Report of victory?
Liberation?
Everyone knows these words individually.
But put together and coming out of Lü Qinghou's mouth, why did it sound like a fairy tale?
Those were the demons of Lingshan!
How could they be gone in the blink of an eye?
Liu Xingyun froze on the spot, even forgetting to close his mouth.
Cheng Buxiu also looked up sharply, widening his old eyes.
Inside the great hall, there was a moment of dead silence.
Then came an uproar.
"Lord... Lord Lü..."
The burly general who had been cursing Liu Xingyun earlier, ignoring that the other was the dignified Left Demon Suppression Envoy with a noble status, stepped forward a few paces and said tremulously, "You... could it be that you were in too much of a hurry and misspoke..."
It wasn't surprising that he lost his composure like this.
The news was truly too outrageous.
Who would dare believe it?
Who could believe it?!
"Presumptuous!"
Lü Qinghou snorted coldly.
"As the Left Demon Suppression Envoy, would I joke with the entire imperial court on such a major matter concerning the nation's fate?!"
Having said that.
He took a deep breath and straightened his back.
His gaze swept across the dull faces in the hall, and he said loudly:
"Just the day before yesterday! Her Highness the Grand Princess was all alone, starting from Baxi Commandery and heading south all the way!"
"In a single day!"
"She broke through fifty-four counties and commanderies in Jiannan Circuit!"
"Everywhere she went, demons were slain; none could withstand a single blow!"
"Until reaching Yizhou Prefecture, she beheaded the Lingshan Demon Sage and liberated the entire territory!"
Hiss—!!!
Hiss—!!!
Hiss—!!!
The sound of collective gasps of cold air echoed in the hall.
These thousands of mouths took a sharp breath at the same time.
It actually caused a cold wind to blow out of thin air within the vast hall.
If global warming existed in this world.
The civil and military officials of the court would have certainly made an indelible contribution today.
"..."
Cheng Buxiu was stunned.
His old face was a sight to behold, looking as if he wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.
I went to the immortal sect to be a dog, and yet Her Highness has already gone on a killing spree?
On the dragon throne.
The Emperor slid down from the dragon throne.
He didn't faint, though.
He just felt his legs go a bit weak.
"You're saying... Guyue... alone..."
The Emperor murmured to himself.
His brain was working in overdrive.
He knew his sister was beautiful.
He also knew his sister could fight.
But was this something she could actually pull off?
"Replying to Your Majesty!"
Lü Qinghou bowed again, a smile appearing on his face.
"Not only that... there is one more thing I need to report to Your Majesty."
The Emperor's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously held his breath: "What... what is it?"
Lü Qinghou looked up.
His eyes were burning as he spoke word by word.
"Now, Her Highness..."
"Has entered the Lamp Lighting Realm!"
Boom—!!!
If the previous victory report was a thunderclap.
Then these four words...
...simply punched a hole in the sky.
The hall erupted completely.
"Lamp... Lamp Lighting?!"
"Holy sh—..."
Numerous profanities were blurted out.
The generals were even more shocked, their faces turning pale.
Eighteen years old? Lamp Lighting?!
What were they doing when they were eighteen?
Weren't they still arguing with people just to get two more bowls of rice?
And her?
She is already standing at the Peak of martial arts, becoming a Lamp-Lighting Martial Saint like an earthly immortal!
Is she even human!
"Impossible... absolutely impossible..."
Liu Xingyun muttered to himself, looking as if he were possessed.
"How can there be a Lamp Lighting at such an age..."
"Even the Founding Emperor back then... was never such a Prodigy..."
However.
Looking at Lü Qinghou's certain expression.
Everyone had no choice but to believe.
This... was real.
The Great Tang.
The times had changed.
This time, it wasn't a change of dark clouds overhead.
But... a radiance of ten thousand zhang of golden light!
...Yizhou Prefecture.
Inside and outside the city, figures in black clothes with red patterns were everywhere, mixed with armored soldiers, weaving through the ruins.
However.
In the hands that should have been holding Horizontal Sabers and long spears, there were instead things like shovels and brooms.
It couldn't be helped.
They arrived late.
All the various groups had written their wills and settled their affairs.
They had even decided who would take care of the old yellow dog at home.
Only then did they charge into the Yizhou territory with bloodshot eyes and howling cries.
And the result?
Demons?
Gone.
Atop the city walls.
A young man stood with his hands behind his back.
Dressed in white brocade, he had a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and a nose like a hanging gall.
Even amidst these dusty ruins, his outstanding elegance could not be hidden.
With a cold face, he gazed deeply at the busy crowd in the distance, his entire body emitting a chill that warned others not to approach.
The passing Demon Suppression Guards secretly praised him upon seeing this.
As expected of Lord You!
Remaining calm even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.
This level of composure is truly a model for our generation.
However.
You Wujiang was currently in a daze.
From when she was just in the tiny Ink Dot Realm and killed a Seed Lotus.
Later in Changsha Commandery, suppressing a Mountain Gazing with the Seed Lotus Realm.
That was one thing.
After all, this girl's Prodigy-level Aptitude wasn't something new.
But a few days ago.
He heard she had killed a Lamp Lighting Demon Sage while in the Mountain Gazing realm.
She had literally slaughtered the Huiyue Great Sage.
He thought that was already the limit.
But how many days had passed?
She's at Lamp Lighting.
How the hell is she at Lamp Lighting already?
"Phew..."
Just as You Wujiang was questioning his life.
A faint fragrance wafted over.
You Wujiang's body stiffened slightly; he didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
A similarly white-clothed figure slowly walked onto the city wall.
"Senior Sister Gu."
You Wujiang braced himself and offered a greeting.
Gu Wanlan nodded slightly in response.
The two stood side by side, neither speaking.
The atmosphere was silent for a moment.
After a long time.
Gu Wanlan spoke softly, "I remember... when I first heard her name in the letters sent from the Longyou Commandery... she was still at Core Formation."
"At that time, I thought that no matter how high her talent was, it would take her at least ten, maybe even twenty years to catch up to me."
"Later in Luling, seeing her kill a Demon Sage with my own eyes, I knew that the title of the Great Tang's number one should have changed hands long ago."
"It's just..."
Gu Wanlan took a deep breath, her gaze becoming somewhat dazed.
"I never thought this day would come so quickly."
So fast it makes one despair.
So fast that one can't even feel jealous, only a deep sense of helplessness.
From Mountain Gazing to Lamp Lighting.
How many brilliant geniuses have spent their entire lives unable to cross that chasm?
Yet at this girl's feet...
...it's as simple as lifting a leg.
You Wujiang was silent for a moment.
He didn't know how to respond to that.
Comfort her?
Don't be ridiculous.
He was feeling a bit depressed himself.
"Senior Sister..."
You Wujiang suddenly sighed and changed the subject.
"Master... how is he?"
Hearing this.
Gu Wanlan's originally cold eyes instantly dimmed.
"Not very good."
The battle of Luling.
In order to secure a glimmer of hope for the Great Tang, White Jade Tower did not hesitate to burn his last chance at Lamp Lighting.
Although Her Highness later turned the tide and killed the Demon Sage.
Now White Jade Tower's cultivation has vanished, and he is but a Mortal.
"Senior Sister, is there truly... no other way?"