And now...

He was able to change his body and rid it of what was bad!

Hang on, did he really manage to understand a powerful Dao? Or was he on the verge of it?

Or had he already broken through to the Supernatural State?

Should he cut himself and test it out? Did his power just increase manifold? Or, was he already a sage?

"Hahaha... am I really a Sage now?" Fang Zhengzhi began to chuckle, shattering the calm and peace in this world.

Then, the dancing lady in white stopped, almost as if she had heard Fang Zhengzhi chuckling. Then, she turned around...

"Yun Qingwu?!" Fang Zhengzhi's gaze froze. The veiled face appeared in front of his eyes.

It was pouring.

Where was this?

Was this a dream?

It felt very familiar. There was a valley below him. He felt as though he had been here before, but why was the purple gone?

Hang on...

The lady in white is Yun Qingwu?

Fang Zhengzhi subconsciously extended his hand, then removed Yun Qingwu's veil in a swift motion.

In that instant, he saw an exquisite face staring back at him. Her eyebrows were thin, her skin fair as snow, her luscious lips slightly open, revealing two rows of ivory white teeth.

Yun Qingwu was like a white lotus in the middle of the torrential rain. To have her veil removed by Fang Zhengzhi... especially in the face of hundreds of thousands of soldiers...

Was an insult.

It was almost as if an angelic lotus flower was removed by a mere mortal.

Yun Qingwu was shocked.

Anyone would be equally shocked. No one would expect that after Fang Zhengzhi had been stabbed, his first reaction would be to remove her veil.

Not only did Yun Qingwu not expect it.

No one else in the valley expected it.

All of the soldiers stared at Yun Qingwu in disbelief.

All of the demons, including Bai Xing and Wu Ji, were furious at what they saw.

"How dare this dead man walking insult Yun Qingwu!"

"Audacious!"

Fang Zhengzhi ignored it all. All he wondered was why the lady in white would be Yun Qingwu.

Just as he was thinking about it, he felt his heart shudder, then he felt pain in his chest. It felt as though he had just been stabbed.

That's impossible.

Why would he feel pain in his dream?

Why would the pain be so clear?

Fang Zhengzhi did not understand. He instinctively looked at his chest and saw a blade driven deep into it.

"Oh? Why is there a blade in my chest?"

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Chapter 399: Travesty

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

第三百九十九章作孽啊 Travesty

Imagine waking up and seeing a beauty next to you. At that point, you have one of two choices.

You could rub your eyes and the lady would disappear in a cloud of smoke.

Or, you could just go for it and sleep it off after that. The lady would disappear in a cloud of smoke when you woke up anyways.

The final result was the same.

But any intelligent man knew which was the better choice to make.

Fang Zhengzhi was a smart man, but it was not a beautiful lady in front of him, it was a blade. A blade that he could not just sleep off.

As such...

He decided to rub his eyes.

"Why is the blade... still there?!" Fang Zhengzhi realized that the blade was still embedded in his chest.

It hurt!

A lot.

It was an indescribable pain. Anyone who had been stabbed before would attest to it.

Dream?

Or reality!

This was the second time Fang Zhengzhi asked this question since opening his eyes. He firmly believed that it was a dream. Only a fool would choose to believe that there was really a blade in his chest.

"This cannot be real!" Fang Zhengzhi could not believe his eyes.

Could the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet appear in reality? No way! Furthermore, he had just been smacked by Yan Xiu, he should be resting on the ground below.

Why would he be on the cliff? And why would he be stabbed?

Sleepwalking?

Rubbish, he never had a habit of doing that.

Furthermore, no matter how he sleepwalked, there was no way he could have flown to the top of the hill through the hundreds of thousands of soldiers below.

Who was Yun Qingwu?

The young master of the demons!

How could he have made it this close to her?

Fang Zhengzhi did not think that it was possible. However, he was not stupid. He could feel the sharp pain coursing through his veins.

This was too real and too deep.

As such...

All he could do was admit that everything that he was seeing was real.

"Move away, don't block me!" Fang Zhengzhi grit his teeth and kicked Si Ponan.

Si Ponan was stunned by what he saw. He still thought that Fang Zhengzhi was the living embodiment of massacre.

That cold, iciness gave him an aura that almost made him the God of Death.

Did he charge all the way to the top of the cliff just to remove Yun Qingwu's veil? That did not seem very likely.

What was happening?

What was the aura coming out of Fang Zhengzhi's body just now? Where did that domineering killing aura disappear to?

Questions flew through his mind but there were no answers. When Fang Zhengzhi kicked him, the only thing he could do was...

Stare...

He had no other choice. He was completely drained of energy.

Si Ponan had never felt this cowardly in his life before. He felt that he should be protecting Yun Qingwu.

However, after he was kicked by Fang Zhengzhi, his body tumbled off the cliff uncontrollably.

"Aiya!" He screamed as he rolled off.

Even though he was a Supernatural State Demon, he had no other choice but to scream. Having been drained of his energy, he needed the soldiers below to catch him.

After all, he really didn't want his life to end this way.

He would have failed to save his master and fallen to his death.

Everything had changed so quickly. Fang Zhengzhi's rampage, then Yun Qingwu's attack, followed by the removal of her veil, and Si Ponan's tumbling down the hill.

Everything was so fast and real.

Yet, no one could understand what in the world was going on.

The stab? And then the removal of the veil? Was it linked? Yun Qingwu was the one who stabbed Fang Zhengzhi, but why did Fang Zhengzhi kick Si Ponan off?

Si Ponan was relatively innocent!

If these incidents were taken individually, it would have been less confusing. However, mashing them all together meant that it was impossible to grasp.

And then...

The impossible happened.

After Fang Zhengzhi kicked Si Ponan off the cliff, he extended his hand and lifted Yun Qingwu's head with his hand.

"Mm, eyebrows... eyes, dainty lips, oh my... you have not changed since the last time I saw you!" Fang Zhengzhi sized up Yun Qingwu's features. It was almost as if he was admiring an art piece.

"Boom!" A ray of purple lightning lit up the dark sky. Yun Qingwu's face was also illuminated by this bolt of lightning.

Shock.

That was an understatement. There were no words to describe the emotions of all the soldiers watching from below.

They were stunned beyond belief.

At this moment, Bai Xing's eyes widened to their maximum and Wu Ji's jaw dropped so much he could stuff both his fists inside.

All of the demon elites were stupefied.

So much so that they forgot to catch the screaming Si Ponan.

What kind of pain was this?

It felt as though someone else was toying around with your most prized possession. Fang Zhengzhi was having his way, stroking Yun Qingwu's face wherever he liked.

This should not have been witnessed by the soldiers.

Even in the art houses, the talents would never treat the girls that way. This was an immense insult.

They could have fun, but they would never insult.

But now...

Fang Zhengzhi's actions went against that very principle. If they could, they would throw Fang Zhengzhi into a pigsty, or drown him in a river.

Perhaps Fang Zhengzhi had some difficulties that no one knew about?

No!

Even if he did, he should not have done something like that. The only logical thing for him to do was draw his sword and kill Yun Qingwu.

Why would he...

Toy with her like this!

"It's a shame that we are with this man!"

"Shameful! This man has no shame!"

"Travesty!"

All of the talents stared at Yun Qingwu. It was painful to watch their treasured Yun Qingwu being handled this way by Fang Zhengzhi.

"Erm..." Xing Yuanguo, dressed in his purplish golden robe, stared at the cliff in exasperation.

Yun Qingwu was extremely intelligent. This was something that the entire demon race knew.

However, she still did not know what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking. Even though her chin was just lifted by Fang Zhengzhi, even though she was so close to Fang Zhengzhi she could feel the heat from his breath...

She still could not understand.

Shameless?

She knew that Fang Zhengzhi was extremely shameless, but he had to have a limit? She had just stabbed him, shouldn't he be taking revenge?

Why is he still trying to play around with me?

More importantly, where was the ferocious man who had charged towards her? How could a person change so quickly?

Oh yes!

Where was the killing aura? Where had that gone to?

Just as she was thinking about it, she felt someone touching her where she had never been touched before.

It was electrifying.

"Mm... it's smooth and soft, slightly warm to the touch. I can even feel her body temperature. No way? How is it that real?" Just as Fang Zhengzhi finished with one side, he moved to the other one. He smiled in satisfaction.

This feeling was too real, so much so that his heart was fluttering.

He knew for a fact that he had never touched Yun Qingwu's body before. If this was a dream, he should not be feeling this as clearly as he was!

Hang on!

"This... this... this is real?!" Fang Zhengzhi's smile froze as his hands stopped moving around Yun Qingwu's breasts.

"Kaboom!"

The dark sky was illuminated by lightning once again. Everyone could see that Fang Zhengzhi's palm was resting on Yun Qingwu's breasts.

"Clang clang clang..." Weapons dropped to the ground as all the soldiers looked on in disbelief.

"Die die die..."

"Kill him!"

"We must smash his body to smithereens!"

"I want to cut off his hands! How dare he contaminate my goddess!"

Voices shouted from the valley before. Fang Zhengzhi's actions had stunned them previously, but his actions now had brought them back to life.

Because...

Rage had consumed them.

They were no longer in control of their bodies.

Fang Zhengzhi could not control himself either. His body froze and he instinctively looked at Yun Qingwu.

He saw that Yun Qingwu was blushing. After all, she had just been molested by Fang Zhengzhi. Any lady, even the cold and aloof Yun Qingwu, would react the same way.

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to explain himself.

After all, this was quite the embarrassing scene.

Of course...

The real explanation was that he really wasn't that kind of person. All he wanted to do was verify if he was in a dream.

Even though he had done it in a very liberal and audacious fashion, it would not have been this frowned upon in his previous world.

After all, he couldn't impregnate her just by touching.

However...

Would Yun Qingwu believe him?

Fang Zhengzhi had no chance to explain himself. Yun Qingwu's expression had already changed from embarrassment to anger.

Then, in the blink of an eye...

He saw a ray of white light flash past his eyes. It was thin and looked like a blade.

Fang Zhengzhi was quite certain that this light was the sword that was embedded in his chest moments ago.

"Removing the blade?! Ah..." Fang Zhengzhi felt the blood gushing out of the open wound and screamed in pain.

At this moment, he was certain that everything was real. He had just been stabbed.

The question was...

Was he stabbed by the demon he just kicked? Or was he stabbed by Yun Qingwu?

This question did not matter anymore. After all, Yun Qingwu had already removed the blade.

Are females the most savage?

How could she remove the blade after she stabbed him?

Even if she did, she should have prepared antiseptic! Did she prepare for surgery?

If his artery had been cut...

"Damn it, my artery is spewing blood!" Fang Zhengzhi sprang into action when he saw the blood gushing out.

His hands clutched his chest.

Why? What happened? He was understanding a Dao in the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet. He had just understood the essence of the Supernatural State.

Wasn't he supposed to turn into a sage?

Why...

Why was he back in reality?

Furthermore, he had been stabbed, and Yun Qingwu had just plucked out the sword. This was the painful truth.

Was he going to die?

"No! Someone save me please, I have just been stabbed. The blade has been removed and I'm bleeding heavily! Someone give me a blood transfusion! My blood type is A!"

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Chapter 400: Supernatural

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to scream out loud. He had been maligned. He was just doing what any man would do in a dream, but it had resulted in tragedy.

Reality?

Dream!

He was just understanding a major Dao in the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet a moment ago. And now, he had been stabbed?

The change was too quick!

Anyone else in the same position would not have been able to differentiate dream from reality.

As such, Fang Zhengzhi's actions were understandable.

Who hadn't fantasized before?

Any normal man would know to control himself in the real world. However, why would he continue to hold back in a dream?

Fang Zhengzhi was a normal male, and he did something that any normal man would do. The only mistake he made was that the transition between a dream and reality...

Was too quick.

At that moment, Fang Zhengzhi had thought that Yun Qingwu had appeared in his dream. In fact, it was all real.

There was a very simple example to explain his situation.

Imagine that you dreamt of a beautiful lady, then, just as you were about to confess to her, you were woken. The first person you saw was your male roommate.

Then...

You couldn't possibly be called a gay just because of that right?

Of course, only you would know if you were gay. But, at the very least, when you were about to confess to the lady, you were not!

Okay.

That was not the point. The main issue here was that Fang Zhengzhi was still bleeding and there were over 100,000 people staring at him.

No one was rushing to save him!

He was bleeding!

Was the world so cold?

Weren't humans supposed to work together against the demons? Weren't they a team? Why are they all so shocked?

Haven't they seen something like that before?!

F*ck!

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood that he could only truly depend on himself. Everyone below was useless.

He had two choices. He could fight Yun Qingwu on the cliff and kill her after an intense battle. Then, he would probably die for his wounds.

The humans would not react in time, and by that time, the demons would have responded.

The dozens of demon elites, Bai Xing, and Wu Ji were all rushing to the top of the cliff.

What did they want?

There was no need to guess.

His second option was to escape and dress his wounds. Then, he would capture a few people to test their blood or get some sort of pill to heal himself.

There were so many people here anyway.

As an ambitious youth, he decided to choose the latter. This wasn't because Fang Zhengzhi was afraid of dying.

The real reason was that he respected the ladies.

Mm...

After all, he had just molested this lady in front of more than 150,000 soldiers. To raise his sword and kill this lady right after would be vicious.

He could not bring himself to do it.

Even if the lady was the young master of the demons.

What did that have to do with him?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to live a leisurely life. He had no interest in being involved in the battle between humans and demons, nor the battle between empires.

The only reason why he came to the Southern Region was to save Yan Xiu. If he could do well and rank highly in the court examination, that was a bonus.

Who wouldn't want to win a prize?

That being said, he had no intention of sacrificing his life for that prize.

The only thing Fang Zhengzhi wanted to do was live. He did not want to kill the young master of the demons in front of so many people...

God knows how the demons in the Blood Shadow City would react!

Was he going to beg for protection?

Fang Zhengzhi had seen too much of this kind of situations in his previous world. The Emperor would be glad that he killed Yun Qingwu. There would be a huge celebration and he would be promoted and rewarded with silvers. Then, he would be left to fend for himself.

Protection? What kind of protection?!

Fang Zhengzhi could probably spend the rest of his life hiding out in the capital.

But what about the Northern Mountain Village?

His family was still there, and he had to think about his parents and the hundreds of villagers.

After all, if he really killed the young master of the demons, he would not put anything past them.

Fang Zhengzhi did not want to live his life in fear just for this moment of glory.

He decided to leave this glory for someone else.

At the very least, at his current power, he did not want to stick his hand into this hornet's nest.

The main problem now was how he was going to ensure a safe retreat.

Turn and run? There were dozens of demon elites, as well as Bai Xing, chasing him down. Where was he going to run to? Fang Zhengzhi had to think of something easier.

He had to find a hostage. To be exact, he would take the most powerful demon here as the hostage.

"Tell them to stay where they are, all I will kill you where you stand!" Fang Zhengzhi growled ferociously.

"Kill me?" Yun Qingwu's lips parted, her anger turning into mockery. Then, she raised the Spectre Sword in her hand.

The rain beat down on that white light as the sword continued to exude an icy aura.

The light flickered.

The target...

Fang Zhengzhi's throat.

Fang Zhengzhi's expression froze. He had thought that being this close to Yun Qingwu meant that he would be in a superior position to bargain.

After all, Yun Qingwu was the young master of the demons. However, Yun Qingwu didn't even say much.

Kill me again?

No, is she courting death?

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood what Yun Qingwu meant. She may not be scared of dying, but she still had weaknesses.

For example.

"If you dare to attack again, I will strip you!" Fang Zhengzhi dodged to the side, then made it behind Yun Qingwu. He placed one hand on her throat, his other hand on her chest.

"Don't you dare!" Yun Qingwu tightened her grip on the Spectre Blade. However, she still stopped moving.

If this was said by anyone else, she would never believe that they would go through with something so audacious.

But...

This was Fang Zhengzhi.

This was a person who had just touched her breasts moments ago in front of more than 150,000 soldiers.

She didn't dare to move!

"Not only do I dare to do that, I dare to take it one step further!" Fang Zhengzhi had no intention of doing that, but he had to make a show of it. His hand slid down to Yun Qingwu's skirt.

"Kaboom!"

Lightning shot across the sky, accompanied by thunder.

When Bai Xing, Wu Ji, and the other demon elites saw this, flames ignited in their eyes.

"Bai Xing! If you dare take one more step, I will kill Yun Qingwu!"

Just as the demons were about to quicken their pace, an icy voice pierced through the sky.

Flames continued to burn in Bai Xing's eyes.

But, he stopped.

Yun Qingwu's dress began to dance in the wind. Her face was pale, but she was smirking.

She was determined not to back down.

"Fang Zhengzhi, you can forget about trying to humiliate me further!" Yun Qingwu's voice was cold, almost as if she had come straight out of hell.

"You want to commit suicide? Sure! But, even if you die, you will not be able to stop me from doing what I want to do. I will strip you naked, then, in front of all the soldiers, I will... hehe, you are the young master of the demons right? Aren't you afraid news of this will spread?" Fang Zhengzhi rarely saw such a look from a lady.

To be honest.

When he saw Yun Qingwu's expression, he wanted to try and explain it all to her.

He wanted to tell her that he was having a dream. He did not really want to touch her.

But...

Who would believe him?

Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi could feel Yun Qingwu's determination.

As such, he had to let Yun Qingwu know that even death would not stop him from humiliating her!

Fang Zhengzhi was betting.

He was betting on the fact that Yun Qingwu would not commit suicide.

If Yun Qingwu really committed suicide, he would definitely be hunted down by the demons. However, if he let Yun Qingwu off, he was bound to die.

Bet...

That was his only option.

He had used this tactic on Ping Yang before. Back then, even Ping Yang had given in.

However, Yun Qingwu...

Was a completely different person. This was a lady who wasn't afraid to die.

"You... Fang Zhengzhi! You... even if I let you off today, do you really think that you will survive?" Yun Qingwu bit her lip as blood trickled from the corner.

She hesitated. After all, she was a member of the Yun Family, the current ruling family of the Demons. She could die, but she could not let her family name be tainted.

"From the moment you had Bai Xing attack me, did you want to let me live?" Fang Zhengzhi questioned.

"I..." Yun Qingwu went silent. If everything was traced back to the origin, it had all started from the moment she ordered Bai Xing to strike.

Furthermore, she knew why Bai Xing had failed.

Because...

She had failed too.

She had stabbed off to the side and missed his heart. Logically, she should not have missed at such a distance, but she missed.

Yun Qingwu had no idea what she was thinking. Perhaps her hand trembled, or maybe she knew that Fang Zhengzhi had a Heart Protection Mirror.

No matter what, she had missed the heart. That was why the blade hit home.

"How about we make a deal? Swear that you will not let the Demons hunt me down and I will let you go. How about that? Furthermore, as the young master of the demons, you should have some healing pills! Give me a couple! After all, we did spend some time together before!" Fang Zhengzhi laid out his terms.

After all, time was not on his side.

"Healing pills? Our time together?" Yun Qingwu had thought that she knew Fang Zhengzhi quite well. However, upon interacting with him again, she realized that it was impossible to follow his train of thought.

He was just threatening her a moment ago. Yet now, he was ready to talk terms, even bringing up their time together.

Most importantly, he was asking his enemy for healing pills?

Pills...

What were they?

"Yes, look at the amount of blood flowing out of my wound. I must stop it now, or... oh?" Fang Zhengzhi removed his hand from his chest.

Then, his gaze froze.

There was no more blood flowing out from the wound. Furthermore, the huge gash was healing at a rapid pace.

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Chapter 401: The Double Dragon Roll Champion would shock the world, and bring peace to the world!

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

That feeling...

It was warm, almost as if his body had become a puddle of water. His wounds began to heal under the constant washing of this water.

The cells in his body were splitting and reassembling at a rapid pace. The dead cells were expelled and new ones took their place.

It was a strange but comfortable feeling.

"Super... Supernatural?"

Fang Zhengzhi thought about this instantly. He had seen this before. He had seen this when he successfully attacked Ying Shan in the World of the Sage.

He had used the Blazing Qilin Spear to stab Ying Shan in the back.

At that time, Ying Shan's wound had healed just as quickly. That was the gist of the Supernatural State.

It was the ability to heal oneself.

"I broke through?!" Fang Zhengzhi was stunned. After realizing that what was happening now was real, he had thought that everything that he saw in the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet was just a dream.

In that dream, he had felt the cleanliness and the calm of the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet. He felt as though he had been cleansed.

But...

That was just a dream.

Did he really breakthrough in a dream?

Fang Zhengzhi was confused and lost. Could it be that the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet was not a dream? If it wasn't a dream, what was it?

Was it a parallel dimension?

Did he just teleport?

Why would he enter that world? Where was that world? Was it inside his body? Or...

Questions flew through Fang Zhengzhi's mind. He felt that this was rather inexplicable, but he could be sure of one thing.

He had broken through!

He had managed to break through to the Supernatural State!

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yun Qingwu instinctively. He wanted to say that since his wound had healed, he wanted to change the terms to include valuables instead.

However, he could not bring himself to say it.

Yun Qingwu was stunned by what she saw. This was an emotion that was rarely seen in Yun Qingwu's eyes.

After all, she was the young master of the Demons.

As the young master of the Demons, she should be calm and composed at all times. However, this time, she was utterly floored.

Yun Qingwu did not know what to think.

"Su... Super... natural?! You, you..." Yun Qingwu's lips quivered in shock.

How old was Fang Zhengzhi?

No more than 16 years old!

And he was already in the Supernatural State! A 16 year old Supernatural State human?! How is that possible?

Bai Xing, Wu Ji, and all of the demon elites were equally stunned by what they witnessed.

Their gazes locked onto Fang Zhengzhi's wound, which was closing up with each passing second. They knew what this meant.

"Supernatural State!"

"Fang Zhengzhi broke through to the Supernatural State?!"

"How is this possible?"

If there was one thing in this world that they could not bring themselves to believe, it was that Fang Zhengzhi had broken through to the Supernatural State.

This was something that should never have happened.

The entire Demon Race would be terrified by this news.

A 16-year-old Supernatural State human was a cause for fear. More importantly, this human was Fang Zhengzhi.

The unpredictable and shameless Fang Zhengzhi.

Most importantly, Fang Zhengzhi's pocket dimension had limitless potential. He had the ability to take the world by storm.

Bai Xing was rarely terrified of the possibility of a human surviving.

Even Xing Yuanguo had never struck any fear in his heart. Letting Xing Yuanguo live was not a terrifying prospect.

However, when he saw Fang Zhengzhi's wound healing, his hand began to tremble in fear.

A human can be a talent and a freak, but...

他不能妖孽到这种地步啊!

This was absolutely ridiculous!

As a Demon, Bai Xing's fear was understandable. However, even the 50,000 Great Xia soldiers were terrified.

"Fang Zhengzhi broke through? He is in the Supernatural State!"

"That's impossible!"

"Didn't he say that he had 388 Daos in his pocket dimension? How could he breakthrough with these many Daos? Why is it so simple?"

"How long has it been since he broke through to the Heavenly Reflection State?"

All of the candidates were terrified as well. However, their terror was laced with depression and jealousy.

It felt like they had been spending their entire lives researching something...

They poured everything they had into it for over a decade. Yet, upon looking up, their 10-year-old younger brother was running to them with something similar. It was almost as if their younger brother was shouting, "Brother, look at what I made in two hours! Am I good?"

At that time...

Any normal person would reply the same way.

F*ck you!

My hard work and time have been wasted!

All of the candidates felt that way. They were once proud of their achievements, believing that they were more powerful than everyone around them. However, when faced with Fang Zhengzhi and his unprecedented breakthrough to the Supernatural State, their achievements meant nothing.

The pain was immense.

Chen Feiyu felt it more than anyone else.

Chen Feiyu's feelings were inexplicable. If he could do it all over again, he would not break through to the Supernatural State and embarrass himself.

Xing Qingsui looked on with fear, surprise, and worry in his eyes.

Xing Yuanguo's expression was similar to that of his son's.

Xing Yuanguo looked as though he had just seen a star. He could not help but look at Fang Zhengzhi in admiration.

However, this star was so bright that it was hard for them to keep their eyes open.

"Did he breakthrough? He... broke through so quickly?" Xing Yuanguo was taken aback by what he saw.

Because...

There was no one else in the Great Xia Dynasty who could break through to the Supernatural State before the age of 16.

Did that mean that Fang Zhengzhi was the top talent?

Xing Yuanguo thought about the prophecy believed by everyone in the empire.

Did the prophecy still hold?

The Double Dragon Roll Champion would shock the world, and bring peace to the world!

"Supernatural State?! A Supernatural State cultivator with 388 Daos! Fang Zhengzhi... you have progressed faster than I expected!" Nangong Hao looked at Fang Zhengzhi.

He sheathed his sword.

However, his eyes continued to shine brightly. His battle intent was strong, a feeling that he rarely showed.

It was just like the time he had stood in front of Chi Guyan.

Nangong Hao had never compared anyone to Chi Guyan, not even when Fang Zhengzhi managed to go toe to toe against him.

But now...

He was eager to duel Fang Zhengzhi.

The rain continued to beat down on them.

Lightning continued to shoot across the sky, drawing huge cracks in the air and lighting up the ground below.

Yun Qingwu's hands opened up.

The Spectre Blade in her hand fell to the ground with a loud clang.

Moments ago, she did not care about dying. Even if she was going to die here, it would not be overly painful.

However, when she saw Fang Zhengzhi's wound heal completely, that determination disappeared like a puff of smoke.

The reason was that...

She could not die just yet.

Before this, she had thought that she had already done enough for the Demon Race. But now, she felt like she still had some unfinished business.

"I can make a deal with you, but there must be an expiry. Furthermore, there must be another condition placed on this expiry date." Yun Qingwu began to speak, her tone clearly different.

Did she agree?

Fang Zhengzhi had thought that he would need to say something else to convince her. However, it was simpler than he thought.

An expiry date was to be expected.

The terms could be negotiated.

Just as he was about to speak, he felt his body turning to jelly, almost as if he had just been electrified.

It felt as though he had been drained of all his energy.

What was going on?

Fang Zhengzhi could guess that it had something to do with his Supernatural State. Afterall, he had heard that the healing required a large amount of energy.

That was to be expected.

It was extremely difficult for the cells to regenerate. In order to so, a large amount of energy must be used.

But, he was different!

He was different from others. Others may just have a lake worth of energy, but he had an entire ocean!

Speaking of which...

Where was his ocean?

Fang Zhengzhi entered his pocket dimension and realized something strange. The huge tree in his pocket dimension was visibly different.

It was taller and lusher.

More importantly, all of the fruits on the tree were glowing brightly, streams of light swirling on the skin.

There were patterns of mountains, rivers, and clouds on the fruits...

Improved?

Fang Zhengzhi could understand the changes to his tree. After all, he had just broken through, it was natural that the fruits on his tree had changed.

But...

Why did the sea disappear?

He couldn't even find a single drop of water. The white mist that was so abundant in the sky had also disappeared without a trace.

He began to feel increasingly drowsy, so much so that he was struggling to open his eyes.

What was happening?

Why did his sea disappear?

Who used his sea?!

Hang on!

Those fruits...

Fang Zhengzhi saw a purple ray of light at last. That was the brightest light from his tree, and the fruit sat quietly at the top.

More importantly, the fruit had a small opening, and there was purple light swirling inside it, almost as if something was about to break out of the shell.

What was that?

Fang Zhengzhi did not manage to get a closer look. He exited from his pocket dimension, his legs turning to jelly.

Fang Zhengzhi had a sudden urge to fall to the ground.

"No, I haven't discussed the terms of the deal!" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head vigorously in an attempt to wake himself up. However, he had lost all control of his body.

Damn, is he going to faint?

He can't faint!

He had to last a little longer!

Fang Zhengzhi bit hard on his lip, a trickle of blood appearing instantly. This allowed him to regain some consciousness.

However, the drowsiness was too strong, so much so that he could not even stand up straight. His hand, which was on Yun Qingwu's dress, slipped downwards.

"Mm..."

Fang Zhengzhi felt something soft. This feeling made him even more drowsy. Fang Zhengzhi was so drowsy that he could not be bothered by anything else.

"Yun Qingwu, I can't hold on!"

He leaned forward and hugged Yun Qingwu, one of his hands on her chest, the other around her waist.

This was an extremely humiliating pose, but he knew that he had to do this to guarantee his survival after he fainted.

"Fang Zhengzhi, you shameless b*stard!" Yun Qingwu's expression was cold. She did not move, allowing Fang Zhengzhi to continue touching her.

She had already decided that she had to live.

"Let's talk... terms..." Fang Zhengzhi had no intention of dragging this out. He was going to faint at any time.

"I can order the demons not to hunt you down. But, it will only apply whilst you are still in the Southern Region. Furthermore, you cannot attack any demons during this time, else, the deal is forfeited..."

"Okay." Fang Zhengzhi did not wait for Yun Qingwu to finish. In fact, he didn't even hear what Yun Qingwu said.

Then, he face planted straight into the ground.

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Chapter 402: Abilities

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

When everyone saw Fang Zhengzhi face plant into the ground, there was only one thought running through their minds.

"He fainted?!"

"Fang Zhengzhi... fainted?!"

All of them could not understand what was going on. It felt as though they had ordered a hooker only to find out that the hooker was a guy!

This was...

Completely inexplicable.

Wasn't he supposed to kill off the young master of the Demons? Wasn't he supposed to save them from destruction? Most importantly, he had just broken through to the Supernatural State!

Limitless glory and fame were ripe for the picking. All he needed to do was reach out and take it.

Everything would have been resolved.

But...

Fang Zhengzhi fainting had thrown a spanner in the works.

Could he still live?

When they saw Fang Zhengzhi's wound heal, almost everyone thought that his life was guaranteed. After all, if he could go up against a Rebirth State Demon as a Heavenly Reflection State cultivator...

His powers as a Supernatural State cultivator were unimaginable.

Without thinking about anything else...

Staying alive!

Should not have been a huge problem.

But what now?

Bai Xing's eyes were exploding with a bright starry light. He had been suppressing his rage and terror all this while.

But, when he saw what happened to Fang Zhengzhi, he let it all out.

He had never believed in luck. However, when he saw Fang Zhengzhi faint in such a mysterious manner, he had a feeling.

Perhaps...

He was a lucky demon after all.

It wasn't just Bai Xing. Even Wu Ji and the dozens of demon elites had the same feeling. They saw a glimmer of hope.

The person who had been humiliating their young master had just fainted to the ground!

Most importantly, that human was a talent.

Someone who was so ridiculously talented that he could break through to the Supernatural State at 16.

"Kill!" Bai Xing's eyes were red with excitement and fury. If not for the fact that he was surrounded by so many others, he would have wept tears of joy.

This was awesome!

That b*stard fainted!

Kill him quickly!

This was what Bai Xing, Wu Ji, and all the other demon elites thought. All of them unsheathed their blades and rushed towards the cliff.

