"Hysteria?!"
Meng Quji didn't believe it for a second. "Old Zhan, go take two calming pills. Once we retreat, get some proper sleep."
"Commander!"
Zhan Taiming jabbed a trembling finger at the dispatch. "I'm not making things up—it's true!"
"True?"
Meng Quji slapped himself across the face. "Three thousand men defeating one hundred thousand? Without total annihilation? That's impossible—absolutely impossible!"
"Commander! See for yourself!"
Zhan Taiming shoved the report into his hands. "Twenty thousand enemies killed, forty thousand captured! You Jingzhi and Ran Jingxuan—both dead! Fan Shuzhen and Fan Jiaxiao—captured alive! Fan Jiaxiao, even captured twice!"
"This—this can't be real…"
Even staring at the words in black and white, Meng Quji couldn't accept it. "Am I dreaming?
"Or maybe this is a trap—Southern Xu's ruse!
"They must've taken Hulao Pass, caught a gyrfalcon alive somehow, and sent this fake report to trick us into staying here at Yongle Prefecture. Once we're stuck, they'll surround us!"
"Yes—that must be it!"
"Commander, that's impossible," Zhan Taiming said quickly. "If the gyrfalcon had ever been captured, it would be screaming its head off the moment it returned."
"They must've drugged it, right? They gave it some kind of medicine!"
Meng Quji still refused to believe it.
How could something this absurd even happen?
Until—
"Report—!"
"Commander!"
"General Chen!"
"General Chen and his army have left Hulao Pass and are marching toward Yongle Prefecture to assist! I saw them with my own eyes!"
"Boom!"
The sound in Meng Quji's ears faded. His chest tightened, his heartbeat pounded like thunder. It felt less like victory and more like defeat.
It took a full cup of tea's time before he could breathe normally again.
"Quick! Send word to the defenders inside Yongle Prefecture. Tell them to surrender immediately. If they refuse, surround the city and hold position. I want to see how long their supplies can last!"
With Hulao Pass secured, there were no more threats at their rear.
Now, they could focus entirely on the siege.
——
Yongle Prefecture.
"This is madness," Prince Li Gong muttered, pacing in agitation across the room.
"I've already offered them everything—why haven't Fan Shuzhen's people moved yet?!"
"By now, Fang Qingyun's head should already be hanging from their gates! Especially that Deng Feng! I'll have him skinned alive, bones pulled out one by one!"
"Report—!"
"Your Highness!"
"Bad news—the Sheng troops outside are shouting that Southern Xu's one hundred thousand men were crushed! They're demanding we surrender, or else everyone inside the city dies once they breach the walls!"
"What a joke!"
Li Gong sneered. "Meng Quji must've finally gone mad. Spouting nonsense like this—laughable!"
"Caw—!"
Before he could finish, a black hawk swooped in.
"Your Highness," said Liu Huanrong, "it's a letter from the heir. It must be news from Hulao Pass."
"Good."
Li Gong tore the seal open calmly—then veins bulged across his forehead, twitching violently as his hands began to shake.
"Your Highness?"
Liu Huanrong crept closer, uneasy. "Is it the Southern Xu nobles again? Raising their price, playing both sides?"
Then he saw the contents.
Southern Xu—completely defeated. The heir's whereabouts—unknown. Life or death—uncertain.
"One hundred thousand men!"
Li Gong roared, his voice cracking. "One hundred thousand! Do you even understand what that means?!
"One hundred thousand soldiers—how much grain do they eat every single day?
"One hundred thousand soldiers—how much iron does it take to forge their weapons?
"One hundred thousand soldiers—how long does it take to make all that armor?!
"And four Profound Manifestation generals—four! Even if they were wild boars, charging up Hulao Pass head-on, they should've broken through! How—how could they lose like this?! It's ridiculous! It's absurd beyond belief!"
"Your Highness, what should we do?!"
Liu Huanrong was panicking too. "Southern Xu's one hundred thousand are gone! The army at Green Ridge Mountain still hasn't made progress, and our own granaries are nearly empty. If this goes on, we'll be in real danger!"
"In danger? No—I'll keep fighting!"
Li Gong crushed the letter in his hand, shouting furiously, "Chen Sanshi defeated one hundred thousand with three thousand—so why can't I hold one city with forty thousand elite troops?!
"Keep defending!
"When the grain runs out, eat the horses! When we're out of rocks and logs, tear down the houses! We hold this city to the end!"
