In Zhongjue Hall, the heavy air of power lingered.
Ever since Emperor Longqing had gone into seclusion to heal and cultivate, the Fourth Prince, Prince of Qin, had finally obtained the position he had long dreamed of—the Regent of the Realm.
Sitting upon the throne, he felt both triumphant and uneasy.
Though he held the imperial seal in his hands, his heart was heavy.
The empire was drowning in chaos—foreign enemies pressed from the borders, while within, Prince Jin, Prince Yan, and the White Robe of Northern Liang had all risen in rebellion.
"Gentlemen!"
Prince Qin's voice rang through the hall. "What do you propose we do next?"
The former Minister of War, Ming Qingfeng, had defected alongside Prince Jin Cao Huan.
In his place now stood Mu Fengchun, once a long-time follower of Sun Xiangzong, who had resigned years ago to live in seclusion—only to recently return to court service.
"Your Highness," Mu Fengchun said in a calm tone, "the most pressing matter is Liangzhou. Whether it's Prince Jin, Prince Yan, or any foreign opportunists—they all act because the White Robe first rebelled. Suppress Liangzhou, and the realm will follow. Whether through force or persuasion, as long as Liangzhou is pacified, the world will settle once more.
"My humble suggestion: let General Lü Ji hold Liangzhou for now. The court should dispatch Immortal Masters and troops from the Central Plains to the Spring and Autumn Prefecture—the northern gate—to crush the rebellion in full."
"Quickly!"
Prince Qin snapped, pointing toward his attendants. "What are you standing around for? Send word to General Lü Ji immediately! If he can hold Liangzhou City, I'll memorialize Father personally and grant him the title of Duke of the Realm!"
In Liangzhou City, the stalemate had dragged on for half a month.
Lü Ji refused to leave the walls. He ordered Nie Yuan and the others to spread rumors to weaken the morale of the rebel army outside.
"Brothers!"
Standing atop the ramparts, Third Senior Brother Nie Yuan called out with a strained voice, "I've received word—His Majesty will soon execute the Yan traitors and cleanse the court of corruption! Once that's done, the land will be restored to peace! You all can go home again—why keep fighting and dying needlessly?"
"General Nie!"
Xu Wencai, the Wolong strategist, sat on a four-wheeled cart, fanned by his disciple Qi Cheng as he was pushed to the front of the walls. He smiled faintly and called back, "Funny. The news I received says otherwise!
"Our Northern Liang Army rises in response to the call of Prince Jin and Prince Yan, to pacify chaos and purge the court! We fight for Heaven's mandate! We are a righteous army!"
"Prince Jin and Prince Yan?"
Nie Yuan frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"What I mean," Xu Wencai said with a knowing smile, "you'll soon understand. Go back inside and wait for the news."
He turned his cart around, unhurried, leaving behind the confusion that clung to Nie Yuan's heart.
Back inside the city, Nie Yuan arrived at the central command tent—just in time to hear an imperial eunuch reading aloud a sealed edict.
The Emperor remained in seclusion; Princes Jin and Yan had both raised armies; Princes Qin and Qi, along with the Yan faction, had seized control of the court; the people were furious…
"How—how could this be?!"
Nie Yuan snatched the letter from the eunuch's hands and read it himself. "It's the Fourth Brother! Of course it's his doing! Clever snake… The court thought bringing him to the capital as a hostage would control him, but instead, he's turned the whole situation on its head!
"If this is true…"
He drew a sharp breath.
"…then our junior brothers—Chen Sanshi and the others—now have the righteous cause on their side.
"Senior Brother, what should we do? The grain in the city won't last much longer. We can't hold out until reinforcements arrive."
Lü Ji remained silent for a long while, staring at the Go board before him. Finally, as he began gathering the stones, he said quietly, "Tell them this: send Fifth Brother Meng Guangxin to parley. Tell him I'm considering opening the gates to surrender."
That night, Fifth Senior Brother Meng Guangxin, ignoring all warnings, rode into the city with an air of confidence—and was promptly detained. Days passed without a word.
"He's dead for sure!"