On the cliff, the rain continued to beat down on Yun Qingwu.

Her chest and waist were still warm from Fang Zhengzhi's touch. She was still blushing from the humiliation.

Shameless, shameless, shameless!

She kept repeating these words in her heart.

But now, she did not need to continue thinking about this. Fang Zhengzhi had fainted. He was now at her mercy.

Comically, this lamb had just been holding on to her for support moments ago. He had also tried to ask for a deal and medicine.

Now...

How was she going to kill him?

Yun Qingwu looked at Fang Zhengzhi's hands. The first thing she wanted to do was cut off his hands.

These hands had taken off her veil more than once. Furthermore, he had done so in front of so many people!

Then, she would gouge his eyes out!

Those eyes had seen her too many times, she had to gouge them out.

Those were the first thoughts in Yun Qingwu's mind. However, another thought entered her mind just as quickly.

No!

She had already promised him that she would not kill him or hunt him down whilst he was still in the Southern Region. This was a matter of honor.

Most importantly...

He did not kill her!

Yun Qingwu rarely hesitated, but she hesitated this time. On one hand, she felt that she had to take this opportunity to kill Fang Zhengzhi.

However, she reminded herself that her life was once in Fang Zhengzhi's hands. Fang Zhengzhi had not killed her then. If she were to take advantage of the situation and kill Fang Zhengzhi now...

Then...

She would blame herself for the rest of her life.

"I had sworn on this, I must keep my promise!"

"But, I can't let him off... if I let him off now, I may not have such a good opportunity in the future. He is too dangerous. Furthermore, he has humiliated me, I can't let him live!"

"What should I do?"

Yun Qingwu clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly, her eyes glimmering. She stared at Fang Zhengzhi, her breathing intensifying.

"Young master!"

"Young master, are you alright?"

"Young master, leave Fang Zhengzhi to us!"

Just as Yun Qingwu hesitated, figures appeared next to her. Bai Xing, Wu Ji, and the demon elites turned to Yun Qingwu.

They were no longer anxious or terrified.

All of the demons were excited and joyous. They had been thrown a lifeline.

"Fang Zhengzhi... prepare to meet your maker!" Bai Xing raised his hand, a silver ray of light in his palm.

"Hold it!" Yun Qingwu's voice rang out at that moment.

"Young master?" Bai Xing's hand stopped in mid-air, the silver ray of light preparing to hit Fang Zhengzhi.

"Let him go." Yun Qingwu ordered.

"Why? Young master!" Bai Xing's expression was filled with doubt. This was the first time he had questioned orders from Yun Qingwu.

"I said let him go!" Yun Qingwu's tone was icy.

"Young master, I have never questioned your orders, but this time... you must give me a reason!" Bai Xing's gaze froze.

"Are you going against my orders?"

"I do not dare. I know the consequences of insubordination. However, I am willing to give up my life to take his!" Bai Xing's eyes were filled with determination.

"Young master, I am willing to do the same!"

"Me too!"

All of the demon elites fell to one knee, their green demonic eyes glowing in the rain.

"How dare you! I had already made a deal with him not to chase him down whilst he is still in the Southern Regions! Do you want me to break my promises?" Yun Qingwu bellowed.

"Young master!"

"Young master, please think twice. Fang Zhengzhi cannot be allowed to live!"

"Young master, please give the order to kill Fang Zhengzhi!"

All of the demon elites looked at each other after hearing what Yun Qingwu said. Then, they replied in unison.

"Young master, I will take responsibility for the dishonor. I made up my own mind and disobeyed your orders. However, I hope that young master can spare my family!" Bai Xing's eyes were filled with an icy aura as the silver light in his hand glowed radiantly.

Yun Qingwu's expression changed.

She did not expect that Bai Xing would be this determined. She did not expect that he was prepared to disobey her orders.

The silver light in Bai Xing's palm beamed.

Yun Qingwu knew how powerful this strike was going to be. If it hit home, even the Supernatural State Fang Zhengzhi would not be able to survive.

"Bai Xing, don't you dare!" Yun Qingwu stepped between Bai Xing and Fang Zhengzhi, her expression steely.

"Young master!" Bai Xing's hand stopped in mid-air, his expression filled with anxiety and disbelief.

Fang Zhengzhi was ripe for the picking.

If he missed this opportunity, he may not have another one. This was an unprecedented chance.

As such...

How could he miss it?

He had to kill Fang Zhengzhi!

He had to destroy this potential threat to the Demons. This was something that he had to do. However, Yun Qingwu was in his way! How could he strike?

"Capture Bai Xing!" Yun Qingwu's voice was icy.

"Young master, please let Domain Chief Bai off!"

"Young master, please spare him!"

All of the demon elites looked at Bai Xing and Yun Qingwu and began to plead on Bai Xing's behalf.

"I have controlled the Star Domain for more than a decade. Since I have disobeyed the orders of the young master, my death is imminent. However, I must kill Fang Zhengzhi. Is there anyone else who is willing to die with me? Help me hold down the young master whilst I take care of Fang Zhengzhi!" Bai Xing bit his lip and drew blood.

"Domain Chief Bai, I will die with you!"

"Me too!"

Two demon elites stood forward.

"What is this rubbish! Whoever dares to disobey the young master is going up against the entire Demon Race. Do you think that your death will change anything?" Wu Ji's voice rang out, his sword lowered at the two demon elites who stepped forward.

The expressions of the two demon elites changed.

They were loyal to Yun Qingwu, but when they saw Fang Zhengzhi faint, their emotions got the better of them.

They had the same idea as Bai Xing.

Fang Zhengzhi had to die!

They knew the consequences of insubordination...

However, when Wu Ji had spelled it out...

Their determination wavered.

Death...

Would not be enough to wash the slate clean.

Insubordination was akin to rebelling. A demon like this would go down in infamy. Generations of demons would shame and demean such a demon.

Hesitation, terror.

"Young master, my apologies!"

"Please forgive us!"

The two demons fell to their knees and kowtowed to Yun Qingwu.

When Bai Xing saw this, he chuckled rather manically. He had expected this to happen.

Yun Qingwu!

She had become the young master of the demons at the age of 10. She was not particularly talented. To be more precise, her talents were not in cultivation.

The Demons prized ability above all else.

Ability and prowess gave you status amongst the Demons.

However, Yun Qingwu had shown them another type of ability, an ability that was terrifying. This was an ability that made everyone willing to serve her.

When she was five, Yun Qingwu was sent to a neighboring city many miles from the Blood Shadow City. That was a city which was extremely barren.

Five years later...

Yun Qingwu had made that outpost a bustling city.

The security around that outpost was not less than the Blood Shadow City. She was not particularly powerful, but her subordinates included countless powerful demons.

Each of them masters in their own rights.

However, all of these powerful demons were willing to serve a 10-year-old girl.

No one in the Blood Shadow City knew how she had managed to accomplish all of this.

However, they knew that Yun Qingwu's return to the Blood Shadow City was not out of pity or talent...

It was ability!

After the defeat, the Demons had been trapped in the Blood Shadow City and embroiled in civil war.

In five years, Yun Qingwu had managed to stop all the infighting and set up the Six Domain Demonic Army.

When she returned to the Blood Shadow City...

There were countless powerful demons standing behind her. All of them were loyal to her and her alone.

Talents?

The Demons had countless talents!

But they only had one Yun Qingwu.

Yun Qingwu did not use her talents in cultivation to re-enter the Blood Shadow City. She had used her ability to unite the Demons.

That year, she was 10.

The Demon Lord, the leaders of all the four largest families, all of the reputable demons, and all the talents stood at the entrance to the Blood Shadow City.

They waited to receive their new young master!

"Capture Bai Xing!" Yun Qingwu's voice was icy, her aura enough to scare most demons into submission.

"Young master... I have been with you since you were seven. I have never disobeyed any of your orders. But this time, I really cannot listen to you!" Bai Xing's eyes sparkled. It was almost as if the stars in the skies were captured by his eyes.

At this moment, a ray of light shot down from the sky.

A figure stepped forward.

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Chapter 403: Xuan Heavenly Dao Body

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

When that ray of light shot to the Earth, everyone rubbed their eyes in shock, including Yun Qingwu.

At that moment, Yun Qingwu's expression changed slightly.

She did not expect that Bai Xing would still go ahead with his plan and attack Fang Zhengzhi.

However, she quickly realized...

Something wasn't quite right.

That starlight felt different. Every Dao had its own unique point. Even though Bai Xing's Dao manifested as starlight, it was filled with sharpness.

But...

This starlight was filled with grandeur. It felt as though a million constellations had gathered at a single point. If Bai Xing's Dao was a single star.

This was the entire galaxy.

"Who is this?" Yun Qingwu turned to look at the figure. However, she did not move from her spot. As the young master of the Demons, she would never retreat.

Wu Ji and the demon elites all looked at Bai Xing, but their attention was quickly drawn towards the approaching figure.

It was a dainty figure.

Nowhere near as tall as they expected. However, when she appeared on the cliff, she did not show any trace of fear.

Her pink dress danced in the wind, her waterfall-esque hair resting on her shoulders.

This lady's eyes were bright, almost as if they contained entire constellations. To be more precise, it felt as if her eyes were made of stars.

Her legs were long, her skin fair and flawless. Her lips were luscious and soft.

Yun Qingwu was beautiful.

But Yun Qingwu's beauty came from her inability to be affected by anything around her. This lady's beauty came from her starry bright eyes and her brightness.

Her name was...

Chi Guyan!

"Chi Guyan?!" Yun Qingwu's expression changed. Her emotions were inexplicable, but she did not even feel this way when Fang Zhengzhi was humiliating her.

She was not alone. Even Bai Xing, Wu Ji, and the demon elites looked on in disbelief.

All of the demon elites took a step back instinctively. They did not even notice it themselves.

If Yun Qingwu was the most powerful lady in their hearts.

Then Chi Guyan was the brightest star amongst all the humans. This name was sufficient to strike fear in the bravest of hearts.

"Chi Guyan!"

"It's Chi Guyan!"

"Chi Guyan is here!"

All of the candidates looked at Chi Guyan. They did not ask why Chi Guyan had come to the Southern Region, neither did they think about how she got there.

When it came to Chi Guyan, nothing was impossible.

It continued to pour.

Nangong Hao, who was carrying the Standstill Sword on his back, looked at Chi Guyan quietly.

His expression was strange.

Normally, when a guy laid eyes on a lady, there were only two emotions. Either he liked her or he did not. However, Nangong Hao's expression was neither.

It felt like a mix of both.

"She... also broke through!" Nangong Hao did not think about why Chi Guyan was here. All he did was say something that no one else would say.

However, he did not notice that his voice was quivering when he said this. In fact, his lips were quivering as well.

"Yo!"

Just as everyone was focused on Chi Guyan, a crisp voice cut through the air. Then, a snow-white figure burst through the clouds. It was a humongous, winged beast.

A pair of fiery red eyes looked down at the crowd on the cliff. The feathers were not just feathers, they were snow like scales. This beast looked like an eagle.

However, there was one main difference. It had a long tail, almost like that of a phoenix, and it glimmered like crystals.

Snow Wind Eagle.

This was a rare beast. Even members of the royal family rarely got their hands on one.

This was a beast that had the blood of the ancient phoenix running through it.

Furthermore...

It could fly through intense winds. It's stamina and speed also meant that it could cover unparalleled distances.

Rare and ferocious.

There was someone riding on its back. This figure was wearing a bright red armor. She pouted as she looked down.

This was also a lady.

She was even younger than Chi Guyan, but she was immensely arrogant.

Ping Yang!

The favorite princess of the Emperor.

Ping Yang looked down and saw Fang Zhengzhi's limp body. She smirked contentedly.

"Shameless fella, I see you still need me to come and save you?" Ping Yang nagged but she had no intention of dismounting.

This was a deal.

A deal that she made so that she could come to the Southern Region.

This was a deal she made with Chi Guyan. Chi Guyan was the only person who Ping Yang would listen to.

The torrential rain continued its assault.

Chi Guyan stood quietly on the cliff as she looked around. Her gaze finally rested on the unconscious Fang Zhengzhi.

"Leave Fang Zhengzhi here, you can all leave." Chi Guyan spoke. Her voice was not loud, but it was melodious.

A human.

A single human standing in the face of dozens of demon elites.

Yet, the first thing she said was, "Leave Fang Zhengzhi here, you can all leave". In any other situation, this would be comical, but Yun Qingwu was not laughing.

None of the demons were laughing.

Because the person who said it was Chi Guyan.

"You can all leave, leave Fang Zhengzhi here." Yun Qingwu's voice was not loud, and she used the same words as Chi Guyan.

The words were the same, but the meaning was completely different.

The rain continued to pummel them all.

Neither Chi Guyan nor Yun Qingwu spoke. They knew that there was no need to speak anymore.

A ray of light shot through the sky, then a second, third and fourth appeared...

Within moments, the dark sky was illuminated. To be more precise, these rays of light had pierced through and covered the dark clouds.

Silver rays of light shot towards the ground, intertwining with the raindrops, almost as though they were infusing the raindrops with light.

It was a beautiful sight.

However, when Wu Ji and the demon elites saw this, their expressions were filled with shock and disbelief.

Within moments, lights shone from the bodies of the demons. They were of different colors, but it was their most powerful forces.

"Boom!"

"Boom boom boom..."

Explosions rang out all over the sky. Every explosion was accompanied by a terrifying tremor. Furthermore, the sounds were enough to send chills down everyone's spine.

This feeling...

It was almost as though the rain had become rays of light. In other words, the rain had become lightswords.

The Million Sword Illustration!

The secret art of the Divine Constabulary.

Fang Zhengzhi had seen it once. At that time, he had understood Dao would give rise to one. One would become two, two becomes three, and it would keep going on!

This was the gist of the Million Sword Illustration.

If he could open his eyes now, he would realize that this was the Million Sword Illustration, but it was Chi Guyan's version.

Torrential rain!

Could not become lightswords.

However, lightswords could become torrential rain!

The lightswords fused with the raindrops, the purple lightning in the clouds, the wind blowing across the cliff...

"Xuan Heavenly Dao Body"

"Is this the power of the Xuan Heavenly Dao Body?!"

"No, this is not just the Xuan Heavenly Dao Body! With such power... she is definitely not in the Heavenly Reflection State!"

"Protect the young master!"

All of the demon elites paled. They knew how powerful Chi Guyan was in the Great Xia Dynasty.

She was the top-ranked talent on the two Dragon Rolls. She was the one mentioned in the prophecy, the future general of the Great Xia Dynasty.

However, this was all in the future.

Right now...

She should just be a talent in the Heavenly Reflection State. However, the lightswords said otherwise. She had broken through the barriers of the Heavenly Reflection State.

"Supernatural State!"

"Is Chi Guyan also in the Supernatural State?!"

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Chapter 404: I am still a Demon

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

If Fang Zhengzhi's breakthrough had instilled fear and shock in the Demons, Chi Guyan's abilities instilled terror, unparalleled terror.

If Fang Zhengzhi was a threat to the Demon race, so was Chi Guyan!

Even though all of the Demons knew that Chi Guyan was a threat two years ago. However, when they saw how much she had progressed, their hearts still trembled in fear.

Fang Zhengzhi was in the Supernatural State!

Chi Guyan had also broken through to the Supernatural State!

Did the Demon race still have a future?

All of the demons had no other choice but to suppress these thoughts. The blood in their hearts was already boiling.

Supernatural State demons were elites in their own rights. However, when they were facing Chi Guyan, they felt like they were nothing.

"Sh*t!"

"Ah..."

Blood and screams filled the air.

The lightswords penetrated their bodies and exploded inside their bodies. Then, the injuries were reopened by additional lightswords before they could heal.

Wu Ji watched on ferociously.

As a Rebirth State Demon, he had the abilities and ego of a Rebirth State cultivator. He wanted to capture Chi Guyan when he saw the ray of light shooting earthward.

But, it was a fleeting thought.

Because...

After he found out that Chi Guyan had broken through to the Supernatural State, he was not confident of succeeding. Even if he teamed up with Bai Xing...

Their success was not guaranteed.

Generally, any probability above 50% was worth a shot, but he could not go for it this time. He had another important mission.

Protect Yun Qingwu.

Could the dozens of demon elites protect Yun Qingwu?

Definitely!

However, they were struggling to protect themselves. What if Yun Qingwu was still injured despite their best efforts?

But if the two Rebirth State Demons joined the fray...

Even Chi Guyan's powerful attack would not be able to harm Yun Qingwu.

Chi Guyan knew this. As such, she used the Million Sword Illustration and combined it with the rain. This ensured that Wu Ji had to spend his effort protecting Yun Qingwu.

As for Bai Xing...

She had placed herself right in front of Bai Xing. Since she did not move, Bai Xing could not move.

Yun Qingwu's expression was icy.

She knew that Chi Guyan would possibly appear here, but she did not expect that Chi Guyan would be in the Supernatural State. Neither did she expect that Fang Zhengzhi would breakthrough here.

"Two Supernatural... Supernatural State talents?" Yun Qingwu looked at Chi Guyan and Fang Zhengzhi as she heard the screams around her.

A look of helplessness flashed across her eyes.

This should have never appeared. After all, she was the young master of the demons, someone who was immensely powerful and intelligent!

When she was 10 years old...

Yun Qingwu had led the armies of six of the demonic domains back to the Blood Shadow City, stunning the entire race.

Six domains of soldiers.

Loyal to the 10-year-old Yun Qingwu.

How scary was that?!

On the second day, her father had given her command of the remaining four domain armies in front of the four most influential families.

On that day, the Demon Lord had only one request.

On that day, Yun Qingwu had sworn to the Demon ancestors that she would serve the Demons till her last breath!

"Young master, leave Fang Zhengzhi to us! You should leave first!"

"Protect her retreat!"

"Ah... young master, please go!"

Voices rang out from atop the cliff as blood mixed with the rain. The dozens of demon elites continued to struggle and scream...

Yun Qingwu's body shivered.

It wasn't because the Million Sword Illustration had injured her. In fact, she had been standing in the same spot throughout...

But the lightswords could not hurt her.

Because...

She was being protected by the dozens of demon elites as well as Wu Ji.

"Young master, don't hesitate any longer!"

"Young master, please leave first!"

"Young master, we will bring back Fang Zhengzhi, even if it costs us our lives!"

Their voices were filled with anxiety and loyalty. They were willing to lay down their lives for her.

"Go?" Yun Qingwu raised her head and looked at the rays of silver light dropping from the heavens.

How powerful!

That thought flashed past Yun Qingwu's mind. Even though she admired Chi Guyan's power...

Xuan Heavenly Dao Body...

Supernatural State!

The top talent of the generation!

Powerful, really very powerful!

How powerful would a Supernatural State talent with 388 Daos be?!

Yun Qingwu looked at the prone figure next to her. Fang Zhengzhi was there...

No one was closer to him than Yun Qingwu.

When Fang Zhengzhi fainted, he was still holding onto Yun Qingwu's leg...

The lightswords continued to fall to the ground.

Yun Qingwu was not hurt and neither was Fang Zhengzhi. After all, Fang Zhengzhi was right beside her.

I am... a demon!

Yun Qingwu's lips twitched as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi. She saw that he was still unconscious and her eyes glimmered.

I swore that I will not let the Demon Race kill you, but I never said that I would not do it myself!" Yun Qingwu's voice rang out.

At the same time, her feet moved.

The movement was not big.

However, it was enough to kick the unconscious Fang Zhengzhi...

Off the cliff!

There wasn't much sound, but there was already a figure tumbling down the side of the cliff.

"Let the heavens decide your fate!"

In the sky, the Snow Wind Eagle shrieked and shot down from the sky like a comet.

Ping Yang would not watch idly by as Fang Zhengzhi tumbled down the cliff.

As such...

She decided to show off her abilities as a princess.

However, she underestimated the Demons behind Yun Qingwu. They were willing to die for her.

Just as Fang Zhengzhi was tumbling down the cliff, two figures in black jumped off the cliff along with his body to block Ping Yang.

"No one can interfere with the young master's decision!"

"Let me go!"

The two black figures did not follow Fang Zhengzhi. Fang Zhengzhi's fate was in Yun Qingwu's hands.

Since Yun Qingwu had made her decision, no one could be allowed to interfere.

Two rays of light beamed.

They unsheathed their blades and charged towards the Snow Wind Eagle. They jumped right in front of the eagle.

They were not slower than the Snow Wind Eagle.

However, the Snow Wind Eagle had the upper ground.

"Boom!"

The ensuing crash was resounding.

"Aroo!" The Snow Wind Eagle shrieked and spread its wings. After its clash with the demons, it flew back into the sky.

Ping Yang's jaw dropped because she never thought that there would be demons prepared to block her advance.

This moment of lapse...

Meant that the opportunity had lapsed.

The Snow Wind Eagle would not risk further injury to try and rescue Fang Zhengzhi. After all, its main mission was to ensure Ping Yang's safety.

As such, after being blocked by two Supernatural State Demons, it chose to turn back and fly to the sky.

Chi Guyan wanted to move.

However, Bai Xing was standing in front of her. If Bai Xing didn't move, neither could she.

"Save him!" Chi Guyan's voice rang out from the cliff. This time, her tone was filled with anxiety.

She was truly anxious.

The candidates heard Chi Guyan's voice but they could not save Fang Zhengzhi. They were too far away.

Xing Qingsui wanted to save him too, but he was commanding the 50,000 strong army towards the gates of the Icy Monkey Settlement. He could not appear on the cliff.

Xing Yuanguo was fast, but even his speed was insufficient to punch through 100,000 soldiers and turn up next to Fang Zhengzhi.

Neither could Nangong Hao.

Every member of the Great Xia army wanted to save him.

But...

The ones at the bottom of the cliff were not soldiers of the Great Xia.

The Great Xia army had been surrounded from the start. That area was firmly in the hands of the Southern Region soldiers.

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Chapter 405: Wait and see

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Would the Southern Region soldiers save Fang Zhengzhi?

Clearly not.

They were ordered to cooperate with the Demons and surround the Great Xia army at the gates of the Icy Monkey Settlement. As such, even though they may not follow the orders of the young master of the Demons, they would not go against it.

However, the soldiers from Feng Su did not represent the all of the soldiers of the Southern Range.

If there was a group that could go through both armies without being stopped...

It would be Teng Shisheng's 500 Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry.

The Great Xia soldiers have seen Fang Zhengzhi command this group in battle. As such, they would not strike at the cavalry.

The Southern Region soldiers also knew better than to attack. The Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry were the elites of the Southern Region. They represented the authority of Princess Shan Yu.

From the moment the Southern Region soldiers appeared, Teng Shisheng acted as though he was an outsider.

No one would attack his group.

Even though he was surrounded by Great Xia and Southern Region soldiers, he could confidently stay out of the fray.

During this entire time, Teng Shisheng had only done one thing. He had shadowed Fang Zhengzhi.

Like a wolf waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

Fang Zhengzhi's battle with Nangong Hao's battle was risky, so Teng Shisheng did not interfere. When Fang Zhengzhi was slapped by Yan Xiu, a golden opportunity was presented to him.

However, Yan Xiu continued to guard Fang Zhengzhi afterward. This opportunity... lapsed.

Then, Fang Zhengzhi had defeated Shi Kou and got embroiled in a duel with Wu Ji. Teng Shisheng was only in the Supernatural State, so he could not strike.

Wait!

He continued to wait.

He waited for Fang Zhengzhi to charge up the cliff. He never gave up, patiently waiting for his opportunity. He made sure that he was not too far away throughout the entire sequence.

When Fang Zhengzhi charged up the cliff, he chose to take up a position at the foot of the cliff. He could see Fang Zhengzhi if he raised his head.

Was it difficult?

It may have been difficult for others but it was no issue for the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry. All of the Southern Region soldiers opened up a path for them to pass through.

In truth, this had something to do with their status, but it had more to do with their stallions.

After all...

No one wanted to be too close to a ferocious Silver Horned Wolf.

As such, when the 500 Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry passed through, no one dared to step within a two-meter radius.

Teng Shisheng had been waiting for a long time.

Even though he was beginning to lose hope, he did not give up. After all, he was riding a Silver Horned Wolf and had its animalistic nature.

He was never going to lose sight of his goals.

"Aroo!" A loud roar rang out in the sky. At the same time, a huge figure leaped skyward as thousands watched on.

That figure leaped high up into the sky. Everyone on the ground could see it clearly.

Then...

The figure landed on the ground and began sprinting away without a moment's hesitation. It charged straight towards Feng Su, hundreds of equally hulking figures following behind.

"Aroo!"

"Aroo!"

The beasts roared as they sped away, They were the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry.

Stunned! Dumbfounded!

At that moment, there was no other sound in the sky except for the roars of the beasts, the thunder, and the torrential rain.

Everyone knew who was that figure who leaped into the sky.

Teng Shisheng!

The leader of the 500 Silber Horned Wolf Cavalry.

The Southern Region soldiers always knew the cavalry as heroes and courageous soldiers. Why would they save Fang Zhengzhi?

All of them wondered to themselves. Then, they began to ask themselves where Teng Shisheng was bringing Fang Zhengzhi.

Why would the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry run towards the entrance of Feng Su?

No one could answer their questions.

Neither would Teng Shisheng. He began to scream commands at the soldiers around him, "Move aside, quickly! All of you, move aside!"

They could all hear that Teng Shisheng was in a rush.

This was indeed the case. Even though he had managed to get his hands on Fang Zhengzhi, it did not mean that he would be able to escape.

"Yo!" A crisp voice could be heard above Teng Shisheng as a huge shadow began circling overhead.

"Put down the shameless fella!" Ping Yang's voice could be heard.

"Don't bother about her, just run!" Teng Shisheng ordered his cavalry without hesitation. Capturing Fang Zhengzhi was their true mission.

As for Ping Yang...

They did not have to worry about her. Feng Su was a narrow place and the Snow Wind Eagle would never be able to make its way in. The only thing it could do was circle overhead.

"Yes, sir!" The 500 Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry replied in unison.

All of the Southern Region soldiers opened up a path for them. They could not stop the Silver Horned Wolf Cavalry. They only listened to one person.

That person was...

Shan Yu!

At the entrance to the Icy Monkey Settlement, all of the soldiers continued to be rooted to the ground. That had all happened too quickly.

They were unable to respond in time.

The fact was Fang Zhengzhi had been saved by Teng Shisheng. They were speeding towards Feng Su at this very moment.

"He is now in the hands of the Southern Region. Father, what do we do now?" Xing Qingsui looked at Xing Yuanguo worriedly.

"It's still better than having him in the hands of the Demons. Take the Icy Monkey Settlement first. If we can win this battle, the Southern Region will no longer be the enemy," Xing Yuanguo's gaze turned icy. As the commander, he had to maintain his calm and composure.

"I understand!" Xing Qingsui nodded.

He could see the determination to kill Fang Zhengzhi in the eyes of the Demons. Thus, Fang Zhengzhi still had value to the Southern Region.

As such...

Until he was no longer useful, Fang Zhengzhi's life should not be in much danger.

"Kill!" Xing Yuanguo bellowed.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

All of the Great Xia soldiers, Mountain Breaking Army, and the Dragon Protection Squad sprung into action. They threw themselves in the direction of the gates of the Icy Monkey Settlement.

The Southern Region soldiers also began their defense.

However, without their general, they could not put up a resistance in the face of such a well-oiled killing machine.

On the cliff, Yun Qingwu looked at the figure on Teng Shisheng's back. She had been watching in from the beginning.

All of the Demon elites, as well as Bai Xing and Wu Ji, turned to look at Yun Qingwu. They were waiting for her orders.

However, Yun Qingwu did not give any.

From the moment she kicked Fang Zhengzhi off the cliff, she had not uttered a single word.

The torrential rain of lightswords also stopped.

However, the rain itself did not stop. A white dress and a pink one danced in the wind, almost like two flowers in the rain.

"Aren't you going to chase after them?" Yun Qingwu finally spoke, almost as though she was talking to herself. However, everyone knew that Yun Qingwu's emotions were not stable.

"I do not want you to chase." Chi Guyan's gaze also flickered towards the figure speeding away from them, as well as the circling Snow Wind Eagle overhead.

"I see. I understand." Yun Qingwu followed Chi Guyan's gaze and saw the Snow Wind Eagle in the sky.

"Are you leaving?" Chi Guyan looked at Yun Qingwu.

"Yes, what about you?"

"Not right now."

"If you don't leave now, it may not be convenient to leave next time."

"We can only know what will happen in the future when it happens." Chi Guyan remained calm.

"Then... we will wait and see." Yun Qingwu nodded lightly, then turned and walked down the cliff.

"Wait and see." Chi Guyan nodded, showing no intention of staying.

Having lost their general in the heat of battle, the Southern Region's formation was broken and the outcome was all but determined.

The soldiers of the Southern Region may not be afraid of death, but that did not mean that they wanted to die.

When the deputies saw the general fall, all of the soldiers were in disarray. Finally, the gates to the Icy Monkey Settlement were breached by the Mountain Breaking Army.

The 50,000 strong Great Xia army rushed into the Icy Monkey Settlement, locking the Southern Region soldiers outside.

At this point, the Southern Region soldiers had two choices.

They could continue guarding the entrance to the Icy Monkey Settlement, or they could retreat through Feng Su.

It did not take long for them to decide on the second option. After all, it was impossible for them to choose the first option.

They were out of rations!

That was the key factor.

Those soldiers rushing out of the Icy Monkey Settlement would naturally not bring rations out with them!

The soldiers coming from Feng Su were also out of rations.

They had only brought enough rations for the duration of the battle. After all, they were coming for an ambush and could not carry so many rations.

Furthermore...

The Icy Monkey Settlement had plenty of rations.

Why would they bother bringing more?

The Southern Region soldiers had no rations, whilst the Great Xia soldiers had rations to last them a couple of years. As such, retreat was the only logical option.

"Retreat!"

All of the deputies gave the order to retreat, bringing the battle to an end. This was an intense battle with huge losses.

The soldiers began picking up the bodies of their fallen comrades.

Those bodies were disfigured beyond recognition and some were missing limbs. However, the Southern Region soldiers never left a body behind, even if it was just a limb.

Because...

This was the Southern Region.

This was a place that ferocious beasts roamed. A warrior could die on the battlefield, but they would never allow a comrade to be food.

The Southern Regions were considered barbaric.

They were brave, and they would never leave a fallen comrade on the battlefield. Even though they had lost, even though they were shivering from the cold...

They did not retreat quickly. On the contrary, their retreat was slow.

After they finished retreating, the gates to the Icy Monkey Settlement opened once again and wooden carts were rolled out. Armored bodies began to fill the carts.

However, other than bodies, the wooden carts were filled with armor and spears, which were scattered all over the battlefield.

As an army fighting in a foreign land...

The Great Xia soldiers had to conserve their resources so that they had enough to continue fighting.

As such, armor and spears were a necessity!

This was war.