His rage was uncontrollable now.
——
Half a month passed in Yongle Prefecture.
"Your Highness!"
"Bad news!"
"What now?!"
"Chen Sanshi's army has arrived!"
"So what?!"
Li Gong cursed loudly. He had stopped caring about appearances days ago. "Let him come! What can three thousand men do?!"
"Your Highness—it's not three thousand…"
Liu Huanrong's face had gone pale. "Chen Sanshi brought forty thousand men!"
"Forty thousand? Nonsense! Where did he get forty thousand?!"
"Southern Xu! They're all Southern Xu men!"
Liu Huanrong's voice shook with anger. "That dog Fan Shuzhen—he surrendered! A royal prince, and he surrendered! Now he's commanding the survivors under Chen Sanshi's banner—using them as cannon fodder! Altogether, there are one hundred fifty thousand troops outside our walls!
"Your Highness!
"We can't hold anymore!
"Our supplies will last barely two more days!
"And there's still no word from His Majesty!"
"They're all damned—all of them!"
Li Gong raged until his voice cracked, then slumped, trembling. He lowered his tone. "Liu Huanrong, spread the word. At midnight, we'll launch a counterattack. Gather every officer of Lieutenant General rank and above. We'll take five hundred light cavalry and break out of the city—under cover of the chaos!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
"Rumble—"
At midnight, the garrison of Southern Xu inside Yongle Prefecture suddenly launched a full-scale counterattack.
Chen Sanshi immediately realized they were desperate—they couldn't hold out any longer and had decided to make one last attempt to break through. But Meng Quji had already anticipated this, and the preparations had been made long beforehand. Chen didn't even need to step in.
A battle between Martial Saints was not one he could intervene in anyway.
The Black Armored Cavalry had just won great merit but were also utterly exhausted. Most of them had been reassigned to escort and protect the supply routes.
The fighting raged through the entire night.
When dawn finally broke, Yongle Prefecture officially fell. The last twenty thousand soldiers inside surrendered completely.
However, Prince Tang—Li Gong—and his officers were nowhere to be found.
In the mountains nearby, the five hundred cavalry who had attempted to break out had long since perished. Only a few—barely three or five—remained. They abandoned their horses and fled on foot into the forest, planning to wait until things settled before attempting to slip back into Southern Xu.
Among them, Martial Saint Li Gong had been ambushed by Meng Quji and seriously wounded in the chaos of encirclement.
But for a Martial Saint, survival was everything. As long as he was still breathing, he could recover his strength and return to Southern Xu soon enough.
"This mountain has beasts, fruit, and wild vegetables. Enough to keep us hidden for a few months!"
"A few months later, we'll have our chance to escape alive!"
"It's just a pity—the three prefectures are as good as lost."
"When we return, we should consider joining hands with the Ancient Clans and take revenge."
Every dynasty had its neighboring enemies.
The difference was that Great Sheng was surrounded on all sides, while the other nations also fought their own rivals.
The continent was vast—boundless. And if one counted the great seas beyond, no one even knew where the world truly ended.
"Your Highness is right. As long as the green mountains remain, there'll always be firewood to burn!"
Just as Li Gong and the others relaxed slightly, a faint rustling rose all around them. Shadows flickered between the trees. Within moments, they were surrounded on all sides—every path sealed off.
"Prince Li Gong!"
"Here's your choice—do you want to live or not?"
——
After the fall of Yongle Prefecture, the war in the Eastern Front began to wind down.
Within a few days, the Eastern Xu army declared withdrawal and sent a letter of peace—agreeing to return the three prefectures to Great Sheng and restore friendly relations.
In truth, after losing Laizhou completely, Southern Xu no longer had the strength to continue the fight. Pushing any further would shake the very foundation of their kingdom. Giving up the three prefectures was inevitable; claiming it as a gesture of goodwill was merely to save face.
Over the next two and a half months, the three prefectures were all reclaimed—Lingzhou included, along with Mount Ziwei.
Soon after, the imperial court issued new orders.
All meritorious officials were to proceed to Taihu Prefecture for rest and commendation.
Most of the troops were reassigned to Yushan Prefecture, Jingyang Prefecture, and Laixi Prefecture—these three border cities had now become the new front line. Only by holding these could they prevent Southern Xu from striking back from Yaoyao Prefecture.
For now, however, there was no Martial Saint stationed there—only Deputy General Zhan Taiming in command.
Meng Quji, Fan Tianfa, and Cui Congyi all remained in the prefectural city to recuperate.
