Male Consort Upgrade System

by Usui Takumii

not mine, ckanda writes, beware bl. Total: 247 Chapters.

22. 201 to 210

After nearly half an hour, they finally climbed to the mountaintop. Everyone here was either a Military officer or a guard. All were skilled in martial arts, so climbing was not difficult. However, seeing the Emperor and Huang Guiqing not only showing no signs of fatigue but also maintaining steady breath and leisurely steps, they couldn't help but admire their profound cultivation.

Yan Ge looked down the mountain. The base was situated in a basin surrounded by mountains. Tall walls enclosed the area, with orderly and strict architectural planning inside. Soldiers with large swords patrolled the area, four watchtowers were positioned in the southeast, northwest, and other directions, enabling surveillance of activities beyond the walls and on the surrounding mountains. Near the base's foothills, some experiments were underway, occasionally emitting plumes of smoke. This was the source of the explosive sounds earlier.

Though the location was well-hidden, there were still some deficiencies. Yan Ge contemplated, and guessed that Yuchen had other plans.

"Let's go down and take a look," said Huangfu Yuchen.

Descending was easier, and soon they reached the base.

The gate guards brandished their spears and stopped them, asking, "Who goes there?"

Huangfu Yuchen presented a token, and they lowered their spears, saluting promptly.

Huangfu Yuchen waved his hand, leading Yan Ge, Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and Wei Hao, directly towards the area where the experiments were conducted. Gao Feng and the others did not follow. For some military secrets, the people who knew, the better.

"This humble official pays respects to the Emperor!" One man with a stern face noticed them and walked over quickly.

Huangfu Yuchen said, "No need for formalities. Xiao Ge, this is Wang Meng, who is responsible for researching the grenades."

"This humble official greets Huang Guiqing." Wang Meng loved tinkering with weapons and had a natural talent for them, which was why he was in charge of this project.

"There's no need to be overly polite," Yan Ge observed the wooden cart beside him. It had compartments containing various strange-looking grenades. They were separated to prevent accidental explosions due to shock.

Clearly, the experimenters were cautious.

"How is the progress?" Huangfu Yuchen inquired.

Wang Meng replied, "Following the directions given by the Emperor, we have successfully developed lethal grenades and smoke grenades. We were just testing the anti-riot grenade."

Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, and Wei Hao were a bit bewildered. They knew about grenades, as they had showcased gas bombs to the foreigners in the military exercise before. But what were lethal grenades, smoke grenades, and anti-riot grenades?

Huangfu Yuchen was more informed than them; Yan Ge had shown him a real grenades.

"So, the lethal and smoke grenades have been successfully developed? Demonstrate them for us," Yan Ge expressed keen interest, deeply admiring these intelligent ancient people who could move the world if you just give them a lever.

Wang Meng knew Yan Ge was highly favored by Huangfu Yuchen, but he still had to get the Emperor's consent. After glancing at Huangfu Yuchen and receiving his nod, he said, "Yes, Huang Guiqing."

He spoke to his assistant, who quickly ran off and returned with a small wooden box, handing it to Wang Meng.

Wang Meng opened the box, which had two grooves, each containing a peculiar-looking grenade.

Both grenades were nearly identical, with only slight differences in the shape of their upper fuses.

Wang Meng first took out the triangular one and introduced, "This is the lethal grenade. After removing the safety ring, it will explode approximately three breaths later, causing severe casualties to living beings within a radius of two feet."

Huangfu Yuchen nodded. "Show us."

Wang Meng immediately moved to a spot a bit away from them, removed the safety ring, and threw the grenade about four or five feet away. After a moment, the grenade made a loud "bang" upon landing, followed by rising smoke and dust.

Juang Gan, Luo Wei, and Wei Hao were startled, their bodies tensing up from shock.

Once the smoke dissipated, a pit appeared on the ground.

"Very good," Huangfu Yuchen's face showed satisfaction. "Now, try the smoke grenade."

Wang Meng picked up the smoke grenade, introduced it briefly with a sense of pride – after all, it was made under his supervision. "The smoke grenade releases thick smoke, which is highly effective against enemies and can also be used for our side's retreat. Your Majesty, the smoke is denser, so I'll step back."

After walking away and sensing the wind, Wang Meng threw the smoke grenade, which indeed released billowing smoke, just as he had said.

Jiang Gan and the others were amazed, realizing that their kingdom's defense capabilities would soon reach a higher level, and they showed delighted expressions.

"How is it? They did pretty well, right?" Huangfu Yuchen smiled and asked Yan Ge.

Yan Ge didn't hesitate to praise, "Indeed. I didn't expect that just by pointing them in the right direction, they could achieve this level."

Huangfu Yuchen asked Wang Meng, "Were there any difficulties in the current experiments? Speak freely."

Kneeling on one knee, Wang Meng said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, about ten days ago, one worker suffered a leg injury due to an accident. The physician did his best to treat him, but his left leg is still paralyzed. This person is agile and diligent, but while making the lethal grenades, he exerted too much force. I beg Your Majesty to grant him some compensation for his injury."

Huangfu Yuchen nodded, "That's only natural. After returning, you should let everyone know that if they are injured in the line of duty, the court will never abandon them. Making grenades is indeed very dangerous, so please be careful in the future to avoid casualties."

"Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Alright, let's take a walk around."

"Yes."

Huangfu Yuchen intended to use this base for a long time. It had laboratories, factories, barracks, training grounds, and a dining hall, among other facilities.

Yan Ge noticed that the capacity of the barracks was much larger than the number of stationed troops. He looked at Huangfu Yuchen and said confidently, "You have other arrangements for this place, don't you?"

"That's right." Huangfu Yuchen hugged his shoulder and said through voice transmission, "We'll create an extremely powerful army using the sap of the Zhantian Vine."

"I see!" Yan Ge envisioned the scenario where the army would become a force to be reckoned with after appearing and couldn't help but feel excited. "Since the Zhantian Vine has come out of seclusion, its sap can be used as needed. Just leave it with a drop, and it will continue to produce sap. Moreover, as it has been nourished by Foundation Building Pill, its sap is far more potent than ordinary vines of its kind."

Jiang Gan and the others couldn't hear their conversation, but judging by their expressions, they could tell Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge were communicating via sound transmission. They remained silent in respect.

"However, with the existence of Meng Xiaohun, the security measures here are not sufficient," Yan Ge really didn't want to mention Huangfu Yuhu's name, so he just referred to him directly as Meng Xiaohun. "Furthermore, in case any civilians accidentally stumble upon this base and discover its existence, it could be troublesome if news spread. We should set up formations here. Additionally, the spiritual energy concentration here is quite good, so in the future, we can arrange cultivators to cultivate here."

Huangfu Yuchen was puzzled, "Didn't you say there's no formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill?" And he knew how many Foundation Establishment Pills Yan Ge had. They weren't enough.

Yan Ge winced at the thought of all those zeros needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill formula, and he sighed wryly, "I'll think of a solution."

"Otherwise, we'll have to get the money from the royal treasury! Hmph!"

Huangfu Yuchen furrowed his brows, but knowing that Yan Ge wouldn't do anything uncertain, he didn't say much, only advised, "Whatever you plan to do, make sure not to harm yourself. okay?"

"Yes, let's first deal with the formation." Yan Ge glanced around, "Let's assess the terrain here."

The two didn't let others follow them, and after circling around the wall, they had a clear idea.

"It would be best to set up a hidden formation, completely concealing this basin. Outsiders will see the area shrouded in mist, and even if they unintentionally enter the fog, they'll unintentionally walk out again." Yan Ge suggested.

"That's feasible." Huangfu Yuchen thought for a moment and nodded. The more cards they had up their sleeves, the better their chances in the future clash with Meng Xiaohun.

After returning to the palace, the two consulted Yan Jin about this matter. Yan Jin was a system, which was roughly equivalent to the internet. He was much more knowledgeable than them, and believed that a hidden formation would be the most practical.

The materials used for the formation were spirit stones, which were only available for purchase in the system store. It cost Yan Ge a substantial sum, but it was worth it. Once he and Huangfu Yuchen set up the hidden formation according to the formation diagram, a vast fog suddenly appeared in the entire basin, covering up everything that was visible to the eye

After dealing with the formation, Yan Ge mustered the courage to check the price of the Foundation Establishment Pill formula. Seeing all those zeros, he couldn't help but count like Yan Jin, "One, two, three… One hundred million taels of silver! This is outrageous!"

"What's wrong?" Huangfu Yuchen, who was lounging on a soft couch while sipping tea and reading analysis reports, nearly choked on his tea due to Yan Ge's sudden outburst.

Yan Ge's eyes shifted. He hadn't forgotten about his side mission to complete the development of the Great Han Kingdom and make it a powerful nation. The reward was 1 million gold! Gold, not silver. He could consider this an advance payment; perhaps it was better to buy the Foundation Establishment Pill formula now. He would pay half, and Huangfu Yuchen would cover the rest.

After thinking of this, the pain eased. He walked up to Huangfu Yuchen and leaned against him, saying, "Give me fifty million silver."

Huangfu Yuchen's expression didn't change at all. He casually embraced Yan Ge and replied, "Alright, baby. But let me first finish reading this memorial."

After receiving the fifty million taels of silver, Yan Ge took out another fifty million and bought the Foundation Building Pill recipe. Various spiritual materials required for refining the Foundation Building Pills were also purchased from the system's store, but they were relatively small expenses compared to the pill recipe. Once all the necessary materials were gathered, Yan Ge called Yan Jin, "Little Jin, are you ready?"

Yan Jin appeared immediately, "I'm ready."

In the next moment, he transformed into a white light and disappeared from Yan Ge's sight. The light screen in front of Yan Ge kept changing, and under Yan Jin's manipulation, a panel with blank boxes was filled in with the names and illustrations of various spiritual materials. Following that, an "synthesize" option jumped to the forefront and was activated by an invisible hand, mixing all the spirit materials together.

The light screen continued to flicker, leaving Yan Ge feeling dizzy. He decided not to continue watching and asked Yan Jin, "How long will it take?"

In his heart, he chuckled dryly, 'As expected of the system, it can refine the pills with just the pill recipe and spirit materials."

Yan Jin replied, "It will take one hour. The materials prepared this time can produce approximately 1000 pills in one batch. We can synthesize multiple times to meet the required quantity."

"Alright, I'll leave it to you. Deduct whatever amount of silver you need," Yan Ge had discussed with Huangfu Yuchen and they decided to select ten thousand elite soldiers for cultivation. As long as these elite soldiers had high enough cultivation levels, they would play a decisive role in battles. Managing a large number of people would be troublesome for the young Crown Prince in the future.

Yan Ge handled the Foundation Building Pill matter, while Huangfu Yuchen focused on selecting the elite soldiers. They were to be selected from all over the kingdom, taking into account not only their physical qualities but also their character. Even though Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had sufficient cultivation levels to control them easily, having soldiers with good character could prevent many troubles.

A month later, nearly ten thousand carefully selected elite soldiers from all over the kingdom arrived in the capital city. Huangfu Yuchen's elite guard of 19 was also among them.

Gathered in the desolate and uninhabited mountains, everyone was curious about why the Emperor had summoned them here, but their military discipline dictated that they should ask as few questions as possible. Therefore, all soldiers stood tall with unwavering discipline, gazing straight ahead, not allowing their eyes to wander, as if competing to see who could maintain their position the longest.

When Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge arrived, they saw this scene and nodded in satisfaction.

"His Majesty has arrived! Huang Guiqing has arrived!"

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Huang Guiqing!" echoed the shouts.

Huangfu Yuchen waved, "No need for formalities."

The size of the crowd was enormous, yet they could hear the Emperor's voice clearly, even though he stood at the forefront of the formation. This demonstrated the Emperor's profound inner strength. People always admired and respected strong individuals, especially those skilled in martial arts. Huangfu Yuchen's display had already impressed all the soldiers.

All the soldiers shouted at the highest volume, "Thank you, your Majesty!"

Huangfu Yuchen said in a calm tone, "Take a seat."

The soldiers were puzzled but didn't hesitate to sit on the ground.

Only Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Jun Xiang, Lu Fei, and Deng Mande remained standing.

Huangfu Yuchen drew his spiritual sword and aimed it at a small mountain behind him, then swung it.

A bright white light flashed before everyone's eyes, streaking like lightning towards the small mountain. After a short while, a deafening roar erupted from the ground. The soldiers were in dumbfounded, rubbing their eyes in disbelief. The mountain had been split in two, with a clear trench visible when viewed against the morning light. The two sides of the mountain were now several feet apart. Wouldn't the gap be even wider when they approached?

The soldiers were in a daze for a long time before they knelt down and proclaimed, "Long live the Emperor!"

Huangfu Yuchen waved his hand and said, "The power I just used was not inner energy but a kind of hidden force, the power of true qi."

He signaled to Gao Feng.

Gao Feng loudly declared, "The power of true qi comes from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—if cultivated to the highest level, it can reshape the world."

After giving the crowd some time to digest Gao Feng's words, Huangfu Yuchen began, "You all are the elites among elites. I've gathered you here to forge you into an elite army. In case of foreign invasions, you will defend our nation and protect our homes."

The soldiers hadn't expected such a great opportunity and couldn't help but feel excited. Their hearts raced, their eyes reddened, and they all rose and knelt down, saying, "We are willing to serve the emperor, devoting ourselves fully, and we won't hesitate to give our lives!"

Huangfu Yuchen continued, "Since you've all agreed, I'll impart cultivation techniques to you. However, along with that comes a restriction. If you have no rebellious intentions, the restriction will automatically fade after a hundred years. But if you harbor treasonous thoughts, it will self-destruct, causing your demise. You can still withdraw now, and I'll erase your memories; it won't affect your future lives in any way."