The cold, cruel truth of war. War was brutal to both the victorious and the fallen.

Night fell and the rain stopped.

There were little streams forming in the ground as the smell of blood filled the air, lingering on despite the rain stopping.

"Aroo!" A crisp howl could be heard.

Balls of flames rose up from the Icy Monkey Settlement. That was the flame that carried the souls of the fallen back home.

"War, war, the brutal cruelties of war!" A voice rang out in the night, filled with anger and mourning.

However, the voice came from the entrance of the Icy Monkey Settlement, not from inside. This seemed rather strange.

"The official is here, the war is over." Another voice could be heard. This voice was rather confident and proud.

"Mm, get the soldiers guarding the gates to open them!" A figure walked forward. He arrived at the entrance of the settlement and frowned as he saw the blood.

"Yes!" Another figure also walked forward. That was a middle-aged man in bright armor. He squinted as he looked up at the gates, his face filled with arrogance.

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Chapter 406: Critical Situation

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

After the middle-aged man stopped moving, synchronized footsteps could be heard as hundreds of armored figures stood solemnly in the dark.

They were clearly a squad of guards.

Furthermore, their armor showed that they were from the Great Xia.

"The Minister of Rites is here with a decree from the Emperor! Open the gates!" A voice pierced through the night sky.

"Minister of Rites?! Why will the Minister of Rites come here?" A head popped out from the city walls and looked down at the squad doubtfully.

"The Emperor's Decree is here! Open the gates!"

"It really is an Emperor's Decree. Report to Xing Hou immediately!"

Even though the soldiers of the Great Xia had managed to emerge victorious in the battle at the Icy Monkey Settlement, they were still trapped.

The Stable Mountain Gate had been breached and tens of thousands have been held prisoner. Furthermore, the Crown Prince was surrounded, leaving this army to fend for themselves.

The Great Xia would be unable to reinforce them in the near future.

As such...

The surviving 40,000 soldiers only had two choices. They could either wait for reinforcements here, or they could follow the initial plan and strike at the heart of the Southern Regions.

Prima facie...

The first option was not bad at all. They could prevent further losses and the rations in the Icy Monkey Settlement could last a long time.

However, no smart man would choose this option.

What was the Icy monkey Settlement?

This was one of the six great settlements apart from the Sagely Mountain City!

This was foreign territory. To put it even more plainly, threats to their lives were everywhere.

Even though they had control over the Icy Monkey Settlement, that was about all they had. It would be virtually impossible for them to hold this position.

The citizens here would never cooperate with the Great Xia. To make matters worse, they may even cause disruptions during the defence.

Furthermore...

Season and weather were a concern.

Winter was coming, and the soldiers of the Great Xia weren't prepared for it. If the battle dragged on, they would all freeze to death.

Rob?

This was not a bad idea. However, if they really did that, Xing Yuanguo would immediately execute the culprits.

They were effectively left with one choice.

The would stab straight at the Sagely Mountain City.

40,000 soldiers was not an extremely powerful force. However, with the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army, they had a decent chance.

Of course...

They needed the element of surprise.

In other words, they had to be quick. They needed to strike before news of the Southern Region Defeat reached the Sagely Mountain City.

They had to strike before defences could be set up.

They would attack the city and seal the victory for the Great Xia Dynasty.

In actual fact, this was the Emperor's plan from the start. Of course, the number of soldiers was insufficient, but for the Great Xia to send millions of soldiers...

That would be impossible.

Without even considering the losses and the costs, the terrain itself was the biggest unknown. It would be like throwing thousands of lions into a forest.

The sheer numbers who would get lost were enough.

They were unfamiliar with the terrain. Coupled with the ferocious beasts that roamed the ground, this battle would likely be a long one.

The Southern Regions could afford it.

But the Great Xia couldn't. No matter how full the coffers were, they could not possibly spend it all on this one war.

As such, this could never be a full-fledged war.

According to the original plan, the final meeting point would be the Icy Monkey Settlement. The Crown Prince would command the army here and a force 100,000 strong would gather at the Icy Monkey Settlement.

Whilst everyone's attention was focused on the combat examination in the Icy Monkey Settlement, they would strike at the Sagely Mountain City!

No reinforcements?

That was the plan from the start!

In order to account for any surprises, the Emperor had given the elite Dragon Protection Squad to Nangong Hao and hidden the Mountain Breaking Army amongst the ranks. It was all for the final strike.

However...

It was not to be. Fang Zhengzhi had commanded his 50,000 strong army to the Icy Monkey Settlement, breaking through Feng Su and Nangong Hao's preparations.

In the end, Nangong Hao had to show himself...

And the rest was history.

A simple act like that seemed to have thrown a spanner in the works. However, it had also created a golden opportunity.

To the Southern Region leadership, it was impossible for them to lose the battle at the Icy Monkey Settlement. As such, if they set out during the night...

They could strike the Sagely Mountain City before they even knew what had hit them!

They would seal the victory!

"No, we have already emerged victorious here. This is the perfect time to negotiate. We have been on good terms with the Southern Region for centuries. We cannot destroy it like that. We have to try diplomacy first. How can you not know this?" The Minister of Rites dismissed any idea of an attack.

Then, in order not to embarrass Xing Yuanguo, the Minister added another sentence, "These are the Emperor's wishes. Xing Hou, you must respect them!"

Silence.

Other than the flickering flames inside the stone house, there was no other sound. No one expected the Minister of Rites to appear here.

Least of all with a decree from the Emperor.

"Minster, if the Southern Regions really wanted to negotiate, they would not have taken the Stable Mountain Gate and surrounded the Crown Prince. They even ambushed us..." Xing Qingsui spoke up.

"Qingsui, you are still young. You cannot just take everything at face value. Even though the Southern Region has taken over the Stable Mountain Gate, they haven't killed a single soldier. Furthermore, they have surrounded the Crown Prince but have chosen not to attack."

The Minister of Rites shook his head and continued, "I think that the Southern Region is sending us a message. By surrounding us and not attacking, they are asking for a sincere negotiation. After all, all they care about is benefits."

"How does the Minister of Rites plan to negotiate?" Xing Yuanguo frowned slightly and shook his head at Xing Qingsui.

"The Southern Region is after freedom. We can try to agree to their terms and join forces to drive the Demons out. Then, we can improve our relationship with them. There are many ways to do this. We can have a bond through marriage. We could marry a princess off to the Southern Region. This way, the relationship will be more stable!" The Minister of Rites immediately expressed his opinion contentedly.

"Father, this is a golden opportunity for us to strike. If we miss this, we may not have a similar opportunity in the future. Once the Southern Region has had time to set up their defences, we are bound to be defeated!" Xing Qingsui urged.

"Qingsui, you are the heir to the Stabilization Constabulary. It is natural that you have your own views, but, how can you be so sure that the Sagely Mountain City is defenceless? If you strike now and end up being ambushed, how would you emerge victorious?" The Minister of Rites interrupted.

"Erm..." Xing Qingsui's expression changed. The Minister was right, no one could be sure that the Sagely Mountain City was defenceless.

That being said, who could predict what would happen?

In a war...

Even a 50% chance was worth a shot. After all, the battlefield was constantly changing and one had to fight tooth and nail.

"The Minister of Rites makes sense. However, in war, we prize timing and opportunity. We only listen to the general. Even though you have the Emperor's Decree, I am sure you have faced delays along the way. Things could have changed. I am sure you understand that the General has the final say in the field?" At this point, another voice rang out.

This voice came from behind Nangong Hao, but it wasn't from Nangong Hao. It came from a middle-aged man behind Nangong Hao.

He was the leader of the Dragon Protection Squad!

His name, Yan Qing!

Even though he followed the orders of the Emperor, he was arrogant in his own right. After all, he was a disciple of the 13 Constabularies and had a keen eye for battle.

The Minister of Rites's expression changed instantly. He looked at Yan Qing, the leader of the Dragon Protection Squad. Normally, he would not want to antagonize him, even as the Minister of Rites.

But this time was different.

He had been ordered by the Emperor to head to the Southern Region. He was tasked to save the citizens and end this pointless war.

As such, even though Yan Qing was the leader of the Dragon Protection Squad, the Minister was not too bothered about antagonizing him.

"Official Yan, even though you are the leader of the Dragon Protection Squad, are you prepared to commit a crime and defy the orders of the Emperor?" The Minister of Rites flashed the Emperor's decree.

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Chapter 407: Congenital Arrogance

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

The light brightened up the stone house, shining on the golden parchment in the hands of the Minister of Rites, causing the parchment to glow.

The decree represented the wishes of the Emperor.

Going against it meant going against the Emperor's orders.

Yan Qing clenched his fists tightly. Even though he was the leader of the Dragon Protection Squad, he would not go against the will of the Emperor.

After all, this had nothing to do with life or death. This had to do with his honor and the reputation of the 13 Constabularies.

But...

He did not want to stand by and watch this golden opportunity to disappear. This concerned the lives of thousands of Great Xia Dynasty soldiers.

"Minister, if this delay causes this opportunity to slip and kills the army where it stands, will you take responsibility?" Yan Qing's voice was icy

"If we fail to come to an agreement, I will pay for it with my life!" The Minister had a steely determination.

Then, without taking a breath, he continued. "Diplomacy should always take precedence

"Without it?"

"There would be no order, no value system. The leader of a country can use diplomacy to allow his country to prosper."

"Only diplomats can ensure that the power stays with the throne."

"War!"

"War is definitely a way to resolve conflicts."

"However, the best method to win is always to do so without any losses on either side. Diplomacy has to be tried first."

"If we just use force without discretion, would we be any different from barbarians?"

The Minister straightened his back as he finished. Even though he was aged, his eyes continued to glimmer with vitality.

"Stubborn!" Yan Qing bellowed when he heard this. He felt a wave of rage well up in his chest as he did so.

The Minister has his point.

However, even though it was a well thought out argument...

This was a battlefield... and the battlefield was unforgiving.

As such, there were many things that could not be measured using theories. The Minister thought that the victory put them in a good position to negotiate.

However, in the grand scheme of the war, victory here was insignificant. The Southern Region continued to hold the advantage.

Where would they have the chips to negotiate?

Furthermore, there were the Demons. The Demons would never allow the negotiation to happen!

Stubborn!

Yan Qing could not think of any other words to describe the glow in the Minister's eyes.

They were two people with very different ideals.

They each had their own points and ideas. At the end of the day, there was no absolute right or wrong. As a result, Yan Qing was exasperated.

"It doesn't matter what you call me, I will continue to stand my ground. Furthermore, this is the will of the Emperor. Will Official Yan ignore the will of the Emperor?" The Minister ignored that outburst.

The will of the Emperor?

Xing Yuanguo squinted.

Xing Yuanguo had spent most of his life interacting with the Emperor. The Emperor did have his weaknesses.

He pampered Ping Yang too much and would sometimes use some questionable tactics.

But...

When it came to international relations, the Emperor had never made a single mistake.

That was how he managed to build the Great Xia Dynasty into the powerful empire it now was.

Something was wrong!

Xing Yuanguo frowned. Normally, there would be some delay for the situation here to reach the capital, but it could not have taken too long.

A day or two at most.

As such, Fang Zhengzhi's actions in the Thunderous Lion region would have reached the eyes and ears of the Emperor.

As such...

The Emperor would have definitely expected Fang Zhengzhi to strike at the Icy Monkey Settlement!

Once that battle unfolded, the plan would be spoilt.

The Emperor would definitely have expected this.

Furthermore, the falling of the Mountain Stabilizing Pass happened days before. Yet, the Emperor did not send people to retake the pass, choosing instead to send the Minister of Rites.

What was the aim?

"Minister, could you please let me take a look at the decree?" Xing Yuanguo spoke once again, his tone calm.

"The Emperor's decree? Erm... if Xing Hou wants to take a look, by all means!" The Minister hesitated, then nodded and unfurled the decree.

Xing Yuanguo.

The commander of the Mountain Breaking Army, the leader of the 13 Constabularies, the pillar of the Great Xia Dynasty. Even the Emperor showed this man respect and valued his opinions.

If not for that.

The Minister would not have rushed all the way here to prevent the next attack.

Xing Yuanguo did not say anything else. He nodded and began to examine the decree.

Lines of words were written on the golden parchment.

Right at the bottom was the Emperor's personal seal.

The gist of it was that the Emperor wanted to talk terms with the Southern Region. He had the Minister lead those discussions in a show of sincerity.

After reading it, Xing Yuanguo frowned again and read it from the beginning...

Time passed slowly.

The atmosphere inside the house was tense. The decree was short, but Xing Yuanguo read it repeatedly for an hour.

The Minister's patience was wearing thin.

However, he did not speak.

After all...

He was facing Xing Yuanguo, someone the Emperor treated as his own brother.

Yan Qing did not speak either.

Even though he knew that the battle would become more dangerous as time passed and their chances of a sneak attack would be lower, he did not speak.

The reason was the same. The person in front of him was Xing Yuanguo.

He could maintain his cool on a battlefield regardless of the situation. This was a man with an even fiercer reputation than King Duan.

There was only one other person who was equally calm. That was Nangong Hao. He too was examining the words on the Emperor's decree.

"I understand!" Xing Yuanguo's voice rang out, breaking the silence in the room. At the same time, he rolled up the parchment and handed it back to the Minister respectfully.

The Minister's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to say it. He was waiting for Xing Yuanguo's decision.

"Minister, it must have been difficult for you. I I'll send 500 soldiers along with you to ensure your safety!" Xing Yuanguo added.

"That means... Xing Hou... plans to..." The Minister was ecstatic, but he was careful.

"Obey the order!"

"Xing Hou is wise. I will head straight for the Sagely Mountain City right away and carry out the wishes of the Emperor!"

"Qingsui, have 500 elite soldiers follow the Minister!" Xing Yuanguo turned to Xing Qingsui.

"Father, this..." Xing Qingsui was unwilling to accept the outcome.

"This is an order!"

"Yes, Father!" Xing Qingsui's expression changed as he grit his teeth and exited the house with the Minister.

Watching the two of them leave...

Yan Qing's expression changed as well. He bit his lip and clenched his fists but did not say anything.

"When do we leave?" Nangong Hao stood up and pressed a hand on Yan Qing's shoulder, his expression calm.

Xing Yuanguo did not speak. He looked out the window towards the broken cliff at the edge of the valley...

The night was quiet and the wind continued to pummel the city, howling as it did so. It brought with it the stench of blood.

There was a blade that glowed, stuck to the top of the cliff.

This was Traceless.

The sword of the Sagely Battle God Meng Tian.

Fang Zhengzhi had been kicked off the cliff by Yun Qingwu and did not have a chance to take his sword with him.

Even though Yun Qingwu had Bai Xing and Wu Ji, Chu Guyan was on that cliff as well. As such, she could not get the blade either.

As for Chi Guyan...

She did not even look at the sword when she left.

This sword was hidden in Meng Tian's parallel dimension. It was a blade that everyone wanted to own.

When this blade was removed from the World of the Sage, even the Crown Prince and King Duan tried to fight for it.

But now, this blade was stuck on the cliff, exposed to the elements. It looked down on the world from its vantage point. Yet, no one could take it away.

It was determined not to leave.

This was a power and arrogance it possessed.

Power and arrogance it was born with.

There was another possibility...

It was waiting!

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Chapter 408: Pet

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

The nights in the Southern Region were filled with the roars of beasts and a heavy mist. The moonlight shone weakly, giving the foliage a faint silver glow.

But...

It failed to shine through the canopy.

A large black figure shot through the sky, blocking the moonlight and casting a large shadow on the ground.

"They will be the death of me! These sneaky Southern Region b*stards! Sister Yan, where do we go now?" Ping Yang pouted unhappily. She had lost Fang Zhengzhi.

This wasn't her fault either.

What kind of place was the Southern Region?

It was filled with towering trees and forests. Even from above, one did not have a clear line of sight.

That made pursuing and tracking highly ineffective.

Furthermore, Ping Yang was not born and bred here.

After the 500 silver horned wolves shot out of the valley, they went into the dense forest and split up into 10 groups.

Ping Yang was stunned.

She could not even figure out which one was the lead group, much less figure out which group Fang Zhengzhi was in. As such, she could only pout and turn back.

"The Sagely Mountain City!" Chi Guyan stood up as she looked at the peak some distance away, her pink dress dancing in the wind.

"Sounds good. I heard that that is the capital of the Southern Region. There must be many fun things to do! But if we want to go there, why didn't we go with Nangong Hao?" Ping Yang asked excitedly.

"Do you want to be with Nangong Hao?"

"Of course not. That fella might be powerful, but he is so boring. Furthermore, he did not listen to the Emperor! He rejected an official post! I do not want to be with someone like him."

"Exactly."

"So Sister Yan chose not to go with them because of me?"

"I did not say that."

"Hehe, anyways, I know that Sister Yan treats me the best. Oh yes, Sister Yan, you mentioned that both you and Nangong Hao are at the pinnacle Supernatural State. So who is more powerful?" Ping Yang's eyes glimmered as she looked on in anticipation.

"Who is more powerful?" Chi Guyan became silent as she looked up at the stars, deep in thought...

The second day, the mist began to clear up slightly.

In a forest between the Sagely Mountain City and the Icy Monkey Settlement, an army sat nestled in the trees.

There was a humongous tent in the middle of the camp.

There were all sorts of carvings on the tent and a few statues surrounded it, giving it an imposing look.

Inside the tent, two rows of guards in tartan armor. They all looked at the lady seated above them with anticipation and worry.

This lady sat atop a piece of golden leather and held a leather book in her hand. Her skin was radiant and Snow White leather covered her important areas.

Her stomach was flat and her legs were slender and long. There were two small dangers strapped to her thighs.

A five colored feather was stuck to the top of her headdress.

She looked ferocious.

"Your highness, Teng Shisheng is back and he is waiting outside the tent!" Just at that moment, a soldier entered.

"He's back? Good, let him in." Shan Yu straightened her back and looked up.

"Yes, your highness!" The soldier took his leave.

Before long, Teng Shisheng walked in, his skin glowing radiantly. Upon entering the tent, he fell to his knees.

"Greetings, your highness!"

"Mm, did you bring him back?" Princess Shan Yu did not raise her head immediately, choosing to read her book calmly.

"I have!" Teng Shisheng replied.

"Very well, have him enter."

"Princess... Fang Zhengzhi had suffered serious injuries in the battle and is currently comatose. I'm afraid..."

"Comatose? Serious injuries? Then... is his life in danger?" Princess Shan Yu's hands trembled as she looked up.

"I... don't think so!" Teng Shisheng thought about it before shaking his head.

"Mm, that's good. Have Ling Mu take a look!" Princess Shan Yu heaved a sigh of relief when she heard this.

"Commander Teng, did you bring Fang Zhengzhi's sword back as well? Why aren't you presenting it?" Two generals spoke up at this point.

"That sword... I... forgive me, your highness. The situation was tense and the blade is on the cliff. I did not manage to bring it back!" Teng Shisheng's expression changed instantly.

"It's on the cliff in Feng Su?" Princess Shan Yu frowned as she looked at Teng Shisheng.

Teng Shisheng was a loyal soldier of hers. He had followed her for five years and she had no doubt Teng Shisheng was telling the truth.

When Teng Shisheng saw the expression on Princess Shan Yu's face, he immediately began recounting what happened at the Icy Monkey Settlement.

"What?! You're saying that Fang Zhengzhi has 388 Daos in his pocket dimension?" One of the generals widened his eyes in disbelief when he heard this.

"Yes! This was something Fang Zhengzhi said himself. I was shocked too, but I think that it is true!" Teng Shisheng reaffirmed.

And then...

Another voice of shock rang out.

"He killed a Rebirth State Demon?! Him?! How is that possible?"

"You said that he managed to kill his way to the top of the Feng Su cliff? And he nearly killed the young master of the Demons? That's impossible! How could he even get close? Did she not have anyone protecting her?"

"Supernatural State!"

"You're saying that Fang Zhengzhi broke through to the Supernatural State?!"

"Leader Teng, this is not something to joke about. How old is that boy? A 16-year-old Supernatural State! This has never happened in the Southern Region history!"

All of the generals were floored when they heard that Fang Zhengzhi's wound healed by itself after he was stabbed by Yun Qingwu.

A 16 year old Supernatural State human?

This was far more impressive than Fang Zhengzhi killing a Rebirth State Demon using the Traceless Sword. After all, there were many factors in a duel.

Techniques and luck were just two of many other variables.

But...

Breakthrough was not something that had an element of luck. There was no recorded history of anyone breaking through to the Supernatural State at 16. Not in the Southern Region, not in the Great Xia, not even in amongst the Demons.

This was true talent!

However, when they thought of Fang Zhengzhi's actions in their camp, they shook their heads.

He was a talent.

But he was shameless.

Else...

The generals could not finish their thoughts. That decision was not theirs to make.

"Where is he?" Princess Shan Yu's eyes glimmered as she watched on.

She was not happy about this.

Who was she?

She was the top talent of her generation. She would only accept a few people being more powerful than her. One of those was Chi Guyan...

The other was Nangong Hao...

But when she heard that it was Fang Zhengzhi...

She could not accept it.

How could someone so shameless overtake her?

Princess Shan Yu felt a wave of angst when she thought about Fang Zhengzhi's look of shamelessness.

"Your highness, Fang Zhengzhi is currently being guarded by the Silver Horned Wolves." Teng Shisheng replied.

"Mm... have Ling Mu take a look at him, then send him to my tent." Princess Shan Yu ordered.

"Your highness, you must not!" One of the generals stepped forward worriedly.

"What's wrong? Why not?" Princess Shan Yu's gaze was icy.

"Your highness, I do not mean any harm... what I mean is... If Fang Zhengzhi has broken through, he will be dangerous when he regains consciousness. Yun Qingwu had stabbed him and kicked him off a cliff. He would be out for revenge. What if he wakes up and takes you hostage... in an attempt to threaten the Demons..."

"Yes, your highness! General Li makes sense. Please lock Fang Zhengzhi up!" Another general echoed the sentiments.

"It's too dangerous!"

All of the other generals began chiming in. They were a lot more liberal here.

Even though it would be inappropriate for Princess Shan Yu to host Fang Zhengzhi in her tent...

But if she really wanted it...

Then they could not stop her.

After all, with her status, it was completely acceptable for her to keep a man as her companion.

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Chapter 409: The Demons' Plan

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

The Southern Region...

A pure and unadulterated territory.

Over here, the relationships between males and females were seen as the release of their desires. The males fought courageously on the battlefield.

And return, they had the love and adoration of the ladies.

Before they were married, a lady would give her virginity to the male warrior to prove her courage and determination.

She was willing to give it up for love.

Similarly, if two males liked the same lady, they would duel constantly for her virginity. This was respected by the others.

Of course...

The lady would still be able to choose who she wanted to be with.

No one was ever forced to do anything they didn't want to in the Southern Region. This was a place which valued freedom of choice above all else.

Princess Shan Yu calmed down and looked at the worried expressions on her generals' faces. She smiled.

"If you are afraid that he will harm me, then why not just tie him up tightly before sending him to my tent?"

"Erm... yes, your highness!"

All of the generals looked at each other before sighing to themselves.

"Commander Teng, I have a thousand-year-old rattan 'beast containment lock'. Please use it to tie Fang Zhengzhi down!"

"Thank you, General Lin!" Teng Shisheng was slightly exasperated when he took the lock from General Lin. However, he had to ensure Princess Shan Yu's safety...

Fang Zhengzhi did not feel good when he regained consciousness.

He felt like there was a mountain crushing him from above. Then, before he could release himself, he heard crashing sounds.

Then...

He felt like he was falling.

That feeling caused him to panic. However, just before he hit the ground, he was caught by a rattan string.

However, it was clearly unstable.

He continued to bob up and down as well as sideways. This caused him to become increasingly nauseated.

He swung for a long time before finally coming to a stop.

Just as Fang Zhengzhi thought he had escaped it all, he felt himself being restrained once again.

This restraint was incredibly strong.

Snake?

No!!!

He did not want to be strangled by a snake and eaten.

He struggled and struggled...

In the end...

Fang Zhengzhi saw a ray of light in front of him. It was bright, and it inspired hope. Then, he saw something that resembled a mountain peak.

It was almost the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. It tempted him towards it.

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to touch it.

However, he realized that he could not even move his fingers. It was almost as if he had been strangled by a python.

"Ah, evil creature, let go of me!" Fang Zhengzhi bellowed in frustration as he blinked to regain his sight.

The view in front of his eyes began to clear up.

Then...

His jaw dropped.

He realized that there was a lady in white leather in front of him. As for the mountain peaks...

That belonged to a lady.

This lady exuded an animalistic beauty and was firm in all the right places.

Fang Zhengzhi knew this for a fact.

It was shaking right in front of his eyes...

Princess Shan Yu's expression darkened.

She was not happy about this.

Fang Zhengzhi had been sent to her tent.

Trussed up securely.

Princess Shan Yu was happy about this. However, when Fang Zhengzhi began to struggle, she could not resist getting closer to see what happened.

She was next to Fang Zhengzhi.

However, she did not expect that his first words would be, "Ah, evil creature, let go of me!"

"Evil Creature?!"

Princess Shan Yu knew what Fang Zhengzhi meant.

The Southern Region residents lived side by side with the beasts. Even though it was dangerous, the residents treated the beasts like their neighbours.

They were a part of each others' lives.

To call one an evil creature...

That was derogatory and showed a complete lack of respect for such an ideal.

"How dare you call me an evil creature? Are you tired of living?" Princess Shan Yu exploded as she grabbed a wooden pole by the bedside.

"Bong!"

A dull knock echoed out.

Fang Zhengzhi felt the impact and the world in front of him turned black once again. His head continued to throb.

Princess Shan Yu watched on dazedly.

"Oh? Did he faint again? Hey... shameless b*stard, wake up! I am ordering you to wake up immediately!" Princess Shan Yu roared.

But...

It was no use.

Fang Zhengzhi continued to remain in a coma.

After some time, a voice could be heard outside the tent.

"Your highness, there is an order from the Sagely Mountain City! Please attend to it!"

"Okay, I got it!" Princess Shan Yu nodded and turned to look at the comatose Fang Zhengzhi.

It's all your fault!

If you had not called me an evil creature, I would not have knocked you out!

You deserve it!

The Sagely Mountain City.

The capital of the Southern Region, and the highest point in the Southern Region. It was built out of stone and was meant to be a fortress.

Shan Ling.

The third son of the king and the heir to the throne.

Normally, being the third son, he would not be able to be the heir to the throne.

However, that position was his. Furthermore, he had little to no competition. He had already made a name for himself in the Southern Region.

This was also linked to his talent.

He was decisive and courageous. He had everything that was respected and prized in the community and was the ideal candidate.

However...

He had clearly lost his cool.

"Boom!" A loud crash echoed out and the jade table was smashed into the ground, creating a large crater as it did so.

"You want me to go past the point of no return?!" Shan Ling roared, his silver leather coat flapping, the two five colored feathers on his head quivering.

He was infuriated.

However, the man in black standing in front of him was unaffected. He did not even take a step back.

"We do not understand. How is this a point of no return? This is how our race will take care of you." The man in black replied calmly.

"Take care of me? Take care of me! Hahaha... do you really think that I am dumb? You want me to kill the current king, my own father!" Shan Ling's eyes were red, his rage building. His emotions were unstable.

"Just think about it, the throne would be yours!" The man in black was unaffected by the aura around Shan Ling.

"Who the f*ck cares? I will be killing my father!" Shan Ling clenched his fists tightly.

He wanted to smash this man where he stood.

But he could not.

It wasn't because he wasn't powerful enough. However, there were 50,000 Demons surrounding the Sagely Mountain City.

They should not be here.

Because...

According to the agreement, they were allies in this battle. The Southern Region would face the Great Xia with all that they had, whilst the Demons would send their elite forces to augment them.

However, there were 50,000 Demons outside the Sagely Mountain City.

Demons!

They had begun cultivation from the day they were born. They would easily destroy 20,000 soldiers.

And now, there were only 20,000 soldiers in the Sagely Mountain City.

This wasn't a result of Shan Ling's carelessness.

He did not have a choice.

The Southern Region was vast but there were not many people. As such, they had to try and reduce their expenditure in this battle.

In order to do so, Shan Ling had placed ambushes in all the four major settlements.

This did not mean that he had left the capital unguarded.

In fact...

A 20,000 strong army...

Under normal circumstances, Shan Ling had every confidence that he could hold back 100,000 Great Xia Dynasty soldiers.

However, when faced with a backstabbing army of 50,000 Demons...

He could no longer hold the city.

He had not underestimated the Great Xia. He never expected that the Demons would turn their backs on him and attack the Sagely Mountain City.

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Chapter 410: The Throne

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

"Your filial piety is admirable. However, you should know what your father thinks about this war. The war is coming to an end and the defeat of the Great Xia Dynasty is inevitable. This is all your work. Do you really want to let your useless father rule for the next decade?" The man in black clenched his fists as he smirked.

"So what? He is my father, the one who took care of me!" Shan Ling's gaze was filled with determination.

Even though he had committed multiple sins to become the Crown Prince...

But...

The battle for the throne was always a brutal one. As such, he was doing no wrong in fighting for it.

Furthermore, he would never let his two elder brothers rule this land. They were lacklustre and had no ambition.

The Southern Region was a natural fortress.

However, it was equally dangerous. It was only right that they tried to ensure the safety of the population, but they had no idea how to prosper.

Only when one was powerful could one best protect this treasured land.

Shan Ling fought for the position of heir for this ideal. The Southern Region also began to prosper under his leadership.

That was how they managed to get here.

But, killing his own father!

That was something he could not bring himself to do.

It would make him no better than a beast.

Even his most loyal subordinates would not do this for him. The only way to do it was if he did it himself.

However, if he was found out, he would never be able to show his face in the Southern Region ever again.

"Haha... and now you're talking about kinship? What about the time you setup your eldest brother, Shan Jia? Where was the kinship then? What about the time you chased your second brother away?" The man in black snickered.

"What are you talking about? My eldest brother committed a sin. He got what he deserved, what does that have to do with me? Furthermore, he escaped on his own, and took away..." Shan Ling's expression changed, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"You want to say that he took away the prized jade flute of the Southern Region?" A jade green flute appeared in the hands of the black-robed man.

"This... you... how did you..." Shan Ling's eyes widened. He knew that this was Shan Jia's property.

The Jade Bamboo Flute.

One of the treasures of the Southern Region.

This was an heirloom. It could rally beasts into an army. However, it had disappeared with Shan Jia over a decade ago.

"10 years ago, you were not even 20 years old, yet you could think of such an ingenious plan! That is admirable! What was the plan? Oh, yes... you got Shan Jia drunk, that had him sleep with your father's favorite concubine. Then, you had your second brother catch them in the act. However, you knew that they were close, so your second brother would never rat him out. Shan Jia could never stay in the Southern Region after that incident. He left the region and your second brother lost the trust of your father. Are you not afraid that your father will strip you of your title if he found out?" The black robed man recounted the incident, toying with the flute in his hand.