Chen Sanshi, on the other hand, didn't rest at all.
He was either cultivating—or cultivating.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression · Meridian-Connecting (Minor Achievement)]
Progress: 788 / 2000
Once he completed the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, he could begin preparations to break through to the Profound Manifestation Realm.
[Skill: Archery · Perfection (Limit Break Stage 1)]
Progress: 1518 / 2000
In addition, the campaigns in Lingzhou and surrounding regions had yielded many medicinal herbs.
During his spare time, Chen Sanshi brewed medicine for his men, helping them advance their cultivation.
[Skill: Medicine (Mortal) · Minor Achievement]
Progress: 1252 / 2000
"The time of the agreement with the Incense God Sect is approaching," he murmured.
He began to intensify his training in the Art of Disguise.
[Skill: Art of Disguise (Beginner)]
Progress: 355 / 500
Once he broke through the next stage, he would be able to compress his bones—completely foolproof, leaving no trace of his true identity.
Meanwhile, reports of their overwhelming victory spread across the continent.
——
Southern Xu Kingdom.
Temporary palace.
Inside the grand hall, thick curtains of golden-orange silk hung from the ceiling, swaying lightly in the wind. The air was filled with curling tendrils of incense—not seductive like that of brothels, not gentle like the scent of noblewomen, nor solemn like temple incense. It was pure, overpowering majesty.
There were no drugs mixed in, no special preparation—just ordinary incense. Yet every whiff struck the nose with an aura of supremacy that demanded submission.
One after another, armored generals stepped through the great doors, each radiating killing intent. But the moment they crossed the threshold, that murderous aura vanished—washed clean by the unseen pressure within the hall.
Dozens of feet away, they all dropped to their knees, none daring to lift their heads toward the veiled throne. Their eyes stayed fixed on the floor, filled only with reverence and fear.
"Your Majesty…"
"It's over."
"The three prefectures have fallen under Sheng control."
"Prince Tang—Li Gong—his whereabouts are unknown."
"Of the eighty thousand troops stationed within the three prefectures, half are dead and half have surrendered—effectively a total loss."
"After this battle, our borders will need three to five years to recover."
Silence.
No reply came from behind the curtains.
It was as if everything they said was meaningless.
Yet no one was dismissed either.
So they remained kneeling—for two whole hours—motionless.
Finally, one of the leading generals mustered his courage. "Your Majesty… do you wish us to report anything further?"
"Right! That's right!"
Someone from the corner suddenly slapped his forehead. "That file—Chen Sanshi's dossier! This lowly subject almost forgot! A grave mistake—please forgive my crime, Your Majesty!"
A female attendant stepped forward, took the document, and carried it behind the curtain.
"Rustle—"
In the vast silence of the hall, the soft sound of pages turning echoed clearly.
At the edge of the silk curtain, a pale hand—smooth as jade—turned the pages. Blood-red nail lacquer gleamed faintly beneath the golden sleeve of a dragon robe. The pages turned for a long while before a cold, faintly amused laugh broke the stillness.
"A mere hunter from the mountains… and he's stumbled upon the fortune of a lifetime."
——
Tongnan Prefecture.
"Your Highness!"
"We won!"
"We've won!"
The palace guard stumbled through the courtyard gate, falling to his knees before the old man brewing tea by the brazier.
"Your Highness—the three prefectures!"
"All of them have been reclaimed!"
"Three thousand men crushed one hundred thousand!"
The monk in black robes inhaled sharply. "Amitabha… even the founding ancestor of military strategy himself never achieved such brilliance! And to think—at Hulao Pass there were only two Profound Manifestation experts. One of them, Deng Feng, was a defector from Southern Xu. Under such conditions, they were merely meant to hold the line—yet they destroyed Southern Xu's army. It's truly unbelievable."
"Yes," said the Crown Prince calmly. "With a general like Chen Sanshi in Great Sheng, what foreign threat should we ever fear?"
"However, Your Highness," the black-robed monk said after a pause, "there are still strange things about this war.
"They say that during the battle at Silver Pine Cliff, thunder fell from the heavens. And on the day three thousand defeated one hundred thousand outside Hulao Pass, a strange mist blanketed the battlefield. And then there's Fang Qingyun's flute…
"The Heavenly Book was bestowed by His Majesty, but its strategic results far exceeded expectations. Perhaps Fang Qingyun and the others had their own secret method for using it."
"These are matters for later."