Once again, the soldiers unanimously declared their determination, with not a single person withdrawing. Who wouldn't desire immense power? Even with the restriction inside them, as long as they didn't betray the emperor or the nation, it was as good as non-existent. To exchange a restriction for the potential to become powerful, who wouldn't be willing? They might even wake up from a dream with a smile.

"Very well," Huangfu Yuchen said with a satisfied smile. "Xiao Ge."

Together, Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge projected their spiritual consciousness, dividing it into dozens of strands and transmitting the first two layers of the Heavenly Demon-Annihilation Technique into the minds of the ten thousand soldiers.

The soldiers felt that their minds were suddenly enriched with profound knowledge.

"Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Jun Xiang, Lü Fei."

The four men stepped forward, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Lead them to the base to cultivate their foundational and explain the rules they need to follow."

"Yes!"

With this major task completed, both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen felt a sense of relief. Up to this point, everything had been set on the right track.

Three years later, on Mingxia Mountain, a flock of birds suddenly burst out from the forest, flapping their wings to flee in all directions. Immediately after, two figures in white robes appeared on a tree branch. Surprisingly, they balanced on branches as thin as chopsticks, as if standing on solid ground.

These two individuals were naturally Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

"Late Nascent Soul stage. Haha!" Yan Ge laughed heartily. "Next time we cultivate, we can reach the Tribulation stage. By then, we can break through the fabric of time and attempt to return to my previous world!"

The "Fengyun Immortal Records" had shown them great favor. Since reaching the Nascent Soul stage, Yan Ge had an infant Nascent Soul seated in his dantian. Even when they had no time for cultivation, the infant Nascent Soul would continue practicing day and night, which benefites their physical bodies and increased their cultivation. During deep seclusion, the role of the infant nascent soul became even more pronounced, tirelessly aiding in the absorption of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Could the rate of cultivation be anything but fast?

In his previous world, his biological parents were still alive. Given the chance, he certainly wanted to see them again. Even if his parents didn't see him anything better than a stranger.

Huangfu Yuchen curled his lips. "Not only that, when the time comes, we can explore more dimensions. However, the higher our cultivation, baby, the greater the difficulty and time required for the next upgrade. Based on this trend, the next upgrade will probably take at least a year."

"It doesn't natter." Yan Ge said nonchalantly, "We'll reach the Tribulation stage sooner or later. I'm not in a hurry." His current life was blissful and fulfilling, a perfect blend of love and career. So his attitude was quite positive.

After spending time with an optimistic person like Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen's mindset had also became more serene. He smiled at Yan Ge's words, hugging him tightly before touching the ground.

"Master," Yan Jin called Yan Ge secretly.

"Little Jing, what's the matter?"

Yan Jing said, "Master, your side mission has been completed. Check what rewards are in the golden chest."

"Oh, right." Yan Ge realized.

This time, the seclusion had been quite lengthy, so the system likely sent a notification. However, he didn't hear it while in seclusion. On opening the system panel, he saw that the gold and silver quantities in his inventory had increased. Moreover, a golden chest had appeared.

He promptly opened the golden chest.

–"Ding! Congratulations, you've obtained 10,000 low-grade spirit stones, 10,000 middle-grade spirit stones, 10,000 high-grade spirit stones, and 10,000 top-grade spirit stones."

Spirit stones! These were valuable resources for formations and cultivation! The system was truly like a caring mother. Yan Ge's face curved into a delighted smile.

Huangfu Yuchen leaned over to give him an affectionate kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"Yuchen, we're rich!" Yan Ge hugged him and returned the favor with a kiss.

After a long time without indulging in their favorite activity, Huangfu Yuchen's self-control waned. He pressed Yan Ge against a tree and kissed him passionately, his heart surging with excitement. In one swift movement, he carried Yan Ge and disappeared into their cultivation chamber.

When the two reappeared, nearly an hour had passed. In the span of a single breath, they had returned to the palace.

After tidying up, Huangfu Yuchen went to the imperial study. He wanted to see if the court had remained calm during this recent period.

Yan Ge called Yan Jin back to the Tenglong Palace, and meticulously inquired about the matter concerning the spirit stones.

"One top-grade spirit stone is equivalent to 100 high-grade spirit stones, 1 high-grade spirit stone equals 100 middle-grade spirit stones, and 1 middle-grade spirit stone equals 100 low-grade spirit stones, Master, you've struck it rich." Yan Jin was also excited. However, now at the age of fourteen, he had lost interest in acting cute, and he had become quite composed.

Yan Ge was also excited. With these spirit stones, setting up a Gathering Formation during cultivation would undoubtedly result in rapid progress.

"Reporting to Huang Guiqing, the Crown Prince requests an audience."

Yan Ge had long treated the young Crown Prince as his own son. He hastily said, "Please, let him in."

After a few moments, a handsome youth with a regal demeanor entered. The youth's eyes were serene, and he exuded a calm and majestic aura. This was none other than Huangfu Yunxi.

Upon seeing Yan Ge, Huangfu Yunxi smiled faintly and took a few steps closer. "Yunxi greets Second Master."

"Come, take a seat." Yan Ge playfully ruffled his hair.

The Crown Prince appeared somewhat embarrassed but he was smiling, which showed he liked Yan Ge's intimate gestures. "I heard that you and Father both came out of seclusion today, so I came to see you."

As expected of father and son. Whether it was personality or the way they handled things, Huangfu Yunxi now resembled Huangfu Yuchen by about seventy or eighty percent. Due to his maturity and understanding of matters, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen had told him about their cultivation journey about a year ago. Additionally, Huangfu Yunxi was also cultivating now, practicing the "Heavenly Demon-Annihilation Technique."

However, with Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen personally guiding him, his progress was faster than that of the ten thousand elite soldiers. He had already reached the early golden core stage.

"Yes, your father went to the imperial study. How have things been during this period?" Yan Ge inquired with concern.

Huangfu Yunxi reported, "Thank you for your concern, Second Master. I'm doing well. Ever since Father went into seclusion, I've been presiding over the court. A few ministers have assisted, and everything has been smooth."

The three chatted for a while until Huangfu Yuchen returned. Upon seeing Huangfu Yunxi, he generously praised his recent performance. Although the praise was delivered expressionlessly, Huangfu Yunxi was genuinely pleased. Getting acknowledgment from his father was more important than anything else.

"Xiao Ge, let's have a meal first, then go to the base." Huangfu Yuchen said.

"Alright," Yan Ge nodded. "Yunxi, you can come along as well."

Huangfu Yuchen nodded and looked at Huangfu Yunxi. "Yes, regardless of the circumstances, listening and observing more will be beneficial for you."

A resolute light flickered in Huangfu Yunxi's eyes. "I understand, Father." He had a premonition that both his father and Second Master were soon stepping back and entrusting the entire nation to him. Therefore, he needed to work even harder.

Yan Jin also went along. He had come out of seclusion just a few days earlier than Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. Moreover, now that Huangfu Yunxi could stand on his own, there were many occasions where he didn't need his company so he was feeling somewhat bored.

The four of them left the city without bringing any guards and rode their horses directly. While Yan Jin and the Crown Prince chatted and laughed behind them, Yan Ge noticed that Huangfu Yuchen seemed preoccupied.

"What happened? Everything seemed fine in the palace just now," Yan Ge inquired.

"Two months ago, the Mai Kingdom annexed the Mei Kingdom, making it its vassal state," Huangfu Yuchen explained.

Yan Ge was startled and asked, "So, you are worried that the Mai Kingdom might target Great Han next?"

Great Han has three neighboring kingdoms: Mei Kingdom to the north, Mai Kingdom to the west, and Youji Kingdom to the southwest. The eastern and southern borders were bordered by the sea. Among these four kingdoms, Mai and Great Han had the strongest forces, followed by Youji Kingdom, and Mei Kingdom was the weakest. That's why Huangfu Yuchen has always considered Mai Kingdom as a threat.

Huangfu Yunxi and Yan Jin stopped their conversation and slowed their horses, continuing to listen to them.

If Huangfu Yuchen was concerned, it must be a serious matter.

Huangfu Yuchen's face remained calm without any signs of anxiety. He said, "If Mai Kingdom wants to expand externally, they will surely target the neighboring kingdoms first. Among Great Han, Mai, Youji, and Mei Kingdom, the Mai Kingdom is adjacent to the Mei Kingdom in the north, borders Great Han in the east, and shares a border with Youji in the south. Among these three, Mei Kingdom is the smallest and the easiest to conquer. However, Mei Kingdom's resources are not abundant due to its cold climate and long winters. In other words, making Mei Kingdom a vassal state would not bring any significant benefits to Mai kingdom. Territory-wise, there hasn't been any significant troop or civilian movements between the two kingdoms. As for resources, Mei Kingdom's production is just enough for self-sufficiency. So, it's strange that the Mai kingdom chose to target the Mei Kingdom first."

Huangfu Yunxi chimed in, "I have also thought about this matter and suspect their ultimate goal is to utilize Mei Kingdom's army for free. When I heard the news of the Mei Kingdom's defeat, I immediately sent orders to strengthen the border defenses at the western frontier. However, nothing unusual has happened in the past two months."

"If they want manpower, wouldn't it be more suitable to attack Youji Kingdom, which has a larger population?" Huangfu Yuchen guided his son's thinking, "Moreover, it wouldn't be difficult for Mai kingdom to conquer Youji Kingdom in terms of strength, and Youji Kingdom possesses far more resources than Mei."

Huangfu Yunxi nodded, "Later, the ministers in the court also discussed this, but they couldn't find a clear reason."

"In that case, there must be some conspiracy behind all this," Yan Jin said, "I think their true intention is related to our Great Han. Hu Mailong is ambitious, but there have been no movements from him these years, it is hard not to be suspicious."

Yan Ge frowned and couldn't help but think of Meng Xiaohun. Could this matter be related to him? He was really despicable, being so ruthless to his own half-brother. As long as Meng Xiaohun doesn't die, he will always be a thorn in his heart.

He looked at Huangfu Yuchen. What he could think of, Yuchen must be able to think of as well.

After glancing at him, Huangfu Yuchen nodded slightly, also sharing the same guess, "I've already sent someone to gather information covertly. Hopefully, we'll get some results."

Yan Ge still asked with concern, "Yuchen, I'll go back first." He could only leave a sentence before disappearing from Bai Guan's back.

"Where is Papa going?" Yan Jin wondered.

Huh, did he hold it in for too long while meditating? He seems so energetic. Huangfu Yuchen withdrew his gaze, "Let's go to the base first."

In the office of the Imperial City Amusement Park, Wen Xian was checking the accounts for the past six months when he noticed a sudden appearance of a person dressed in white. He almost dropped the teacup on the table.

He stood up, and made a gesture of "please" but couldn't help looking at Yan Ge helplessly, "Boss Yan, you will scare people to death. "

"I'm sorry, it's urgent," Yan Ge replied.

Surprisingly, Yan Ge didn't seize the chance to tease him, and Wen Xian immediately realized that something unusual was going on. His expression turned serious, and he poured a cup of tea for him before asking, "What happened?"

Yan Ge's hand touched the teacup, and the rising steam suddenly diminished.

Wen Xian's pupils shrank. 'Boss Yan's internal strength is indeed profound!'

"Manager Wen, from now on, please secretly ensure that all grain depots are replenished," Yan Ge's tone was very calm. Although the grain was cheap in the system's store, it needed to be prepared openly, or else it might raise suspicions.

Wen Xian's expression changed.

Yan Ge's gaze suddenly turned sharp, but he still had a smile on his lips, "This is a personal arrangement of mine, Manager Wen, you don't have to worry about anything else."

Being a shrewd person, Wen Xian could easily sense the implication or warning in Yan Ge's words. Private relationships remained private, but when it involved grain depots, it touched national affairs. Yan Ge was warning the Wen family not to act rashly. Everything was still unclear, and if the Wen family's actions led to economic instability or unrest among the people, it would be a big problem.

"Don't worry, Boss Yan. I will handle it," Wen Xian responded seriously. In fact, he had no intention of taking any rash action. They were in the capital, and even if Great Han were invaded by an enemy state, the capital would be the last place affected. Moreover, the Emperor and Boss Yan had shown their capabilities over the years, so he had confidence in them. The only thing he needed to do was to cooperate.

"Of course, I trust you." Yan Ge's eyes softened a bit, "If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have given you this task. I have something to attend to, so I'll leave first. I'll invite you for tea another day."

Before Wen Xian could react, the person in front of him disappeared into thin air. He couldn't help touching his heart. Fortunately, he had been very frank with Yan Ge since their cooperation and was an honest person, otherwise, he wouldn't dare to interact too much with the royal family. As long as the Wen family remained sincere, their prosperous days would only become more long-lasting.

When Yan Ge flew back, Huangfu Yuchen had just arrived outside the mountain where the base was located

He flew towards his horse with a smile on his face and was about to take a seat when Huangfu Yuchen lightly kicked Bai Guan's belly. Yan Ge was caught off guard and fell downward. Huangfu Yuchen reached out, caught him and held him in his arms, asking with concern, "Why are you so careless?"

Yan Ge turned his head, giving him a sidelong glance. What had he done to provoke this guy again?

Ignoring Yan Ge's gaze, Huangfu Yuchen squeezed his waist, holding him close and saying contentedly, "Don't leave me for too long."

Yan Ge was taken aback and then kisses his cheek, finding it somewhat amusing. Was he worried that he would run away?

Yan Jin and Huangfu Yunxi were initially behind them. When they saw this scene, they moved forward but it could be seen that they were holding in laughter.