"Impossible! All of the elders are loyal to me and he is a mere figurehead. My position is as stable as a mountain. Furthermore, I will let him be Emperor whilst I conquer lands for him. He will be able to enjoy his old age! What... what else could he possibly want? Is a lady worth more than all these?" Shan Ling's tone was agitated.

"The throne? Do you really think that your father wants this position? If I am correct, your father is currently meeting with the Minister of Rites from the Great Xia! They are probably talking peace terms!" The black robed man chuckled icily.

Shan Ling's expression froze as he fell silent.

In fact, he did not need the black-robed man to remind him. He had known about this from the moment the Minister of Rites entered the city.

But, what could he do?

Peace!

Without his approval, there would be no peace!

"Crown Prince, my 50,000 strong Demon army is already at the gates of your city. Your 20,000 men will never hold them. Half of the city is already in my control. If you resist, your men will be torn apart. That would not be good for relations." The black robed man advised.

"Relations? The Demons went back on their word, and now you want to talk about relations?" Shan Ling knew that he could not hold the city.

"That's where you are wrong. The Demons have always kept their promises. However, my lord is not comfortable with your father ruling. We... are just thinking on your behalf." The black robed man continued.

"Hahaha... you have a 50,000 strong army sieging my city and you claim to be thinking for me?" Shan Ling chuckled.

"We are just afraid that you will not agree to our terms. Actually, it is very simple. As long as you kill the king, we will leave immediately. You will become the king of the Southern Region, and we will be allies. What do you think?" The black robed man added sincerely.

"Bullsh*t! Do you really think that I am dumb? If I kill the king, I will always be threatened by the Demons. King... hahaha, even if I was king, I would just be a puppet!" Shan Ling burst out laughing.

"I do not understand what the Crown Prince means. What puppet? You will still have control over your army and we will not interfere. We already agreed to be allies for life. If you have no intention of taking advantage of us, why are you afraid of us?" The black robed man shook his head.

Shan Ling bit his lip.

He wanted to take advantage of the Demons, but he could not say it.

"Do you really think that your 50,000 soldiers will threaten me? You are not wrong, the six elders are all here. However, are you certain that I do not have a backup plan?" Shan Ling raised his head after a full 15 minutes of thought.

"The Southern Region is vast, but you have few people. You have about 450,000 soldiers in total. 30,000 of those are garrison forces. You have about another 80,000 soldiers in each of the four major settlements. That accounts for about 350,000 of your soldiers. There are 20,000 guarding the city right now for a total of 370,000. If I am not mistaken, you are referring to Princess Shan Yu's 80,000 elite soldiers to the east?" The black-robed man's eyes glimmered.

"You... I heard that the Young Master of the Demons could account for all variables. I never expected that you already accounted for my trump card. So what? I have already given the order and the army is coming to reinforce. As long as I can hold out for an hour and 15 minutes, they will arrive and pincer you in. Don't forget that this is the Southern Region. Even though the Great Xia controls the Icy Monkey Settlement, they will not hold it for long. When my 320,000 soldiers take it back and charge towards this city, how many of your soldiers will live then?"

"Hahaha..." The black robed man chuckled loudly when he heard this, almost as though he had just heard the greatest joke. "You know that our Young Master has accounted for all variables? Hahaha... since you know that, you should know that we know all your plans. Why are you so naive?"

"Naive? You... what other schemes do you have!" Shan Ling's expression changed.

"Crown Prince, if I were you, I would obediently go to the throne room and kill the Minister of Rites. Hang his head on the city wall, then kill your useless father. Finally, choose a prosperous date to take the throne. I'm sure you'll see that that is the best option." The black robed man sat back down and waited patiently.

Shan Ling's expression was solemn, his fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly. Blood was trickling from his lips.

He did not know...

He didn't know what the Demons were up to this time.

"Sister... sister, you are my last hope. Nothing can happen to you!" Shan Ling looked out the window and heard the sounds of death.

Shan Ling.

He was a person who would do anything for the throne.

This time, he had placed all of his cards and faith into one person, his sister.

Princess Shan Yu!

One of the most talented people in the country. Someone who should have been the heir but could not because she was female.

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Chapter 411: We must not hesitate!

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Princess Shan Yu's tent was some distance away from her administrative tent. After all, her tent kept moving.

This was common practice for any army.

It was to ensure the safety of the commander.

When Princess Shan Yu heard the order from the Sagely Mountain City, she was slightly worried. However, she stopped herself in her tracks.

Then, she looked at the pole in her hand.

"Supernatural State... wooden pole?" Princess Shan Yu muttered to herself. Then, her eyes brightened as she entered her tent.

Inside the tent.

Fang Zhengzhi closed his eyes and lay on the bed unmoving. He looked like a lamb waiting to be killed.

"Get someone in here!" Princess Shan Yu smirked.

"Yes, your highness, what may I do for you?" One of the soldiers entered.

"Bring this fella to the meeting."

"Ah? Yes, your highness!"

The administrative tent was already filled with two rows of generals. There were a few hundred soldiers guarding the tent.

The order had come from the Sagely Mountain City.

Even though they were not privy to the details, they knew that there were orders that awaited them.

"Your highness!"

"Your highness!"

Princess Shan Yu approached the tent. The chatter outside the tent had hints of admiration and surprise.

Behind Princess Shan Yu were four soldiers. These four soldiers carried and unconscious Fang Zhengzhi on a leather stretcher.

"Isn't that Fang Zhengzhi from the Great Xia?"

"What is he doing here?"

All of the soldiers could not understand what was happening.

Until...

Princess Shan Yu entered the tent.

The four soldiers carrying Fang Zhengzhi followed closely behind.

This stumped all of the soldiers. The looked at each other in confusion.

Fang Zhengzhi was well known throughout the entire camp. After all, his battle with General Tai was extremely intense.

News of that duel spread and Fang Zhengzhi became quite the celebrity.

This was also a factor in their confusion.

Who was Fang Zhengzhi?

He was a rank four official in the Great Xia.

Where were they? They were at Princess Shan Yu's administrative tent! Previously, this may not have raised many eyebrows...

But now... they were at war.

More importantly, this meeting was to discuss the order from the Sagely Mountain City. How could an outsider be present at the meeting?

When the generals inside the tent saw Fang Zhengzhi, they were stunned as well.

The four soldiers carrying the stretcher sensed the suspicions of the generals. However, they continued to follow their orders and placed Fang Zhengzhi on the ground before taking their leave.

"Princess, what... what is this?" One of the generals asked hesitantly.

"He still hasn't woken up." Princess Shan Yu waved the generals off rather frustratedly before taking her seat at the head of the meeting.

All of the generals looked at each other, unsure of what was happening.

They knew exactly what the Princess meant, but they were not asking about the status of Fang Zhengzhi. Their pressing question had yet to be answered.

But...

It did help to ameliorate their worry.

They did not want their tactics to be heard by Fang Zhengzhi. Since he was still comatose, he would not be able to hear them.

"The Demons have gone back on their word and surrounded the capital with 50,000 soldiers. Our 20,000 strong guard is being trapped. We have 80,000 elite soldiers here. However... it would still be a hard-fought battle. Princess, are we getting reinforcements?"

One of the generals stepped forward and reported the current situation. After all, they couldn't afford any delay.

"Our soldiers would have to pass through the Icy Monkey Settlement to reinforce us and that settlement is controlled by the Great Xia. They will not reach us in time. I think we should head straight to the capital and relieve the pressure on the Crown Prince!"

"Yes, we have been stationed here to prevent a sneak attack from the Great Xia or the Demons!"

"Even though this will be a Pyrrhic victory, if we can make our way into the capital, we can hold it for at least half a month!"

"Yes, that will be enough time for the rest of our troops to retake the Icy Monkey Settlement and come to reinforce us!"

All of the generals began to express their views. Time was the essence here, but they still had to wait for Princess Shan Yu's orders.

Princess Shan Yu continued to remain silent as she listened to the opinions of her generals

"Princess, you must not hesitate any longer! The guards will not last long! If we do not reinforce them soon, the Crown Prince and the King... will fall to the Demons. Then..."

"Princess, please give the order!"

"We are willing to lay down our lives in the defense of the Sagely Mountain City!"

All of the generals became increasingly anxious when they saw that Princess Shan Yu was not speaking.

"Princess!"

"Princess, this is urgent..."

"Princess!"

Voices echoed throughout the tent.

Princess Shan Yu continued to remain silent. Her eyes glimmered. She knew that this was urgent.

But...

That was also why she had to remain calm and composed.

These changes were rather suspicious.

50,000 Demons marched through the night to siege the Sagely Mountain City. It was dawn now, eight hours since the attack.

Eight hours...

How did the army of 20,000 manage to hold the city?

Intel reported that the Demons had only managed to conquer half the city. The other half was still in the Crown Prince's control.

What was happening?

This was one of the suspicious points.

Princess Shan Yu also had another unsettling feeling.

If the Demons had hidden 50,000 soldiers here...

Their first target should have been her 80,000 elites.

Not the Sagely Mountain City!

The reason was simple.

Her 80,000 elite soldiers were only hidden from the Great Xia. It was way too easy for the Demons to know about and pinpoint their location.

Furthermore, the Sagely Mountain City was on top of the mountain and defended by nature. It was not easy to attack.

However, that was not the most important point...

They would definitely realize if the Sagely Mountain City was burning...

This didn't seem right.

The Demons would never reveal their motives before the war was over...

Princess Shan Yu frowned as she bit her lip. She felt like there was more to this than met the eye.

But what was the plot?

She could not tell.

But she was sure of one thing.

The highly intelligent Yun Qingwu, Young Master of the Demons, would never make such a mistake.

What was happening?

"Princess, if you don't give the order now, it'll be too late!"

"Princess! We have already lost half the city! If the Crown Prince and the King are captured, we will lose the initiative!"

All of the generals couldn't help themselves as they pleaded with the Princess. They were all riled up and ready for battle.

Princess Shan Yu frowned as a red aura circled her. Cloud writing also began to gather at her chest.

This meant that she was in a bad mood.

The Sagely Mountain City had been surrounded.

How could she not be worried?

Her beloved father was there, and so was her third brother. More importantly, they were the king and heir respectively.

However, she could not take action before she knew exactly what was happening.

The heir and the king were in the city.

But she had 80,000 of the Southern Region elites. A single command would send them into battle. But if they fell...

What was she going to do?

"Do you all have any other opinions other than charging towards the city?" Princess Shan Yu spoke up.

"Princess, the city is surrounded and we have been ordered to reinforce the Crown Prince. What cause for hesitation is there?" One of the generals was confused.

"Yes, we cannot hesitate any longer!"

"Princess, please give the order!"

All of the other generals began to chime in, urging Princess Shan Yu to march on the Demons.

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Chapter 412: You must not marry him!

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Princess Shan Yu bit her lip. She felt that something was amiss, but she did not have any other choice.

The Sagely Mountain City was surrounded.

The order had been given.

She could not hesitate any longer! She had to make a decision now!

"Give the order. The entire army..." Princess Shan Yu stopped herself as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi, whose eyes were closed.

All of the generals widened their eyes as they waited for the order to be given.

"Fang Zhengzhi, you're awake?"

"Bong!"

One of the generals fell on his butt when he heard this.

All of the other generals were equally stunned. They never expected that Princess Shan Yu would say something like that.

What was that?

Hang on!

Fang Zhengzhi is awake?!

Wouldn't that mean that he heard everything that was discussed?

Die!

All of the generals immediately thought of killing him. However, that thought was quickly suppressed by Princess Shan Yu's next sentence.

"Fang Zhengzhi, stop acting! I know that you have been eavesdropping. If you express your opinion, I will consider letting you go. What do you say?"

"Let him go?"

"Princess, we cannot let him go?"

"Princess! He is from the Great Xia! If we let him go, the Great Xia will find out that the Sagely Mountain City is surrounded! They could take this opportunity to retake the border fort and get access to reinforcements! This war..."

All of the generals expressed their concerns immediately.

Princess Shan Yu did not speak. She squinted as she scanned the floor, her expression icy.

All of the generals kept quiet when they saw this.

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Fang Zhengzhi did not move. It was almost as if he had not heard what Princess Shan Yu had said. If not for some light breathing, he was no different from a corpse.

"Looks like he still hasn't woken?"

"Princess, are you mistaken?"

All of the generals were doubtful, but they did not dare to question the princess too much.

"Fang Zhengzhi, open your damn eyes now. If you continue to play dead, I will kill you right now!" Princess Shan Yu raged.

Silence.

Pin drop silence.

Fang Zhengzhi did not move.

All of the generals looked at each other doubtfully. Fang Zhengzhi was clearly still in a coma, why did the Princess insist that he was awake?

"Okay then, go to hell!" Princess Shan Yu glared as she leapt from her seat and landed in front of Fang Zhengzhi.

Then, she drew a dagger from the holder on her thigh and placed it at Fang Zhengzhi's throat.

"Open your eyes or I will kill you!"

Silence...

Fang Zhengzhi did not move.

"Your highness, our capital is surrounded and the order has been given. Why do you need the advice of an outsider?" One of the generals could not hold himself back any longer.

"Your highness! He is clearly still in a coma. Even if he was awake, could his opinion be better than ours?" Another general chimed in.

"If I gave any of you 500 Silver Horned Wolves, would you be able to take over the Thunderous Lion Settlement and imprison over 50,000 Great Xia soldiers?" Princess Shan Yu looked at the two generals, the dagger in her hand pressed against Fang Zhengzhi's throat as she placed a foot on his chest.

It was not a glamorous stance.

But, none of the generals took notice of that.

They were all floored by Princess Shan Yu's words. She was right. They had heard about Fang Zhengzhi's exploits, but that did not mean...

That they were willing to accept him.

"He is a candidate for the examinations! Furthermore, he used the power of our soldiers and your token, that's why..." One of the generals found a minute point to contest.

"Candidate? Fine, what about Feng Su? That is a place that hasn't been broken for centuries. What idea do you have?" Princess Shan Yu pressed.

Silence.

This time, there was no comeback.

This was a fact. Feng Su had been a natural barrier and fortress for the Southern Region for centuries. Yet, Fang Zhengzhi had found a way through.

This was a feat that none of them could replicate.

"Fang Zhengzhi, the capital of the Southern Region has been surrounded. I do not have time to waste. If you can give me a way out of this, I will... make you a general! What do you say?" Princess Shan Yu grit her teeth and offered.

"General?!"

"Princess... about that... he is so young!"

All of the generals looked on in disbelief. That rank was extremely high! The equivalent in the Great Xia would be a rank two official!

Silence.

Fang Zhengzhi did not move.

"Okay! Fine fine fine... Fang Zhengzhi! Is that not enough for you? What about Deputy Commander-in-Chief! The Deputy Commander-in-Chief for the Southern Region! So long as you remain loyal to us, that position is yours!" Princess Shan Yu was getting agitated, her legs shaking.

All of the generals felt their legs turn to jelly when they heard this.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

If this was true, it would shock everyone in the world.

A 16-year-old Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

Fang Zhengzhi would be peerless.

But...

It still didn't work.

There was no other sound in the tent except for Princess Shan Yu's roars and heavy breathing.

"Give the order! The army is to march on the Sagely Mountain City! Then... drag this one out and feed him to the wolves!" Princess Shan Yu could not take it any longer.

"Yes, your highness!" All of the generals replied in unison.

Just at that moment, a lazy voice could be heard from underneath Princess Shan Yu's foot. It cut right through the tense atmosphere.

"Hang on, it's not that I don't want to wake up. But your terms are unattractive, how do you expect me to wake up?"

Silence.

Everyone was stunned.

All their eyes were trained on Fang Zhengzhi.

"Unattractive terms?"

"Did he just say that those terms were unattractive?!"

"Deputy Commander-in-Chief! Unattractive?! Does he want to be the Emperor?!"

All of the generals were furious. Fang Zhengzhi had just insulted the dreams of everyone present.

"Hang on... does he want to..." One of the generals looked to Princess Shan Yu, then blurted out, "No way! That cannot happen! Your highness, you must not marry him!"

"Marry him?" Princess Shan Yu's expression froze as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi in shock.

This fella is so shameless...

Why would I marry him?

That being said... he is extremely fluent in the Law of Dao. If he remains loyal to the Southern Regions, then he will raise our understanding of the Law of Dao. Furthermore, he is skilled in the Art of War and is a 16-year-old Supernatural State cultivator.

If he really is our Deputy Commander-in-Chief, he needs to be loyal to us. If not, he could cause more trouble in the future.

Perhaps...

"Ew, urgh! My wife must be someone who is gentle and doting. She must know how to raise our kids and take care of the house. I don't want this barbaric princess..." Fang Zhengzhi stopped halfway through his sentence.

He felt the dagger pressing down on his throat, its sharp blade forcing him to keep his mouth shut.

All of the generals stared, wide-eyed.

Only one thought ran through their minds. Fang Zhengzhi was going to die an ugly death.

However, even after 15 minutes, Fang Zhengzhi was still alive. However, there was a wound on his throat...

Yet, that wound was healing rapidly.

"Supernatural!"

"This fella is really in the Supernatural State?!"

"A 16-year-old Supernatural State cultivator! It is true!"

All of the generals had heard about this from Teng Shisheng, but that was merely a story.

Seeing it for themselves was a completely different experience.

Princess Shan Yu removed her dagger as she glared at Fang Zhengzhi. She bit her lip so hard that a blood began to trickle down the sides.

If she could see through Yun Qingwu's plan and was not being forced into a corner... If not for her nation... she would not let Fang Zhengzhi blink another time.

Hang on...

Why is he blinking so much?

Princess Shan Yu followed Fang Zhengzhi's line of sight. In that instant, she paled, then blushed.

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Chapter 413: The Demons' Plan

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Fang Zhengzhi wasn't actually to blame.

He didn't know what Princess Shan Yu was thinking. That being said, would anyone not open their eyes when a blade was pressed to their neck?

It was a reflex.

One would look towards the aggressor.

This would have been a very normal reaction. However, Princess Shan Yu had planted a leg on his chest.

The angle...

Was perfect.

All this while, Fang Zhengzhi had wondered what the Southern Region ladies wore under their clothes.

Now, his question had been answered.

However, he could not say it out loud. The generals in the room were just waiting for a reason to take his head.

Even though Princess Shan Yu was hot and beautiful, she was too barbaric. Nothing could make Fang Zhengzhi forget that.

Having the lady on top...

Was too restrictive.

As such, Fang Zhengzhi did not say anything. He did not want Princess Shan Yu or the surrounding generals to misunderstand.

He really wanted to remind Princess Shan Yu of something...

"You're not wearing anything underneath!"

But, the blade at his throat was too sharp. He could barely even breath, much less talk. Any movement would have killed him.

Furthermore, he was surrounded by so many generals. If he had told the entire tent he saw the Princess' privates...

It would be akin to courting his own death.

As such, the only thing Fang Zhengzhi could do was blink. He kept blinking at Princess Shan Yu and looking down to hint at her...

It was obvious.

"You are not wearing anything underneath, change a position! This is not good!"

This was what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking. However, to Princess Shan Yu, Fang Zhengzhi's actions...

Only meant one thing...

Fang Zhengzhi was turned on by what he saw...

Having been raised in the Southern Region, Princess Shan Yu was much more liberal than her Great Xia counterparts. She was not ashamed to confess to the warriors she liked.

She also didn't mind being intimate before marriage.

However...

That did not mean that she could remain stoic whilst a man looked at her privates.

Furthermore, this was a man who had despised her for being barbaric, uncouth, and not gentle enough...

How dare he look at my privates so audaciously?! How shameless!

Princess Shan Yu wanted to dig Fang Zhengzhi's eyes out and drink them in wine. However, she could not realize this wish.

Because...

She was faced with a difficult situation which she could not find a way out of. She needed a second opinion so that she can make an informed decision.

"Fang Zhengzhi, if you cannot come out with a satisfactory idea, you can forget about leaving this tent!" Princess Shan Yu grit her teeth and sheathed her blade as she stood up.

The pressure on Fang Zhengzhi's chest was relieved.

Fang Zhengzhi heaved a sigh of relief but that was all that he could do. He was still wrapped up like a dumpling.

He had fainted on the cliff in Feng Su.

Why was he in Princess Shan Yu's administrative tent?

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea what happened, but he could guess. Teng Shisheng must have brought him here.

Princess Shan Yu had given him command of Teng Shisheng and his squad. That was the only way she could keep tabs on him. He had known this all along.

Princess Shan Yu had given him the 500 Silver Horned Wolves to participate in the examinations so that she knew what was happening in the court examinations.

That way, she would have all the intel she needed.

As for the secondary motives and reasons...

Fang Zhengzhi did not bother with them.

He had bigger problems to deal with now. He had to find a way to get out of here alive.

Inside the tent...

All of the other generals looked at Fang Zhengzhi. Princess Shan Yu had made her point very clear. As such, they wanted to know what this bloody kid could come up with that was better than their war-hardened brains could come up with.

All of them stared at Fang Zhengzhi.

Fang Zhengzhi felt the pressure on him increase. His throat began to itch, a sign that his wound was healing.

"Can you release the string tying me down first?"

"String?! This is the thousand-year-old "Beast Containment Lock". Even a Rebirth State cultivator could not break it!"

The general who proposed using the lock was furious. His favorite treasure had just been dismissed as a string!!

But, he couldn't do anything about it.

After all...

There were dozens of generals around to protect the Princess. As such, there was no need for the lock.

Fang Zhengzhi was released.

"Even a Rebirth State cultivator would be trapped? How powerful!" Fang Zhengzhi took the lock in his hand and kept it.

"That is mine!" The general's expression changed when he saw Fang Zhengzhi's actions.

"What? How is that possible? It was just restraining me moments ago!" Fang Zhengzhi explained innocently.

"You... this was a gift from me to the Princess..."

"Enough!" Princess Shan Yu interrupted the general and turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi. "Fang Zhengzhi, the lock has been broken, tell us your opinion!"

"Aren't we going to agree on the terms first?" Fang Zhengzhi wanted to know his incentives before he even said anything.

Of course...

Fang Zhengzhi was also buying time for himself.

He had heard it all.

He had heard everything clearly.

"The Sagely Mountain City was besieged by 50,000 Demons. The Crown Prince of the Southern Region had given the order for Princess Shan Yu to rescue the city!"

What else was there to say?

She had to go!

If Fang Zhengzhi was in her position, he would give the order without hesitation. "Brothers, it is time for us to protect our country, charge! Fight it out with the Demons!"

But he could not say that.

Firstly, he was not in her position. Secondly, this opinion had been raised by all of the generals present.

How could he say something like that?

Princess Shan Yu wanted a satisfactory answer. That meant that all the opinions that had been voiced were unsatisfactory.

Okay then...

The order was for you to reinforce the city. All of the generals have already shown a willingness to fight. Why the f*ck are you still hesitating?

Fang Zhengzhi had tried so hard to feign being in a coma because he had no better opinion.

But, he couldn't admit to this either.

How tedious!

Fang Zhengzhi did not like this at all. He had to think too much. His opinion was simple, just follow the order.

But Princess Shan Yu did not want that.

As such, he had to keep this opinion to himself and think of another one.

Don't fight?

Then run!

If the Demons are attacking the Sagely Mountain City, then you can turn around and attack the Blood Shadow City! You could basically swap capitals!

How perfect was that plan?

Hang on!

Blood Shadow City?!

A thought flashed through Fang Zhengzhi's head. It was a weird thought, but...

He began to sweat profusely.

"Fang Zhengzhi, this is an urgent matter! You still have the mood to discuss terms with me? Fine... tell me what you want!"

Princess Shan Yu was furious when she heard what Fang Zhengzhi said. However, she had no choice. Fang Zhengzhi would continue to remain silent otherwise.

Of course...

As a princess...

She had a million ways to satisfy Fang Zhengzhi. As long as Fang Zhengzhi's terms were reasonable, she could grant them.

Even if they were unreasonable...

She could agree to them now...

Then renege on her word after all was said and done.

When dealing with a shameless person...

One had to be even more shameless.

Of course, Fang Zhengzhi had to be able to see through the Demon's plan. Furthermore, he had to come up with a plan that would get them out of this situation.

Princess Shan Yu made up her mind.

However, it was almost as if Fang Zhengzhi had not heard what she said. He stood in his spot, sweat pouring from his forehead.

"Come on, tell us what your terms are!" Princess Shan Yu pressed impatiently.

"Oh no... oh no oh no... we are in deep trouble. The Southern Region is dead, no... it's not just the Southern Region. This is a war between the Demons and the Great Xia!" Fang Zhengzhi screamed, almost as if he never head what Princess Shan Yu said.

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Chapter 414: Master Plan

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

"What? What's going on?!"

"Yes, even though we have lost the initiative, as long as we stay together, the Demons will never take over the entire Southern Region!"

"Why should we fear 50,000 Demons?"

All of the generals frowned when they heard what Fang Zhengzhi said. Defeat was never in their dictionary.

Fang Zhengzhi was in the zone.

Princess Shan Yu was extremely discontented when she heard this. She had waited so long for a doomsday prophecy?

Just as she was about to scold him, Fang Zhengzhi spoke again.

"You can't go to the Sagely Mountain City. Princess, you must not go there!" Fang Zhengzhi grabbed Princess Shan Yu's arm as he spoke.

"What is he talking about?!"

"We can't go to the Sagely Mountain City? Then what about the King and the Crown Prince?"

"That's right! Your Highness, please do not listen to this rubbish! He must have been scared sh*tless by the Demons!"

All of the generals channeled their rage, fury, and despise towards Fang Zhengzhi. After all, it was their King who was in danger.

Not go to the Sagely Mountain City?!

Then where would they go?

They generals were angry, but Princess Shan Yu swallowed her words. This was partly because she was slightly nauseated by Fang Zhengzhi shaking her.

The other reason was...

Even though she did not understand what Fang Zhengzhi was saying, it was a differing opinion.

She decided to hear him out.

But...

After Fang Zhengzhi shook her arm, he frowned and seemed to re-enter the zone. He murmured to himself constantly.

"No! That's not right... yes, this should be it, no... oh yes, this is definitely correct, hang on, no there's something wrong..."

Fang Zhengzhi continued to analyze the intel he had.

Princess Shan Yu waited anxiously by the side. She did not push Fang Zhengzhi away because she did not want to break his train of thought.

After all, she knew that he would need some time to figure out what the Demons had planned. Even a genius couldn't figure it out instantly.

Furthermore, the person who had come up with this plan was Yun Qingwu.

Someone who had a reputation almost equivalent to that of the Demon Lord himself.

The generals were riled up at first, but seeing as Princess Shan Yu remained silent, they too stopped chiding Fang Zhengzhi.

They were waiting as well.

However, they were not waiting for a plan, they were waiting for an explanation.

Fang Zhengzhi did not realize that he was grabbing onto Princess Shan Yu's arm. He could guess what Yun Qingwu's target was and how she would proceed. However, he still hadn't figured out the exact method and time.

As such...

He needed more time to think.

This depth of thought caused his fingers to make some involuntary movements. Every now and then, he would wipe the sweat and oil off his hands. When he got close, he would also pinch whatever was nearby.

Fang Zhengzhi did not know much about how the war was progressing. If not for the battle at the Icy Monkey Settlement, he would not have known that the Stable Mountain Gate had fallen.

He had limited intel.

This made it all the more difficult for him to guess Yun Qingwu's plan. This was also the reason why he wanted to suggest that they strike the demons at the Sagely Mountain City.

Then...

He thought about the Blood Shadow City.

It was an accidental thought, coming from someone who tried to remove himself from the situation. That being said, he squashed the thought as soon as it rose.

Was it possible?

Would the Southern Region be able to take the Blood Shadow City?

How naive!

Even the Great Xia Empire would not dare to attack the Blood Shadow City. It was not a shell city like the Sagely Mountain City.

The Demon Army of the 10 Demonic Domains was stationed there.

Fang Zhengzhi did not know the exact numbers, but it would be at least 200,000.

This was a very reasonable number.

However, when he thought about this, he broke out in cold sweat.

Since Yun Qingwu wanted to surround the Sagely Mountain City, why did she only use 50,000 soldiers?

If she had used 100,000 soldiers, or even 200,000 soldiers, the Southern Region would have to face two enemies at once. The war would be over.

Facing two enemies at once!

That was it!

The Great Xia Dynasty places the Stable Mountain Gate as a barrier and accepted the Southern Region as a vassal in order to prevent any sneak attacks from the Demons.

The location of the Blood Shadow City was obvious.

The Southern Regions were in between the Demons and the Great Xia Dynasty!

Fang Zhengzhi had been wondering why the Demons would cooperate with the Southern Region.

He surmised that the Southern Region wanted to leverage the Demons in order to gain independence. The Demons wanted to use this opportunity to infiltrate the Southern Region...

Or... control the Southern Region.

It seemed rather obvious, but the implications were terrifying. Were the Demons only after the Southern Region?

Would they put in so much effort...

Just for that?

Was it enough?

No!

There was something wrong. The Southern Region and the Demons have already agreed to work together. The Demons were able to hide 50,000 of their soldiers inside the Sagely Mountain City.

In other words...

It would be extremely easy for the Demons to take over the Southern Region. Why did they have to wait till the Great Xia soldiers entered the Southern Region? Why did they have to wait till the examinations were almost over?

That didn't seem very wise.

This would complicate matters! Furthermore, the hidden blade is always the most dangerous one. Since they can control the Southern Region so easily, why did they have to show their hand?

There was only one possible reason...

Their aim was not to control the Southern Region!

Instead...

They wanted to make the Southern Region their vassal. If possible, they wanted the Southern Region to be their sword!

That must be it!

Fang Zhengzhi's eyes glittered when he figures it out. It was a terrifyingly ingenious plan.

But, he was not surprised that Yun Qingwu would come up with such a masterful plan.

"Your Highness, please give the order for 80,000 soldiers to head for... what's the settlement nearest to the Demons?" Fang Zhengzhi stopped himself. He realized that he had forgotten the name of that faraway settlement.

"Nan Ling. Hang on, what are you saying? U want me to send 80,000 soldiers to Nan Ling?! Are you... out of your mind?" Princess Shan YU never thought that she would hear such a ridiculous idea after putting up with that much nonsense.

She couldn't take it anymore!

Anyone in her position would have felt the same way.

All of the generals were equally infuriated. The Sagely Mountain City was surrounded, why are should we send soldiers to Nan Ling?

What would we do there?!

Nothing!

This is not war, this is causing chaos!

"Why do I feel like he is a spy for the Demons?"

"80,000 soldiers to Nan Ling? Does he want us to attack the Blood Shadow City? Attack their capital to save ours?"

"What a joke! How can 80,000 soldiers conquer the Blood Shadow City?!"

All of the generals mocked as they instinctively kept their distance.

"You're wasting my time, let go of me!" Princess Shan Yu shook him off and prepared to storm off.