Wang Zhi slammed his fist down, roaring, "Second Brother, this is your damn fault! You were the one who insisted we try negotiation. Now look what's happened—the dog-headed traitors have probably turned him into ashes by now!"
"Sigh…"
Second Senior Brother Cheng Wei stomped his foot helplessly. "What else could I have done? The city walls are too strong to breach quickly, and they're our own brothers inside! Do we really have to slaughter each other?
"And besides… what about the civilians in the city if we force them too hard?
"Honestly, it's Old Five's own fault—he was the one who kept cursing Senior Brother the most! If I had gone to negotiate, they'd never have arrested me!"
"Oh yeah? Then you go next!"
"I'm not going!"
"Enough, all of you."
Chen Sanshi finally spoke, his voice steady as iron. "If they won't open the gates, then we'll open them ourselves. Pass down my order—tighten the siege. In ten days, I'll lead the charge as vanguard and storm the city myself."
His words were final.
October.
Northern Liang was swallowed by storm.
Thunder rolled across the blackened sky. The clouds hung low and heavy, as if they might crush the world beneath them. The heavens offered no light. Wind howled with the roar of thunder, and the rain poured like arrows—furious, relentless, striking the ground in waves that shook the earth itself.
The streets flooded in moments. Water rushed through alleys like small rivers, carrying mud and stones away as it went. All of Northern Liang trembled beneath the storm.
After the autumn harvest, Liangzhou City's garrison had completely missed the delivery of provincial grain supplies. Their stores were exhausted. To endure any longer meant one of two things—either resort to cannibalism, or loot the granaries of the people and sects. But even that would buy them only a few more days.
Outside the walls, the Northern Liang rebel army, numbering 60,000, surrounded the city like a rising tide.
Through the curtain of rain, the White Robe rode a white horse forward, alone. He did not shout, yet his voice rolled like thunder, carrying across the entire city.
"Soldiers of the city, listen well!
"His Majesty no longer governs, allowing traitors to rule unchecked! The Prince of Qin and the Yan faction have thrown the realm into chaos!
"We of Northern Liang, righteous and loyal, rise in response to Prince Jin's call—to serve Heaven's will, to cleanse the Emperor's side! We are a righteous army! And you—by protecting corruption—are not!
"Your granaries are empty. I give you half a day. If you still refuse to open the gates and surrender, then my hundred thousand iron riders will crush this city into dust!"
His final ultimatum echoed through the rain.
Afterward, Xu Wencai and others took turns calling out—appealing to brotherhood, to mercy, to shared blood—but their pleas fell unanswered.
Inside the city, every soldier stood grim-faced, hands clenched on their weapons.
At noon, the war drums thundered—blending with the sky's own rumble. Lightning flashed across the clouds, casting light upon the vast formation of rebel troops outside. The sight was enough to chill the blood and steal the breath from any man.
And there he was—the White Robe on a white horse, at the head of two thousand elite cavalry, the vanguard of the storm—ready to be the first to climb the walls himself.
"Boom—"
At that exact moment, the rumble of Liangzhou City's gates opening blended with the thunder in the sky.
Through the downpour, Lü Ji, towering and broad-shouldered, strode out from the city alone. He wore scarlet armor that gleamed with a crimson sheen, a feathered crown upon his head, and in his hand he held a Fangtian halberd, its edge flashing cold light through the rain.
Beneath him was his blazing red warhorse, muscles taut like drawn steel, snorting steam in the storm.
"Three-surnamed slave?!"
"Let Old Fifth go!"
Within the army ranks, Wang Zhi and the others immediately drew their blades.
But at the front, Chen Sanshi lifted his arm, signaling them to stand down. Then, alone on horseback, he rode forward through the torrential curtain of rain.
Under the flickering lightning, the two men faced each other.
One wore a white robe, astride a white horse.
The other in crimson armor, astride a red warhorse.
They stood seven steps apart, facing one another in silence.
"Junior Brother."
Lü Ji's voice was low, barely enough for the two of them to hear through the rain. "Must it come to this?"
"It must."
Chen Sanshi's tone was calm and steady, like a hunter speaking of the inevitability of his aim.
"You can't win."