Yan Ge swung out a palm strike, and two strands of true qi gently whipped the horses' backsides.

Yan Jin and Huangfu Yunxi's horses immediately galloped forward, carrying the two youths farther away.

After reaching the base, the four of them resumed their solemn demeanor.

The cultivators on the training ground saluted with awe, "Greetings, Your Majesty, Greetings Huang Guiqing. Long live Your Majesty." Now that they had cultivated, they could tell even more clearly that Huangfu Yuchen's and Yan Ge's cultivation base was far higher than them.

"You may rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Gao Feng and Gao Yun stepped forward, "We pay our respects to Your Majesty, to His Highness the Crown Prince, to His Highness the Second Prince, and to Huang Guiqing."

"There's no need for formalities."

Gao Feng and Gao Yun looked slightly excited and Yan Ge couldn't help but wonder why. Although it had been a while since they last met, Gao Feng and Gao Yun shouldn't be this excited. There must be something. But there were too many people around, so he didn't ask immediately.

Ever since the cultivators settled into the base, the entire area had been divided into two sections by an array. The cultivators and the researchers were completely separated and didn't interfere with each other. With a soundproof array in place, both sides couldn't disturb each other. Huangfu Yuchen and Yan Ge briefly scanned the crowd. Among the cultivators, the highest level of cultivation was the Late Golden Core stage, a remarkable achievement in just three years.

"Did you record the number of cultivators at each stage?" Yan Ge asked.

Gao Feng responded, "Yes, Huang Guiqing. Your Majesties, Huang Guiqing, please coms in. I will retrieve the records immediately."

"Continue with your cultivation," Huangfu Yuchen said to the rest, then took Yan Ge's hand and walked towards the house.

Gao Feng brought the record book and respectfully handed it to Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen leaned slightly to the side, allowing Yan Ge to look at it as well.

Among the ten thousand elite soldiers, there were five at the Late Golden Core Late, eight at the Mid Golden Core Stage, and thirty-six at the early Golden Core Stage. There were a total of 124 at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the rest were at the Qi Condensation stage. It was worth mentioning that all the 19 members in the Elite Guards were at the Golden Core stage. It seemed that the spirit-boosting pills had worked wonders.

Although Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Jun Xiang, and Lu Fei were the first batch to start cultivating, their cultivation level was not the highest. Gao Feng and Gao Yun were at the mod golden core stage, while Jun Xiang and Lu Fei were at the early golden core stage. The highest cultivation level and the most stable realm were held by the captain of the elite shadow guards, Cheng Jingfeng, and the deputy captain, Du Zhengfeng.

"What happened?" Huangfu Yuchen asked Gao Feng and Gao Yun after reading the records.

Gao Feng explained, "Your Majesty, half a month ago, a soldier rushed to advance his cultivation and got demon possessed. We asked the physicians to treat him, but his condition hasn't improved, and he's still in a coma. If this continues, he may not have many days left."

Huangfu Yuchen's brows furrowed, "Does he take my words as if they were just a passing breeze? How did I tell them to proceed? Step by step, not recklessly!"

"It is because this subordinate failed in handling the matter, please punish me, Your Majesty," Gao Feng knelt down promptly, "Fortunately, no one dared to act hastily after this incident . Except for him, no one made any mistakes."

Huangfu Yuchen's expression eased slightly, but his voice remained cold and stern, "While Xiao Ge can treat condition of entering demonic possession can be treated, he is not their exclusive physician! If such a situation happens again, I will not hesitate to dismiss them!"

Gao Feng bowed his head, respectfully saying, "This subordinate understands!"

Yan Ge went to treat those affected by demonic possession while Huangfu Yuchen returned to the training ground to observe a few practice sessions, gaining a deeper understanding of the cultivators' strength. Perhaps due to the resilience of the elite shadow guards themselves, their cultivation levels were the most stable among the ten thousand troops.

"Starting today, Cheng Jingfeng will be the leader, and Du Zhengfeng will be the deputy leader. The ten thousand 'Jingxiu Guards' will be under your full command," Huangfu Yuchen said. "Those who will return to the mortal world can be summoned at any time, but remember not to reveal the identity of cultivators."

"Yes! We understand, Your Majesty," Cheng Jingfeng and Du Zhengfeng replied in unison.

Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Jun Xiang, and Lu Fei were stripped of their authority, but they remained calm. The Emperor and Huang Guiqing had mentioned before that the cultivation world respected the strong. Many cultivators had surpassed them in cultivation, and they found it difficult to manage these individuals. Losing their authority now could be seen as a fortunate turn of events.

At the entrance of the Tenglong Palace, the Minister of War was pacing anxiously. Although Prime Minister Wu stood at the side without moving, his expression was grave.

Seeing the carriage approach, the two hurriedly went up to meet it.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty."

"What's the matter?" Huangfu Yuchen had already seen them through the curtain with his spiritual sense.

"Your Majesty, we've just received an urgent report. The southwest border has gone to war!"

Gao Feng and the others exchanged astonished glances.

Yan Ge's pupils contracted slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

Huangfu Yuchen's voice deepened, "Let's go in and talk."

"Yes."

In the hall, Luo Wei handed the report to Deng Mande, delivering a clear and organized account, "Three days ago, General Wei Chi suddenly discovered significant movements among the garrison troops of the Youji Kingdom. He became suspicious and sent scouts to infiltrate Youji to investigate. It was confirmed that they were indeed mobilizing troops, so he immediately prepared our forces and secretly made defensive arrangements. The next day, before dawn, the Youji Kingdom's fifty thousand troops launched a surprise attack, and the war began. At the time the report was sent out, both sides were engaged in fierce battle, and there are no further updates."

Jiang Gan said, "Your Majesty, I find this matter rather suspicious. The King of Youji has always avoided conflict and maintained good relations with neighboring kingdoms. First, they lack the economic and military strength compared to us. Provoking us is tantamount to seeking death, and the King of Youji cannot be unaware of this."

"Prime Minister Wu, now is not the time to find reasons," Luo Wei said in a hurry. The Great Han Kingdom had not engaged in a war with anyone for many years, and as the Minister of War, he was anxious.

Jiang Gan glanced at him but didn't say anything, then looked back at the Emperor.

Yan Ge remained silent; military affairs were not his area of expertise, so he listened quietly.

Huangfu Yuchen tapped his fingers silently on the table. His brows furrowed as he pondered, "This matter is indeed strange. Is our army's food and supplies sufficient?"

Luo Wei replied, "We can sustain for half a month."

"If they want war, we'll give them war," Huangfu Yuchen said, "Issue the decree to immediately gather supplies from the nearest Chanzhou and Mianzhou and be ready to send them to the border at any time. Furthermore, dispatch someone to investigate the reason why Youji Kingdom started a war. Once there's any further information, report back immediately!"

"Yes!"

After Jiang Gan and Luo Wei left, Yan Ge approached Huangfu Yuchen, "Yuchen, I'll go to the southwest."

Huangfu Yuchen looked at his bright eyes and expectant expression, and sighed softly, "Alright."

He couldn't refuse; both he and Xiao Ge had just advanced to a new realm and needed to consolidate their cultivation. Besides, the situations with the Mei Kingdom's defeat and Youji Kingdom's war were quite suspicious. He had a faint sense of conspiracy and needed to stay in the capital to oversee the overall situation. This time, even if he didn't want to, he had to temporarily separate from his beloved.

Yan Ge didn't expect Huangfu Yuchen to agree so readily. He didn't care about Yunxi and Yan Yin being there and hugged his lover's neck, kissing him on the lips, "I'll be careful."

"Hmm," Huangfu Yuchen took a jade slip from his storage ring and handed it to Yan Ge, "In case you encounter any trouble you can't deal with, contact me." He infused his spiritual sense into the jade slip, allowing him to sense Yan Ge's distress when he crushes it.

"I understand. I'll leave now. I'll be bringing Gao Feng and the others along, so don't worry. Little Jin, let's go."

"Father…" Huangfu Yunxi watched Yan Ge and Yan Jin's figures disappear at the door and knelt down, "Reporting to Father Emperor, this son also wants to go along."

Huangfu Yuchen looked at him approvingly, "Even if you didn't ask, I intended for you to go."

Yunxi was overjoyed, "Thank you, Father Emperor!"

Huangfu Yuchen didn't immediately ask him to rise, "But remember, I'm letting you go, not for you to show off or act recklessly."

"This son understands, Father Emperor. You want me to personally experience everything on the battlefield: the cruelty, the glory, the good, and the evil. Only by doing so will I truly comprehend my current position and future responsibilities."

"Good," Huangfu Yuchen said with satisfaction, walking up to his son and lightly patting his head. "You truly are my son. Go."

Having received his father's approval and affectionate gesture, Huangfu Yunxi's voice became even more resolute, "Yes!"

After Huangfu Yunxi left, Huangfu Yuchen sat quietly behind his desk for a moment before communicating with Cheng Jingfeng at the base, "The southwest border has gone to war. Inform all those currently wandering outside the capital to avoid the southwest region. The Jingxiu Guards are our secret weapon and should not be revealed unless absolutely necessary."

"This subordinate understands, Your Majesty. Please rest assured."

Huangfu Yunxi returned to the Crown Prince's Palace and instructed his attendants to pack his belongings. When the Empress heard the news, she hurriedly rode in a phoenix carriage to see him, "My child, I heard you plan to accompany Huang Guiqing to the southwest border?"

"Yes, Mother," Huangfu Yunxi didn't even turn around and continued instructing the maids, "We don't need to bring too many clothes, just two or three sets."

"Xi'Er!" The Empress' expression turned slightly grave, "I won't allow you to go. You are the Crown Prince; how can you put yourself in danger?"

"Mother, Father has already agreed," Huangfu Yunxi said helplessly, supporting the Empress to sit down, "Mother, this is a rare opportunity. Second Master's martial skills are exceptional, and he will protect me. Please rest assured."

The Empress frowned, "How could your father agree…?" Huangfu Yunxi was not only her beloved son but also the only heir to the throne. She couldn't believe that the Emperor would allow Huangfu Yunxi to take such a risk. If anything happened to him, there would be chaos in the empire since Huangfu Yuchen had no other heirs.

"Mother," Huangfu Yunxi held her hand, looking straight into her eyes, "You know in your heart that I must do this. Just like what Father could do back then, I can do it too."

The Empress looked at him, feeling somewhat lost. How could she not know about the Emperor's past military campaigns? The Crown Prince was becoming more and more like the Emperor. Very well, since he was the Crown Prince, he had to grow up.

With this in mind, a relieved expression appeared on her face, and she kindly asked, "How is the packing coming along? Can Mother help you?"

Huangfu Yunxi smiled at her and looked back, "It's almost done. I don't need to bring much."

Not long after, a small team galloped out of the imperial palace. This was Yan Ge's group. They were mainly going to assess the situation, so there were only seven of them: Yan Ge, Yan Jin, Huangfu Yunxi, Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Lu Fei, and Jun Xiang. They were all in disguise, and a smaller group was advantageous.

Outside the capital and while riding at full speed, Yan Ge instructed Gao Feng and the others, "Remember, from now on, your mission is to protect the Young Master. No matter what happens, there should be at least one person by his side."

"Yes!"

Yan Ge then looked at Huangfu Yunxi, "Yunxi, remember, this time is just for you to observe. Don't try to be too brave or take the lead."

"Yes, Second Master."

Still feeling worried, Yan Ge took off the Zhantian Vine from his head and instructed it: "From now on, your mission is to protect Yunxi."

The Zhantian vine nodded its "head" and floated over to Huangfu YunXi, landing on his head.

"Thank you, Second Master," Huangfu Yunxi touched the Zhan Tian Vine, and felt his anxious heart settle down.

They were all cultivators (though Yan Jin was not a cultivator, he still cultivated). Their physical strength and endurance were extraordinary. Along the way, they rarely stopped except to let the horses rest. After a few days, they arrived at the southwest border.

About three or four miles away, they could already see the distant black military tents. That was the encampment of the Great Han Kingdom's garrison troops.

"Young Master, we're almost there," Gao Yun said.

Yan Ge reined in his horse, looking at Huangfu Yunxi, "Yunxi, lead them over."

He intended to test Huangfu Yunxi and give him the chance to take charge.

Yunxi understood Yan Ge's intentions and nodded. "Second Master, aren't you coming with us?"

Yan Ge smiled faintly, "I have other plans. You don't need to worry about me. Little Jin, you go with Yunxi too."

With the addition of Zhantian Vine and Yan Jin, Yunxi's safety was pretty much ensured.

"Yes."

Yan Ge watched them depart and smoothly entered the base. He then turned his horse around and galloped in another direction.

On entering a forest, Yan Ge stopped his horse and jumped onto the tallest tree to look into the distance.

About two to three miles away from the Great Han Kingdom's garrison was Youji Kingdom's camp. Both sides were on flat ground, allowing them to observe each other's movements clearly.

It was mealtime, and the enemy's soldiers and horses were outside. Yan Ge made a rough estimation; there were about forty thousand troops from Youji Kingdom and around thirty thousand from the Great Han Kingdom.

Yan Ge adjusted himself to a comfortable position on a tree branch and waited for the battle to begin. He took out a rolled pancake from the system backpack and ate it, then ate by xiaolongbao and steamed dumplings, not feeling bored at all.

After about a cup of tea, Youji Kingdom's army moved, charging silently towards the Great Han Kingdom's garrison like mute dogs and holding their weapons.

Yan Ge's brows furrowed at the sight.

On the Great Han Kingdom's side, the sentries who were already closely monitoring the enemy's movements beat the war drum, shouting, "Enemy attack!"