"If you don't believe me, the Southern Region will die!" Fang Zhengzhi was calm as he looked at Princess Shan Yu and the generals.

"How dare you! How dare you affect our morale! Even if you're in the Supernatural State, you will not exit this tent!" One of the generals could not hold back any longer.

He drew his blade.

"Die!"

"Whoever dares to affect our morale will die!"

All of the generals bellowed in rage as they unsheathed their swords. A domineering aura loomed over Fang Zhengzhi.

"Stop!" Princess Shan Yu stopped in her tracks and turned back. She glared at Fang Zhengzhi, "Fang Zhengzhi, I think that you are a talent, but I will not allow you to spout nonsense. We are at a crossroads now and urgently need some advice. Yet, you continue to mess up our morale. If you do not give me an explanation for this, I will not let you off!"

Princess Shan Yu's body began to emit rays of red light. The light danced on her body.

"An explanation?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at Princess Shan Yu and the surrounding generals. He walked over to Princess Shan Yu's seat and picked up a piece of fruit.

"Why don't you explain how the Demons managed to sneak 50,000 soldiers into your territory without you realizing it?"

Fang Zhengzhi chewed on the fruit.

"That is because we had made an agreement with them! Else, do you think that will be able to come near the Sagely Mountain City?"

"Exactly! Furthermore, if not for the fact that we have to fight off the Great Xia, the Demons would not have this chance either!"

"He is just..."

All of the generals began to answer. However, they stopped themselves before they revealed anything important.

"What's wrong? Why don't you keep talking?" Fang Zhengzhi urged.

"Fang Zhengzhi, these are military secrets. You are a member of the Great Xia, we would never discuss these with you!" One of the generals replied angrily.

"Is that so? My guess is that you have concentrated all your forces in the four major settlements. You have left the rear of the Sagely Mountain City completely undefended, am I right?" Fang Zhengzhi smirked.

"You... how did you know that?" The expressions of all the generals changed instantly. This was their biggest secret.

"Is that very difficult to guess? You do not have the power to battle both the Great Xia and the Demons at the same time. You have limited soldiers. In order to ensure victory with minimal losses, your best bet is to set up ambushes in all the four major settlements. Nan Ling and Iron Hill are completely unguarded!" Fang Zhengzhi added.

"Rubbish, how can they be unguarded? Other than our standing army, all of our citizens are trained warriors! They will defend the territory!" One of the generals retorted.

"You are right. All of the citizens are warriors capable of defending the settlement. But, are you sure that they can hold it. If the main Demon army marches on the settlement from the Blood Shadow City... what do you think will happen?" Fang Zhengzhi squashed the fruit in his hand for dramatic effect.

"About that..."

"How is that possible? Why would the Demons do that?!"

"Your Highness, don't believe him! He is just trying to scare you!"

All of the generals began to lose their cool when they heard this.

"Is that right? The Demons would never do that? Then, did any of you expect the Demons to surround and attack the Sagely Mountain City?" Fang Zhengzhi's crisp voice cut through the air and interrupted all the generals.

All of the generals glared at Fang Zhengzhi.

They wanted to rebut and chide Fang Zhengzhi for being blatantly disrespectful, but they couldn't.

Because...

If the Demons really did that.

The Southern Region would be destroyed.

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Chapter 415: Ridiculous Terms

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Princess Shan Yu's expression changed countless times in the short span of a few seconds.

When Fang Zhengzhi had asked about the 50,000 Demons, she had been rather frustrated. However, when Fang Zhengzhi mentioned the Blood Shadow City...

She was rendered speechless.

As a Princess of the Southern Region and the commander of 80,000 elite soldiers, she knew what it meant.

It was a sword!

A sword with the Southern Region's name on it.

It was just waiting for the opportune moment to strike. For the longest time, the Southern Region had concentrated its soldiers in Nan Ling Settlement.

It was to guard against this sword.

However, ever since the Crown Prince had decided to ally himself with the Demons, the citizens became complacent and forgot about this threat.

In the beginning, the Southern Region still kept their guard up. However, as time passed and their relations became closer, the Demons gave large amounts of aid to the Southern Region. They even sent some of their elites to train the soldiers of the Southern Region.

Furthermore, they also provided raw materials to build weapons. The Southern Region soldiers were now better equipped than they ever were.

This also caused them to let down their guard. Finally, they forgot about this looming threat that was waiting to take their head.

"Fang Zhengzhi, you say that the Demons will strike from the Blood Shadow City. Do you have any proof? Aren't they afraid that we will strike back?" One of the generals spoke up after much thought.

These generals knew the result of such an attack. However, they refused to believe and accept that this would happen.

"Strike back? Haha... you need time to be able to assemble your troops!" Fang Zhengzhi smirked.

"What do you mean?"

"If I am correct, the Demons have already set off from the Blood Shadow City. On the other hand, your troops still have to pass through the Icy Monkey Settlement if they are to reinforce the Sagely Mountain City. The Icy Monkey Settlement is under the control of the Great Xia. You won't reach the capital in time!" Fang Zhengzhi scorned.

"You..." The general's expression changed instantly. Even though he was furious, he had no retort.

All of the other generals fell silent as they looked at each other worriedly.

Fang Zhengzhi was right.

They had no time to recall their troops even if they wanted to.

This was why Yun Qingwu chose to attack the Sagely Mountain City now. This was the perfection of her plan.

Even if they figured out what was happening...

It would be too late!

They would be unable to stop it! That was the most terrifying part.

"Fang Zhengzhi, if the Demons are already on their way, then my 80,000 soldiers would not do much. What... what other ideas do you have?" Princess Shan Yu grit her teeth and asked as she looked at her generals.

"Of course I have other ideas." Fang Zhengzhi replied.

"Then say it!" Princess Shan Yu replied agitatedly. She was in no mood for any more delays.

"Oh..." Fang Zhengzhi dragged his voice. He sat down at the head of the meeting and placed his legs on the table, "You aren't killing me?"

"You! Fang Zhengzhi, do you not see what is happening? This is an urgent matter, out with the plan! This doesn't only concern the Southern Region! If we fall, the Great Xia will fall as well!" Princess Shan Yu's expression turned ugly when she saw Fang Zhengzhi defile her seat and table. However, she swallowed her anger.

All of the other generals glared at Fang Zhengzhi when they saw him sit on the golden leather. However, before Fang Zhengzhi told them the plan, they had to tolerate it.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Princess Shan Yu and the generals, beaming as he did so.

Every time he had entered this tent, Princess Shan Yu was the one in a position of power. She always seemed rather aloof.

As a man...

Someone who had ambitions... someone who did not even kneel to the Emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty... how could he be suppressed by a Princess of the Southern Region?

This was a chance at redemption.

This was a moment that he had dreamt about.

Previously, he had not tried to wrestle back control because the time was not right. Now that the opportunity presented itself, he would be a fool not to take it.

"Is that so? The Emperor of the Great Xia would have to worry about the fate of the empire. I am just a lowly rank four official. The affairs of the state have little to do with me. As for you... a princess... you will no longer be able to retain your position." Fang Zhengzhi added.

"You... Fang Zhengzhi, you... I will kill..."

"You want to kill me again? Come on, I promise I will not move. However, can you have someone come over and wash the blood off my neck first?" Fang Zhengzhi replied scornfully.

"Urgh, urgh! You will be the death of me! Fang Zhengzhi, what the hell do you want?" Princess Shan Yu was furious. She was on the verge of going insane.

"We haven't even made a deal yet." Fang Zhengzhi replied calmly.

"A deal?" Princess Shan Yu finally realized what was going on. The Southern Region's survival had nothing to do with Fang Zhengzhi.

Shameless!

How dare he take advantage of the situation?!

Princess Shan Yu cursed in her heart.

The other generals were equally infuriated. However, they had no other choice but to listen carefully to what Fang Zhengzhi had to say.

"What do you want?" Princess Shan Yu suppressed her anger.

"Gold!" Fang Zhengzhi replied without hesitation.

"Gold? Hahaha..." Princess Shan Yu chuckled, "I was wondering what kind of terms you had in mind? You are just a greedy mercenary. No worries, we have vast resources and have no lack of gold. How much do you want? 100 taels? 1000? Haha... why don't you just ask for 10,000. I can even give you 20,000!"

"Haha... is that so? What if I want the gold mine?" Fang Zhnegzhi chuckled. He liked people like Princess Shan Yu, who had vast amounts of wealth.

She was just making herself even bigger of a target for Fang Zhengzhi.

In essence, she was just...

Dumb!

"Gold mine?! No way! The gold mines have always been controlled by the royal family! Even the leaders of the six major settlements have no part to play in the mining. How can we give one to you?" Princess Shan Yu's smile froze as she paled.

The Southern Region had plenty of resources.

They also had quite a few gold mines.

Even so, Princess Shan Yu would never give the mining rights to anyone outside of the royal family. That represented the control and power the royal family had.

Fang Zhengzhi smirked when he saw Princess Shan Yu's determined look.

He knew exactly what the gold mines meant to the people of this world. It was akin to a money printing machine. No country would ever give an outsider control of its treasury.

But Fang Zhengzhi wanted that to happen.

In fact, after he figured out Yun Qingwu's plan, he knew that he could not solve this by rushing things.

Not only could he not panic.

He had to be stable and composed.

In fact, in order to foil Yun Qingwu's plan, everything had to work in perfect harmony. He had to eliminate all doubt for a chance at success. Failure at any point would result in defeat.

As such, he needed Princess Shan Yu to calm down.

Furthermore...

There was one other important factor.

Princess Shan Yu had to have complete faith in him. She must be willing to sacrifice everything to carry out every part of his plan.

This was why he wanted the gold mines.

If a rich person bought 10 miracle pills, ate three of them and didn't notice any effect, he may decide to just take three more. If there still wasn't any effect, he would probably throw the remaining four away.

But...

What if he spent his entire fortune?

He would definitely finish eating all 10. He wouldn't even leave a morsel behind.

That was the difference between the two scenarios.

"I am not done. I want 10 gold mines, the 10 largest gold mines!" Fang Zhengzhi added, almost as if he did not hear what Princess Shan Yu said.

"10 gold mines?!"

"Is he crazy? We won't even give him one and he is asking for 10?! And he wants the 10 largest ones? Doesn't he know that we only have 50 gold mines in the entire Southern Region?"

"Daydreaming! He must be daydreaming!"

All of the generals could not suppress their anger any longer. They pointed at Fang Zhengzhi and began berating him.

"Fang Zhengzhi, stop dreaming. I won't give you a single gold mine!" Princess Shan Yu fumed.

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Chapter 416: Nothing

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

"I see, then you can keep your gold mines. I am going to take a nap." Fang Zhengzhi waved them off and leaned back.

"Fang Zhengzhi!" Princess Shan Yu raged.

"Is there anything else, Princess?"

"Okay, I agree to your terms. Can you tell us the plan now?" Princess Shan Yu's eyes glimmered.

"Your Highness, you can't!"

"You can't give the life source of the Southern Region to such a thief!"

"Your highness!"

All of the generals pleaded when they heard what Princess Shan Yu said.

"Shut up!" Princess Shan Yu bellowed and beamed at Fang Zhengzhi. "Fang Zhengzhi, I promise to give you the 10 biggest gold mines. Are you happy now? Tell us your plan!"

"Okay then, let's sign the paperwork!" Fang Zhengzhi's eyes glimmered when he heard this.

"Get someone to draft the agreement for the gold mines." Princess Shan Yu turned and ordered one of the generals. "Any other issues?"

"None!"

"Then tell us the plan?"

"I will after we sign the deal."

"Fang Zhengzhi, don't try to push your luck. I have already agreed to your terms. Do you really think that I won't honor my word?" Princess Shan Yu raged.

"Do you dare to swear on your gods?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the princess with scorn and shook his head.

Does this chick...

Really think that I am stupid?

"You, you... Fang Zhengzhi, ask me for anything else and I will definitely give it to you!" Princess Shan Yu's face was flushed.

"Your Highness, did you forget what you just said? You just called me a greedy mercenary. I don't want anything other than the gold mines." Fang Zhengzhi replied.

He did not really think that he would be able to get those gold mines.

After all, Princess Shan Yu did not rule the Southern Region.

There was still the King and the Crown Prince. Even if Princess Shan Yu agreed to the terms, they may not be fulfilled.

However, he needed Princess Shan Yu to make this decision. That was the only way the had any chance of success.

Of course...

If they really became his...

10 gold mines!

What a windfall that would be.

Even if they only gave him a single gold mine, he would be able to live in luxury for many lifetimes.

Men need to be ambitious.

Without ambitions...

They would have nothing to work towards. Even if the ambition borders on the impossible...

"Fang Zhengzhi, are you not afraid that I will just kill you right now?" Princess Shan Yu's body glowed with red cloud patterns. It was clear that she was losing control over her emotions.

"I am... but, are you not afraid?" Fang Zhengzhi replied.

"What?!" Princess Shan Yu bellowed, the red light enveloping her body like an inferno.

Fang Zhengzhi was shocked by this.

All of the generals instinctively took a step back, horror and terror written all over their faces.

The tension in the tent could be cut with a knife.

The red light continued to swirl around Princess Shan Yu.

"Fine, I agree to your terms!"

After a whole 15 minutes, Princess Shan Yu finally spoke. However, this time, her tone was calm.

After she said this, all of the light dissipated instantly.

Fang Zhengzhi did not reply immediately. He pushed an exquisite leather parchment to Princess Shan Yu.

This was the second time Princess Shan Yu had agreed to the terms. But this time, Fang Zhengzhi knew that she had made up her mind.

Princess Shan Yu did not hesitate either. She walked to the table, bent over and signed the agreement.

Then, she took out a green stamp and stamped the agreement. Finally, she bit her finger and dripped a drop of her blood onto the parchment.

After she was done, she passed the agreement back to Fang Zhengzhi.

Fang Zhengzhi looked through the agreement. The names and locations of the gold mines were clearly written. Furthermore, the lease was...

Freehold!

Fang Zhengzhi's eyelids twitched and he kept the agreement. Then, he waved Princess Shan Yu over.

Princess Shan Yu frowned but decided to lean in.

Fang Zhengzhi could feel the inexplicable aura emanating from Princess Shan Yu's body. He felt as though he was in a furnace.

His heart fluttered.

But he quickly calmed himself down.

He did not announce the plan for fear of spies within the ranks. When facing the Demons, he had to take precautions. The plan can only be heard by the commander.

"Actually, I was just kidding when I asked you to send 80,000 troops to Nan Ling..." Fang Zhengzhi whispered.

"You..." Princess Shan Yu shuddered. She had no idea if this was because she was angered by what she heard or if it was a reaction to Fang Zhengzhi's breath at her ear.

"I am quite sure that the Demons from the Blood Shadow City have already taken Nan Ling Settlement. As such, the best option now is to send a party of elite soldiers to set up an ambush between Nan Ling and Iron Hill. This will buy us some time. The rest of the army will reinforce the Iron Hill Settlement!"

"Elite soldiers?"

"Yes, the fastest ones! I think that there is no better candidate than your 3000 silver horned wolves!" Fang Zhengzhi added.

"You want me to commit my 3000 silver horned wolves and the 80,000 select soldiers? Then what about the Sagely Mountain City?" Princess Shan Yu whispered.

"I will go!" Fang Zhengzhi replied without hesitation.

"You will go to the Sagely Mountain City?" Princess Shan Yu asked doubtfully.

"Of course." Fang Zhengzhi nodded. He wasn't trying to be a hero, but he was keenly aware of something else.

The Great Xia army would never stay in the Icy Monkey Settlement for long.

They would go out!

As quickly as possible!

That was their only option.

As such, the Great Xia army should have already begun marching towards the Sagely Mountain City. Furthermore, they would be fine as long as the Demons from the Blood Shadow City didn't reach the Sagely Mountain City.

He could ensure his own safety and be a hero at the same time.

Fang Zhengzhi was extremely proud of his plan.

"I don't like the idea of you going alone!" Princess Shan Yu shook her head instinctively. Then, she realized that what she just said could be easily misunderstood. She quickly added, "I don't like the idea of placing the fate of the Sagely Mountain City, the King, and my Third Brother in your hands!"

"Oh..." Fang Zhengzhi nodded, then looked at Princess Shan Yu...

The night was ice cold.

The day of fighting had caused the air around the Sagely Mountain City to be filled with the stench of blood.

Bodies lay in piles outside the imperial palace. The blood formed streams and puddles around the bodies.

Cries could be heard throughout the night. They were the cries of the elderly, the children, the wives... yet, there were no sounds of soldiers.

The entire capital was deathly silent.

Heavily armored soldiers guarded the walls of the imperial palace. Each of them carried a black spear in their hands.

They were the imperial guard, a group of elite soldiers loyal only to the royal family. Despite the stench of blood and the chilly air, they continued to stand tall.

Their only mission...

Guard the palace!

They were to guard this sacred ground, the most important land in all the Southern Region.

Two black figures appeared under the moonlight. Then, they quickly disappeared into the darkness, almost as if they were never there to begin with.

"Enter the city!"

"No, no we can't!"

Two voices whispered in the dark.

One voice was from a lady. Her tone was urgent. The second was male, and his tone was equally urgent.

There was no doubt...

The voices were from Princess Shan Yu and Fang Zhengzhi.

Princess Shan Yu was worried about the King and her brother. She wanted to enter the city to check on them. However, Fang Zhengzhi was in no hurry to do that.

He was panicking because...

Damn it!

Where is the Great Xia army?

He had already stalled for time, choosing to scale the city walls after dark. Yet, he still did not see a single Great Xia soldier.

There was no trace of them!

Fang Zhengzhi's plan was simple. He was sure that the Great Xia would take this opportunity to launch an attack on the Sagely Mountain City.

The plan was simple.

He would have Princess Shan Yu order the Southern Region soldiers to take over the empty Icy Monkey Settlement. Then, they would join forces with the Great Xia and devour the Demons.

But what now?

There wasn't any movement!

The plan...

Seemed to be going wrong!

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Chapter 417: Reckless Charging

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Fang Zhengzhi could not figure out where he had gone wrong. The commander was Xing Yuanguo, someone who had the foresight not to stay in the Icy Monkey Settlement.

Furthermore...

Xing Yuanguo would definitely have seen the chaos in the Sagely Mountain City. He would not let such a golden opportunity pass.

Was there something that he had missed?

Fang Zhengzhi did not understand. However, he had to solve the immediate problem first/ He couldn't just stay outside the city walls.

If the Great Xia army was still defending the Icy Monkey Settlement, then they will prevent the advance of the Southern Region army.

The Sagely Mountain City was being surrounded by 50,000 Demons, but they were in no immediate danger. However, Princess Shan Yu's 80,000 troops could not hold out indefinitely.

Even though Fang Zhengzhi was quite sure he guessed Yun Qingwu's plan correctly, his counter would not be effective if the Great Xia continued to stay in the Icy Monkey Settlement.

After a few days, the Demon armies would meet and become an unstoppable force.

Furthermore, the Southern Region Crown Prince can add a few hundred thousand soldiers to that force...

With two armies bearing down on the Great Xia...

The battle would be a hard fought one and any victory would be pyrrhic. If the Northern Barbarians took the opportunity to strike, the Great Xia would be in serious danger.

What was he to do now?

Even though Fang Zhengzhi was not interested in state affairs, he did not want the country to be run over.

He still cared for his family.

If the Great Xia fell...

The Northern Mountain Village would be affected as well. He did not want to see it embroiled in battle, and this was something no citizen wanted either.

As such, he had to come up with a plan.

But...

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the fires and the patrolling Demon soldiers helplessly.

They were 50,000 strong. Even if he tried his best, he would only be able to kill a few hundred. That was insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

He was immensely outnumbered.

Fang Zhengzhi tried to recall the military strategies of the past, where a significantly outnumbered army had managed to wrestle victory from the hands of the enemy.

Xiang Yu's war against Liu Bang, Cao Cao's battle against Yuan Shao, or even Zhuge Liang's famous Empty City Strategy.

But, they could not be applied to his current situation.

Burn the rations?

Good plan!

But where were the rations?

The Empty City Strategy was a good plan as well. However, it would be stupid to use that plan here.

He would be completely smashed!

What about kidnapping Yun Qingwu?

Fang Zhengzhi's eyes glimmered. However, they darkened almost instantly. For starters, he did not even know where Yun Qingwu was. Furthermore, after the incident at Feng Su, the Demons were bound to step up their defences.

A headache...

Fang Zhengzhi already had enough to deal with. Just as he thought he couldn't get any worse, he realized he still had to deal with Princess Shan Yu.

After hearing Fang Zhengzhi reject her proposal, Princess Shan Yu decided to go at it alone.

Without waiting for an explanation, she went over the wall.

"F*ck me!" Fang Zhengzhi wanted to push Princess Shan Yu to the ground and sit on her.

However, Princess Shan Yu was someone who was used to being in control. She would never allow Fang Zhengzhi to control her.

Her wishes were orders to the Southern Region soldiers. This was how she was brought up. She wasn't going to wait for Fang Zhengzhi's approval.

By telling Fang Zhengzhi her plan, she was already showing him some respect.

Was he going to let the Princess go at it alone?

Or should he follow her into the city and continue to think of a plan after he was inside?

This was the dilemma that Fang Zhengzhi was presented with.

This wasn't a difficult decision to make at the moment. Since he did not have any concrete plan at the moment, he decided to wing it.

Of course, he was also afraid that Princess Shan Yu would just leave him behind.

After all, this was her territory. The only reason why he could make it this far in without being spotted was Princess Shan Yu.

Even though he may be powerful, he still had to stay close to Princess Shan Yu if he wanted to survive.

"Wait for me!" Fang Zhengzhi followed behind Princess Shan Yu and entered the city.

His only hope was to follow Princess Shan Yu and confirm that the King and the Crown Prince were safe. Then, he would evacuate them.

The city was too dangerous.

Hang on.

Something was wrong. If he and Princess Shan Yu were able to enter without being stopped, why wouldn't the Royal family sneak out?

Who would dare to stop them?

Oh no, it's a trap!

Fang Zhengzhi's expression changed instantly. The palace may have already been controlled by the Demons and everything outside was just a charade.

Did he just walk into a trap?

This did not bother Fang Zhengzhi for long. The moment he stepped onto the grounds of the palace, he was shocked by what he saw.

He saw a squad of rattan armored guards staring at him and Princess Shan Yu. They were clearly patrolling the area.

Dozens of eyes stared at the two of them in disbelief.

Fang Zhengzhi's expression darkened.

He had always thought of himself as a specialist in sneak attacks. Yet, today, Princess Shan Yu had destroyed that reputation. She didn't even check before she jumped!

She could have tried listening for footsteps! What if she had run into someone powerful? She was just in the pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State!

Awkward...

Fang Zhengzhi could tell that the sneak attack was a failure. The expression of the soldiers said it all.

What was he going to do now?

Fight, or run?

Also, were these guards the real guards, or were they Demons? Fang Zhengzhi had no idea. Their armor made it difficult for Fang Zhengzhi to see their forehead.

That meant that he could not see if they had a demonic eye.

"What are you looking at? Continue patrolling the grounds!" A peerlessly arrogant voice cut through the air and a red light beamed from Princess Shan Yu's body.

It was a cloud pattern, and it revealed Princess Shan Yu's identity.

Fang Zhengzhi knew why Princess Shan Yu was doing this, but he was afraid that the guards were actually demons.

Just as he was thinking about this, a miracle happened.

The guards were stunned when they saw the cloud patterns on Princess Shan Yu's body. They looked at each other, then continued patrolling the grounds, ignoring Princess Shan Yu and Fang Zhengzhi.

Fang Zhengzhi still could not figure out if they were the legitimate guards, or Demons in disguise.

Both were still plausible.

If they were legitimate guards, they would recognize Princess Shan Yu and let them pass. If they were Demons, this could just be them staying in character.

Fang Zhengzhi could not tell.

He was slightly worried. However, Princess Shan Yu did not hesitate at all. She beamed radiantly.

Then, she proceeded to do something strange.

She seemed to be emboldened by what just happened. She dragged Fang Zhengzhi towards the palace.

She even took the main road!

Fang Zhengzhi was uncomfortable with this. He wanted to tell Princess Shan Yu off. He wanted to tell her to keep her identity hidden and keep a low profile.

After all, she was only in the pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State!

Of course...

He did not say anything. Along the way, they ran into no less than a dozen squads of palace guards.

They managed to pass through without any incidents.

However, Fang Zhengzhi still felt that they were being too conspicuous.

Even though he enjoyed the spotlight...

This was too high profile for him.

Was the palace still in the Southern Region's control. Fang Zhengzhi continued to survey the palace guards, unsettled by the entire process.

If he had a second chance...

He would have knocked Princess Shan Yu out, found a place to hide out, and tried to gather some intel.

Barging into the palace like that...

May just cost him his life...

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Chapter 418: Animalistic Movements

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

"Stop!" After walking for 15 minutes, Fang Zhengzhi could not take it any longer.

"What's wrong? I want to see the King and my third brother, why should we stop?" Princess Shan Yu frowned and looked at Fang Zhengzhi in doubt.

"I think that we should change our clothes." Fang Zhengzhi replied.

"Change? Why?"

"Your highness... just think about it. We may not have faced any problems thus far... but, we have to stop everytime we meet a squad of guards. This is delaying us, and also reveals your identity to the world. We could change and conceal ourselves..." Fang Zhengzhi explained.

"Mm, that makes sense!" Princess Shan Yu interrupted. Then, she surveyed the surroundings before rushing into a dark corner.

Fang Zhengzhi was confused.

There was no one there. Why would Princess Shan Yu go there? Did she just ditch him? How was he going to get out?

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard Princess Shan Yu's voice.

"You, and you, take off your clothes!"

"Yes, your highness!"

Before long, Princess Shan Yu came out of the shadows.

She held two sets of rattan armor in her hands.

"The clothes are here." Princess Shan Yu threw a set to Fang Zhengzhi, visibly proud of herself.

Fang Zhengzhi was unsettled by what he just saw. He knew exactly what had happened.

The royal palace!

Other than the patrolling guards, they had men hiding in the shadows as an ambush.

Danger was everywhere.

Hang on... if the locations of these ambushes had not changed, does it mean that... the royal city is still controlled by the Southern Region?

Fang Zhengzhi's eyelids twitched. He felt that there was a good chance this place was not run over by the Demons just yet.

But...

If it really was in the Southern Region's control, why did the King and the Crown Prince not take this opportunity to escape? If they could enter so easily, it would not be difficult for the royal family to escape.

Something was wrong.

Something was definitely wrong!

Fang Zhengzhi felt that there was something wrong, but he could not pinpoint what the problem was. He would just have to figure it out as he went along.

He found a secluded spot and put on the rattan armor. Then he heaved a sigh of relief. With this armor, there would be fewer confrontations.

Everything was simple from that point onwards.

With Princess Shan Yu to guide him along, they managed to enter the palace complex without any incidents. Then, they made their way to a humongous door.

This was a door adorned with gold and jewels. The gold and jewels combined to create a beautiful work of art.

They could hear the sounds of drums from inside.

Six heavily armored guards stood at the door. Each one of them was hulking in size and had skin as dark as ink.

The picture on the door was that of a beast.

It looked like a lion, but it had a pair of wings. Furthermore, it also had a pair of horns on its head.

There were complicated patterns on each of the horns.

Cloud Pattern!

By now, Fang Zhengzhi had seen the cloud pattern umpteen times. He had seen it first on the wall in The Vast World...

Then again on Wu Feng's Jade Flute...

After that, he had seen it on Princess Shan Yu before seeing it on the horns of the beast. This piqued his curiosity.

The Cloud Pattern...

What was it?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to ask Princess Shan Yu about it. After all, she had it on her body. However, at that very moment, the sound of the drums stopped.

Then, they heard the sounds of tables and chairs crashing. An angry voice could be heard from inside.

"Rebel, stop what you're doing!"

Fang Zhengzhi's eyes twitched.

Rebel?

From the exquisite decorations on the door, he was sure that the person inside was either the King or the Crown Prince.

That meant that the 'rebel' could only be one person.

It seems like...

There was trouble!

Fang Zhengzhi's heart fluttered. Could the Crown Prince be taking this opportunity to rebel? This was something that had happened before in history.

They would ally themselves with outsiders to claim the throne.

Could this be what was happening?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to go and take a look, but he knew that he had to keep his cool, so he did not spring into action. He chose to wait for the six guards to charge in first.

However...

The guards did not even blink when they heard the commotion. It was almost as if they didn't hear the noises inside.

Something was wrong...

If there was a rebel inside, the guards should be charging in to protect the King!

Why weren't they moving?

Could it be...

These were the Crown Prince's men?!

Fang Zhengzhi knew that this was the only possibility. However, this had terrifying implications.

If the guards were loyal to the Crown Prince...

This rebellion was likely to succeed.

"Father!"

Murphy's Law was at it once again.

Fang Zhengzhi was deciding between siding with the King and coming to his aid, or siding with the Crown Prince and going with the flow when Princess Shan Yu's voice rang out.

Red lights beamed from her body.

The expression of the guards changed instantly as they looked at the Princess in shock.

"Princess!"

"It's the Princess!"

"Greetings, your highness!"

The guards looked at each other, then whispered. However, none of them knelt in respect.

"Move aside!" Princess Shan Yu ordered.

"Erm..."

The guards' expressions were conflicted as they stood their ground.

"I said, move aside!" Princess Shan Yu raged.

"Forgive us, your highness. The Crown Prince has ordered us not to let anyone through!" One of the guards replied respectfully.

"Third brother is in there! This is the King's court, why is he not in his own residence trying to formulate a plan? What is he doing here?" Princess Shan Yu frowned anxiously.

"This... I do not know." The guards looked at each other and grit their teeth.

"Rubbish, who else is in there?"

"I do not know."

"You don't know? Or you're not saying? Stand aside, I'm going in!" Princess Shan Yu shook her head at the guards, her eyes glimmering icily.

"Please forgive us." The guards grit their teeth.

"How dare you! I would like to see how many of you dare to stop me!" Princess Shan Yu's body exploded with red light as she hollered.

Fang Zhengzhi had seen Princess Shan Yu get angry before. He had even experienced it for himself.

But this time...

It felt different...

Previously, her anger had stemmed from an inability to contain her anger. This time, she was showing her dominance.

A dominance that came from her position as a Princess.

As a princess of the Southern Region, she could accept that an outsider might challenge her authority, but she would never allow a guard to do the same.

The red light enveloped her body as the dense cloud patterns showed on her skin.

At the same time, a wave of heat could be felt. It was a unique aura.

It was rhythmic...

Almost like a heartbeat.

Animalistic.

That was the only word Fang Zhengzhi could use to describe it. Her eyes were fixed on the six guards in front of her, her legs slightly bent, ready to pounce.

Coupled with the red light and cloud pattern...

She looked like a leopard hunting for prey.