The Crown Prince poured himself another cup of tea. "For now, we must not provoke Fang Qingyun. Once everything is done, stabilizing Sun Xiangzong's faction will be key to maintaining order. Unfortunately, no matter how many hints I've dropped, they still refuse to cooperate."
"Amitabha. It must be because the Grand Commander's feud with the royal family runs too deep," said the monk. "Still, his lifespan is nearly spent. Once the Eight Northern Garrisons are divided and secured, Liangzhou will finally fall completely under court control. When Your Highness ascends the throne, you must handle the younger generation of officers carefully. Never again allow a single faction to dominate."
"Yes. The Great Sheng Dynasty may seem calm, but it's already standing on the edge of danger."
The Crown Prince looked up at the sky. "Old Yao, the Eastern Front is settled. The rest depends on you. Once this is over, I'll name you State Preceptor. You'll no longer need to collect incense in secret."
"Many thanks, Your Highness. But besides that…" The monk hesitated. "Don't you think His Majesty was too eager for this eastern campaign? He even spent from the imperial treasury. This humble monk suspects…"
"The Founding Emperor's treasure?"
The Crown Prince's expression shifted sharply. "It's said that after founding the dynasty, the Founding Emperor left behind a Nation-Suppressing Treasure for his descendants—but no one knows where. Father once even had the Founding Emperor's tomb opened, yet found nothing. Could it be… hidden in the ancestral temple atop Mount Ziwei?"
"It's very possible," the monk replied solemnly. "Your Highness, this concerns the fate of the realm. We should investigate first. If we find the Founding Emperor's treasure before anyone else, our odds of success will rise greatly."
"Then make arrangements," said the Crown Prince. "But quietly—we can't afford to alert anyone yet."
"Your Highness!"
A guard appeared at the courtyard gate. "The heir and General Cui request an audience."
"Let them in," the Crown Prince said, gesturing.
"Father!"
Cao Fan hurried in, bowed, and blurted, "Father, General Sha is dead—did you know?"
"General Sha? You mean Sha Wenlong?"
The Crown Prince's tone remained calm. "In such a great war, losing three to five hundred men and even a Profound Manifestation general is perfectly normal. Once the rewards are given, I'll ensure he's honored properly. I won't shortchange any loyal minister of Great Sheng."
"He didn't die in battle!"
Cao Fan continued, "Father, after the fighting ended, Chen Sanshi sent him to hunt down the remnants of the Southern Xu cavalry—"
"Wait."
The Crown Prince's gaze sharpened instantly. "Tell me—how many enemies have you two made in Liangzhou?"
"Thud!"
Cao Fan fell to his knees. "Father, I didn't! I only followed your orders—to compete for the Selection Chief's title and see if we could win over the Grand Commander. But there could only be one champion. We clashed—it's normal! Please see clearly, Father!"
"Your Highness, this old servant can testify!"
Eunuch Feng quickly knelt as well. "The Heir has always behaved with humility and restraint in Liangzhou—never stirring trouble. For the sake of the Selection Chief's title, he even practiced the Fierce Blade Technique, burning away years of his lifespan!"
"You…"
The Crown Prince looked at his son and sighed heavily. "Enough. It was I who sent you there, after all."
Back when Chen Sanshi led civilians across the river, few had thought much of it. The barbarian main force had been pinned down in Anding Prefecture at the time—so sending troops wasn't even possible. Most people had dismissed his act as reckless desperation.
Who could've imagined that a commoner from the countryside would rise to such heights?
"Father!"
Cao Fan pleaded, "During the Selection, he and I nearly fought to the death. Later, in the Mingzhou campaign, General Sha only disagreed with his tactics and argued with him—and now he's dead! That man is cunning and ruthless. I fear in the future—"
Cui Congyi stepped forward. "Your Highness, before General Sha left, he did say Chen Sanshi might retaliate personally. He even asked General Fan Tianfa to replace him, but it was too late."
"Enough."
The Crown Prince waved them off. "I understand."
"Your Highness," said the monk, "if my guess is right, the Black Armored Cavalry will soon be stationed at Mount Ziwei as well. They may lack a Martial Saint or Profound Manifestation expert, but three thousand of them still form a formidable force."
The Crown Prince tapped his teacup lightly. "Old Yao, is there any chance we could bring him to our side?"
"Unlikely."