Soldiers grabbed their weapons, leaving their unfinished lunch, and followed the generals' commands to meet the enemy head-on.

Only then did Youji Kingdom sound their war drums, beating louder and faster. Their soldiers fearlessly charged forward without the fear of death.

"Attack!"

The drumbeats were intense, and the battle cries echoed. The two forces quickly clashed, swinging their swords and spears, engaging in a chaotic melee.

Yan Ge's brows furrowed even tighter. Even without understanding military tactics, he could tell that Youji Kingdom's approach was reckless and lacked any strategy. Their unorganized attack was like a desperate move, bringing no advantage to either side. Moreover, since the soldiers of the Great Han Kingdom began training in a new way, their physical strength, endurance, and agility were far superior to those of Youji Kingdom. Even if Youji Kingdom managed to kill eight hundred enemies, they would lose a thousand troops in the process. Did the Youji Kingdom's generals take the wrong medicine?

"Boom, boom!" The sound of Great Han Kingdom's gas grenades rang out.

The melee continued for about half an hour, during which Yan Ge observed closely. Youji Kingdom still hadn't changed its strategy, so the Great Han Kingdom was unable to break away.

At this moment, Youji Kingdom's war drums suddenly stopped, then after a short while, they rang three times in succession. Nearly ten thousand soldiers and horses surged out from the rear of Youji Kingdom's camp, rushing towards the battlefield.

"Attack!"

The Great Han Kingdom also sent out ten thousand troops, dividing them into four squads to encircle Youji Kingdom's army from both sides.

From afar, Yan Ge saw Jun Xiang and Lu Fei courageously fighting in the enemy ranks. Gao Feng and Gao Yun followed closely behind Yunxi, who was fighting alongside Wei Hao.

After about an incense stick's worth of time, Jun Xiang and Lu Fei returned to Yunxi's side. Gao Feng and Gao Yun flew up one after the other, displaying their bravery as their sword energy swept through the enemy ranks like they were cutting wheat.

Nearly an hour later, Youji Kingdom finally ordered a retreat.

Wei Hao seemed to be pondering something and did not order a pursuit. Instead, he commanded soldiers to clean up the battlefield, recovering all the swords, arrows, and other items. They also collected the money and belongings from the fallen Youji Kingdom soldiers.

Yan Ge watched from afar and estimated that Youji Kingdom wouldn't attack again anytime soon before he rode his horse back to the Great Han Kingdom's main camp.

"Stop! Who goes there?"

Yan Ge didn't dismount and pulled out a golden token with the character "Huang" clearly visible. "My name is Qin, I am a noble from the capital here to meet General Wei Chi. Take me to him immediately."

"Oh, it's Lord Qin. Please come this way!"

Yan Ge dismounted and followed the soldier to the commander's tent.

Inside the tent, Wei Chi was writing a military report to promptly inform the emperor of the latest situation.

"General, Lord Qin from the capital requests an audience."

"Lord Qin?" Wei Chi immediately thought of Yan Ge. "Please let him in."

"General, are you alright? I came here of my accord," Yan Ge greeted with a smile as he entered the tent.

Wei Chi dismissed the others and bowed to Yan Ge.

"I've seen Huang Guiqing. Thanks to His Majesty and Huang Guiqing, everything is well."

Seeing the paper and pen on the desk, Yan Ge asked, "General, are you writing a battlefield report?"

"Indeed."

"Don't rush with the report for now. Please, take a seat," Yan Ge waited for Wei Chi to sit before he took his seat. "Just now, I observed the battle between the two armies from the shadows and noticed some strange aspects. Do you feel the same, General?"

Wei Chi nodded, his brows slightly furrowing. "Indeed, it's strange. I've been leading troops in battles for many years, and this is the first time I've encountered such a situation."

Yan Ge wasn't in a hurry to ask for Wei Chi's opinion. "How many reports have you sent up to now? Are there any copies?"

"This is the sixth report, and all the previous ones have copies. Please wait, Huang Guiqing," Wei Chi said as he opened a drawer and handed Yan Ge the previous reports.

These were made to facilitate a focused analysis of intelligence and aid in the formulation of the next battle plan.

After carefully reviewing each report, Yan Ge raised his head. "Up until now, Youji Kingdom has lost nearly ten thousand troops, and in the six battles, they haven't gained any advantage, and judging from their disposition, they still have no intention of retreating. General, when you said something was 'strange,' what did you mean?"

Wei Chi pressed his brows, days of fighting had affected his spirit. "Based on various signs, the Youji Kingdom's commanders seem indifferent to the life and death of their soldiers. Their conduct is not in line with the manner of General Qin Ke, and the Youji Kingdom's forces are insufficient to support such a forceful attack. I once sent someone to infiltrate their camp for intelligence, but to no avail. While our losses are still smaller than theirs, if this continues, we might have to redeploy troops from other areas. However, doing so means guarding against their feints and diversions."

"Your thoughts align with mine. Their offensive is devoid of strategy. Their actions show no strategic thinking; it's like they are urgently trying to achieve something other than conquering the Great Han Kingdom," Yan Ge pondered while touching his face. "In that case, divide the content of this report into two parts: the first part objectively describes the situation, and the second part includes our speculations. Aso, report my safety."

"Yes."

Wei Chi continued writing the report, and Yan Ge thought for a moment. "If they don't retreat by nightfall, I will sneak into their camp and investigate."

Wei Chi was surprised. "Huang Guiqing plans to go there by himself?"

Yan Ge smiled. "Rest assured, since the emperor agreed to let me come alone, he has confidence in me."

Wei Chi had no choice but to hold back his words. He finished the report, and called a soldier. "Deliver this report to the capital, urgently."

"Yes!"

Yan Ge took out a bottle of pills from his sleeve. "General, you don't look too good. Take this pill daily for half a month, and it will help you recover from any hidden injuries and strengthen your body."

Wei Chi gratefully accepted the pill. "Thank you, Huang Guiqing!"

"No need to be polite." Yan Ge waved and smiled. "The southwestern border relies on General Wei Chi."

Yan Ge waited in the camp until it was dark. Youji Kingdom didn't launch another attack nor withdraw their troops. When it was getting dark, Yan Ge informed Wei Chi not to worry even if he returned late, then he disappeared into the night.

With his high-level cultivation, it was easy to enter the enemy's camp. He entered silently and headed directly to the tent with the most guards.

Inside the tent, General Qin Ke and Deputy General Shi sat expressionless. Neither of them spoke and they seemed lost in thought.

*Yan Ge met General Qin Ke and his deputy when they entered Youji Kingdom to steal gold.

This was indeed strange. Yan Ge had some understanding of these two, and it wasn't their style to be lost in thought like this. He waited for a long time, but they still didn't say a word. To avoid arousing suspicion, he quietly left, feeling somewhat frustrated. Suddenly, he thought of the report, and had a flash of inspiration.

The other party would definitely send a battle report to the palace. It he intercepted the report….

He didn't return to Great Han's camp but turned and found a place to hide behind the Youji Kingdom's camp.

As dawn broke, the Youji Kingdom launched another attack.

Yan Ge continued to watch from the shadows, occasionally using his spiritual sense to flip over a few Youji Kingdom's soldiers, making it easier for Great Han's soldiers to kill them.

Surprisingly, this attack lasted only half an hour before General Qin Ke ordered a retreat.

Yan Ge was delighted; the concealment offered by the shadows was advantageous. He waited for the soldier carrying the report back to the palace.

To his surprise, he waited for half an hour and didn't even catch a glimpse of the person. He waited patiently for about an incense stick, but the soldier bearing the report still hadn't appeared on this vital route.

Yan Ge's expression gradually grew solemn as he rose from behind the thicket. The battle report recorded urgent military information, allowing the emperor and the court to keep track of the battlefield situation, including the battle results, resource transportation, and even requests for reinforcements. Normally, a report would be sent immediately after a battle ended. However, the Youji Kingdom's generals didn't do so, indicating that there must be a significant problem.

Thinking of this, he didn't delay any further. He immediately used an invisibility technique and flew openly back to the Great Han Kingdom's camp to inform Wei Chi. Wei Chi was an experienced general and likely had more insight than him.

Sure enough, when Wei Chi heard the news, his expression changed drastically as he paced back and forth in the tent. "Could it be that General Qin Ke started the war without authorization? That's impossible; it's a grave crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans. He wouldn't do that. Moreover, he must have mobilized a considerable number of troops from elsewhere. It's impossible not to alert his king. What on earth is going on?"

"Indeed…" Several deputy generals present were also puzzled.

"General, regardless of the situation, we must report this to His Majesty," A staff officer He said. "The emperor has more information in hand, and by combining everything, we might find the answer."

"Yes," one deputy general added, "Their continuous fierce attacks have clearly affected the morale of Youji Kingdom's soldiers, yet General Qin Ke persists relentlessly. It is truly puzzling."

Yan Ge devised a plan in his mind. As the main general, Wei Chi was several years away from retirement, so if he intervened hastily, it could affect Wei Chi's reputation within the military.

However, a pre-battle mobilization was still feasible.

"General, I need you to gather the soldiers. I have a few words to say," Yan Ge said.

Wei Chi's eyes flickered, "Understood."

"I'll go change into the royal attire first."

By the time Yan Ge appeared in his imperial clothing, the soldiers were already assembled.

He slowly walked up to the commanding platform.

"Huang Guiqing has arrived—"

"We pay our respects to Huang Guiqing—"

"No need for formalities."

"Thank you, Huang Guiqing."

Yan Ge swept his gaze below and smiled slightly, then his clear voice resounded in the training ground, "The Emperor has learned about the unrest in the southwest border. He is angered by the audacious actions of Youji Kingdom and is concerned about the soldiers guarding the border. Therefore, he specially dispatched me to comfort and convey his decree to all of you. In this battle against Youji Kingdom, promotions and rewards will be granted based on merit. Killing an ordinary soldier will be rewarded with 5 copper coins, killing a sergeant with 1 silver tael, killing a company commander with 2 silver taels, and killing a hundred-man commander with 3 silver taels… For killing more than ten enemies, an extra 1 silver tael will be given, and for exceeding twenty, an additional 2 silver taels will be granted. The specific details will be posted by the general in the public notice. In short, those with merit will be heavily rewarded. I hope that you, my fellow generals and soldiers, will not disappoint me, nor will you disappoint the Emperor."

The tens of thousands of soldiers were moved and shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor, long live!"

Seeing the high morale of the soldiers, Wei Chi was touched and stepped onto the platform, "Initiate the attack immediately!"

Yan Ge praised him with a glance; he truly deserved to be an experienced general.

The intense sound of war drums resounded, and the soldiers of Great Han charged fiercely towards the camp of Youji Kingdom.

"Charge—"

"Kill—"

Yan Ge said, "Someone, bring me pen and paper."

"Yes."

As Yan Ge observed the distant movements, he improved the reward system in his mind and dictated, "Write this down. Killing an ordinary soldier will be rewarded with 5 copper coins; killing a sergeant with 1 silver tael, killing a company commander with 2 silver taels…"

The clerk's pen flew quickly on the paper.

Yunxi walked to Yan Ge's side and looked at the contents on the paper thoughtfully.

Gao Feng and the others shouted together, "Young Master, it's time."

Yan Ge understood what they were talking about and nodded, "Go."

"Yes."

Gao Feng and the others rushed into the battlefield excitedly.

Inside the main general's tent of Youji Kingdom, General Qin Ke heard the shouts and stood up abruptly, "What's going on?"

The curtain was suddenly lifted, and a soldier rushed in, looking flustered, "General, it's bad. Great Han has launched a full-scale attack!"

General Qin Ke's face turned cold, and he slapped the soldier with a loud "smack."

The soldier's face instantly showed a clear palm mark.

"Why panic! Worthless trash! Can our sixty thousand troops not defeat their fifty thousand?"

Qin Ke's face turned gloomy as he walked out of the tent and ascended the commanding platform, looking into the distance.

Soldiers of Youji Kingdom clad in black and soldiers of Great Han Kingdom in camouflage were engaged in a fierce battle, like two different colors of paint poured into flowing water, they blended and wriggled together. Great Han's soldiers charged fearlessly, wielding their big swords with a death wish, slaying one enemy with each swing. The Youji soldiers were stunned by their momentum, their faces showing fear as they dodged and retreated. Occasionally, a black sphere would be thrown into the Youji ranks, causing an explosive "bang" and killing a number of soldiers. The battlefield echoed with cries of agony, and the thick scent of blood mixed with the cold wind made people nauseous.

"Charge—Kill—"

Qin Ke was startled and asked, "What's going on? Why are Great Han's soldiers so excited?"

No one answered and the Youji troops retreated step by step.

Deputy General Shi had a pale complexion, looking at Qin Ke with eyes filled with anger and sorrow. He spoke slowly and heavily, "This war was hastily prepared, and we are simply no match for Great Han Kingdom. General, do you still want to continue sending soldiers to their deaths? They are our own men…"

Qin Ke opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

"General!" Vice General Shi looked at him in disbelief.

Qin Ke took a silent breath, his eyes filled with confusion, "The king's command is hard to refuse…"

"There is also the saying, 'The general will not always obey the king's command!'" Deputy General Shi roared, "I'll issue the order to retreat; after all, I'm just a lonely individual!"

With that, he rushed down from the commanding platform.

Qin Ke stood still for a moment, then turned to the soldiers in front of the war drums and yelled, "Retreat! I command you to retreat!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The war drums were heavily beaten three times.

Wei Chi raised an eyebrow in puzzlement and waved a small flag.