The six guards paled when they saw this, their hands trembling.

They looked like they were experiencing some sort of emotional struggle.

"This is your last chance, step aside!" Princess Shan Yu bellowed once again. This time, her voice seemed to come from deep within her body.

Fang Zhengzhi recalled that General Tai had done something similar during his duel with Fang Zhengzhi.

This time, Princess Shan Yu had the same animalistic growl.

But...

Unlike General Tai, Princess Shan Yu's body did not change.

Did the Cloud Pattern have a role to play in this?

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Chapter 419: Terrifying power

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Fang Zhengzhi was extremely curious about the Cloud Pattern. He would not miss out on an opportunity to examine it.

He could have joined Princess Shan Yu and beat up the six guards.

But that would have been too disrespectful towards Princess Shan Yu.

After all, if she couldn't even take care of a few guards herself, how could she still maintain her standing in the army?

Of course, there was another reason why he didn't attack.

He would much prefer to sneak in whilst the battle was ongoing.

By doing so, he thought that it would give them a better chance of victory.

He was effectively killing three birds with one stone. He would be increasing their odds of victory, showing respect to Princess Shan Yu, and would be able to examine the Cloud Pattern.

Princess Shan Yu hollered.

The six guards tightened their grip on their black spears. Their knuckles whitened as they prepared for the assault. They were all elite soldiers in the pinnacle Heavenly Reflection State.

One of them was already a Supernatural State cultivator. However, they did not dare to underestimate Princess Shan Yu.

They did not speak.

They knew that words were useless right now.

They had to carry out their duties and obey their orders. The Crown Prince had made it clear that no one was to enter!

"Woosh!"

A red light flashed.

Princess Shan Yu sprang into action, drawing the daggers sheathed at her thighs. She lunged at the throat of one of the guards.

Fang Zhengzhi knew how sharp the blade was.

Furthermore, he knew that these daggers were not just sharp. They had a burning aura and were made from a unique material.

"Ding!"

A crisp sound rang out as the spear and the daggers clashed. The guard was defending against Princess Shan Yu's attack.

His muscles tensed.

His skin could be seen through his armor. It was visibly difficult for him to defend against that strike.

But he still managed to block it.

At least, that was what Fang Zhengzhi thought.

His thoughts were quickly disproved.

After the clash, the daggers showed no signs of slowing down as they continued to press forward.

"Kacha!"

At that moment, the black spear broke into two like a slice of cheese being cut by a knife. Soon after, blood spattered all over.

That came from the chest wound caused by the dagger.

Princess Shan Yu had aimed for the throat. Even though the guard had managed to block the strike, Fang Zhengzhi was sure that she would not miss her mark.

But she did.

The blade went through his chest cleanly. Then, Princess Shan Yu spread her hands as though they were wings.

Afterward...

Something shocking happened.

Princess Shan Yu twirled on the spot before she spun into the group of six like a whirlwind of death.

She was outnumbered six to one, but she still charged into the middle of the fight.

Fang Zhengzhi thought that she had lost her mind.

More importantly, the six guards were not weak. Even if Princess Shan Yu had superior weapons, she should not charge in that way.

But...

That was exactly what she did.

The six guards were struggling to keep up. Their arms strained against the power of Princess Shan Yu.

When they tried to attack, the strangest thing happened. It was almost as though their attacks were drawn to Princess Shan Yu's blade.

It was almost rhythmic.

A very strange, inexplicable rhythm.

Fang Zhengzhi did not understand what it was, or where it came from, but he was sure that Princess Shan Yu's blade matched every move from the guards.

In fact, it felt like she was controlling their every move.

"Kacha, kacha!"

The spears broke in half as blood spouted from wounds in their chests. The encounter was short, a path had been opened.

They had not opened it themselves.

Princess Shan Yu had cut one through them.

Fang Zhengzhi was stunned. He had thought that Princess Shan Yu had lost her mind, but she had proved him wrong.

He was still wondering how long this battle would take. After all, if they were guarding the palace...

They would not be weak.

However...

This battle was over much faster than he had expected.

Much, much faster.

A spinning top technique?

Fang Zhengzhi quickly quashed that idea.

That whirlwind was not something that could be achieved with mere coordination. It was a special rhythm.

A rhythm that Fang Zhengzhi had never encountered before.

"How powerful!" Fang Zhengzhi murmured subconsciously. He had heard from the soldiers and Teng Shisheng that Princess Shan Yu had gotten to where she is not merely because she was of royal descent.

She had the abilities to show for it.

He did not understand this before.

But he understood it now.

Princess Shan Yu had already gone easy on the six guards. If not, their throats would all have been sliced open.

In other words...

Princess Shan Yu was capable of defeating all six guards in the blink of an eye.

Was this her power?

Fang Zhengzhi had thought that Princess Shan Yu's power was linked to her fiery red and cloud pattern. What he had just seen disproved that.

Nangong Hao was powerful.

He was powerful because he understood Dao very well, and his heart was well cultivated.

On the other hand...

Princess Shan Yu's power came from her battle experience. She had fought side by side with her soldiers and this had allowed her to grow stronger.

Rhythm?

A lady who could control rhythm that way, coupled with her insane reaction speeds, flexibility, and unique battle technique...

Powerful...

Terrifyingly powerful...

Fang Zhengzhi knew that he was already in the Supernatural State. Even so, he felt that if they were going to duel...

He could not let her get close to him!

She could slice open his throat, stab a dagger into his heart, gouge his eyes out...

At this moment, Fang Zhengzhi wanted to keep a distance from Princess Shan Yu.

Even if Princess Shan Yu wouldn't attack him now.

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why all the generals kept their distance when Princess Shan Yu lost her cool back in the tent.

"Boom!" A dull sound interrupted Fang Zhengzhi's train of thought.

Then, Fang Zhengzhi felt a slightly chilly gust of wind at his back. It made a soft whooshing sound in his sleeves.

The doors had been opened.

Princess Shan Yu had kicked them open.

Everything had happened in one fluid motion.

It was shockingly quick.

Fang Zhengzhi never struck... he wasn't even given a chance to attack.

Seeing the doors kicked open, the six guards instinctively tried to step forward to block the entrance. But it was too late.

Because...

Princess Shan Yu was already inside.

The guards paled. This was partially due to their loss of blood, but more because they were terrified.

Blood continued to flow from their open wounds. However, they grit their teeth and tightened their grip on their broken spears, determined to stop Princess Shan Yu.

This was their mission.

However, they were set up to fail.

Just as they were about to enter the hall, a figure pushed right through the middle of them.

"I'm sorry, coming through!" This was a very humble voice, but as it rang out, a huge wave of force crashed into them.

This was a cultivation state suppression.

It was just like there was a powerhouse controlling the space and preventing them from entering.

Before the guards could react, they were forced out the door by the force.

"Boom!" The door slammed shut behind them.

The six guards looked at the closed doors in shock. Their jaws dropped, and they momentarily forgot the wounds to their chests.

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Chapter 420: The Answer is in the Edict

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Embarrassed.

The six defeated guards had expected to lose to Princess Shan Yu, but to be defeated by a fellow 'guard'...

In such a domineering fashion...

They simply could not accept it.

More importantly, they could tell that this 'guard' was still in his teens.

Who was this?

Who had entered the room with Princess Shan Yu?

Fang Zhengzhi did not answer any of the questions, neither did he have the mood to entertain their questions.

He had expected to see a heated battle upon entering the room. However, he was shocked to see what was happening...

"Should I just leave quietly?"

The Southern Region Throne Room was not like the Great Xia's. After all, the Great Xia's had been constantly improved and refurbished with valuable gems.

However, it was still extremely grand and adorned with precious gems.

Other than the gems, the pillars and walls were engraved with pictures of beasts and ancient scriptures.

Most importantly, next to the pictures and the scriptures...

There were skeletons of slain beasts.

The skeletons and thick pillars embodied the animalistic, ruthless, and powerful character of the Southern Region.

Fang Zhengzhi could tell from a glance that those beasts were incredibly powerful...

As such...

The beasts represented the achievements of the best in the region.

Then, Fang Zhengzhi was shocked by the blood on the floor.

It was a stain from someone crawling away. At the head of the trail was an old man who laid prone on the ground.

He was in his 50s and was visibly terrified. He was pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The blood trail had originated from a wound in his chest.

Blood continued to trickle from the open wound, forming a puddle in front of him.

There was a group of scantily dressed ladies holding instruments in their hands by the side.

There were drummers, flutists,...

Their instruments may have been different, but their expressions were all the same.

Shock. The same shock that Fang Zhengzhi was feeling.

However, Fang Zhengzhi was shocked because of a different reason. He had spotted the Minister of Rites.

Most importantly...

The Minister had stretched a hand out towards him.

"Save... save... save me..."

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to leave because of that. He would much rather act as if he had not heard the Minister's pleas.

"Sister?!"

A voice interrupted the pleas of the Minister of Rites. In fact, this person had completely ignored the Minister from the start.

A man walked towards Princess Shan Yu and Fang Zhengzhi. He held a blood-stained blade in his hand.

He looked to be in his 30s and he wore an exquisite silver leather armor. His shoes were embroidered with gold thread and there were two five-colored feathers on his head.

There was a bright sapphire in between the feathers.

"Brother, what is going on?" Princess Shan Yu tightened her grip on her daggers as she glanced towards the Minister of Law.

Fang Zhengzhi could guess that this man was the Crown Prince, Shan Ling.

"Haha... you shouldn't be asking me this question. You should be asking Father!" Shan Ling chuckled as he looked at Princess Shan Yu affectionately.

"Father?" Princess Shan Yu looked at the elderly man seated on the throne.

He was over two meters in height, well built but with silver hair. He wore purple leather.

If not for his wrinkles, one would not be able to guess his age.

The King of the Southern Region!

Was this him?

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the King. He could see the pain in the eyes of the King, a pain that only the elderly felt.

"Rebel!" The King did not seem to want to explain. He directed his anger towards Shan Ling, but did not seem to want to save the Minister of Law.

"Sister, you don't have to care about this. Since you are here, you should already have fought the Demons outside?" Shan Ling shook his head. He had no intention of debating with the King. He looked at Princess Shan Yu with anticipation.

"Brother, what the hell is going on here?" Princess Shan Yu looked at the King and Shan Ling with a steely determination in her eyes.

"What's going on? What else could be going on! Our soldiers have laid down their lives and spilled their blood on the battlefield! How many men did we lose at the Icy Monkey Settlement? Do you know? 8,000! 8,000! And what is Father doing? Negotiating for peace! He is negotiating with the Great Xia after 8,000 of our men lost their lives! Sister... what do you think I'm doing?!"

Shan Ling was fuming after being interrogated by Princess Shan Yu. He tried to suppress his anger, but his tone had changed significantly.

"I don't care what father did. He is still our father, the one who raised us!" Princess Shan Yu's eyes glimmered and she clenched her fists.

"Yes, he is our father, but he is also the father of his citizens! Are our soldiers not his children? Have you seen a father who would make merry and negotiate with the enemy right after losing 8,000 children?!"

"Brother, are you still dreaming about being an Emperor? Do you not see what is happening?" Princess Shan Yu's expression changed.

"Situation? Haha... let me tell you what is happening. This is happening!" Shan Ling retrieved an exquisite piece of leather with a fresh red stamp.

Princess Shan Yu looked at it.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at it. However, the King and the Minister of Law did not even take a look at it.

"Your Highness, the agreement you hold in your hand is just a ploy. They want to break up the Southern Region and the Great Xia. Even if you kill me, they will still conquer your capital and you will not have a chance to recover. We are now giving you the option of drawing back from the Stable Mountain Gate and releasing our soldiers in exchange for our support. We can join forces..." The Minister of Law knew what was written within that piece of leather.

"Shut up!" Shan Ling's voice was icy. He kept the leather, "What do you know? The Demons may go back on their word, but they will not do so if they swore in the name of their gods. The agreement states that I will have three days if I kill you. We can break the Icy Monkey Settlement in three days! By that time, their 50,000 soldiers..."

"It also says that if you kill me, the Demons will pull back from the Sagely Mountain City and help you to the throne. Isn't that even better for you?" The Southern Region King's voice interrupted the Crown Prince.

"Father, do you not understand? I only have one aim, to buy us some time. Three days, three days is all I need! The Demons? I don't need them! Father, don't you want to be an Emperor? Do you want to be subservient to the Great Xia forever? What do they have? 400,000 of our soldiers would be able to go up against a million of theirs! Why should we obey them? Wake up, father!"

"You need to wake up, brother!" Princess Shan Yu's body began to glow red.

"Me? Haha... I am very much awake. I have never been this awake before. Sister, I am the one who pampers you the most. You have not let me down! With the 80,000 soldiers you brought, the Demons would not be able to take the city in three days even if they wanted to!" Shan Ling chuckled.

"Brother, what if I told you I didn't bring a single soldier?" Princess Shan Yu continued.

"This is not the time for jokes, sister! How could you not bring any soldiers? I gave you the best of the best. Furthermore, with the 3000 Silver Horned Wolves you have, they should have no problem getting past 50,000 Demons!" Shan Ling did not believe Princess Shan Yu.

"Yes, it is not difficult for 3000 Silver Horned Wolves to cut a path through the Demon army, but I didn't bring any soldiers." Princess Shan Yu shook her head.

"You... sister, this is really not the time for joking. If you didn't bring any soldiers, then what are you doing here?" Shan Ling's expression changed as he tried to keep his tone calm.

"Negotiate!"

"For peace? With who?! The Great Xia?! Sister... have you lost your mind? This is the best chance we've had to be independent from the Great Xia! Why should we negotiate with them?" Shan Ling became agitated once again.

"Brother, we cannot possibly take on both the Great Xia and the Demons at the same time!"

"I know!" Shan Ling nodded. "But so what? Sister, do you think that I am an idiot? We don't have the ability to fight them both at the same time. But, the Great Xia still hasn't launched an attack! Even after we took the Stable Mountain Gate!"

Shan Ling paused.

"Taking the gate was just a test. The results have shown that the Great Xia doesn't dare to attack us! They will not let us die even if we are not their vassal!"

"What is the Great Xia without us?"

"They will just be a prime target for the Demons! Without the Southern Region in the way, the Great Xia would not be able to prosper! Neither will they be able to fight the barbarians in the North!"

"Sister, tell me why the Southern Region cannot be independent! Tell me why we can't be an empire!"

"Negotiate? Why should we negotiate?!"

"We have to give them a fortune every year, and that isn't including the leather that we give them! What do they give us in return? Books! A few books! Books on architecture, policy, and economics! They tell us that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give a man a fish!"

"Don't you see? The Great Xia treat us like fools! They send their Minister of Law and our King must receive him? We treat him with respect, entertain him, feed him, all whilst our men are dying on the battlefield!"

"Today, I will make sure that this Minister of Law opens his eyes and sees how powerful we are!"

Shan Ling looked at the Minister of Law with a posture that exuded confidence. The blade in his hand hummed.

Shan Ling was ready to kill.

The King looked at Shan Ling, wanting to say something, but he didn't make a sound.

Fang Zhengzhi had wondered how he would feel when he met the King or the Crown Prince.

He had expected a rebellion, embarrassment, anger...

He had also prepared speeches for the various scenarios.

Fang Zhengzhi felt that the Southern Region was in immediate trouble because of the threat to their capital.

As such, it should not have been too difficult to convince them to ally themselves with the Great Xia.

However...

After listening to Shan Ling...

He had a whole new outlook on the situation.

Even though this was the most difficult moment for the Southern Region, the Great Xia did not dare to attack.

In other words, not only was the Great Xia not going to attack, they were doing everything they could to help the Southern Region tide through this situation.

Regardless of their attitude.

The Great Xia could never let the Southern Region fall, even if they wanted to be independent and form an empire.

As such...

How were they going to negotiate?

There was nothing to negotiate.

The Great Xia had watched on as the Southern Region took the Stable Mountain Gate and imprisoned thousands of their soldiers. They would also have to tolerate the Crown Prince killing any missionary they sent!

This was the situation the Great Xia was in.

As long as the Demons continued to threaten the Great Xia, they could not take action against the Southern Region.

His blade shone.

He raised it above the Minister of Law's head. He could take the Minister's head in the blink of an eye.

Sweat poured from the Minister's forehead.

He wanted to say something, but he had nothing left to say. After hearing what Shan Ling said, he knew that there was no chance for a negotiation.

They had no bargaining chips.

Shan Ling had rejected everything that they had to offer.

As such, this negotiation could not continue, and he was destined to fail and die here.

Hopelessness!

The desperation could be seen in his eyes as the energy exited his body. The Emperor's edict that had given him strength before now felt heavy.

"Dong!"

The golden edict felt into the pool of blood, the words plain for all to see.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the edict.

With his current abilities, he could easily see the words written on the edict. He managed to understand it at a glance.

The gist of it was that the soldiers had to obey the orders of the Minister of Law.

It also contained Emperor Lin Mubai's wish to make peace with the Southern Region.

After reading the edict...

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why the Minister of Law would be here, and why the Great Xia soldiers would stay in the Icy Monkey Settlement.

If not for this edict, the soldiers of the Great Xia would have probably made it already!

With the Icy Monkey Settlement emptied, hundreds of thousands of Southern Region soldiers could march on the Sagely Mountain City.

Everything would have gone according to plan!

But...

F*cking Murphy's Law!

Hang on, something is wrong!

The Emperor would never be so stupid!

The Emperor would know that he had no bargaining chips. He would not have destroyed his army's best chance at victory! What was wrong?

Fang Zhengzhi frowned as he stared at the edict. For some reason, he had a feeling that...

The answer...

Must be in the edict!

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Chapter 421: A Turn of Events

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

The edict bore just a few lines of words, but its message was surprisingly coherent. This made Fang Zhengzhi a little apprehensive.

He believed the answer should lie within the edict, yet if he could not see it, then it had not served many purposes.

Was it an acrostic poem?

Fang Zhengzhi turned his eyes at the start of each line, and the end of each line, then diagonally through every line…

But after he had tried every conceivable method, he still could not discover any other meaning.

Was it really just an appeal for peace?

This… should not be like this!

Wait a second!

In peace we shall live, in separation we shall perish.

"In peace we shall live, in separation we shall perish!"

In an instant, Fang Zhengzhi squinted slightly, and this sentence was not difficult to find. Yet it blended with the rest of the words in this edict.

But, this sentence had a major problem.

It had an incorrect word!

"In peace we shall live, in separation we shall perish?" Shouldn't it be "united we stand, divided we fall?" Why would it contain a homophone?

Was the sage careless and wrote a wrong word?

Fang Zhengzhi believed this was of little possibility, almost impossible, so this phrase 'in peace'.

No!

It was not a homophone, but a word of a different meaning. Its actual meaning was not 'peace' but 'mix', like the mixing of many elements into homogeneity. Like water and flour, kneaded and pressed into a sticky lump of dough.

(Translator's Note: In Chinese, the words for 'peace' and 'mix' share the same character but are pronounced differently)

Mixing…

Now he understood!

Fang Zhengzhi's eyes sparkled in epiphany. He finally understood the hidden meaning of this edict.

Understood the meaning of this edict…

Naturally, he knew why Li Mubai sent the Ministry of Rites official here.

He was a worthy emperor indeed!

Fang Zhengzhi found it a little hard to believe. Although the Great Xia Dynasty was in a precarious position, this sage still saw the rays of hope in an abyss.

Mix and we shall live, in separation we shall perish.

Li Mubai had already predicted that Demon Race would attack the Southern Region, thus in anticipation, he made such a decree, to mix the Southern Region and the Demon Race.

Only when both are mixed, conflicts could then arise.

Only then, Great Xia could have a chance.

Indeed, it was a chance, though a painfully difficult one. If not for the threat from Blood Shadow City's Demonic Army, according to his plan, it would have been a great chance.

However…

If the Demonic Army from the Blood Shadow City was charging towards Sagely Mountain City like Fang Zhengzhi predicted, then this could no longer be called a chance.

Even if you had mastered the most sophisticated techniques, in a duel against a very powerful individual, you could only raise your hands and cry in desperation for mercy.

"Third brother!"

Princess Shan Yu's voice lit up once again. Her voice was not loud, but very firm.

Shan Ling stopped his hand, his blade in its icy gleam against the neck of the Ministry of Rites official, its sharpness leaving a bloody cut.

The Ministry of Rites official shivered in fear, his face a pallor, yet he did not beg for mercy.

Maybe…

This is the Six Council Official's last remaining shred of dignity.

Even if he would die, he would never beg for mercy!

"Sister, must I repeat myself?" Shan Ling's hand had not moved, his eyes turned towards Princess Shan Yu.

"Third brother, if I say that the Blood Shadow City's Demonic Army is charging towards Sagely Mountain this very moment, do you think you would still get your way as the emperor?" Princess Shan Yu clenched her teeth.

Of course, she did not know whether Blood Shadow City's Demonic Army would rush out at full force.

All of this…

Were just Fang Zhengzhi's predictions.

If the Demonic Army did not charge towards Sagely Mountain, according to Shan Ling, it would be possible for the Southern Region to separate from Great Xia.

Yet, if the Blood Shadow City's Demonic Army came, the idea of the Southern Region leaving Great Xia and Southern King being the Emperor would then be just a joke.

Would a country controlled by another race still be honored as a real country? How, then, would the emperor differ from a mere foreigner?

Princess Shan Yu was taking a gamble.

She was gambling her trust in either Shan Ling or Fang Zhengzhi. And she chose to believe in Fang Zhengzhi, whom she had known for less than a month and seen only a few times.

"What? Sister… Blood Shadow City's Demonic Army is heading towards Sagely Mountain? This… This cannot be true. If it is as what you've said, why did they want to sign a pact with me, and even gave me three extra days?" Shan Ling still found it hard to believe.

"This…" Princess Shan Yu's voice trailed off. She fretted, equally puzzled.

If the Blood Shadow City's Demonic Army was really charging towards Sagely Mountain, in normal circumstances, timing would be of utmost importance. They would never allow Sagely Mountain any time to prepare.

In addition, with the Sagely Mountain already within in their control, the Demonic Army would have absolutely nothing to gain by doing this.

But why did the Demonic Army sign this pact?

"Sister, are you sure the Blood Shadow City's Demonic Army has emerged? Have you seen it with your own eyes?" Shan Ling, in Princess Shan Yu's silence, started to grow a little impatient.

"This…" Princess Shan Yu was tongue-tied once again. Of course, she did not see it, but she felt Fang Zhengzhi made sense. Well, that was just her opinion.

Without a single bit of evidence to back that up.

Lost for words, Princess Shan Yu's attention turned towards the youth who had hidden behind her and remained silent since they entered the palace.

Written upon their expressions were only questions marks.

"Initially I wasn't sure, but after seeing this pact, I'm now sure!" Fang Zhengzhi blurted, his gaze met that of Princess Shan Yu awkwardly.

He did not really wish to stand out at this juncture, not with the Ministry of Rites official still helpless on the floor.

Whether to help him up was almost a philosophical inquiry.

"Who are you?! You… are not a Castle Guard! You're from Great Xia! Tell me your name, and I can grant you a painless death!" Shan Ling turned to Fang Zhengzhi as he immediately saw through Fang Zhengzhi's impersonation.

But this was not to say Shan Ling was previously careless.

The matter of fact was…

After Fang Zhengzhi followed Princess Shan Yu into the palace, he witnessed the Ministry of Rites official with his outstretched hands, begging Fang Zhengzhi to save him. To prevent revealing his identity, he hid behind Princess Shan Yu and lowered his head.

This way, Shan Ling could not see at Fang Zhengzhi's face.

Well, Shan Ling did not seem to mind that. In any case, it was natural for Princess Shan Yu to be protected by a Castle Guard.

However, when Princess Shan Yu turned towards Fang Zhengzhi, who then voiced aloud, this identity just could not be kept secret any further.

"Your highness, surely you should be more concerned about the Demonic Army's attack rather than my name?" Fang Zhengzhi forced a laugh.

Indeed, Fang Zhengzhi should have walked away quietly instead of being mired in this mess, but now with this situation at hand…

It seemed he could not leave as he wished.

The only thing he could do was to clench his teeth and soldier on.

"Haha, you think you'd convince me otherwise, you Great Xia lobbyist?" Shan Ling stared with a smirk.

"It's up to you to believe, I only care about speaking the truth." Fang Zhengzhi nodded and a brief glance at Shan Ling. "If my guess is right, it hadn't been long since you signed the pact with the Demon Race. Let me guess, it was two hours ago?"

"So what?" the Noblelite's expression changed slightly, his tone remained calm, yet the smirk did not fade.

"With the Sagely Mountain City surrounded, the Demon Race has no reason to give up control of the Castle, not to even mention giving the Southern Region three days to prepare, unless…" Fang Zhengzhi words hit a block.

"Unless what?" Princess Shan Yu seemed impatient.

"Noblelite, you really don't know?" Fang Zhengzhi did not pay heed to the Princess and continued to stare at Shan Ling from his distance.

"Say it!" Shan Ling scowled, his brows furrowed. He tightened his grip on his sword. When he saw the shivering official, he clenched his teeth and raised the blade.

With the sword lifted on the Ministry of Rites official, who heaved a sigh of relief, the bewildered Fang Zhengzhi felt an urge to say something.

That was not what I meant!

Whether or not you kill this official, I really do not care.

I didn't say it just only to keep you in suspense!

Alright.

Fang Zhengzhi knew Shan Ling had misunderstood him. He thought Fang Zhengzhi threatened him so that he would spare the official. Well, at least this indirectly confirmed Fang Zhengzhi's prediction.

The pact was, in fact, signed an hour ago!

"Demon Race and the South have something in common: they both lack manpower, but it is worse for the Demon Race. Therefore, for the Demon Race to be so determined to give up the on Sagely Mountain City, there could only be one reason… They also need a little more time!" Fang Zhengzhi exclaimed his heartfelt opinion.

"They also need a little more time?!"

Upon hearing this, Princess Shan Yu's expression changed.

This was the same for Shan Ling. The high and mighty characteristic of a Southern Region noblelite he formerly displayed vanished, replaced with an expression of shock and terror.

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Chapter 422: A Favourable Turn of Events

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Shan Ling aside, even the King of the Southern Realm and his humble female servants were horrified and stood rooted to the ground.

This was because both Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu were smart.

Although Fang Zhengzhi did not finish his speech, Shan Ling, Princess Shan Yu and the King of the Southern Realm had already captured the underlying message and discovered a serious problem.

"Before I arrived with the princess, I have already ordered 80000 elite troops to stand guard at the Iron Hill Settlement, so as to defend against any sneak attacks from the Demonic Army of the Blood Shadow City. If I am right, the news of Princess Shan Yu sending down 80000 elite troops as a defensive force had already reached the ears of the Demon race, which is to say… There are spies in the army!"

Fang Zhengzhi went straight to the point this time around, no longer keeping anything under covers.

A frown immediately appeared on Shan Ling's face. The presence of a few Demon race spies within the Southern Realm Army was nothing too surprising. After all, it would be too simple for a few Demon race to sneak into a ten thousand strong troop.

Furthermore, the ongoing mission was extremely large in scale. It would be impossible that the Demon race overlook this massive threat.

However, while the Southern Realm Army was now infested with spies from the Demon race, the Demon race army had yet been infiltrated by any of their own. This was a huge mistake on Shan Ling's part, a mistake that might cause them the entire battle.

Princess Shan Ling similar had a tight frown on her face. Although she knew it was inevitable for a few spies to be in the army, it still made her uncomfortable after listening to the confirmation.

After all, she was revered as the commander of this 80000 strong troop.

Fang Zhengzhi then stared at Shan Ling, Princess Shan Yu, as well as the King of the Southern Realm who was sitting on his throne. He then finally cast his glance on the official from the Ministry of Rites.

He then shook his head and sighed helplessly.

The Ministry of Rites official could naturally guess Fang Zhengzhi's message from his expression. His face immediately turned a crimson red, clearly showing signs of anger.

He was a dignified official of the Ministry of Rites, one of the prestigious Six Council Officials.

However, he could only lie on the ground as he listened to a person with no experience in foreign affairs diplomacy flaunt his juvenile tactics. Most importantly, the King of the Southern Realm and even the usually obstinate Noblelite seemed to be giving him their full attention.

How then, could he stay calm?

How could he not be fuming with bitter rage?

Fang Zhengzhi ignored the clear signs of anger that the Ministry of Rites official displayed. Instead, he waved his hands at the female servants at the side and pointed at the chair which originally belonged to the official.

The female servants then stared at Fang Zhengzhi before immediately turning to look at the King of the Southern Realm.

Upon the King's approval, a few female servants brought the chair to the spot right behind Fang Zhengzhi and simultaneously brought over a plate filled with chunks of luxurious, juicy fruits.

Fang Zhengzhi displayed his satisfaction with the inferential ability of these female servants. He then picked up a fruit with his hand and popped it into his mouth before continuing.

"The Demon race has extremely high quality soldiers who specialises in one-on-one combat. However, their numbers would often be small. Although the Demon race from Shadow Blood City have the absolute advantage in numbers and power, they will lose their geographical advantage. If our 80000 strong troop were to set-up ambushes and traps along the way and stand guard firmly at Iron Hill Settlement, it will be almost impossible for the Demon race to secure a fast victory. The only way they can accomplish that is to attack with full force without consideration of the consequences!"

"Hmm…"

Upon hearing those words, Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu nodded their head in agreement. The greatest advantage of the Southern Mountain Range was their geographical position, coupled with the defence mechanisms and architecture the Six Settlements had painstakingly built up in the past hundreds of years.

Even if the Demon race had absolute advantage in power and numbers…

They would still be able to hold their ground.

If the Demon race wanted to take over the Iron Hill settlement guarded by a 80000 strong Southern Realm Army, they would definitely suffer great losses.

"As I have mentioned, the Demon race is running out of time. They will not want to waste any more time on the road. Charging ahead with full force is thus their only choice. However, they also cannot afford the incredible losses of doing so. Hence, they would have to temporarily give up on Sagely Mountain City, using the 50000 strong Demonic Army currently surrounding the City to conduct an attack on both ends on Iron Hill Settlement! In three days… signing the contract with the Southern Mountain Range would put the Noblelite at ease as well as delay time. Why not go for the best of both worlds?" Fang Zhengzhi stopped at this point.

Because he knew that it was enough.

There were many things that did not need to be spelled out too clearly. Doing that would even evoke sense of disgust from others, which was something Fang Zhengzhi would not want at the moment. He wanted to maintain a good impression in front of the King and Shan Ling.

Shan Ling did not speak right away. In fact, the moment Fang Zhengzhi mentioned that the Demon race would need time as well, he had never planned to interrupt his speech.

He had believed in his own judgement and always had utmost confidence in his plans.

However, he too had utmost confidence in facts.

From his perspective, this young lad from the Great Xia Dynasty was making claims without any concrete basis. Everything he said up till now were simply speculations on his part. However, Shan Ling could not help but consider these baseless speculations as well.