The monk analyzed calmly. "He was personally nurtured by His Majesty. Grand Secretary Yan Liang's grandson, Yan Changqing, also serves under him. And then there's Sun Xiangzong—his master. Of course, if possible, it's best to win him over. But if not, don't harm him. Once Your Highness succeeds, he'll still serve you in the end."
"Father!"
Cao Fan protested again. "Chen Sanshi—he—"
"You're the heir. Would he dare harm you?"
The Crown Prince sighed. "Enough. Cui Congyi, you and Cao Fan will work together from now on. As for that scabby-headed Zhang, you'll handle him as well. Remember—at this critical time, resolve enmities, don't create them. No unnecessary trouble."
——
Mount Kunlun.
"Your Majesty!"
Grand Eunuch Huang Hong entered, presenting a sealed scroll. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations indeed!"
"Heh… three thousand breaking one hundred thousand."
Emperor Longqing read through the battle report himself. The emotions flickering in his eyes were no longer just shock and joy—there was now a hint of unease.
"Huang Hong," he said slowly, "tell me, if it had been Sun Xiangzong commanding, could he have achieved this?"
"I'm afraid not," the old eunuch replied with his head bowed. "That was a force of one hundred thousand, after all. What's even more incredible is that General Chen's three thousand men had only trained together for less than two months. Yet after such a massive war, their casualties were barely three to five hundred."
"So you're saying he's even stronger than Sun Xiangzong?"
The Emperor's lips curved faintly. "My Great Sheng… truly never lacks for talent."
"Your Majesty," Huang Hong said carefully, "I believe the main reason still lies in the Heavenly Book. The formations inscribed within… the way they were used on the battlefield is far more effective than anything they practiced here in the capital—ah, forgive this servant's loose tongue…"
"Hmph." Emperor Longqing gave a cold snort. "I knew it—Fang Qingyun and his people are still hiding something. Let them be. I am not a petty ruler. As long as it benefits Great Sheng, they are meritorious subjects, whatever their secrets may be."
"In any case," he continued, his tone softening, "the recovery of the three prefectures, and the restoration of the Founding Emperor Ancestral Temple—this is a great blessing for the realm."
"Huang Hong, summon the Directorate of Ceremonies to draft an imperial decree. The Ministry of Rites must also begin preparations.
"We will hold the Fengshan Ceremony and ancestral rites atop Mount Ziwei. All civil and military officials of the capital, as well as the meritorious officers from these campaigns, are to gather in Taihu Prefecture.
"I will personally go to the southeast."
——
Taihu Prefecture.
Once the capital of three dynasties, this city had long been the most prosperous in the eastern region. The recent wars in Lingzhou had mainly been concentrated around Hulao Pass, so most of the local populace had been spared direct devastation.
But only directly.
Across the three prefectures of the eastern border, harvests had been poor for years. After the latest war—and with Southern Xu's one hundred thousand troops pillaging and requisitioning supplies—the common people had lost nearly all their food reserves within a few short months.
Now spring had come—the hardest season of the year. Famine spread from village to village. If it continued, starvation deaths would soon follow.
Chen Sanshi originally wanted to do what he'd done before—execute a few notoriously corrupt officials and sect leaders, then open the granaries for relief.
But this time, his proposal was rejected.
The higher-ups said these men had already surrendered to Great Sheng, and that the long-term peace of the region depended on their cooperation. They couldn't afford to "kill the innocent."
When Chen requested to divert a portion of the army's food stores, Grand Commander Meng Quji refused as well, saying, "The army must always remain well-fed. Civilians can die—but soldiers must not starve."
As for transporting grain from other prefectures… that was even more impossible.
Chen had neither the authority nor the means to do it.
Yet every day, the people still came—pleading at his gates, crying for food or to report injustices.
He couldn't kill the corrupt, so he did the only thing he could—spend his own money.
He purchased what grain he could find and distributed porridge in front of his residence every morning. By dawn each day, long lines of the hungry stretched down the street outside his gate.
He could afford it, at least for now.
At higher realms of cultivation, wealth was no longer truly useful—resources could not simply be bought. So he helped as much as he could.
Fang Qingyun also contributed silver. Wang Zhi donated as well. But both warned him not to make the charity too public, lest it draw unwanted attention and cause "political complications."
So Chen Sanshi delegated the entire matter to his subordinates to handle quietly.
"Family letter!"
Several days later, letters began arriving from across the realm.
Couriers rode from house to house, delivering sealed notes.
With the war over, communications flowed freely once more.
Most soldiers were finally able to contact their families, though delivery still took time.