The drummer had been paying attention to the general's movements and, seeing the signal, first beat the drum heavily once, and then twice. The Great Han soldiers stopped in their tracks, still cautious but with happy smiles on their faces, watching the Youji soldiers flee like mice encountering a cat, reveling in their joy.

Wei Chi, Yan Ge, and a few others rode their horses forward and looked at the opposite side from a distance.

The Youji soldiers regrouped after retreating to their camp and stood still.

Qin Ke and Deputy General Shi came over with six soldiers on horseback.

Wei Chi said to Yan Ge, "Huang Guiqing, please allow me to meet the general for a moment."

"General, please." Yan Ge nodded.

Wei Chi also brought an equal number of soldiers and rode over.

When they were about forty to fifty steps apart, they stopped.

Qin Ke wore a look of humiliation and managed to adjust his expression with difficulty. He greeted Wei Chi with a polite tone, "General Wei Chi."

"General Qin," Wei Chi held the reins in his left hand and casually rested his right hand on his thigh, smiling lightly.

As expected of a seasoned general, Qin Ke quickly calmed down, "General Wei Chi, this war with Great Han Kingdom is a misunderstanding. If we continue, the casualties on both sides will be more severe. I'm willing to take a step back and hope that General Wei will consider the longstanding friendship between our two kingdoms and not hold us accountable."

Not holding them accountable was impossible, but he hoped Wei Chi would not continue the attack.

Wei Chi replied, "General Qin, you can rest assured. Before receiving His Majesty's decree, I won't launch any further attacks. However, the battlefield needs cleaning up, so we'll probably camp here tonight. It's quite far from your camp, and I believe it won't disturb you and your troops."

Qin Ke could only endure silently, "Alright."

After saying that, he turned and led his men back to the camp.

Only then did the soldiers of Great Han Kingdom burst into hearty laughter, feeling both excited and proud.

Wei Chi let them laugh for a while before raising his hand to stop them, "Alright, clean up the battlefield first, and then move the camp here."

"Yes!"

Back in his tent, Wei Chi wrote a report, detailing the situation on the battlefield, and sent it to the capital.

Yan Ge sat on the side sipping tea. He waited for him to finish before asking, "General, what do you think is going on? Will Youji Kingdom declare war again?"

Wei Chi replied, "Huang Guiqing, our information is limited. However, this sudden war declaration from Youji Kingdom and the subsequent sudden ceasefire make me think there might be internal issues within the Youji Court, maybe even involving their king…" He stopped speaking, unsure of how to continue or feeling that his speculation was too frightening.

Yan Ge seemed to understand something.

Wei Chi continued, "As for whether they will declare war again, it's hard to say. Nevertheless, I believe we should be prepared as soon as possible and be ready for anything."

Yan Ge nodded, "General, your words make sense. I know nothing about these matters, and I trust in you completely."

"Please rest assured, Huang Guiqing," Wei Chi felt at ease. The fact that Huang Guiqing did not interfere in military affairs allowed him to act without hesitation.

Huang Guiqing's understanding made him feel respected and valued, motivating him to be even more dedicated.

This was also Yan Ge's way of utilizing talents.

In the following days, there were no signs of Youji Kingdom declaring war again. However, Wei Chi remained vigilant.

Yan Ge also stayed put, awaiting the decree from Huangfu Yuchen. Furthermore, he saw an opportunity to give the Crown Prince a taste of military camp life and even the atmosphere of the battlefield.

Huangfu Yuchen's decree arrived swiftly, and it aligned closely with Wei Chi's thoughts: if the Youji Kingdom ceased hostilities, Great Han did not aggressively pursue conflict. First, Great Han had no ambitions of expansion. Secondly, the people would suffer once war ignited. However, if the Youji Kingdom remained obstinate, Great Han was not to be underestimated; they would surely make them pay. Additionally, Youji Kingdom had to compensate Great Han for the losses incurred in this war, otherwise, Great Han wouldn't let matters rest. Huangfu Yuchen had already dispatched envoys to visit the Youji Kingdom and demand an explanation, so Wei Chi had to wait and see Youji Kingdom's next move.

Yan Ge and Prince Huangfu Yunxi stayed for five more days, but there were no developments from Youji Kingdom, and they left, as there was little they could do by staying there.

Back in the capital, the weather turned colder.

The capital was not affected by the Southwest War, and it was as lively as usual. In fact, not only the capital. Except for the southwest, other areas were not affected. The common people still had great trust in the imperial court.

Yan Ge arrived at Tenglong Palace but found that Huangfu Yuchen had not yet returned. After taking a bath, he still didn't see him, so he ordered a table of food from the Imperial Kitchen and ate while waiting.

"The Emperor has returned—"

As soon as Huangfu Yuchen entered, he saw his beloved enjoying the food, "Xiao Ge, I'm back."

"Mhmm." Yan Ge greeted him and handed him a cup of tea, "It's late. Did something happened?"

Huangfu Yuchen took a sip of tea. He noticed the skewer of lamb Yan Ge held in his other hand, and smiled, nodding his chin toward it. Yan Ge smiled back and brought the skewer close to his mouth.

Huangfu Yuchen opened his mouth and took a bite, swallowing the lamb. He pulled Yan Ge to sit beside him at the banquet table and spoke, "I received a report from the spies I sent. It seems that Luo Youfeng might be under someone else's control. The war declaration was not his intention. There's a suspicious figure manipulating things behind the scenes."

A palace maid brought water, and Huangfu Yuchen calmly washed his hands.

"Oh?" Yan Ge was surprised, and as he fed Huangfu Yuchen another piece of lamb, he asked, "Do you have any suspicions? What could be their motive?"

Huangfu Yuchen scooped a bowl of soup for Yan Ge and himself, sipping slowly before replying, "Based on all the information we've received so far, we can't determine the motive yet. However, it seems like some kind of testing on their part."

Yan Ge was intelligent and quickly grasped the situation, "Are you suggesting that this manipulator is using Youji Kingdom to test our military strength? If that's the case, their strategy Is too ruthless." His expression turned cold, and he added, "Their test not only caused significant economic losses to both Great Han and Youji, but it also resulted in nearly twenty thousand lives lost. If it weren't for Qin Ke inexplicably calling off the attack, the consequences could have been even more severe."

After feeding Yan Ge another scoop of bamboo shoots, Huangfu Yuchen said, "Regardless of who this manipulator is, since they have conducted their test, I believe they'll take further action soon. Whatever they do next will likely be more severe than Youji Kingdom declaring war against us."

"Do you have any suspects?" Yan Ge was enjoying the shredded bamboo shoots in his mouth, so Huangfu Yuchen helped him add some more to his bowl.

Huangfu Yuchen paused with his chopsticks in hand, "The security at the Youji Palace is tight, and Luo Youfeng is not a fool. Whoever is controlling him must be quite formidable."

"Is it Meng Xiaohun again?" Yan Ge's lips curled into a cold smile, but his voice was calm, "If it's him, it's a good thing; we can deal with him thoroughly this time!"

Huangfu Yuchen held his hand, "That's what I'm thinking too."

"Oh, by the way," Yan Ge suddenly remembered something, "If his goal is the throne, Yunxi is also an obstacle. You need to arrange more people to protect him."

"Don't worry," Huangfu Yuchen embraced him, "Let me hold you for a while. Things will get busy soon."

Yan Ge picked up a towel and wiped his mouth, then relaxed against Huangfu Yuchen.

They didn't speak, just enjoying each other's warmth.

Yan Ge fell asleep drowsily and woke up later, still in Huangfu Yuchen's arms. However, they had moved to the study, where Huangfu Yuchen was looking through documents.

"Awake?"

"What time is it?" Yan Ge didn't move, glancing outside and yawning.

"Just the hour of You," Huangfu Yuchen rubbed his temples, "Nothing important will happen these two days. You can play as usual."

"Okay. There is one thing, though," Yan Ge yawned again after sleeping too much, "Deng Mande."

Deng Mande stepped forward, "Yes, Huang Guiqing."

"Send someone out of the palace to inform Manager Yuan and Wen Xian to have a meal with me tomorrow at noon."

"Understood."

Seeing a palace maid bringing in water, Yan Ge got up from Huangfu Yuchen's embrace, washed his face, and felt more awake. He dampened a towel again, wrung it half dry, and helped Huangfu Yuchen wipe his face. It was like washing a child's face, he carefully wiped around his eyes, mouth, ears, and behind his ears, suppressing a laugh.

Huangfu Yuchen tilted his face, cooperating with Yan Ge and even praised him, "Baby is so thoughtful; my face feels much better after washing."

Yan Ge picked a hawthorn fruit from the fruit platter and put it in Huangfu Yuchen's mouth.

It was a warm and intimate day.

The next day at noon, Yan Ge invited Wen Xian to dine at Liuxian Pavilion. They were joined by Wei Xian and several important managers from the company.

Coincidentally, a few new dishes had been introduced recently, and everyone enjoyed the satisfying meal.

"Liuxian Pavilion is truly extraordinary; after so many years, they can still frequently introduce new dishes," Wen Xian said, "Fortunately, some of us have substantial savings; otherwise, we wouldn't be able to afford it."

Yan Ge said, "It will be better in the future. I plan to sell some of the recipes regularly. Over time, even ordinary commoners will be able to afford these dishes."

Wen Xian and the others were somewhat surprised. If they were in Yan Ge's position, they would definitely keep the recipes and not sell them. But when they thought about Yan Ge's current wealth, they realized that he indeed didn't care about these recipes and they admired him for his courage. Few people would have the courage to "give up" like him.

As they were eating, the urgent sound of hooves approached from outside.

"Urgent message from Xiguan Pass, urgent message from Xiguan Pass."

Yan Ge's expression changed, and he stood up, "I'm sorry, you all continue eating; I need to take care of something."

Wen Xian nodded understandingly, "Take your time, Boss Yan."

Yan Ge's figure disappeared in a flash.

Yan Ge left Liuxian Pavilion and appeared directly in Huangfu Yuchen's study.

"Xiao Ge?" Huangfu Yuchen put down his pen, "What happened?" He knew Yan Ge was hosting guests at Liuxian Pavilion today, so it must have been something urgent for him to come back so early.

"There is urgent news from Xiguan Pass." Yan Ge sat beside him.

"Mai Kingdom is finally getting restless?" Huangfu Yuchen's elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he calmly said, "Perhaps it's not a bad thing."

"I think so too. This time, we'll teach them a lesson and make sure they won't dare to act rashly for at least the next twenty years!" Yan Ge said.

The two of them calmly sipped their tea. After about half a cup of tea, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and a voice called out, "Urgent message from Xiguan Pass."

"Present it."

Deng Mande rushed out to receive the imperial edict from a palace maid and handed it to Huangfu Yuchen.

"Mai Kingdom's one hundred thousand troops have crossed the border, and the first battle was a success." A faint smile appeared on Huangfu Yuchen's lips. "They didn't disappoint me. Deng Mande, draft an edict, order General Yunhui to immediately lead five thousand elite soldiers to escort enough food and forage for one month to Xiguan Pass."

"Yes!"

"Another edict, order General Gui to immediately lead five thousand elite soldiers to escort ten thousand hand grenades to Xiguan Pass."

"Yes!"

Deng Mande hurriedly left.

Yan Ge asked Huangfu Yuchen, "How many troops are stationed at Xiguan Pass?"

"Eighty thousand," Huangfu Yuchen replied.

"Eighty thousand?" Yan Ge was somewhat surprised.

"Mai Kingdom poses the greatest threat to us, so Xiguan Pass has the largest number of troops among the border garrisons. Although our forces are smaller than theirs, we have several advantages. If nothing unexpected happens, defeating Mai Kingdom is not a difficult task," Huangfu Yuchen explained.

Yan Ge scratched his head, "It's good to know you're confident."

"Now it's October, and the weather will get colder. Mai Kingdom's people are more resistant to the cold than us, so it's best to defeat them within two months. Otherwise, our soldiers will suffer," Huangfu Yuchen calculated in his mind.

Yan Ge leaned on his shoulder and smiled at him.

"What is it?" Huangfu Yuchen asked, feeling better after seeing Yan Ge's smile. His eyes filled with warmth as he wrapped his arm around Yan Ge's waist.

"Don't worry in case it takes too long. I prepared a large number of knee pads, gloves, and shoe pads a long time ago, specifically for winter warfare. Since these things are easily imitated, we'll only use them at the critical moment to prevent the enemy from copying us," Yan Ge said with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Knee pads, gloves, and shoe pads?" Although it was the first time Huangfu Yuchen heard these terms, he understood without any difficulty. He hugged Yan Ge and said, "Baby, you've worked hard. When did you prepare all these? Why didn't you tell me earlier so I could help you with the burden?"

"Of course, it was meant to surprise you." Yan Ge waved his hand airily. "These are just trivial matters; no need for you to bother. How about it? Isn't your man treating you well?"

Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, holding him tightly. "Not just well. He's an exceptional wise consort."

Yan Ge shot him a glance, and Huangfu Yuchen pinched his chin, kissing his lips deeply. Their tongues intertwined in each other's mouths, their bodies growing heated. He reluctantly released him slightly, saying, "It's almost time. We'll soon be free from these worldly matters. Once we pass the Nascent Soul stage, we'll break through to the next level together. Then, we'll return to your original world and even explore other dimensions. From then on, we'll be together forever."

Yan Ge paused, "Have you made up your mind? Yunxi is still young…"

"He's not that young anymore," Huangfu Yuchen's tone was resolute. "Besides, once we have the ability to tear through the fabric of time, we can come back to visit at any time."