This was because…

The consequences of these speculations were too heavy. Shan Ling would not be able to afford such losses.

Princess Shan Yu similarly fell silent. She merely kept her gaze on Fang Zhengzhi, who was currently sitting leisurely on the chair while munching on a lamb leg. She had already gotten used to Fang Zhengzhi's gluttony habits and simply shook her head while she walked slowly towards the King sitting on his throne.

From the moment she entered the palace, she had been standing still at the doorway. However, she had now moved and was walking towards the King with slow and steady steps.

The King of the Southern Realm stared at Princess Shan Yu with a loving and benevolent expression. However, when his gaze inadvertently landed on Fang Zhengzhi, the tender expression in his eyes turned into one of surprise and curiosity.

Naturally, he could tell how young Fang Zhengzhi was.

What tender age…

And with Princess Shan Yu at his side.

Might this young lad be…

"Who are you exactly!" Shan Ling shouted and cast his glance back on Fang Zhengzhi after a moment of silence. He did not stop Princess Shan Yu from walking towards the King. He merely stood quietly as he carefully observed Fang Zhengzhi's features. His eyebrows, eyes, nose, from top to bottom, again and again.

"Hasn't the Noblelite guessed it after so long?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled as he said. He still had to give the Noblelite some respect as he still had not gotten to a vantage point.

"Yes… I have indeed. The youngest Heavenly Reflection State in the Great Xia Dynasty after Chi Guyan. The Double Roll Champion and the only person who tied with the Nangong noble Hao as champions in the Court Theory Examinations. You are Fang Zhengzhi!" Shan Ling nodded his head as he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Third Brother, you have stayed way too long in the capital. This guy is now a Supernatural State!" Although Princess Shan Yu did not want to admit, she still could not hold back her words after listening to Shan Ling's speech.

After speaking, Princess Shan Yu then sat beside the King of the Southern Realm.

"Supernatural State! You are saying that… he is already a 15, 16 year old Supernatural State?!" Shan Ling gasped as his expression changed to one of shock, one that resonated from within the very core of his body.

The expression on the King's face had also undergone some changes. However, it was not from the shock like what Shan Ling had displayed. More specifically, the changes in his expression was due to his observations of Princess Shan Yu.

From such close proximity, he could clearly se the changes in Princess Shan Yu's expression, and the hint of brilliance that was flashing through her beautiful eyes.

How could a father not understand his own daughter?

Princess Shan Yu was a proud individual. This arrogance came from her own talent and her diligence. However, when Fang Zhengzhi was mentioned, the King had seen a different kind of arrogance on Princess Shan Yu's face.

How could such a discovery not be shocking?

"Supernatural State!" Each and every of the female servants gasped in awe even though they had all gone through strict training in decorum.

They still involuntarily glanced at Fang Zhengzhi the moment they heard Princess Shan Yu's words.

As for people from the same domain…

They only worshipped one type of people, the Warriors.

Powerful Warriors.

Fang Zhengzhi's prowess had undoubtedly won him the title of a Warrior in the hearts of these humble female servants.

The King of the Southern Realm swept his gaze across the surroundings and saw the Ministry of Rites official lying on the ground. However, he quickly lost interest and shifted his gaze away.

"I have heard that Lord Fang had already been conferred the title of a Fourth Rank Sword Envoy by the Great Xia Sacred Lord even before the results of the court examinations were out. It is really a glory that is unprecedented and extremely difficult to surpass. It is my honour to be able to meet such an outstanding young lad. Although I have reigned over the Southern Mountain Range for many years as the Ruler in place of the Sacred Lord, I know that my knowledge in the art of war and strategy is still leaps and bound away from a true genius strategist. I am extremely emotional to have met such an individual today. May I then ask for Lord Fang's opinion on the battle of Iron Hill Settlement?"

As the King gave his speech, he stood up from his throne and gave a slight bow. He actually bowed in Fang Zhengzhi's direction.

Fang Zhengzhi could recognise this bow as well. It was the Bow of the Great Xia.

From this alone, he could figure out the King's intentions. However, he still would not explicitly say that the King of the Southern Realm had the intention to normalise relations with the Great Xia Dynasty.

But at least…

The King of the Southern Realm still referred to himself as the Ruler in place of the Sacred Lord.

After the King's speech, Shan Ling's body trembled ever so slightly. His hand that was grabbing the hilt of his sword seemed exceptionally pale. He also pursed his lips tightly, seemingly trying to keep his words to himself.

But he still chose to keep silent the entire time.

As for Princess Shan Yu, she lay beside the King all this time while staring at Fang Zhengzhi with her beautiful black eyes expectantly.

Fang Zhengzhi then slowly put down the lamb leg and cleaned the grease off his hands with a napkin. He was actually not keen in giving his view on this matter.

However, he knew that if he kept silent under such circumstances, he would once again push the optimistic situation back into a stalemate.

"What if I say…. Your Majesty and Noblelite should give up on this 80000 strong army? What would Your Majesty think?" As Fang Zhengzhi said these words, he kept his gaze firmly on the King of the Southern Realm and the Noblelite.

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Chapter 423: The Growl of the God of Death

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

"Abandon 80 000 elite soldiers?!"

Shan Ling and the Prince of the Southern Region were both stunned as they never expected Fang Zhengzhi to give such a response.

How many soldiers did the Southern Region have?

They had barely 400 000 soldiers.

Among the 80 000 soldiers, 3000 of them were Silver Horned Wolf Calvary. Such a loss was like amputating an entire arm.

Not only did Shan Ling and the Prince of the Southern Region disagree, even Princess Shan Yu disagreed.

"Impossible!" Shan Ling replied without even thinking.

The Prince of the Southern Region' mouth twitched. However, before he could speak, he swallowed her words. Instead, he turned to look at Princess Shan Yu. His intentions were clear in his eyes.

Princess Shan Yu naturally understood the intention in her father's eyes. However, she understood what Fang Zhengzhi was saying too.

Hence, she kept silent.

At least…

She would not say anything right now.

After Fang Zhengzhi heard Shan Ling's word, he lifted a glass that was full of wine from the Southern Region. Casually, he poured it into his mouth.

What a huge mouth.

Fang Zhengzhi did not care so much because he drank the wine that Teng Shisheng had brought before. However, the moment this wine entered his mouth, he felt as if he could breathe fire.

So spicy!

It was like drinking pure alcohol.

His face turned red and he quickly stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth to suppress the alcoholic taste in his mouth. Then, he exhaled, his breath reeking of alcohol.

Fine…

He could not act the part well.

When the Prince of the Southern Region and Shan Ling saw this scene, they exchanged a gaze.

"Mr. Fang has a good tolerance indeed. This wine is an exquisite product from the Southern Region. Normally, I only dare to take small sips of it. I never expect Mr. Fang's tolerance to be so good." The Prince of the Southern Region's words had no correlation with what he had said just now, but his intentions were clear.

He wanted to improve the atmosphere.

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to retort, "What tolerance?" However, he forced himself to say, "Thank you for your praise, my lord!"

After he said that, Fang Zhengzhi had no intention to drink any more wine. He adjusted his position to one which was more comfortable.

"If you do not wish to sacrifice 80 000 elite soldiers, it means that you have another plan in mind, right?" Fang Zhengzhi said as he looked at Shan Ling.

"I have no plan, but that's entirely my business!" Shan Ling tightened his grip. However, his tone was confident and self-assured.

"Indeed, that's your business. The Demon Race has left the Sagely Mountain City last night and I believe that they'll reach the rump of the Iron Hill Settlement by noon tomorrow. Right now, the army of the Southern Region could not enter the Icy Monkey Settlement. I am curious, what plan do you have, Your Highness?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded his head and a small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Shan Ling's face changed. He knew the current predicament. However, just as what Fang Zhengzhi had said, it was hard enough to protect the Sagely Mountain City, so how could there be any soldiers that could render assistance?

"Fang Zhengzhi, stop beating about the bus. If you have a plan, say it!" While Shan Ling did not want to admit it, he was hapless at the moment.

"I have no plan other than what I just said. Right now, the only plan is to abandon 80 000 elite soldiers, the Sagely Mountain City, and let the troops hide in the forests of the Southern Region. Only when the main army of the Southern Region could they plan a counterattack!" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head with a helpless expression on his face.

"You… If we go down this path, why do I still need your advice?" When Shan Ling heard that, he was naturally incensed.

"Indeed, why do you need to ask me anything? I've already said that the only plan is to abandon 80 000 soldiers. Oh right… Do you think I'm joking? Do you honestly think it's possible to block the pincer movement of Demon Race with 80 000 soldiers? Or do you believe that the Demon Race would spare the elite soldiers after the Iron Hill Settlement falls, which is like stabbing themselves in the back?" Fang Zhengzhi waved his hands.

"You…" Shan Ling's face changed once again.

He turned deathly pale because he knew what Fang Zhengzhi was true. The Demon Race would never spare those 80 000 soldiers, not a single man.

When the Southern Region maidens around them heard these words, their faces all paled too. Among the 80 000 soldiers, some of them were their family members.

"My lord, please save my younger brother. He is a warrior of the Southern Region and has contributed greatly to our realm since he was five years old. My lord, please don't abandon my younger brother!"

"Your Highness, please show mercy! Please save the Iron Hill Settlement. My… my family lives there. My 70 years-old mother and father…"

"My lord, Your Highness, Princess, please save the soldiers of the Iron Hill!"

The maidens of the Southern Region finally knelt down prostrating themselves on the ground. They begged their lord, their noblelite, and their princess.

The Prince of the Southern Region looked at the kneeling maidens and his face started to change as well.

As the Prince of the Southern Region, how could he not understand the current situation? 80 000 soldiers. Could he really give up 80 000 soldiers?

If he did that, he might as well abdicate.

Princess Shan Yu's face had an ugly expression on it too. She personally picked each of the 80 000 soldiers. They all contributed greatly to the Southern Region.

How could she abandon them?

"Fang Zhengzhi, do you have a plan or not?" Shan Ling's tone turned icy-cold. The knife in his hand slowly came down. Once again, it was positioned on the throat of the Ministry of Rites official.

His body froze over once more.

He looked at Fang Zhengzhi, who sat casually in a chair. He hated him. He knew that Fang Zhengzhi was deliberately sabotaging and undermining him.

However, what could he do?

"Mr. Fang, even if you don't care much for me, can you at least spare a thought for the brave soldiers of the Southern Region? If you can, please… please help them!" The official gritted his teeth as he said that. He had an ugly expression on his face.

"You are indeed a cunning person with many tricks up your sleeves, a true epitome of a crafty person. Instead of pleading for your life, you plead for the lives of the Southern Region soldiers. I respect this magnanimity and spirit of yours." When Fang Zhengzhi heard the words of the Ministry of Rites official, a smile crept across his face.

The official's face turned black.

He wanted to argue but he quickly swallowed his words.

He was not scared of offending Fang Zhengzhi. However, right after he said that the blade pressed against his neck trembled slightly.

Evidently…

Shan Ling inferred that there was a history of enmity between the two of them.

Hence, it was hilarious to threaten Fang Zhengzhi with the Ministry of Rites official.

The Ministry of Rites official recognized this problem. However, as one of the Six Council Officials, he was brazenly insulted by a Rank 4 official and called a cunning and crafty person. Yet, he could not even retort.

This incensed him.

"Pfft!" He spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. In the end, the Ministry of Rites official fainted. It was not because he was exhausted. Instead, the humiliation was too much for him to bear.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the Ministry of Rites official, whose eyes were closed. Then, he looked at Shan Ling, who gritted his teeth. Afterward, he looked at the silent Prince of the Southern Region and Princess Shan Yu, as well as the prostrating maidens. He thought for a while and then opened his mouth.

"Looking at the current predicament, I have no plan indeed. However, I believe my lord and Your Highness have no plan too because this is a doomed scenario, created by the noblelite himself!" After he said, Fang Zhengzhi kept silent. He knew that Shan Ling understood what he meant.

Shan Ling fell silent.

He understood Fang Zhengzhi's meaning.

Two hours ago, he was describing his majestic plan to the Prince of the Southern Region and Princess Shan Yu. He even swore to kill anyone who wanted appeasement.

Yet…

Two hours later, he had no choice but to consider 'appeasement'.

Originally, he felt that the Great Xia Dynasty could not threaten him any more. He could easily infringe upon its bottom line. However, after he heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, he realized it was he who had no way to go.

What a curious change of heart.

And it stemmed from just a few words.

Could it be the "silver tongue" mentioned in the Great Xia Dynasty's "Law of Dao"? Without expending a single soldier, it could reclaim lost territories.

Shan Ling never believed in it.

Up to now, he still did not want to believe or accept it.

However, there was no retreat for him.

If this continued, he would lose 80 000 soldiers immediately. This was an undeniable fact. Hence, all he could do was to negotiate.

The only way was to seek assistance from the Great Xia Dynasty to stop the Icy Monkey Settlement's resistance.

All for some time.

Three days!

Wait!

No!

Even if they started negotiation right now and the Great Xia Dynasty abandoned the Icy Monkey Settlement, it would still take a day for the army to reach the Sagely Mountain City from the Icy Monkey Settlement. Then, it would take another day for the army to reach the Iron Hill Settlement…

There was no time!

An army of 300 000 could not reach the Iron Hill Settlement before 50 000 demons. Hence, what was the point of negotiation?

"No time, no time… From the Icy Monkey Settlement to the Iron Hill Settlement, we would need at least 2-3 days… Fang Zhengzhi, you despicable man, I almost fell for your trick. Even if we negotiate a peace with the Great Xia Dynasty, there was no way to save the soldiers of the Iron Hill Settlement. You are lying to me and inciting a conflict between my father, my sister, and me. You want the Southern Region to sink into a civil war, so that Great Xia could benefit from it, right? My father and my sister almost believed you!"

When he said the last line, Shan Ling's gaze turned icy cold. The knife in his hand brimmed with a deathly chill.

"Slash!"

A cold light flashed.

A human head flew into the air. Then, it dropped down to the ground.

Blood spurted everywhere.

The scene took place too quickly and nobody could have reacted to it. The maidens from the Southern Region stared blankly at the human head that just dropped next to him. Their eyes widened in shock as they shrieked in unison.

"Ah!"

The Prince of the Southern Region was shocked too. While he knew Shan Ling's personality well, he never expected him to really attack.

Princess Shan Yu had seen blood before. However, what was this place?

The palace!

The palace of the Southern Region!

In the palace of the Southern Region, how could there be so much blood?

"Third Brother, you…" Princess Shan Yu still did not fully understand what was going on. Just when things seemed to be getting better, how could this happen?

Of course, no one was as shocked about as the Ministry of Rites official…

He did not understand how could this have happened even after he had pretended to faint. He did not say a single word and yet, this was his fate.

At least…

Could you not tell me first before you cut my head off?

His eyes opened slightly right before his head landed on the ground. However, all he saw was a blade streaked with blood.

"Is that my blood?"

This was the last thought in his mind.

Fang Zhengzhi heard a similar expression in his previous life. There were many forms of this expression, such as putting on a cute front upon disagreement, or driving away upon disagreement…

What was it called now?

Killing someone upon disagreement?

"I'm sorry, I didn't prepare for this…" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the Ministry of Rites official, whose eyes had yet to close, and he exhaled.

"Die, Fang Zhengzhi!" Shan Ling did not want to give Fang Zhengzhi any chance. Killing the Ministry of Rites official was akin to raising his hand.

In other words, he did it casually.

There was no aim. He just wanted to vent. He was infuriated at having been taken for a spin by Fang Zhengzhi. He also vowed to never fall for Fang Zhengzhi's trick.

A cold wind blew in the room.

The blade glinted.

As a noblelite of the Southern Region, Shan Ling's power was not bad. Indeed, it could even be said to be high, as it benefitted from his innate talent.

It was also because of his own hard work. How strong could someone who worked hard and was talented be?

One could only imagine.

In reality, as Shan Ling was too powerful, his two elder brothers appeared 'ordinary' in his eyes.

Before the blade reached, the chill had already struck Fang Zhengzhi. A layer of ice appeared on Fang Zhengzhi's thick armor.

Enlightenment State…

Late rebirth stage!

"What if I have a plan to reach the Iron Hill Settlement before the demons?" Fang Zhengzhi said as he reached out to brush the layer of ice off his armor.

Pa. Pa. Pa.

As Fang Zhengzhi dusted the ice off, they dropped onto the ground like snowflakes.

The blade that came for him stopped. It was only an inch away from Fang Zhengzhi's throat. The faint vibration from the blade was the growl of the god of death.

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Chapter 424: Faking the Emperor's orders

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

The sharp aura danced in the air.

However, Shan Ling's blade stopped in mid-air. He did not want to believe what Fang Zhengzhi said.

But...

He had to listen to it.

He was the Crown Prince of the Southern Region.

He could set up his brothers in pursuit of the throne, but, he could not risk the lives of the soldiers.

"Speak! You only have one chance!" Shan Ling's voice was icy and aloof.

Fang Zhengzhi was a talent.

But he was just a talent. He would still die in the face of absolute power and ability.

"I do not like people to point their blades at me." Fang Zhengzhi's mouth twitched in scorn as he glanced at Shan Ling.

"Hum!" The blade whirred.

Shan Ling's knuckles whitened as the tip began to shake. As a man, he felt that he should just keep his word and drive the sword into Fang Zhengzhi.

But he could not.

He was the Crown Prince, and he could not defile the honor of his ancestors.

Fang Zhengzhi smirked as he looked at the ferocious Shan Ling. Then, he used his finger to tap the blade.

"Clang!" A crisp sound rang out.

The blade was dropped.

The King and Princess Shan Yu looked at each other and heaved a sigh of relief. However, they did not understand something...

The situation now was critical and tense...

Yet, Fang Zhengzhi still looked cool as a cucumber!

Was he that confident?

"Crown Prince, please answer this question. If the 3000 Silver Horned Wolves were here, can they reach the Iron Hill Settlement before the Demons?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.

"Of course..." Shan Ling replied, then hesitated.

He already understood where Fang Zhengzhi was going with this.

The Demons may be powerful individually, but they could not match up against the elite soldiers of the Southern Region.

Furthermore, the 3000 Silver Horned Wolves would be launching a surprise attack and could take the settlement before the Demons.

The King and Princess Shan Yu also seemed to understand.

However, they could not understand something else...

The 3000 Silver Horned Wolves were not in the Sagely Mountain City, so this hypothetical had little meaning.

"The Silver Horned Wolves are the elites of the Southern Region. For the Great Xia, they are the Mountain Breaking Army and the Dragon Protection Squad!" Fang Zhengzhi continued calmly as he looked around.

At that moment...

The expressions of Shan Ling, the King, and Princess Shan Yu changed.

Fang Zhengzhi had not stated it explicitly, but it was clear to them all. The Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were here!

"If you are all willing to negotiate with the Great Xia, the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army will get ahead of the Demon army. They will join up with the 80,000 soldiers already there and fight the Demons together. There is still time!" Fang Zhengzhi added.

Shan Ling was silent.

His gaze was conflicted. He looked like he was thinking deeply. Rays of iciness filled the room.

"How do I know I can trust you?" Shan Ling finally responded after 15 minutes of silence.

"You have no choice." Fang Zhengzhi's voice was calm.

"What I am asking is, you're just a rank four Sword Envoy. How can you claim to represent the Emperor's wishes!" Shan Ling's tone was icy.

"What if I add this to the mix?" Fang Zhengzhi chuckled lightly. He had anticipated this question way in advance.

He took out a golden token.

The token was not big, but it was made from pure gold. It was adorned with dragons and had one word carved into it.

"Emperor!"

This was the Emperor's token.

Fang Zhengzhi had seen Xing Qingsui use this. Of course, his was not meant to give him control over the army.

It was...

For him to enter the Ministry of Rites.

Seeing the token was akin to meeting the Emperor.

This was a great token to use. Furthermore, the token would never state the intended use of the token, so his ruse would not be broken.

However, there was a price to pay...

If used 'inappropriately', then he would be guilty of 'misrepresenting the views of the Emperor'. If he was found out, there was only one fate for him...

Death!

"This is... the Emperor's token?!" Shan Ling could not believe his eyes. He immediately withdrew the icy aura.

"That's right." Fang Zhengzhi nodded. This was the effect he was aiming for.

"Why do you have this?" Shan Ling could not understand what was happening.

"Your Highness, do you really think that I am here only to participate in the examination? I entered the Southern Region and the Princess's camp. Do you really think that this is normal?" Fang Zhengzhi replied.

Shan Ling was silent.

He had his spies in Princess Shan Yu's camp. As such, he knew who Fang Zhengzhi was and had heard of his exploits.

He also knew that...

Princess Shan Yu had given Fang Zhengzhi command of 500 Silver Horned Wolves before.

However, when he heard Fang Zhengzhi say this, he frowned. He knew exactly what Fang Zhengzhi meant.

As a result, he felt a chill down his spine.

Initially...

He had thought that he was in control of this war. But now, seeing the Emperor's token in Fang Zhengzhi's hand, he had a feeling...

That he was just a puppet.

To the Demons, he was someone to be taken advantage of. To the Great Xia, his every move had been calculated by the Emperor.

Sweat poured from his forehead.

"This is impossible, how can the Emperor guess that you will be negotiating with me? How could he have sent you in preemptively? Most importantly, how could he have known that the Princess will let you go and let you rejoin the examinations!" Shan Ling was in disbelief.

"Is there a difference if the Princess did not let me go? Does my participation in the examination matter? Your Highness, please think about it, what is the most important thing here? It is that the Demons will definitely attack the Southern Region... as such, my presence is necessary!" Fang Zhengzhi replied as he kept the token.

Silence.

Shan Ling did not speak.

The King and Princess Shan Yu did not speak either. However, the two of them knew that it was over.

Since there was no other option...

There was no need to hesitate.

"Fang Zhengzhi... tell us what the Great Xia wants!" Shan Ling broke the silence. He was keenly aware of the situation now.

There was no free lunch in this world.

"Even though the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army are strong, they are not familiar with the terrain here. If we are to beat the Demons to the Iron Hill Settlement, we need your cooperation."

"What kind of cooperation?"

"The terrain, we need to know the terrain!"

"You want a map of the Southern Region?!"

"Yes."

"No way! That is the advantage that we have. The map is owned only by the royal family. If we hand it to you, we will be showing the Great Xia everything we have."

"Mm, you make sense. So, please give the order."

"What kind of order?"

"The order for your men to come with us? Since you are not going to give us the map, we will need a guide!" Fang Zhengzhi added.

"No need, I will be your guide!" Princess Shan Yu interrupted and walked to Fang Zhengzhi's side.

She did not seem to be asking for permission.

Shan Ling looked at Princess Shan Yu and the King. He bit his lip so hard that blood began to trickle down from the side.

"And me... I will guide you too!" Shan Ling made a decision.

"My son!"

"Father, please take care of the city!"

"Son... daughter, please be careful." The King nodded as he looked at Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu.

Someone needed to defend the Sagely Mountain City.

This was the core and root of the Southern Region. As long as it stood, the morale of the Southern Region soldiers would never be broken.

"Long live the King, long live the Crown Prince, long live the Princess!" All of the servants hollered in unison.

Princess Shan Yu looked at the servants, then back at Fang Zhengzhi.

She felt like there was something strange about this. Fang Zhengzhi would normally have taken advantage of such an opportunity to rob the Southern Region.

But...

He didn't ask for anything.

The negotiation was far too easy and smooth.

There was no draft, no signature, no document. They had simply made a verbal promise! That was it?

Princess Shan Yu felt that something was wrong.

But, that was how it went down.

Fang Zhengzhi did want to take advantage of the situation. However, the situation was critical and he didn't have time.

As for the agreement Princess Shan Yu was thinking about.

He would never sign it.

Because...

He wanted to forget it all. He never wanted anyone else to know that the deal with the Southern Region had anything to do with him.

It wasn't because he was noble.

It was because he did not want anyone to know that he had used his Emperor's Token inappropriately.

He was much too young to die. This was despite the fact that it was likely that the Emperor would spare his life in this case.

Even so, he wasn't willing to risk it.

It was just a possibility.

He would not dismiss the possibility that it would go wrong. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi had no intention of rising through the ranks and becoming a politician.

As such, he would never take such a risk.

Finally...

And most importantly...

He did not know if the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were here. This was just a guess.

He also had no idea if they could really beat the Demons to the Iron Hill Settlement and buy enough time for the rest of the army.

These were all questions.

There were too many uncertainties.

As such, all the terms, deals, and agreements would be meaningless.

"Shall we go?" Princess Shan Yu looked at Fang Zhengzhi. She didn't know what he was thinking about, but she knew that they had no time to lose.

Shan Ling looked at Fang Zhengzhi as well.

The Sagely Mountain City had 20,000 guards initially. However, the battle had already killed 30% of them, leaving only 14,000 behind.

These men would remain to defend the city.

They were here just in case the Demons doubled back and tried an attack on the capital.

As such...

Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu were only waiting for Fang Zhengzhi's soldiers. To be more precise, they were waiting for the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army.

"Okay, let's go!" Fang Zhengzhi stood up and nodded. Then, he wiped the water off of his body and walked out.

Outside...

The six wounded soldiers raised their broken spears when they saw Fang Zhengzhi exit.

"Stop!" Shan Ling bellowed.

The six spears froze in mid-air.

Fang Zhengzhi did not even take a second look at the guards. He simply walked through them.

Because...

His first order of business was to find the Dragon Protection Squad and Mountain Breaking Army.

"Xing Hou... I believe in you. If I can see the hidden message in the order, I am sure you can too! Where are you all? Inside the city? Or at the foot of the hill? Could you... give me a hint?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the sky.

The night was calm.

Stars filled the night sky and an icy wind assaulted his body. Winter was coming.

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Chapter 425: The link between a low cut and your neck

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

As the leader of the Thirteen Constabularies, Xing Yuanguo could see through the hidden message embedded within the Emperor's orders.

"In peace we shall live, in separation we shall perish."

Furthermore, Xing Yuanguo's understanding of this statement was even deeper than Fang Zhengzhi. He also considered the diplomatic implications.

A powerful empire would accept its smaller neighbours as vassals. This is something that was very common throughout history.

Sometimes, it was because the empire was in its nascent stages and had other pressing issues to settle. Other times, it was due to a stark difference in cultures, and the Empire wanted to ensure peace and relative uniformity throughout its citizens.

The relationship between the Southern Region and the Great Xia belonged to the latter.

Culture and beliefs.

Even if the Great Xia could conquer the Southern Region, they would not do so. The Southern Region was far too different from the Great Xia.

If the Great Xia tried to enforce their ideologies...

This would result in chaos and rebellions. They would need a disproportionate amount of resources to maintain peace here.

Both Emperor Lin Mubai and Xing Yuanguo were keenly aware of this fact.

As for diplomatic relations...

Any rational Emperor would use a mixture of benevolence and dominance. That being said, one would always be used more than the other.

He would not get into the details of their pros and cons right now.

However, one thing was certain. The Great Xia did not want to conquer the Southern Region. The Great Xia was not looking at immediate returns, they were looking at long-term survival.

Most people would have chosen to exert dominance.

In fact, the Great Xia had been doing just that all these years.

Even though the Southern Region declared war on the Great Xia and wanted to form an empire of their own, the Great Xia still chose the path of dominance.

The reason was simple.

Long-term survival.

This was not an empty statement.

The Southern Region was unique.

Exert Dominance?

How?

Were they going to send an arrogant official? Or were they going to dispatch soldiers as a garrison? Both these solutions were of no use.

The best way was to kill!

They would kill so much that the Southern Region would submit.

However, how many people were there in the Southern Region? Not many... if they committed genocide, this land would be barren.

As such, there was only one way the Great Xia could deal with the Southern Region. Benevolence...

When it came to benevolence...

The best method was not to bribe them with treasures, beauties, and rations. The best way was to give them aid when they needed it the most.

When Xing Yuanguo had seen the statement, "in peace we shall live, in separation we shall perish", he had already understood why Emperor Lin Mubai had sent the Minister of Law.

Wait!

Wait for the right time to help the Southern Region.

Fang Zhengzhi's appearance had caused the war between the Great Xia and the Southern Region to be brought forward. On the surface, it seemed like the Great Xia had lost the initiative.

However...

It had also made the Great Xia irrelevant in the eyes of the Southern Region and the Demons.

With the Stable Mountain Gate broken, they would have no access to reinforcements. Furthermore, the Crown Prince could not start moving to the Icy Monkey Settlement before the examinations were over.

The Crown Prince would never have interfered with the battle between Nangong Hao and Fang Zhengzhi. That would have been akin to announcing to the Southern Region that they were plotting to attack the capital.

As such, when Emperor Lin Mubai received news that the Stable Mountain Gate had been breached, he had already foreseen the direction of the war.

The Crown Prince was surrounded, and any victory at the Icy Monkey Settlement would be pyrrhic. In the best case scenario, they would be able to take a lone city.

A lone city that was bound to fall.

Under such circumstances...

Neither the Southern Region nor the Demons would see the Great Xia as a threat. As such, they would move on to the next steps of their plans.

They would try to gain the upper hand.

As a result, the Great Xia would be able to hide in the shadows.

They would benefit from this conflict.

Initially, the conflict seemed to be between the Great Xia and the Southern Region whilst the Demons watched from the side. However, in the blink of an eye, the Great Xia were now the bystanders.

How was this a bad thing?

When Xing Yuanguo saw the edict, he understood exactly what the Emperor meant. As such, he bided his time and waited for the right time to jump in and aid the Southern Region.

From here on out...

Things were simple.

In order to observe, he could not stay in the Icy Monkey Settlement. There was no battle there to be observed. Neither could he bring his entire army. As such, Xing Yuanguo only brought the elite squads, the Mountain Breaking Army and the Dragon Protection Squad.

As he predicted.

The Sagely Mountain City was embroiled in battle.

It was an intense battle.

The Southern Region was being beaten back as predicted. However, Xing Yuanguo could not understand how the Southern Region was able to hold out this long despite being severely disadvantaged.

Furthermore...

He could not understand why there was a sudden ceasefire.

Most importantly, the Demons actually decided to retreat despite having every advantage.

Xing Yuanguo was stunned.

He had the latest, most accurate intel. As such, he knew that the Southern Region had set up an ambush of 80,000 soldiers just outside the Sagely Mountain City. However, based on the current situation, they would be insufficient.

Even if they managed to emerge victorious, it would be pyrrhic.

As such, his plan was to wait for the reinforcements to arrive and for the battle to intensify. Just before the city was broken...

He would swoop in and save the King and the Crown Prince.

But in the end...

The city wasn't broken!

The 80,000 soldiers didn't show up!

And the Demons retreated!

It was no wonder Xing Yuanguo was stunned.

Under such a situation, they could not enter the city to 'rescue' the King and the Crown Prince. If they did so now, it would have been kidnap!

Xing Yuanguo was not rash.

In fact, he was extremely calm.