Chen's own letter came by special hawk courier from the Grand Commander's Office—it arrived much faster.
He set aside his spear and opened the envelope.
Inside, the message was brief but warm: all was well at home, and there was no need to worry. Half a year had passed unnoticed. Even Chen Duhe's baby boy was now babbling—and would soon be able to speak within another six months.
Sun Buqi had broken through to the Organ Tempering stage, and Sun Li to Transforming Strength.
Little details like these filled the page—trivial, homely, and comforting.
At least everyone was safe.
"Out of incense again," Chen muttered, holding up the Mystic Pearl and sensing the faint residue within.
Incense energy—how quickly it burned away.
[Technique: Sword Qi Technique (Minor Achievement)]
Progress: 405 / 2000
The last offering from the Incense God Sect had been considerable, yet it had only pushed his progress up by a quarter. To reach Major Achievement, he would need either a surge of spiritual energy—or vast amounts of incense.
Then there was the matter of the white mysterious qi.
During the Battle of Hulao Pass, Chen had used up all the white qi he had accumulated.
And even after the legendary victory of three thousand defeating one hundred thousand, it hadn't fully replenished itself.
"So replenishing the mysterious qi doesn't simply depend on winning battles?" he mused.
Still, it wasn't completely depleted—the white qi was slowly, steadily regenerating.
These celestial relics were truly unfathomable.
But as long as they worked, that was all that mattered.
After half a month of secluded cultivation, even Chen grew restless. He ordered his gates opened again and began receiving visitors.
Within a month, officials from the capital began arriving one after another, many seeking audiences with him.
Even local gentry came frequently to pay their respects.
Everyone knew that once the Fengshan Ceremony at Mount Ziwei concluded, this young general would become a pillar of the empire—one whose words would carry immense weight at court.
"Tell the local sects and surrendered officials this," Chen said with a faint smile. "If they want to make friends with me, they can offer grain and silver. The more they bring, the better friends we'll be. When I have time, I'll attend their banquets myself."
"Yes, General!"
Most of those arriving early were minor officials and small fry.
But Taihu Prefecture was only just beginning to grow lively.
It would soon be far more crowded.
It was said that several other princes would also accompany the imperial entourage—the Fourth Prince, the Eighth Prince, and the youngest of them all, the Twelfth Prince, whose martial talent was said to rival that of the Prince of Zhen'nan.
A few idle days passed.
Then Chen Sanshi received new orders.
Before His Majesty's arrival, he and his men were to work together with the Crown Prince's Tiger Guard to prepare Mount Ziwei. Their duty was to secure the area and prevent any unrelated persons from entering until the official start of the Fengshan Ceremony.
Ordinarily, this task would fall to the Imperial City's Golden Guard.
But they hadn't yet arrived.
So, for now, it would be handled jointly by the Black Armored Cavalry and the Tiger Guard—both recently arrived from the capital.
Mount Ziwei.
Legend had it that eight thousand years ago, the Purple Tenuity Star descended from the heavens and struck this very land, transforming into a towering peak. From that moment on, every ruler of Great Sheng performed their enthronement ritual and the heavenly sacrifice upon this mountain. Only those who held the ceremony here were recognized by the heavens as true emperors—rightfully ordained by destiny.
Thus, the phrase: "He who receives the Mandate of Heaven shall live in everlasting prosperity."
That was why losing the three eastern prefectures back then had been such a humiliating blow for Great Sheng.
In a sense, it was as though Eastern Xu had stolen the title of "Son of Heaven."
If not for the fact that the Nation-Sealing Imperial Seal was still in Great Sheng's possession, the empire's legitimacy itself might have been lost.
"Sir!"
"There's something strange about this invitation—it's from… a brothel."
Zhao Kang stepped forward and whispered, "It's from Taihu Prefecture's largest pleasure house. Their top courtesan is inviting you personally."
"Are you out of your mind?"
Liu Jinkui scolded, "A brothel daring to court the General's favor? Next time you get one of those, don't even bring it in—just throw it away—"
"Give it to me."
Chen Sanshi's tone was calm.
Liu Jinkui froze, his expression awkward.
The two quickly handed over the invitation and retreated.
"Old Liu, are you brain-dead? I knew the General liked this sort of thing—that's why I kept it!"
"Hey, how was I supposed to know?"
"They say the courtesan of Yunxiu Pavilion in Taihu Prefecture is unmatched in beauty."