Yan Ge suddenly felt a sense of urgency. He hadn't even acquired the final techniques yet, and he needed to quickly find a solution to become Empress. This darn system.

"What's wrong? You don't want to leave?" Huangfu Yuchen looked at him oddly.

"Of course not," Yan Ge refocused, wrapping his arms around his neck, and with a smack, he planted a kiss on his chin. "I'll follow your lead, but for now, dealing with the border crisis is still the top priority. Do you need to discuss official matters with the ministers? I'll head back first."

"Okay," Huangfu Yuchen let him go.

Yan Ge took a couple of steps but turned back and reminded him, "Tell me before you abdicate."

"Of course, we are husband and wife." Huangfu Yuchen smirked.

Yan Ge rolled his eyes at him, then left, feeling worried. He believed that if he told Huangfu Yuchen he wanted to be Empress, he would definitely agree. But even if Huangfu Yuchen were the Emperor, achieving this wouldn't be easy, as it involved many aspects. For example, in the history of Great Han Kingdom, there had never been a male Empress. How would Huangfu Yuchen persuade the courtiers and silence the gossip? Another issue was that the current Empress, Dumu, had never committed any major mistakes. If they rashly deposed her, would she be willing to accept it? Would the Du family let it go? If something went wrong, Yunxi might hold resentment.

But no matter what, he was determined to become the Empress. He just needed to figure out how to do it. It was indeed a challenge.

"Little Jin."

Yan Jin's voice sounded in his mind, "Master, what can I do for you?"

"What do you think I should do to become the Empress?"

Yan Jin's response was straightforward, "Just tell the Emperor directly, and he will agree."

Saying that was as good as saying nothing.

"I'm your master, can't you make an exception and give me the final technique directly?" Yan Ge asked without much hope.

Yan Jin sighed, "I can do it, but the consequence will be that I'll self-destruct."

Yan Ge quickly said, "Let's forget about that. If it's not possible, I'll just tell Yuchen directly, and let him handle the other problems."

Yan Jin said, "I wholeheartedly support that!"

Yan Ge immediately pushed his worries aside. It was still a long way before Huangfu Yuchen's abdication. He would deal with it when the time came.

He turned and left the palace without taking the carriage, riding a horse instead, and heading leisurely forward.

The people on the street greeted him respectfully. The news of the war at Xiguan Pass hadn't spread yet, so the capital was still calm.

Upon reaching the company, he had someone bring all the account books of his properties and went through them one by one.

"Summon the staff."

Wan Xiang hurriedly came over, "Young Master."

"It's you, Wan Xiang." Yan Ge looked up. Wan Xiang had married Zhao Cheng two years ago, and he was now in charge. Yan Ge gave them the slave contract as a gift. Although they were now free individuals, their loyalty remained strong, making them valuable assistants.

"Give the order to all the managers to count the inventory of their properties and submit it to me by tomorrow evening."

"Yes."

After dealing with the company's affairs, Yan Ge returned to Yan Mansion in the same unhurried manner.

Madam Yan was in the side room, sitting by the window and doing embroidery. The room was warmed by a charcoal stove and she was sitting on a furry bear skin that her eldest son had personally hunted and sent back from the distant Western Frontier. A small blanket made from tiger skin covered her knees, a gift from her younger son. Ever since her daughter-in-law and grandson also went to Xiguan Pass, she had plenty of free time and picked up her hobbies from her youth to pass the time.

Yan Ge approached quietly to take a look and marveled at her skill. Madam Yan's embroidery displayed a gradual change of colors, from dark to light, just like the real thing.

Afraid of startling her with a sudden sound, he retreated to the door and called out, "Mother."

"Ge'er, you're back. Come and sit." Madam Yan smiled, beckoning him over.

"Mother, take breaks while embroidering, don't strain your eyes," Yan Ge sat beside her.

Madam Yan smiled and said, "Don't worry, ever since I started taking the health pills you prepared for me, my health has improved. Just yesterday, I went to the temple to pray and climbed all the way to the mountain top without feeling tired." Despite being in her forties, Madam Yan looked no older than thirty, with not a single wrinkle on her face. Whenever she attended gatherings with other official wives, they all envied her. Madam Yan also knew how to get along with people and occasionally sent some beauty creams or pills to other wives.

In the feudal society, women rarely had the chance to go out, so they didn't have too many hobbies. Mostly, they spent their time tending to flowers and doing embroidery. Yan Ge could tell that Madam Yan felt a bit lonely since her grandson had left. He put his arm around her shoulders, considering the idea of bringing Yan Xiangtian back for a while. However, given the current sensitive situation, he couldn't bring up the topic to Madam Yan for the time being.

"How about Father?"

"He's in the backyard. This year seems colder than the last, so he's directing the servants to wrap the trees to prevent freezing. By now, he probably knows you're back."

As soon as she finished speaking, a voice came from outside, accompanied by a cold breeze as a figure stepped inside. "Ge'er is back."

Yan Ge stood up, "Father."

"Greetings, Huang Guiqing." The steward, Yan Fu, bowed.

"No need for formalities."

"I'll go prepare some refreshments." Yan Fu tactfully left.

"Why did you come in the afternoon?" Yan Xiaojing knew Yan Ge well. He usually returned in the morning unless there was something urgent.

"I had some free time today, so I came to visit. Father, Mother said you were protecting the trees just now?"

Yan Xiaojing replied, "Do you want to see?"

"I'm curious. I never paid attention to it before." Yan Ge walked with him outside.

Madam Yan shook her head, "It's so cold, yet you two aren't afraid of freezing." She made a casual remark and then lowered her head to continue embroidering.

Yan Ge and Yan Xiaojing walked along the path and soon arrived at the backyard. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, Yan Ge confirmed that there were no other people in the garden apart from the two of them.

"Father, Yuchen just received an urgent message from Xiguan Pass. The Mai Kingdom has declared war on us."

Yan Xiaojing immediately thought of his eldest son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. "I'll arrange for someone to bring your sister in law and Tiantian back immediately." As for his eldest son, he didn't mention him. He knew that Yan Su wouldn't leave the Western Frontier at this critical time.

"Father, you don't need to worry. I've already made arrangements to protect big brother," Yan Ge said. "As for sister-in-law and Tiantian, leave them to me."

"Very well." Yan Xiaojing was a civil official and had limited subordinates with martial skills.

"Should I tell your Mother about this?"

Yan Ge hesitated. "You decide."

Yan Xiaojing nodded.

The news of the war between the Mai Kingdom and Great Han quickly spread, and the court didn't hide it. Large quantities of provisions were transported outside the capital, and the common people could guess that the border was at war. However, the border was far away from them, so they weren't too worried. The teahouses and restaurants were now filled with more customers, and discussions mainly revolved around the war between the two kingdoms. However, in the feudal society, the common people didn't have much say, and even if they discussed, they didn't dare to go too deep into political matters, as it was considered a grave offense.

After receiving the statistics of his properties, Yan Ge was satisfied and issued several orders to mobilize eighty percent of the stock. Whenever Xiguan Pass needed urgent supplies, they could be quickly transported there, ensuring that the soldiers had no worries during the battle.

The war had been going on for nearly a month, and there was still no clear winner. Huangfu Yuchen's brow furrowed, and he became busier, spending most of his time in the imperial study, receiving reports and meeting with important officials.

"Report—Emperor, this is a dispatch from Xiguan Pass."

"Present it."

Upon reading the contents of the dispatch, Huangfu Yuchen's face immediately turned grave. "A mysterious black-clad force with nearly a thousand members has appeared in the ranks of the Mai Kingdom, and they inflicted a loss of nearly ten thousand soldiers in a battle five days ago."

The faces of the officials changed dramatically. How terrifying was a force that could eliminate ten thousand soldiers with only one thousand members?

"Prepare immediately. I will lead the troops in person."

Yan Ge's steps halted just outside the imperial study. Has Meng Xiaohun finally shown himself?

"Your Majesty, this is not advisable!" Grand Tutor You urgently pleaded, kneeling down. "You are the pillar of the kingdom. How can you risk yourself like this?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Jiang Gan also frowned, "General Cao is courageous and wise, and the soldiers at the border are all valiant fighters. I believe General Cao can handle this crisis."

"Your Majesty, I also think it's not advisable. Please reconsider," King Zhong looked somewhat surprised, feeling that the Emperor's decision was too impulsive and unlike his usual style.

"No need to say more." Huangfu Yuchen waved his hand resolutely and looked towards the closed door. "My decision is final."

A voice came from outside the door, announcing, "Huang Guiqing is here—"

The Grand Tutor and the others were overjoyed, believing that Huang Guiqing would be persuaded the emperor to change his mind.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," Yan Ge said with a smile.

Huangfu Yuchen walked over and took him to sit behind the Imperial desk. "Not at all."

Jiang Gan said, "Huang Guiqing, just now, His Majesty mentioned leading the troops in person. We tried to persuade him, but to no avail. We ask Huang Guiqing to try to persuade him as well."

Yan Ge knew that the formidable force of one thousand soldiers was likely led by Meng Xiaohun. Meng Xiaohun was no ordinary character, and ordinary soldiers couldn't deal with him. Moreover, this was the karma between Yuchen and Meng Xiaohun. Yuchen had to resolve it personally; otherwise, Meng Xiaohun's existence could become a formidable obstacle to Yuchen's advancement.

"His Majesty must have deep reasons for making such a decision," Yan Ge looked at Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen nodded. "The appearance of this one thousand soldiers has caused significant casualties, and our morale must be low. My personal presence can boost morale, and I can gain firsthand information about the situation. As for my safety, all of you need not worry. I will take the Jingxiu Guards with me."

"Jingxiu Guards?"

Huangfu Yuchen said, "The Jingxiu Guards are a group of ten thousand specially trained soldiers, handpicked from the best. With them protecting me, all of you can rest assured, right?"

The officials were still worried, and they looked at Yan Ge.

Yan Ge smiled confidently and remained silent.

Huangfu Yuchen continued, "During my absence, Huang Guiqing will act as a regent and handle the state affairs. I hope all of you will support him."

Grand Tutor You and the others were surprised again, their faces filled with astonishment. While Huang Guiqing was indeed capable, it didn't change the fact that he was a palace consort. To have a consort manage the state affairs was unprecedented.

Yan Ge was also taken aback but soon calmed down.

"Your Majesty, this…" King Zhong didn't know what to say. He was greatly surprised. Historically, emperors were usually suspicious, but the Emperor was trusting Huang Guiqing with the state affairs. How could he trust Huang Guiqing so much?

"I believe in Huang Guiqing. I wouldn't joke about Great Han's survival," Huangfu Yuchen said.

When he said that, the officials could not object.

Yan Ge smiled faintly. "Leave it to me."

Jiang Gan was puzzled. The Emperor and Huang Guiqing had always been inseparable, but this time, Huang Guiqing didn't propose to go with the Emperor?

Huangfu Yuchen would collide head-on with Meng Xiaohun at Xiguan Pass. How could Yan Ge not worry? However, he had to stay in the capital to coordinate and dispatch various military supplies based on the battlefield reports, ensuring they were quickly transported to the front lines. He couldn't trust this crucial task to anyone else, as the situation on the battlefield changed rapidly. A small oversight could lead to a major disaster. Hence, he had no choice but to stay in the capital.

Huangfu Yuchen glanced at Jiang Gan, Luo Wei, King Zhong, Grand Tutor You and the others, and took Yan Ge away with him.

The two of them walked on the road leading to Tenglong Palace, not saying a word for a long time.

"My dear, I will be fine," Huangfu Yuchen spoke first.

Yan Ge subconsciously held his hand tightly. "Please be careful."

"Don't worry, we still have many places to go, and we'll be together for a long time. So, I will be fine." Huangfu Yuchen held the back of his head and gently kissed his lips, then took out a jade pendant and handed it to Yan Ge. "Remember this?"

Yan Ge's eyes brightened. When they saved a group of martial artists in the Mai Kingdom, they owed a favor to him and Yuchen.

"I know what to do."

Huangfu Yuchen left that day with five thousand Jingxiu Guards. Another five thousand elite guards were already stationed near Xiguan Pass.

The common people in the capital were excited and moved when they heard that the Emperor intended to lead the troops in person. They bid farewell along the way, hoping for the Emperor and the soldiers' triumphant return.

Yan Ge stood on the tallest tower, continuously watching Huangfu Yuchen. From a distance, he saw Huangfu Yuchen turning back and giving him a smile.

'I'm waiting for you, Yuchen.'

Huangfu Yuchen's lips curled, and then he turned away, urging his horse forward, "Proceed—"

After several days of continuous travel, he finally arrived at Xiguan Pass. Before entering the city, Huangfu Yuchen heard the rumbling sounds of grenades exploding on the battlefield.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Cao Zhan sent Deputy General Ye to welcome the Emperor.

The ten-thousand-man army headed straight for the camp.

Huangfu Yuchen rode his horse towards Cao Zhan, who was intently observing the battlefield from his warhorse.

"How's the situation?"

"Your Majesty, this humble subordinate pays his respects."

Cao Zhan was about to dismount, but Huangfu Yuchen stopped him.

Cao Zhan said, "That mysterious force of one thousand has bizarre martial skills; our soldiers… are no match for them."

Huangfu Yuchen unleashed his spiritual sense, his gaze turning cold. With just one look, he confirmed that this force of one thousand people was cultivated by Meng Xiaohun; their martial arts were the same as Meng Xiaohun's.

He raised his hand, "Have two thousand Qi Condensation stage cultivators join the battle."

"Yes!"

Qi Condensation stage cultivators? Cao Zhan heard this term for the first time, but it wasn't the time to be concerned about that. He immediately turned his attention to the battlefield.