He did not know what happened between the Demons and the Southern Region, but he knew that he had to be patient.

The capital was not broken and the King and the Crown Prince were still in the city.

He would wait.

Wait for the Demons to double back. He would wait for the next opportunity.

Of course, he also sent people to tail the Demons and find out where they were headed towards.

Before long...

He was rewarded with new intel.

"Xing Hou, the Demons are headed towards the Iron Hill Settlement!"

"Iron Hill Settlement?" Xing Yuanguo was shocked.

At that moment, he began thinking about the possibilities. Why would the Demons rush over? Was there a battle there?

That's impossible... there are no soldiers in the Iron Hill Settlement... hang on, could it be that the 80,000 soldiers went there instead of the Sagely Mountain City?

Why would they go to the Iron Hill Settlement...

"Oh no! I see now!"

Xing Yuanguo was an experienced general and he could guess the direction of the battle. He also understood what would happen at the Iron Hill Settlement.

He was now faced with two choices.

His first option was to stay put here. His second option was to reinforce the Southern Region at the Iron Hill Settlement. The first option would prevent an excessive loss of lives.

The second option would go against the Emperor's wishes and may also result in complete annihilation.

"Qingsui, what do you think I should do?" Xing Yuanguo turned to Xing Qingsui.

"Erm... I think that we should get to the Iron Hill Settlement!" Xing Qingsui's eyes glimmered. He hesitated initially but shrugged it off with steely determination.

"What about Young Master Nangong?" Xing Yuanguo turned towards Nangong Hao.

"I am just an academic. When it comes to battle, I will follow your orders."

"Okay then, pass the order, we will head for the Iron Hill Settlement!" Xing Yuanguo chose the second option without hesitation.

This had nothing to do with arrogance or a want to be recognized.

It was because...

He was Xing Hou of the Stabilization Constabulary!

"Yes, sir!" The soldier responded.

Fang Zhengzhi had guessed that Xing Yuanguo would have brought the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army here. It was true that they had come.

But...

They had left.

The result was no surprise.

Fang Zhengzhi tried many ways to attract Xing Yuanguo's attention.

For example, he chose to walk slowly through the capital, changing into his signature blue long sleeved shirt as he did so.

In his mind...

Since Xing Yuanguo had come to the Sagely Mountain City to wait, he would definitely send in some spies!

However...

Fang Zhengzhi's methods did not pay off.

"So they are at the foot of the hill." Fang Zhengzhi felt like he had overestimated Xing Yuanguo.

The most dangerous place was also the safest!

This was something that had been recorded in the annals of history!

As the leader of the Stabilization Constabulary, how can he choose to hide at the foot of the hill? He should be braver!

Fang Zhengzhi did not approve of that decision.

But, he could understand it.

In order to draw attention to himself, Fang Zhengzhi tried to walk towards the more secluded areas, making funny noises as he did so.

"Hahahaha..."

"Hehehe!"

"Hohoho... gagaga..."

He literally made every sound one could possibly think of. However, to his disappointment...

Apart from drawing queer looks from Princess Shan Yu and Crown Prince Shan Ling.

It was no use.

It was just as quiet as before.

"Crown Prince, Princess, what color do you like?" Fang Zhengzhi did not lose hope. He decided to announce his companions.

He was virtually shouting it out at this point.

He was sure that Xing Yuanguo would definitely look out when he heard something like that.

However...

It was still silent.

Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu were now at a loss.

"Color?" Shan Ling glanced at Fang Zhengzhi, too lazy to answer such a stupid question. Why is he asking about color?

Shouldn't he be linking up with the Great Xia army?

They were almost at the foot of the Sagely Mountain, yet, they had yet to see any soldiers.

Shan Ling was beginning to doubt Fang Zhengzhi's words.

How can someone sent by the Emperor have no way of contacting the soldiers?

Was he faking it?

Did they fall for another one of his tricks?

Shan Ling wondered to himself.

However, he decided to dismiss that suspicion. After all, Fang Zhengzhi had the Emperor's token in his hand.

In Shan Ling's mind...

No matter how audacious and shameless Fang Zhengzhi was, he would never give a fake order. This was a crime that was punishable by death!

No one would dare to do it.

Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi was a young rank four official with boundless potential. He was not going to risk it all in this way.

Wait!

Shan Ling decided to wait!

Of course, if they reached the foot of the hill and Fang Zhengzhi had no way of contacting the two elite squads, then it would mean that he was lying all along.

There was no Dragon Protection Squad or Mountain Breaking Army.

The 80,000 soldiers at the Iron Hill Settlement were dead meat.

As such...

Was there any point in keeping him alive?

Shan Ling clenched his fists as he watched Fang Zhengzhi swagger ahead. Then, he unclenched them slowly.

Princess Shan Yu was slightly different.

She did not doubt Fang Zhengzhi's words.

She was curious as to why Fang Zhengzhi would ask such a question? What was he trying to do?

Or...

Was he going to buy clothes for her?

But why would a Princess need someone to buy clothes for her?

"I like white clothes, pure white. I do not like having other colors on it. Furthermore, it must be low cut, so that my neck seems longer..." Princess Shan Yu laid out all her conditions for clothes.

"Are you stupid? With a low cut, who would be looking at your neck?" Even though Fang Zhengzhi didn't know why Princess Shan Yu would talk about clothes...

He still felt a need to correct her idea.

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Chapter 426: Lost her mind

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

"Where will they be looking then..." Princess Shan Yu asked hesitantly as she stroked her neck.

However...

When her hand extended downwards, her expression froze and she blushed.

"Shameless!"

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why he should never be completely honest when talking to girls. Else, the consequences would be unimaginable.

How close was he to Princess Shan Yu?

He was right next to her! Their shoulders were almost touching!

How terrifying was Princess Shan Yu in close combat?

Fang Zhengzhi could only imagine it before. However, now, he could feel it for himself! Two fingers jabbed him in the thigh with an immense amount of force.

"Ow!!!" Fang Zhengzhi exclaimed.

As to why he was hit...

After saying what he did, Fang Zhengzhi felt that it was inappropriate and that he should explain himself.

He was still thinking of the most appropriate explanation to use.

For example, he planned to say that he did not mock her on purpose. He was just trying to lighten the mood and made an inappropriate joke.

However, before he could say anything, he saw the attack coming towards him.

"Sneak attack?" Fang Zhengzhi never expected Princess Shan Yu to strike without warning.

He had to admit that the sneak attack at a close distance was a great tactic. However, it was no use on Fang Zhengzhi.

He ducked and it sailed over his head.

However...

Fang Zhengzhi didn't expect that it would be a two-pronged attack. He had dodged the attack from the top, but he didn't notice the one coming from below. Just as he ducked, he felt a sharp pain at his thigh.

He felt someone pinch his thigh really hard.

Even the toughest men would scream in pain.

"A feint! Good tactic!"

Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself as he screamed. Princess Shan Yu was experienced and battle-hardened, especially in close combat.

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea what he was thinking.

He decided to imitate the technique.

He didn't think that the technique was too complicated.

After all, he wasn't going to get hit without retaliating.

As such, whilst he was screaming in pain, his hands sprung into action. His right hand swung towards Princess Shan Yu's face at lightning quick speeds.

His left hand copied Princess Shan Yu's technique and went to the inside of her thighs.

Since Princess Shan Yu was so adept at close combat, she would definitely hear the attack coming and duck.

He would be able to retaliate the same way! An eye for an eye.

However...

It was not to be...

This was the first time Fang Zhengzhi had used such a technique. His inexperience caused him to neglect the fact that Princess Shan Yu was on his left.

He failed to consider the distance.

Since Princess Shan Yu was on his left, which attack would find its mark first?

The question was quickly answered.

Fang Zhengzhi's left hand hit home first. Furthermore, it had hit the bullseye. Princess Shan Yu's thighs were smooth, almost like silk.

"How smooth!"

At that moment, Fang Zhengzhi lost all concentration. This caused him to forget that his purpose was to attack.

Perhaps...

It was a natural reaction for a man.

Princess Shan Yu had no idea what Fang Zhengzhi was thinking. She felt someone touch her thighs. She was completely stunned by Fang Zhengzhi's audacity.

How dare he touch the insides of my thighs?!

That was such a sensitive location. Princess Shan Yu shuddered instinctively.

If Fang Zhengzhi had stabbed her with his fingers...

She may not have been so riled up. However, Fang Zhengzhi did not attack, choosing to stroke it instead.

This was a very different feeling. It felt as though there were electrical currents flowing through her body, numbing her senses. As a result, she failed to notice the other attack coming for her face.

At that moment, she only had one thought in her mind.

How dare he do this?!

How dare he?!

She was a princess!

However, her train of thought was quickly interrupted. She felt something clash against her face.

It was, fast, heavy, and hot.

"Smack!"

A crisp sound broke the silence.

Princess Shan Yu had taken the full brunt of the slap. The pain caused her to see stars and caused her mind to blank out.

For the first time ever, Princess Shan Yu...

Was stumped.

Fang Zhengzhi was equally stumped.

His left hand was still on Princess Shan Yu's thigh whilst his right hand was still warm and numb from the slap.

What was going on?

Why didn't she duck?

Isn't she an expert in close combat? How could she fail to dodge a simple slap? What is going on?

Hang on...

He... he just slapped a Princess!

Fang Zhengzhi was rarely stumped after a successful attack. He would usually express his scorn and disdain.

But this time...

He was at a loss.

He had absolutely no idea what to do.

Even the war-hardened Crown Prince of the Southern Region was speechless.

Was his sister slapped?

Right in front of him?

What a powerful slap!

Shan Ling didn't know how to respond. He never expected Fang Zhengzhi to have the audacity to do such a thing! They were in the Southern Region!

How dare he...

Hit my sister?!

He hit her right after he mocked her?!

Who the hell does he think he is?!

Shan Ling felt a wave of fury well up in his chest. At that moment, he completely forgot about the 80,000 soldiers waiting for his help.

All he thought about was...

How he was going to kill this shameless and audacious b*stard!

"Ah!! Fang Zhengzhi, I am going to kill you!" Shan Ling's blade shone brightly, like a firefly in the night sky, its terrifying iciness gushing out in waves.

Kacha, kacha.

The leaves on the trees all froze over.

Fang Zhengzhi was also enveloped by a layer of ice. He was only wearing his trademark blue long-sleeved shirt and had no leather jacket or armor to protect him.

It was cold...

Then, the second thought in Fang Zhengzhi's mind was...

Run!

Initially, Fang Zhengzhi wanted to save the Great Xia and the 80,000 soldiers from this apocalypse. But now, he tossed that idea out of his mind.

Right now...

He needed to save himself.

Fang Zhengzhi never expected that things would turn out this way. He felt that he had already done his best to ensure that things progressed in a positive manner.

He had used all his skills and smarts to convince the Crown Prince of the Southern Region to follow his plan.

He had also managed to negotiate for an alliance.

Even though they did not sign an agreement...

The idea and intention were good.

By this time, he should have already found the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army. He would have brought along the Crown Prince and the Princess, gaining him the admiration of the soldiers.

He would then share his plan.

This was the perfect plan.

Everything was supposed to fall into place.

However... everything seemed to be going wrong!

Was he supposed to explain himself?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to explain himself, but Princess Shan Yu wouldn't bother to hear it, much less Shan Ling.

He had slapped the Princess!

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea what was going through Princess Shan Yu's mind.

If he was the one who was slapped, he would never give the other party a chance to explain. This concerned his pride and dignity.

How can a princess be slapped by an outsider?

If they didn't retaliate, then they would be easy pickings for others.

Fang Zhengzhi realized this, and Shan Ling's response proved it. As such, there was no need to hesitate.

Running away was his only option.

He had to escape...

The faster the better!

At that moment, Fang Zhengzhi summoned his greatest strength. After all, he had grown up in the mountains.

Even though the terrain was unfamiliar, it didn't slow him down.

How fast was he?

The only way to describe it was...

He was rolling and crawling at the same time!

He was using his hands and feet to get away.

He could not care about how he looked. After all, there was a blade coming for his neck.

Fang Zhengzhi was stable and fast. As he ran, he turned back to take a look at Princess Shan Yu's reaction

He was greeted by a shocking sight.

If Princess Shan Yu was like a fireball before, right now, she looked like a red beast bathing in fire.

"Aroo!"

A guttural roar pierced through the air.

It was filled with anger.

An intense rage.

Her rage shot through the night sky and into the dense forest.

Fang Zhengzhi couldn't believe his eyes.

The red patterns on Princess Shan Yu's skin were clear for all to see. However, it was different from what he had seen before...

Her skin!

Previously, when the cloud patterns covered her skin, her skin did not change much. It still looked the same shade as before.

But this time...

It changed!

Very drastically!

Right now, her skin was as dark as ink. It was the same color throughout, from her face, all the way to her feet.

It looked as though she had been stained with black ink.

Most importantly, her pupils turned into balls of fire, dancing in her eyes.

"Monster!" Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself.

He had known that the Southern Region cultivation techniques were different from the Great Xia. They cultivated their bloodlines.

But, he was still stunned by this terrifying sight.

Was she transforming?

Why did she look like that?

I wonder if...

Can she still recognize me?

Just as Fang Zhengzhi was thinking about it, he saw the two balls of flame in Princess Shan Yu's eyes lock onto him.

"Ah! Fang Zhengzhi, I will have your head!" Princess Shan Yu unsheathed her daggers.

At the same time, a ray of maroon light shot towards him.

"She still hasn't lost her mind!" Fang Zhengzhi heaved a sigh of relief.

She had not turned into a beast.

Hang on!

No!

She had already lost her mind!

Fang Zhengzhi felt a chill down his back as he sprinted forward, not looking back anymore.

Forget the alliance and the lives of the 80,000 soldiers. Forget the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army...

Fang Zhengzhi cursed as he ran.

It had all come to nothing!

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Chapter 427: Battle, a good opportunity to contribute

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

Fang Zhengzhi quickly made the choice between saving himself and saving others.

He really wanted to save others.

But, he needed to save himself first!

Guilt.

Fang Zhengzhi did feel guilty. Even though he did not really mean to slap Princess Shan Yu, it had already happened.

Provide an explanation?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to explain himself, but this was not something that he could explain himself out of.

He had slapped a princess...

Even if Princess Shan Yu believed that he did not mean to slap her, it would not absolve him of blame! If you were drunk and slept with someone's wife, you would still have to be responsible for it.

Just because it was an accident didn't mean that you were off the hook!

Even without considering the possibility of a baby, the woman's husband would never let you off!

That was the situation Fang Zhengzhi was in.

He had slapped Princess Shan Yu in front of Shan Ling. As such, Shan Ling would never let him off.

"Fang Zhengzhi, stop right there! I will have your head!"

"Don't you dare run!"

Their voices reverberated throughout the forest.

Fang Zhengzhi was not going to stand there stupidly. He continued to sprint on all fours as he tried to put some distance between himself and the two furious royalties.

Visibility was bad in the forests and this made it hard for Shan Yu and Shan Ling to track Fang Zhengzhi.

After about 15 minutes...

They lost him.

"Phew..." Fang Zhengzhi caught his breath as he rested in between a couple of large rocks. That sprint drained him of much energy.

But now, he had a huge problem on his hands.

On the surface, it looked like Fang Zhengzhi was safe. However, without Shan Ling and Shan Yu to guide him, where was he going to go?

Was he going to find the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army?

Fang Zhengzhi had given up all hope of that. That 15 minutes of running meant that he had already left the Sagely Mountain City far behind him.

Throughout the entire journey, he didn't see any trace of them.

Where were they?

Did they not come to the Sagely Mountain City?

That's impossible!

The edict was clear! They were supposed to wait for an opportunity to play the savior! Where else was this opportunity supposed to come from?

Could it be...

That they were at the Iron Hill Settlement?

The thought flashed past Fang Zhengzhi's mind.

Ordinarily, he would not think of something like that. However, the 50,000 Demon soldiers had already been ordered to the Iron Hill Settlement.

As such, if the two elite squads had been setting up an ambush here, they would have caught wind of that.

It wasn't a stretch to think that Xing Yuanguo would bring his troops there. An astute general like him would know how important that battle was.

But, all of these were mere guesses.

What if...

Was he wrong?

What if he ran off to the Iron Hill Settlement whilst Xing Yuanguo was still in the Icy Monkey Settlement? Won't he be jumping to his death?

No way!

The safest option would be to return to the Icy Monkey Settlement.

Fang Zhengzhi turned towards the Icy Monkey Settlement but stopped himself in his tracks.

If he really chose to run away...

Then...

What was going to happen to the Iron Hill Settlement?

How was he going to settle the misunderstanding between Princess Shan Yu and him? He could run for now, but could he run forever?

Furthermore, how was he going to settle the misunderstanding between Princess Shan Yu and him? He can run now, but he can't run forever.

Fang Zhengzhi raised his head and looked at the stars in the sky.

Fang Zhengzhi raised his head and looked at the stars.

He was someone who was afraid of death, but he was still a responsible person. Since he had caused this...

He had to be the one to solve it.

He will have to risk it!

Fang Zhengzhi bit his lip. He would rarely risk his life on something, but he had no choice this time.

He would go to the Iron Hill Settlement.

If Xing Yuanguo was really on his way there, then he would have a chance to meet the two elite squads on the way.

Furthermore...

Fang Zhengzhi knew that the only way he could redeem himself was to save the lives of the 80,000 soldiers.

"I will go and have a look, mm... just a look!" Fang Zhengzhi clenched his fists and ran in the direction of the Iron Hill Settlement.

He did not know the exact location of the settlement.

However, based on the map given to him by Wu Yuer, he had an idea of the direction he had to run towards.

For an ordinary person, the dense forests may be difficult to navigate...

But for Fang Zhengzhi, it was no problem.

Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu gave chase for a mile before stopping. Speeding through the forest was not difficult for them.

In fact, it was easy.

However, after chasing for so long, Shan Ling and Princess Shan Yu were beginning to regain their composure.

"That guy runs fast. Rest assured sister, as long as he is still here, no... even if he returns to the Great Xia, I will kill him!" Shan Ling looked at Princess Shan Yu affectionately.

Princess Shan Yu looked back at him, her posture relaxing as her skin reverted to its original state and color.

"Brother, what do we do now?" Princess Shan Yu asked as she looked into the dense forest.

Shan Ling was silent.

They were already a mile from the Sagely Mountain City and there was still no sight of the Dragon Protection Squad or the Mountain Breaking Army.

That meant that...

Fang Zhengzhi had lied to them.

Urgh!

He must have done it on purpose!

He had used this ruse as a way to escape from the clutches of Shan Ling!

How shameless!

"I will go to the Iron Hill Settlement. You go back to the capital and take care of father! As long as the capital stands, we will be fine!" Shan Ling said decisively. "Rest assured! As long as I am there, our soldiers have hope. Even if I am to die there, I will delay them long enough for reinforcements to arrive. We... still have hope!"

"Since you have decided to go to the Iron Hill Settlement, how can I go back to the Sagely Mountain City?" Princess Shan Yu had made up her mind too.

"But sister, I only have one..."

"Enough, do you not know my character?"

"Okay then! We will head straight for the Iron Hill Settlement. I am sure father knows what to do!"

"Mm!"

The Iron Hill Settlement was not named as such because its defenses were sturdy.

In fact...

Its location was quite unstrategic.

There were no cliffs, no raised plains, no natural defenses. The Iron Hill Settlement was one of the worst places to defend.

However, it was an extremely important settlement. In fact, it was arguably more important than the Icy Monkey Settlement, which bordered the Sagely Mountain City.

The Iron Hill Settlement was built on an iron mine.

In other words...

This was the weapons factory.

There were many blacksmiths scattered throughout the settlement. The metalworks caused the Settlement to have a metallic glow.

The walls of the settlement were some of the sturdiest around, but there were no natural barriers around the settlement.

They had been surrounded.

Furthermore...

Their opponents outnumbered them greatly. It was all too easy for them to attack from all sides.

The sun was at its zenith.

"General, what do we do now? Teng Shisheng has reported that the Demon Army will arrive in about two hours." A messenger fell to his knees in front of a middle-aged man.

This man had black skin and carried two wolf tooth shaped weapons on his back. He was bald and wore heavy armor.

This was the General Mu, the same general who had been by Princess Shan Yu's side during her archery competition with Fang Zhengzhi.

But now...

General Tai had already been demoted.

As such, General Mu became the deputy. In Princess Shan Yu's absence, he was now the commander.

"Split our army into four and have them guard the gates!" General Mu frowned.

"Yes, general!" The messenger nodded and ran down the steps towards the other generals waiting at the base of the wall.

The generals on the city wall all looked at General Mu with doubt.

"Old wood, the Demons are already coming. We can't be splitting our forces. Even if we concentrated on holding just one gate, we might not be able to do it!" A voice rang out.

The voice had come from the recently demoted General Tai. His beard was prickly, but he was missing an arm.

The arm that Fang Zhengzhi had taken.

No other general would have dared to address General Mu as 'old wood'. However, General Mu wasn't angered by this.

He sighed.

"Tai... we have known each other for quite some time. We have been training together since we were five and we came to serve the princess together. Now, we are in trouble, and this is also an opportunity for you to do something great. Are you willing to help me?" General Mu looked to General Tai.

"With what? An arm? Haha... you want my only remaining arm?" General Tai hesitated.

He didn't seem to be convinced.

However, he quickly suppressed it.

"Are you willing to help?"

"Hahaha... you know that I will help you. However, I am just a low ranking general now, how can I help you?"

"I will hold the front gate myself. The flanks are close by and I can take care of those as well. However, I am a little worried... about the back gate! If you are willing..."

"Enough, I will get there immediately!"

"Okay then, here are your orders. You are to take 20,000 soldiers and hold the back gate! You are not to let it fall! However, your rank does not change! These are orders from the Princess!" General Mu handed a tiger head token to General Tai.

"Roger that!" General Tai nodded and took the token in his hand as he turned and left.

General Mu looked at his disappearing silhouette, smiling as he did so, "You really haven't let me down!"

Time flew.

There was an ominous boom at the gate of the Iron Hill Settlement as dozens of soldiers pushed it open.

"Aroo!"

The chilling roar of beasts cut through the air.

A squad of soldiers could be seen sprinting towards the settlement from afar. They were all well built and lightning quick.

The Silver Horned Wolves.

The best of the best.

The Silver Horned Wolves streamed into the city. They were rather flustered, a stark contrast from their usual disciplined demeanor.

After the last of them had entered the city, the gate was shut once again.

The sun shone brightly on the ground, revealing fresh blood stains. No one knew if they were from the soldiers or the wolves.

"General Mu, Teng Shisheng is back, but..."

"But what?"

"There are less than 1200 surviving Silver Horned Wolves. Of those 1200, 200 are severely injured, 300 have light injuries..."

"What?!"

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Chapter 428: Yun Qingwu predicted everything

Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations

General Mu was not the most powerful in the army based on ability alone. Furthermore, his bald head gave off a barbaric aura.

However, he had always been one of the most valued advisors to Princess Shan Yu. He was always able to maintain in composure.

But now...

Upon hearing that less than 1200 Silver Horned Wolves remained with 500 of those wounded, his expression changed drastically.

This was something that had never happened in the history of the Southern Region.

The Silver Horned Wolves...

Individually, they were not much of a threat, but 3000 Silver Horned Wolves together was a completely different matter altogether.

The ancestors had carried out experiments.

They had gathered beasts of similar ability and power together. However, they realized that none of them could match the power of a pack of Silver Horned Wolves.

If one pit 10 Heavenly Reflection State Purple Lightning Lions and 10 Heavenly Reflection State Silver Horned Wolves against each other, the difference would not be too great. But when that number became 100, or even 1000...

The difference was obvious.

The Silver Horned Wolves were agile, ferocious, and fast. Once they latched onto their enemy, they would not let go. Most importantly, they had an innate ability to cooperate.

Thousands of them could work together just as effectively as a handful. If they were trained well, every wolf could even maximize its potential on the battlefield.

This was a quality none of the other beasts had.

As such, the ancestors of the Southern Region elected to feed and train the Silver Horned Wolves, eventually forming the Silver Horned Wolves Squad.

But today...

The pride of the Southern Region Army had just been dealt a harsh blow. Less than half of them survived the clash.

What had happened?

General Mu never expected that this would happen. Their orders were to make use of their agility and use guerilla tactics to engage the enemy.

How could they suffer such terrifying losses?

"Could it be... that a huge battle had taken place?" General Mu frowned. That was the only possibility General Mu could think of.

General Mu knew Teng Shisheng's abilities well.

As the leader of the Silver Horned Wolves Squad, he was no risk taker. On the contrary, he was extremely disciplined and had great patience.

As such, he would never have overextended.

So...

The only possibility was that they were revealed and the Demon Army intercepted them. As a result, they had to fight their way out.

General Mu clenched his fists.

The losses had already been inflicted and there was nothing he could do about it.

That being said, there should still be a silver lining.

After such an intense battle with the Silver Horned Wolves, the Demons must have been slowed down significantly.

"General, the Demons... they're here!" Just as General Mu was about to catch some rest, an anxious voice rang out at his side. This stunned General Mu.

"So fast?!" General Mu missed a step and nearly landed on his butt.

How could they be that fast?

Didn't they just clash with the Silver Horned Wolves? They should have been delayed! The Demons were here moments after the Silver Horned Wolves entered the city. Teng Shisheng didn't even have the time to report the status...

And the Demons were here?

What the hell was going on?!

General Mu was at a loss.

"Kaboom!" An earth-shaking sound cut through the air as a sea of black appeared on the horizon.

This was a well organized and disciplined army.

Their black armor covered them from head to toe. The army was split into two formations.

The one on the left comprised archers, each one carrying a black metal bow on their back.

The bows glistened under the sun.

In their left hand were shields of various designs. Each shield was a meter and a half in height.

They held a large blade in their right hand.

The formation on the right consisted of cavalry. Their armor extended to their beasts as well.

They also carried bows on their backs but wielded spears in their arms.

The Demon Army.

They were the most powerful army in the region.

General Mu paled. He had always known that the Demon Army was powerful, but he was not expecting this.

A decade ago...

General Mu was a low ranking general at a border city.

He had clashed with the Demons then. The Demons were able to wreak havoc in his ranks, but he still managed to emerge victorious.

Back then...

The Demons were powerful, but they were an arrogant race. They were not willing to follow orders.

In a mad rush to show off their prowess on the battlefield, they failed to work as a team.

As such... General Mu was able to wrestle victory from the hands of the Demons.

But now... the Demon Army he saw sent a chill down his spine. Their rows were straight, their steps in sync...

Furthermore...

This was the Southern Region!

A land full of trees and rocks.

General Mu saw some Demons hanging between two rocks or climbing on some just to maintain the straight line...

This would have been impossible a decade ago.

What kind of power was able to instill such discipline into the Demon Army?!

That wasn't all...

Most importantly, General Mu saw a squad dressed in black cloaks at the front of the formation.

This squad was 500 strong.

The black cloak covered their bodies, but could not hide the terrifying aura they exuded.

General Mu finally understood why the Silver Horned Wolves Squad suffered such heavy losses.

No matter how powerful they were, they could not beat this squad. No matter how fast they were, they could not be faster than this squad.

A faint red light shone through their black cloaks, revealing the cultivation state of these demons.

The Domain Chiefs, Vice Domain Chiefs, elites...

All of them were present!

"Why?! What is happening?" General Mu thought that he knew the Demons well. As such... he could not believe what was happening.

The Demons were different from humans.

There were significantly fewer demons, which caused them to treasure lives a lot more. The powerful ones were especially important.

As such...

The Demons had always been rather risk averse.

In their minds...

They would rather keep the powerful demons protected and let the weaker ones battle it out. That was the only way they could grow.

As such, the leaders would rarely appear on the frontlines.

At the very least...

They will not ALL be on the frontlines. This time, not a single domain chief or elite was at the back.

General Mu trembled where he stood.

He could only imagine what had happened when Teng Shisheng had clashed with the squad of 500.

It would have been a massacre.

It was a miracle that Teng Shisheng could lead the Silver Horned Wolves out of such a situation. 1200 survivors was a miraculous number.

"What is going on? What... happened to the Demons over the past decade?!" General Mu had never felt such fear.

The orderly Demon Army and the aura they exuded forced him to take a step back.

He was truly afraid.

In fact, a similar sight had occurred before over a decade ago. Back then, the terrified ones were the Demon Ancestors and elites.

When they saw the formation standing silently behind Yun Qingwu, they could not help but shiver where they stood.

"Kaboom!"

A booming sound echoed out.

The black armored demons finally stopped, their spears lowered towards the Iron Hill Settlement.

"Boom!" Their shields crashed into the ground with a thunderous sound.

The sun shone brightly on the land, revealing their demonic eyes and the powerful aura that they brought with them.

General Mu gripped the twin blades on his back. This was the only way he could stop himself from trembling.

"The Demons have really emptied their city for this attack!" General Mu sighed resignedly as he saw the gargantuan army.

He remembered the scene back in Princess Shan Yu's administrative tent.

If Fang Zhengzhi wasn't around...

The 80,000 soldiers would have been in the Sagely Mountain City? General Mu trembled at that thought.

The survival of the Southern Region was in the hands of an outsider?!

It was hilarious and exasperating at the same time.

General Mu took a deep breath as a crisp sound cut through the air. The sound had come from a large carriage at the front of the formation.

The body of the carriage was made from an unknown metal, and it was filled with engravings of various complicated pictures and patterns.

The door opened.

The crisp sound had come from the door opening.

A figure in white exited the carriage, her long hair extending to her waist. She wore a veil that covered her face. There was a white scarf around her waist which showed off her exquisite figure.

She dressed very ordinarily.

There were no jewelry or expensive items on her.

She looked like a flower blooming in the sea of black. When this figure exited, General Mu squinted his eyes.

He knew who this lady was.

Yun Qingwu!

The young master of the Demons.

"She actually came?" General Mu was not too surprised that Yun Qingwu had come. Her presence was expected.

But...

He was curious.

He was curious how Yun Qingwu had managed to do what she did. How did she manage to get through the defenses of the Southern Region?

The Demons were strong.

But so were the defenses of the Southern Region cities. Even though the Iron Hill Settlement did not have any natural defenses, it was not easily broken.

General Mu was stunned by what he saw next.

After Yun Qingwu dismounted, she showed no signs of stopping. Instead, she began walking towards the gates of the Iron Hill Settlement.

"What is she trying to do?!" General Mu simply could not understand what Yun Qingwu's motives were.

Negotiation?

General Mu knew that negotiation was impossible.

Their army was here and they had already attacked the Sagely Mountain City before this. Not only would the Southern Region not agree to it, the Demons would not waste their time on something so meaningless.

So...

What the hell was she doing?

General Mu's eyes widened even more, so much so that his eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets. Yun Qingwu had stepped into the range of his archers.

In other words, the moment General Mu gave the command, he could fill the sky with arrows and turn Yun Qingwu into a porcupine.

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