Lü Ji's voice deepened. "The court has Immortal Sects backing them. The Immortal Masters will soon hire Formation Grandmasters and martial clans' experts at the True Force Realm. His Majesty is about to reach Foundation Establishment. You're fighting a hopeless war. It's not too late to stop now. As long as I'm here, no one needs to die."
"I'm a hunter," Chen Sanshi said flatly. "Once the bow is drawn, there's no taking back the arrow."
"Seems you won't cry until you see the coffin." Lü Ji's expression hardened. "Then let me see for myself how capable you really are—Chen Sanshi!"
His roar exploded like thunder. It reverberated through the heavens, shaking the rain-soaked air. Every soldier among the hundred thousand present heard it clearly.
"You're right!"
"Both of us are from Northern Liang—there's no need for brothers to slaughter each other!"
"In that case, why don't we make a gentlemen's agreement?"
A murmur rippled through both armies.
"A gentlemen's agreement?"
"Sanshi, don't listen to that three-surnamed traitor!" Wang Zhi shouted, his voice sharp through the rain.
"Senior Brother," Chen Sanshi met Lü Ji's gaze. "Speak."
"You and I will decide this here and now—just the two of us. Win or lose, life or death—no third party interferes."
Lü Ji's voice boomed like rolling thunder across the plain.
"If I win, you'll relinquish your titles and command, send your wife and children to the capital, hand over the Dragon Scripture, and end this rebellion peacefully!
"If I lose, I'll withdraw my troops and surrender Liangzhou City to you! What do you say?!"
"Junior Brother, don't!"
Cheng Wei and the others called out in alarm.
"That three-surnamed dog practices wicked arts—you don't know what kind of trap he's laid for you!"
But Chen Sanshi's response came clear and unwavering, his voice echoing with iron resolve:
"Fine! It's a deal!"
The rain fell harder.
Water poured like a waterfall, obscuring the world. Through the cascading sheets, vision blurred; only fragments of sound reached the soldiers' ears.
A horse neighed like a dragon's cry.
A flicker of violet light spiraled skyward, twisting into the shape of a dragon-elephant.
Then, within the storm's veil, a blazing fire dragon burst forth—its searing heat vaporizing the rain, filling the field with white mist. The two powers clashed, fire and incense-formed dragon colliding midair.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Lightning split the heavens again.
The Dragon-Gall Silver Spear and Fangtian halberd met blow for blow, the metallic crashes fusing with thunder. Each strike shook the earth beneath them, the sound resounding like the wrath of gods.
October 8th, Year 76 of the Longqing Era.
Outside Liangzhou City, White Robe Chen Sanshi and Red Armor Lü Ji fought for thirty-six rounds.
At the thirty-seventh, the white spear pierced Lü Ji's chest clean through, throwing him from his horse.
Chen Sanshi claimed victory.
From that day forth, none dared question it—the true heir to Sun Xiangzong's Spear God legacy was Chen Sanshi.
The following day, both sides honored their word.
Under Nie Yuan's command, the Black Turtle, White Tiger, and Heavenly Lion Battalions withdrew from Liangzhou City.
From that moment on, the White Robe entered Liangzhou, securing control over Youzhou and Liangzhou, commanding 100,000 soldiers, and preparing at all times to march south to cleanse the Emperor's side.
Days of torrential rain finally came to an end.
The retreating troops of the three battalions trudged down the muddy, waterlogged official roads in orderly formation.
Inside a carriage, Nie Yuan lifted the curtain. "Senior Brother, how are you holding up?"
Bare-chested, Lü Ji sat cross-legged inside, his complexion deathly pale. He clenched his teeth as he tightened a bloodstained bandage around his chest—the wound was half an inch from his heart.
"In terms of spear technique," Nie Yuan sighed, "our Little Junior Brother might already surpass Master himself. But his strike was too harsh! You never meant to kill him!"
"Do you know," Lü Ji said faintly, his voice trembling with pain, "why this wound missed my heart by half an inch?"
Nie Yuan fell silent for a long while. "Senior Brother, our Little Junior Brother isn't human. His talent in martial arts—no one in the world can compare. Not even Master back in his day. So you need not despair."
"Lost is lost," Lü Ji said with a bitter smile. "Seems Master chose the right successor after all."