The two thousand Qi Condensation stage cultivators rushed into the battle, directly charging towards the one thousand black-clad figures. Thanks to their black cloaks, the cultivators could identify them easily.

The addition of cultivators allowed the overwhelmed Great Han soldiers to catch their breath and discreetly deal with the ordinary Mai soldiers.

In a restaurant in the capital, Jing Cheng, Wen Xian and Weiju Shen were having a meal when they heard exclamations from the people outside. They became curious and walked to the window, widening their eyes at the scene before them.

On the spacious concrete road, ten people from the Zhenyuan Escort Bureau were riding horses, followed by a continuous line of identical carriages. Each carriage was pulled by four horses, loaded with goods covered by black rainproof cloth.

The carriages had double-sided flags, one side embroidered with "Nanyi First Company" and the other side with "Supporting the Border." A smaller flag was attached to each carriage, with words like "Food", "Clothing", "Medicine," etc… One carriage, two carriages, three carriages… there were a total of one hundred carriages stretching for miles, and two Zhenyuan Escort Bureau personnel guarded each carriage. After the last carriage was another group of Zhenyuan Escort Bureau personnel.

"The court already sent one hundred carriages of military supplies to the border yesterday, and today, Huang Guiqing sent another one hundred carriages of supplies. Great Han will surely win!" A commoner in the crowd couldn't contain his excitement and shouted aloud.

His emotions infected others, and they joined in, shouting, "Great Han will win! Great Han will win…"

"Damn it, I'll donate supplies too."

"I will too."

…..

In the imperial study, Yan Ge was completely unaware of the sensation his actions caused and efficiently gave orders.

"Minister of War, supervise the armory to increase production speed and be ready to replenish grenades at Xiguan Pass. But be mindful of the workers' safety, even in the urgency."

"Yes!"

"Minister of Finance, prepare the second batch of provisions as soon as possible and be ready to escort them out of the capital."

"Yes!"

"Minister of Rites, plan for the celebration feast in advance."

The ministers exchanged glances, feeling excited. Huang Guiqing's confident tone boosted their confidence as well.

"Yes," the Minister of Rites responded.

"Minister of Personnel, immediately send homing pigeons to the various relay stations along the route from the capital to Xiguan Pass, instructing them to prepare enough horses in advance for the teams transporting provisions to change horses."

"Yes!"

"Minister of Public Works and Minister of Justice, don't be idle either. Maintaining order in the capital is your responsibility. Even if the border is in chaos, the capital cannot be chaotic."

"Yes, please rest assured, Huang Guiqing"

King Zhong and Grand Tutor You listened to Yan Ge's well-organized and detailed arrangements, and their hearts were at ease.

"Gao Feng."

Gao Feng, Gao Yun, Jun Xiang, and Lu Fei did not accompanying Huangfu Yuchen to the Xiguan Pass; they were still serving by Yan Ge's side and were waiting outside the imperial study.

"Yes, Huang Guiqing."

Yan Ge handed him several letters. "Deliver these letters to the company and give them to Wan Xiang. She knows what to do."

"Yes."

After making all the necessary arrangements, Yan Ge stretched his arms and looked at Grand Tutor You and the others with a smile. "You have worked hard these days. Try to rest in the palace as much as possible. This young lord is still new to handling state affairs and relies on your guidance."

King Zhong replied on behalf of the group, "Huang Guiqing is too modest. We are honored to share both joys and sorrows with His Majesty and Huang Guiqing."

The was at the border was ablaze, and the war between Great Han and the Mai Kingdom had reached a fever pitch. Both kingdoms' soldiers were all red-eyed, wielding their large swords ruthlessly, even fighting bare-handed when their weapons were lost, engaging in intense combat. A cavalryman charged, skillfully thrusting his long spear into an enemy's neck, causing blood to spurt out. The scent of gunpowder mixed with the smell of blood, stimulating their noses and lungs and making their stomachs churn uncomfortably. Battle cries and drum beats echoed, seemingly shaking the very heavens and earth, as dark clouds rolled and storm approached.

Huangfu Yuchen sat on his horse majestically, his spiritual sense stealthily wandering through the sky, diving into the enemy camp to search for Meng Xiaohun's trace.

Inside an inconspicuous tent, a man dressed entirely in black seemed to sense something. His eyes suddenly turned sharp, and he immediately attempted to dodge.

However, Huangfu Yuchen's cold voice resonated in the man's mind, "Meng Xiaohun, don't you want to settle things with me? Or are you afraid?"

A strange smile appeared on Meng Xiaohun's face, "Taking down Great Han doesn't require me to take action personally. Why should I dirty my hands with you?"

"Oh? So you're that confident?" Huangfu Yuchen's voice grew even colder.

Meng Xiaohun sat down leisurely, crossing his arms, "The Mai Kingdom soldiers on the battlefield are quite average in strength, hasn't Your Majesty noticed?"

Huangfu Yuchen suddenly had a bad feeling.

Meng Xiaohun seemed to guess his thoughts and kindly explained, "They carry a plague virus, your soldiers are already doomed."

"Plague!" Huangfu Yuchen's heart sank, "All thirty thousand the Mai Kingdom soldiers have contracted the plague?"

"Correct." Meng Xiaohun chuckled in satisfaction.

"You deliberately infected them with the plague, with the purpose of spreading it to my soldiers?" Huangfu Yuchen knew Huangfu Yuhu's ruthlessness, but he didn't expect him to be so merciless. A chill ran through him.

"Correct." Meng Xiaohun remained calm and even crossed his legs, "Even if you withdraw now, it's too late. Your soldiers have already contracted the plague. Once they have it, it's like a terminal illness, even the most skilled medical experts can't save them. Hahaha…"

Huangfu Yuchen retracted his spiritual sense, his face livid.

"Your Majesty?" Cao Zhan was puzzled. Great Han's soldiers had gained the upper hand, so why did the Emperor look so grim?

"Yang Zhuo?"

Yang Zhuo was among the entourage and immediately replied, "Here!"

Huangfu Yuchen said, "Didn't I bring a carriage full of supplies? Go immediately and bring out the medicinal powder from inside. Boil it with wormwood to make a soup, have all the soldiers drink a bowl, and replace the soldiers on the battlefield, let them all drink a bowl too."

"Yes! Your Majesty!" Yang Zhuo hastened on his horse to execute the order.

Cao Zhan didn't understand, "Your Majesty, may I ask what's happening?"

Cao Zhan was the main general, so Huangfu Yuchen didn't hide anything, but he waved away the others around him, "The Mai Kingdom soldiers are infected with the plague, and I'm afraid it has already spread to our soldiers. However, I brought the medicinal herbs prepared by Xiao Ge, which can cure and prevent the plague. There's no need to panic."

Cao Zhan's hanging heart settled, "Understood."

Huangfu Yuchen once again lamented that his treasure was truly his good fortune. The battlefield would have many corpses, and they couldn't be buried in time, which was most likely to breed a plague. This problem had always been the most troublesome for monarchs and generals. Before departing, he asked Yan Ge if there were any ways to prevent or treat the plague, and Yan Ge had let him bring this batch of medicinal herbs. He never expected that this batch of medicine that was capable of preventing and treating the plague was the "chicken eggs" Yan Ge collected during their trip to the Demon Fortress. They were dried like little stones and then ground into powder.

Even if he was already assured of victory, he was covered in a cold sweat. If Yan Ge hadn't collected those foul-smelling things, not only would these border soldiers lose their lives, but the entire Great Han would be affected. Huangfu Yuhu was truly ruthless.

"Report—" A soldier rushed over.

"Report to Your Majesty and General, a batch of military supplies has arrived."

"So fast?" Cao Zhan was pleasantly surprised.

The soldier replied, "This batch of supplies was provided by Huang Guiqing's First Company, free of charge."

Huangfu Yuchen's eyes flashed with a warm smile, "What was sent?"

The soldier replied, "Twenty carriages of food and forage, thirty carriages of clothing, twenty carriages of meat, twenty carriages of eggs, and ten carriages of medicinal herbs."

"Good, you may leave."

"Yes!"

Yang Zhuo and several deputy generals marveled secretly. Huang Guiqing was really generous. However, the soldiers were fortunate. If they still couldn't win with this support, they wouldn't deserve Huang Guiqing's thoughtfulness.

The smile on Huangfu Yuchen's face quickly faded, and his spiritual sense once again probed Meng Xiaohun's tent.

Meng Xiaohun was sitting inside, somewhat bored. He checked the time. It was already noon, so he had a table of delicacies delivered: bear paw, camel hump stew, spicy stir-fried clams, crispy milk-white shrimp, and spicy braised oysters and tofu soup, a feast of rare delicacies.

However, after almost half an hour, the good news he was waiting for hadn't arrived. Thinking of Huangfu Yuchen's capabilities, his smile disappeared and his face turned an angry, gloomy gray.

He threw away his chopsticks, suddenly opened the tent, and walked out in large strides.

At this moment, a wave of killing intent struck without warning from mid-air, both imposing and overwhelming.

Meng Xiaohun's eyes turned cold and he hurriedly dodged, taking several steps in mid-air like he was climbing stairs. He leaped into the air to see that the Great Han soldiers below were not getting weaker, but rather fighting with increasing fierceness. He couldn't believe it. "This can't be!"

Huangfu Yuchen's figure flashed before him. He was also flying into mid-air, his cold gaze piercing him as he calmly said, "Nothing is impossible. Just like how even my most beloved brother could betray me."

Meng Xiaohun's eyes flickered.

The soldiers below exclaimed, staring in astonishment at the imposing man standing in mid-air. He was wearing a bright yellow imperial robe, as if he appeared out of nowhere.

Huangfu Yuchen focused his inner qi, loudly proclaiming, "I am the true monarch, blessed with immortal techniques, destined to become a dragon and ascend to immortality. Kill the Mai Kingdom people and show the might of our nation!"

"Yes!" The soldiers were excited. Their morale rose, and they roared in high spirits as they charged forward.

Meng Xiaohun stared at Huangfu Yuchen in disbelief.

"Great Han has medicine to cure the plague. It seems your intelligence hasn't caught up." Huangfu Yuchen scrutinized Meng Xiaohun and saw traces of his brother in him.

Meng Xiaohun pretended to remain calm, glaring at him with resentment.

"Why?" Huangfu Yuchen asked calmly.

Meng Xiaohun replied, "Why what?"

Huangfu Yuchen repeated, "Huangfu Yuhu, where did I wrong you, and why did you betray me?"

A familiar and indifferent voice echoed in Meng Xiaohun's mind.

–"Ding. Main mission – Kill Great Han's Emperor, Huangfu Yuchen. Mission rewards when successfully: one million silver, Ninth Layer of the Overlord's Curse. Accept the mission, 'Yes,' decline the mission, 'No.'"

"Because I not only want to be Emperor of Great Han but also the overlord of the entire continent!" Meng Xiaohun unhesitatingly accepted the mission. He closed the "Overlord Development System" interface in front of him, not denying that he was Huangfu Yuhu.

Huangfu Yuchen's feelings for him had long been worn away by his betrayal, and hearing this answer, he was not disappointed. He drew out his spiritual sword and said, "Since you've betrayed me, I'll kill you. Even Father Emperor and Mother Empress beneath the yellow springs won't blame me."

At the thought of Father Emperor and Mother Empress, Meng Xiaohun's eyes showed a trace of guilt, but it vanished in an instant. His gaze turned cold and heartless once more, and he sneered, "Alright, since you put it that way, I don't need to show you any mercy."

With that, he activated an incantation and moved his hands together. Black mist materialized out of thin air between his palms, resembling two fierce beasts. They ferociously lunged toward Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen's powerful spiritual sense easily captured his movements. Under the dominance of his sharp spiritual awareness, Meng Xiaohun's actions seemed like they were in slow motion. He swung his spiritual sword in a sweeping motion, and the abundant spiritual qi contained within the sword burst forth, forcibly dispersing the black mist and aiming at Meng Xiaohun's heart.

Meng Xiaohun shifted mid-air and stabilized himself. As if there was an elastic rope in his hands, he suddenly pulled in opposite directions, and the black mist, as of possessing a will of its own, retracted suddenly and then shot out, one up and one down, attacking Huangfu Yuchen.

A bone-chilling cold rushed over and Huangfu Yuchen activated the true qi in his dantian, advancing instead of retreating. His spiritual sword circled in the air, suddenly disappearing, and then appearing two inches in front of Meng Xiaohun's face, stabbing fiercely.

Meng Xiaohun quickly recited a spell, shrinking his body when it was just an inch, sidestepping and deftly avoiding Huangfu Yuchen's attack.

Huangfu Yuchen slightly distanced himself from Meng Xiaohun, and formed some gestures with both hands. Between him and Meng Xiaohun, a bright light that was as white as snow burst open, releasing dazzling silver rays.

Caught off guard, Meng Xiaohun closed his eyes due to the light. Sensing the killing intent near his chest, he knew that he was in danger and immediately opened his eyes, swiftly evading.

A white sword qi shot out from the light, leaving a sword mark about an arm's length on his chest with a crisp "shua".

Meng Xiaohun didn't care about the wounds on his body. With an incantation, the bloodstain disappeared. He underestimated Huangfu Yuchen. Over the years, they both improved their skills. The sword in Huangfu Yuchen's hand seemed extraordinary, possessing immense power. If he could snatch that sword, his strength would soar!

Meng Xiaohun narrowed his eyes, and the dissipating black mist in his palms intensified, forming two black sword energies. With a loud shout, the dual swords attacked, suddenly elongating like two black pillars fiercely crashing towards Huangfu Yuchen.