"The war's over. The General deserves some fun, doesn't he? You ever seen him relax? Every time I see him, he's either holding a spear or drawing a bow—it's terrifying."
"Why don't we just buy a few beautiful women and gift them to him?"
"You idiot, that's not the same. You've got to go to the brothel yourself—that's the real atmosphere, got it?"
Chen Sanshi watched the two whispering as they left, saying nothing.
He opened the invitation.
The tone of the writing confirmed his suspicion—it was from the Seeking Immortals Tower.
Nine times out of ten, it had something to do with the Incense God Sect's next move.
"I should go take a look."
The relationship between him and the Seeking Immortals Tower couldn't be called friendship—they merely exchanged favors when it suited them both.
After leaving a few instructions for his trusted subordinate, Chen went to Yunxiu Pavilion that very night. This time, the process was far simpler than when he'd gone to the Red Sleeve Pavilion—no crowds, no formalities. A guide met him at the back door and led him straight upstairs.
When he pushed open the room's door, he was met not by a courtesan—but by a man.
A middle-aged man, dressed in plain robes, with a pale face and short beard. His breath was calm and deep, and the faint flow of spiritual energy within him was unmistakable—stronger than that of Ningxiang. He might very well have already stepped onto the Daoist path.
Before Chen could even speak, the man rose to greet him with a respectful bow.
"Lord Chen! I've long admired your name. I am Liao Shizhong of the Seeking Immortals Tower. I must thank you for your invaluable help!"
"Oh?"
Chen raised a brow. "Senior Liao, what do you mean by that?"
"Surely Lord Chen remembers," Liao said with a deliberate pause, "the Severed Renewal Grass you found in the Luotian Mountain Range?"
"The Severed Renewal Grass?"
Of course, Chen remembered.
So that herb had been used to heal this man.
Years of hunting had trained Chen's instincts. His keen perception told him the man's face was altered—an ordinary disguise, easy to see through. The beard was glued on.
And his voice—slightly sharp, his bearing refined yet faintly off. It reminded Chen of the eunuchs in the palace, men like Eunuch Hou.
A eunuch?
So the Seeking Immortals Tower had its reach even within the palace walls.
Keeping his tone even, Chen said, "Senior Liao, there's no need to thank me. The Tower and I merely help each other when needed. No one owes anyone. May I ask why you wanted to see me tonight?"
"Indeed," Liao replied, gesturing for him to sit. "Lord Chen, are you familiar with Mount Ziwei?"
"Of course I am."
Chen chuckled. "If not for that mountain, what was all this fighting for?"
"Then…" Liao leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Do you know why the Emperor and Crown Prince are both so desperate to reclaim it, no matter the cost?"
The Crown Prince's reasons were clear enough—he intended to rebel but couldn't make a move within the capital. The Emperor, bound to the Wanshou Palace, would never leave it easily. The only way to lure him out was by using the pretext of a grand ritual at Mount Ziwei.
But as for the Emperor himself—what was his reason?
Chen hadn't had time to ponder that question before.
Would the Emperor truly risk so much—just for the glory of reclaiming a mountain?
Or was there… something hidden there? Something he desperately desired?
After all, when he'd been ordered to defend Hulao Pass with only three thousand men against one hundred thousand, it had been a suicidal command—clearly meant to buy time, not win.
If not for the Heavenly Book and the unexpected aid of the fierce warrior Deng Feng, the battle would have drained the imperial treasury dry.
No ruler would risk so much unless the reward was extraordinary.
"There's something there, isn't there?"
Chen's tone turned cautious.
Liao nodded gravely. "Exactly."
Liao Shizhong spoke in a low, steady tone. "Founding Emperor Cao Xie once slew men with his flying sword—piercing through 2,200 suits of armor and killing four Martial Saints single-handedly. I'm sure Lord Chen has read those records. But what you may not know is that, in the early years of his reign, Cao Xie disappeared for five years."
"We believe," he continued, "that during those five years, he may have entered the Immortal Realm itself."
"There, he learned immortal techniques."
"And that's how he returned as the first martial powerhouse of the mortal world, founding the Great Sheng Dynasty that has lasted for three hundred years."
"For centuries, our Seeking Immortals Tower has tried to retrace his steps, to find what he found. But so far, we've gained little. All we know is that before his death, Cao Xie left something behind for his descendants."
"And now," Liao said gravely, "His Majesty's desperate push to reclaim Mount Ziwei proves that whatever he left behind must be there—either within the Founding Emperor Ancestral Temple or hidden somewhere on the mountain itself."