Enormous pressure rushed towards Huangfu Yuchen, forcing him back three steps. He realized that the attack descended at an angle, and beneath him were soldiers engaged in a battle. He didn't care about the lives of the Mai Kingdom soldiers, but he couldn't disregard the soldiers of Great Han.

Meng Xiaohun grinned in triumph, his eyes showing no disguise of his calculation.

Huangfu Yuchen steadied himself, retreating two more steps before channeling true qi into the spiritual sword, grasping the hilt with both hands and launching an imposing attack as if opening the heavens and earth. Surging true qi burst in the air like a thunderclap, rapidly crushing the black mist and Meng Xiaohun.

Startled, Meng Xiaohun hastily dodged backward.

Huangfu Yuchen relentlessly pursued, subtly driving Meng Xiaohun away from the battlefield, gradually distancing themselves from the fight.

At first, Cao Zhan and the others below watched with nervousness but soon calmed down and started commanding the battle calmly.

"Report – General, a group of martial artists from the martial world have arrived outside the camp."

Cao Zhan frowned, "What do they want?"

"They say they've come to help."

Cao Zhan was taken aback, "Help? Martial artists from the martial world have always—"

Before he could finish, a large group of people on horseback rushed forward. Among them were men and women, all dressed as martial artists.

Several deputy generals by Cao Zhan's side gripped their weapons vigilantly.

In the crowd, Cao Zhan spotted the head of Yingshan Hall, Zeng Shouli, and his expression relaxed slightly. Zeng Shouli would never go against the court, so he could deduce the intentions of the other martial artists.

The group of martial artists passed by Cao Zhan without stopping, directly dismounting their horses and fearlessly joining the fierce battle.

"General, these people are so arrogant!" one of the deputy generals exclaimed angrily.

Cao Zhan gestured, "It's not the time to argue. Instruct the kitchen to prepare food for these hundreds of people."

"Yes."

The sect leader of the Luna Worshiping Sect accompanied by two disciples nodded at Cao Zhan and passed by swiftly.

In the distance, Huangfu Yuchen and Meng Xiaohun were evenly matched, their powerful attacks producing thunderous sounds that shook the earth. The wind blew even stronger, and dark clouds swiftly moved, becoming thicker and heavier, as if the sky was about to collapse.

Meng Xiaohun couldn't take down Huangfu Yuchen for a long time and he frowned. But he wasn't an impulsive person, having spent years plotting and planning, rather than becoming anxious, he grew even calmer, moving like a shooting star and evading another attack from Huangfu Yuchen.

He opened his mouth and uttered a few sinister words: "Annihilation Decree, Kill!"

Intense black mist surged. It spread rapidly, enclosing him and Huangfu Yuchen.

Huangfu Yuchen's heart trembled, and he activated ninety percent of his true qi to protect his entire body. The black mist was so potent that he felt as if he was surrounded by countless Meng Xiaohuns.

"Hmph! Die!" Meng Xiaohun roared, his two arms engulfed in dense mist transformed into two black giant blades, slashing towards Huangfu Yuchen. Simultaneously, the surrounding black mist, as if receiving an order, crept closer, dense killing intent pressing down on Huangfu Yuchen's head.

Huangfu Yuchen stared at Meng Xiaohun's emotionless eyes, shook his head inwardly, and his gaze turned cold. A silver light flashed from Huangfu Yuchen's body, fearlessly meeting Meng Xiaohun's attack.

The clash left neither with an advantage.

The brief silver light caught Meng Xiaohun's attention, and he thought Huangfu Yuchen had unleashed a powerful move. However, the force of his attack remained the same as before. This made him suspicious and his attacks became more ferocious.

Huangfu Yuchen endured the pressure from the black mist, retaliating while intentionally circling Meng Xiaohun.

Meng Xiaohun became flustered. He knew he couldn't drag on any longer. His two giant blades slashed at Huangfu Yuchen with incredible speed, creating sharp, ear-piercing whistles.

"Die!"

Suddenly, Huangfu Yuchen stood still and merely made a diagonal stabbing motion from the left side.

Meng Xiaohun was overjoyed, thinking Huangfu Yuchen dared to underestimate him. This would cause his certain death!

He promptly dodged to the other side, but his body suddenly felt intense pain as someone attacked him from behind!

He couldn't believe it. He looked down, and saw a sword piercing through his abdomen from behind.

The sword made of qi had fulfilled its purpose, and it dissolved into smoke without a trace. In an instant, crimson blood gushed from the wound on his abdomen.

Huangfu Yuchen appeared in front of Meng Xiaohun in an instant, striking his heart with a palm.

Meng Xiaohun spurted out blood with a "puff" and weakly knelt on the ground, "Impossible, this can't be!"

He turned his head with difficulty, and a familiar figure appeared before him. The figure then calmly walked to Huangfu Yuchen's side.

This person looked exactly like Huangfu Yuchen!

"You, you…" Meng Xiaohun stared doubtfully at the second Huangfu Yuchen, not even paying attention to the system prompt in his mind, "Ding. The host is about to die. Countdown to death, 30, 29, 28, 27…"

Huangfu Yuchen crouched in front of him, gently wiping away the blood from the corner of Meng Xiaohun's mouth, "Me and Xiao Ge are cultivators of the heaven and earth energy. When we reach a high level of cultivation, we can ascend to become immortals. This is my clone. I originally planned to prepare a Foundation Building Pill for you, but… "

"I…" Meng Xiaohun opened his mouth, spewing another mouthful of blood. He weakly grasped Huangfu Yuchen's hand, almost squeezing blood out of it. His eyes showed a swift flow of complex and indiscernible emotions, perhaps hatred, regret, supplication, or relief.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1."

Meng Xiaohun's hand lost strength, falling weakly to the ground, lifeless.

Huangfu Yuchen remained there, unmoving for a long time.

"Yuchen!"

Huangfu Yuchen snapped back to reality and walked to Yan Ge who appeared in front of him. "Baby, why did you come? Were you worried about me?"

"Yes, after I made all the other arrangements, I teleported directly here." Yan Ge spotted Meng Xiaohun's corpse and looked at Huangfu Yuchen's face with worry.

Huangfu Yuchen pulled him into his embrace, holding him tightly. His lover always appeared when he needed him the most.

Huangfu Yuchen released him and held his hand. He temporarily stored the body of Huangfu Yuhu in his storage ring, then smiled at Yan Ge, "Let's go back."

Under the power of the Jingxu Guards and the martial artists, the Mai Kingdom soldiers were soon defeated.

The Mai Kingdom commander soon sent someone to ask for peace.

Cao Zhan ignored him, directly driving back the Mai Kingdom soldiers three to four miles before stopping the battle. The negotiation followed, and needless to say, the Mai Kingdom had to cede territory and pay reparations.

Huangfu Yuchen instructed Cao Zhan to treat the martial artists hospitably and then set off back to the capital.

The common people of the capital knew that the Emperor had won a victorious battle and celebrated with joy. The city was lively, as if it was the New Year.

Huangfu Yuchen sent Meng Xiaohun's body to the tomb of Prince Dai, finally ending this bitter fate.

Yan Ge knew that Huangfu Yuchen would begin preparations for abdication. As he hadn't found a good way to become Empress, he had to directly talk to Huangfu Yuchen.

"Yuchen, there's something I want to tell you."

"Perfect, I have something to tell you too." Huangfu Yuchen hugged his waist, lowered his head, and kissed his lips. "Baby, be my empress."

"Ah?" Yan Ge was stunned.

Huangfu Yuchen was amused by his expression and chuckled. Holding his lover's face, he kissed his lips again and explained, "Baby, you are the only one in my heart. I want you to be my empress. I know it would be awkward for a man to be an empress, so you only need to do it for a few days. After I abdicate, we will leave together."

Yan Ge was still dumbfounded.

"You don't want to?" Huangfu Yuchen asked.

Yan Ge snapped back to reality and hurriedly said, "I want to, I really want to. Yuchen, I love you so much!" How could his man be so thoughtful? He excitedly pounced on Huangfu Yuchen and kissed him firmly on the cheek.

"Hehe…" Huangfu Yuchen felt very relaxed as well. After he abdicated, he and his beloved would be completely free.

Both of them were excited and unconsciously rolled together for nearly an hour before calming down.

Huangfu Yuchen caressed his lover's smooth shoulders, unwilling to let go.

When they settled down, Yan Ge expressed his concerns, "What about Yunxi, the empress, and the Duanmu family?"

Huangfu Yuchen remained calm, "After I abdicate, the crown prince will naturally ascend the throne. The Duanmu family won't have any objections, and the empress will have no objections either. After the crown prince ascends the throne, she will be the Empress Dowager, which is an even more honorable status."

Seeing that Yan Ge was still worried, Huangfu Yuchen continued, "Actually, I've already made arrangements for these matters. As for Yunxi, I've already explained everything to him. I've also already discussed it with the Empress, and she has no objections. After Yunxi ascends the throne, her heart will be even more at ease."

Yan Ge finally felt reassured and leaned against Huangfu Yuchen's chest, closing his eyes, "That's good."

Huangfu Yuchen held him contentedly, "Go to sleep."

Afterward, Huangfu Yuchen was busy with post-war matters, while Yan Ge returned to the Yan Mansion. He had to confess the matter of cultivating to Yan Xiaojing. He had considered having their whole family cultivate, but Yan Xiaojing was a civil official and had an average physique. As for Madam Yan, she was not familiar with cultivation at all. Even if they were to cultivate, it would be very difficult for them, especially during the Tribulation. Lady Wen would face the same challenges. That's why he hadn't told his brother about cultivating all this time. However, Yan Su and Yan Xiangtian could cultivate.

Back at the Yan Mansion, Yan Xiaojing, Madam Yan, and Lady Wen were present. Yan Su had earned merit during the war and was currently on his way back to the capital.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Yan Ge got straight to the point, "Father, Mother, I have something to tell you."

Lady Wen tactfully led Yan Xiangtian away.

"What is it?" Yan Xiaojing asked.

Yan Ge revealed that he was a cultivator, but the source of his techniques was still the mysterious "master."

Yan Xiaojing and Madam Yan were both too surprised to say anything.

"So, both you and the emperor are cultivators?" Yan Xiaojing regained his senses first.

"Yes," Yan Ge nodded, "However, even if we ascend, it will take several hundred years." He had already decided to suppress his cultivation in the future, so as not to worry Yan Xiaojing and Madam Yan if he ascended too early. He truly regarded them as his biological parents, and at the very least, he would wait until they were gone before ascending.

*Ascending is different from crossing to Yan Ge's original world.

Madam Yan covered her chest, feeling quite shocked by something she had never heard of before.

Yan Ge said, "Father, Mother, actually, both of you could cultivate, but…you're both quite old, and secondly, your physical constitutions are relatively weak. I'm worried that cultivation might not be a good thing for you. However, if you decide to cultivate, I will personally guide you."

Yan Xiaojing didn't hesitate and shook his head, "Both your mother and I are getting old. It's better to live a stable life. Su'er and Xiangtian can do it, though."

Madam Yan also said, "I'm just a woman of the household; I can't handle such things."

Yan Ge felt a little sad, "If you both don't cultivate, in the future…"

"Silly child." Madam Yan chuckled lightly, "As long as all of you children are safe and sound, your father and I will be at ease. Besides, an ordinary life is a blessing. What do you think, Old Master?"

Yan Xiaojing nodded, "After Su'er returns, ask him for his opinion. He has to think about his wife, so I wonder what plans he has."

Cultivation was a lifelong matter, and Yan Ge couldn't force them. After chatting with his parents for a while, he left for the palace.

A month later, Cao Zhan returned to the court.

Yan Su accepted the Foundation Building Pill and embarked on the path of cultivation together with Yan Xiangtian.

During the victory banquet, Huangfu Yuchen announced the abolition of the current empress and the appointment of Yan Ge as the empress.

Yan Ge didn't bother with other people's reactions, waiting for the system's response.

–"Ding. Congratulations, you have successfully completed the main mission 12—being promoted to Empress by the Emperor. Mission rewards: 10,000,000 silver, 'Fengyun Immortal Records' cultivation method until the end of the Crossing Tribulation stage. The system's final upgrade… 96%, 97%… 100%."

Yan Jin's voice rang out in Yan Ge's mind, "Master, the 'Male Consort Upgrade System' upgrade is complete, and the space has evolved into a small world."

"Fantastic!" Yan Ge eagerly opened the system panel and indeed, the system's inventory had evolved into a three-dimensional space. Through the panel, he could clearly see the mountains, rivers, and occasional little animals inside. It was like a small world.

At this moment, he noticed an icon in the corner that he hadn't seen before. Curious, he clicked on it, and the prompt read: "Do you want to unbind from the system?"

He paused for a moment, "Little Jin, what's this?"

Yan Jin explained, "My mission is already complete. Unbinding from me means I'll become an independent entity and return to the Origin Realm. But the system will still belong to you, Master."

"The Origin Realm?" Yan Ge didn't understand.

Yan Jin continued, "It's the space where all system entities exist."

Yan Ge understood and chose to unbind without hesitation.

Yan Jin was both surprised and touched, "Master."

"Silly. To me, you're not just a system but also family." Yan Ge smiled as he looked at the young man sitting with Jiang Gan.

"Thank you, Master." Yan Jin replied with a bright smile.

A month later, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen completed all their work handovers. Huangfu Yunxi ascended the throne.

A few days later, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen bid farewell to their relatives and friends with Yan Jin in tow, and rode horses out of the capital.

In a remote place, Yan Jin left them and returned to the Origin Realm. Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen opened a spatial passage, leaving this world to start a new life.

– Volume Four Completed –