"So…" Chen Sanshi narrowed his eyes. "Senior Liao invited me here because you want…"
"Exactly."
Liao Shizhong met his gaze honestly. "Your Black Armored Cavalry was deployed from the capital. Soon, you'll likely be assigned to guard the imperial residence at Mount Ziwei. I hope Lord Chen can keep an eye out. If you find anything unusual, inform me immediately. Should we truly uncover the secret method to reach the Immortal Realm, the Seeking Immortals Tower will gladly share it with you."
"I understand."
Chen Sanshi hadn't expected Mount Ziwei to hold such a secret. No wonder the entire court was in such turmoil. Clearly, the matter ran even deeper and darker than he'd thought.
He knew the benefits of techniques born from the Immortal Realm—Sword Qi Technique had proven that. If a real chance appeared, he wouldn't miss it, as long as his own safety could be assured.
"Senior Liao," he said, changing the topic, "before I came to Lingzhou, your people mentioned that the Incense God Sect was preparing something big. Do you have any news about that now?"
"I do not," Liao replied with a shake of his head. "After collecting incense along the way, they vanished completely—without a trace. It's rather strange."
Chen nodded slightly.
He couldn't tell whether the Seeking Immortals Tower was truly unaware, or simply unwilling to tell him.
Either way, the time for his meeting with the Incense God Sect was fast approaching.
Since the man didn't want to discuss it, Chen didn't press further. "If that's all, Senior Liao, I'll take my leave. As for the matter of the Founding Emperor's relic, I'll keep it in mind."
"Of course, Lord Chen," Liao said with a smile. "And once again, my thanks for the Severed Renewal Grass. That herb is… exceedingly rare."
Chen didn't stay any longer. He rose and left.
As he descended the stairs, he caught sight of Liao Shizhong also heading down—then slipping into a courtesan's room. Soon after, sounds began drifting out from behind the door—sounds that made Chen blink in disbelief.
'Wait… that eunuch is functional?!'
Only then did he realize what the Severed Renewal Grass had really been used for.
But how? Weren't eunuchs castrated at a young age?
How could it be restored… and still function after all these years?
Did he… use someone else's?
The thought sent a shiver down Chen's spine. He quickened his pace and left the building at once.
If that man truly was a eunuch from the palace, then he would likely be stationed within the Mount Ziwei imperial compound soon. And he'd deliberately shared this secret about the Founding Emperor's relic with Chen…
'The Seeking Immortals Tower can't be trusted completely.'
Not that they were necessarily trying to harm him—but caution was always necessary.
The same went for Ningxiang.
When personal interests clashed, so-called allies could turn on each other in an instant.
By the time Chen left the brothel, it was still early in the night.
He walked back toward his residence—but soon noticed something strange.
The streets were spotless.
There were no beggars, no peddlers, not even the starving refugees who usually lingered near the alleys.
Only when he turned into his own lane did he understand why.
The street was lined with soldiers—neat ranks of men in majestic flying-fish uniforms, each armed with an embroidered spring blade. The unmistakable insignia of the imperial Embroidered Uniform Guard—the Emperor's personal elite.
"Clang!"
In perfect unison, they saluted. "Greetings, Lord Chen!"
Chen paused in surprise. Before he could respond, a young nobleman in brocade robes jogged up to him, bowing deeply.
"Lord Chen! I've long admired your name—it's an honor to finally meet you!"
"Oh, right, I nearly forgot to introduce myself," he added with a grin. "My name is Cao Zhi."
Cao Zhi?
"Your Highness."
Chen cupped his fists respectfully. "You are of the royal bloodline—how could I, your subject, accept your courtesy?"
Cao Zhi—the Twelfth Prince.
If memory served, he currently held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, overseeing all northern and southern divisions of the Imperial Secret Police.
Judging by his arrival, he was likely the first prince to reach Taihu Prefecture—and showing up at Chen's doorstep in the middle of the night, no less.
"Oh, none of that!"
Cao Zhi waved dismissively, smiling from ear to ear. "Lord Chen, you are the foremost hero of Mingzhou and the Eastern Campaign! Such merit deserves respect—more than a few polite words!"
"Your Highness flatters me," Chen replied calmly, though inwardly, he felt a flicker of surprise.
Because—
He could sense it clearly.
There was spiritual energy coursing through Cao Zhi's body.
This Cao family… truly was something else.