As he spoke, his pupils suddenly flared violet, and for a brief instant, his face twisted, as though possessed by another being.
"That evil spirit again?!"
Nie Yuan's face went pale. "Senior Brother, you can't keep practicing that Evil God Path! That accursed thing eats at your mind day and night. Keep this up, and one day, you'll truly fall into madness!"
"It's too late."
After the span of a tea's time, Lü Ji's eyes dimmed again, his tone weary yet calm. "The moment I forged that connection with it—it was already too late. The Evil God Path offers no return."
"Senior Brother?!"
Nie Yuan's eyes widened, his voice trembling with both rage and grief. "You can't mean… you're really choosing to become a demon?!"
"Old Third… cough, cough…"
Lü Ji did not answer directly. Sitting in the shaking carriage, he gazed out the window at the dying light of the sunset. "To tell the truth, even now, I don't think I was wrong back then.
"I still don't understand.
"In this world, aside from my own sect brothers and kin, what do the lives or deaths of others have to do with me? Why should I care? The strong devour the weak—this has always been the law of the world."
Clang!
Hearing this, Nie Yuan, who had followed beside him for years, suddenly drew his sword. "Senior Brother! If you're using that excuse to step into demonic madness, don't blame me for turning against you!"
But Lü Ji ignored him. His eyes remained calm, his voice unhurried. "Even so, I still respected Master.
"If Master said it was wrong, then it was wrong.
"I, Lü Ji, swear this oath—from this life until the next, I'll only kill enemies, never slaughter innocents. You can rest assured of that."
Only then did Nie Yuan slowly lower his sword. But his tone stayed sharp with worry. "You have to understand—this Evil God Path corrupts the mind. I found some records about the Incense Flame God Path recently.
"They're very clear.
"When you cultivate that path to a certain level, the god you worship becomes your master. You must walk its road, serve it forever.
"That's why the Evil God Path is called 'evil.' The gods it worships are bloodthirsty—feeding on living souls. That cannot be changed.
"Go any further, and the evil god will begin to control your very mind. You won't even have the right to choose your own thoughts.
"Senior Brother!
"Turn back now! Find a sacred incense relic, cleanse your spirit platform, abolish the Evil God Path cultivation before it's too late!"
"Enough."
Lü Ji's tone cut him off coldly. "I have my own path to walk. There's no need to say more."
Nie Yuan knew he couldn't persuade him. He sighed, stamped his foot, and turned away.
The carriage fell silent. Only the sound of hoofbeats and wheels grinding through mud echoed in the rain.
Then the side effects of the Evil God Path struck again. Lü Ji's body trembled violently with pain, but he made no sound. Closing his eyes, he turned his sight inward—within his spiritual sea stood a distorted shrine, vague and eerie, radiating corruption and whispering temptation.
It took half a stick of incense before the torment subsided.
Soaked in sweat, Lü Ji opened his eyes wide. Before him loomed the twisted visage of the false god, its face shifting, neither human nor divine. Lü Ji's lips curled into a grim, disdainful sneer.
Heavenly Capital City, Zhongjue Hall.
The Prince of Qin, acting as Regent, sat upon the throne, savoring the feeling of ruling the realm.
"Report—!"
A eunuch burst into the hall, stumbling as he fell to his knees.
"Your Highness! Terrible news!"
"Ten days ago, General Lü Ji fought Chen Sanshi outside Liangzhou City and was defeated, grievously wounded! The Black Turtle, White Tiger, and Heavenly Lion Battalions were forced to withdraw!
"Now both Liangzhou and Youzhou have fallen entirely into the hands of the White Robe!"
"What!?"
Prince Qin's face twisted with rage. "That Lü Ji—useless trash! Didn't they say he cultivated some demonic art? Yet even with that, he still lost to a mere martial cultivator?!"
"Quick! Send word to His Majesty in seclusion! Only Father can summon the Immortal Masters!"
Mount Kunlun.
Hidden deep within the mountains, behind a cascading waterfall, lay the Heavenly Cave Mansion—a sanctuary carved entirely from stone.
Inside stood a half-grown sapling, barely reaching a man's chest, its trunk no thicker than a woman's wrist. It shimmered faintly with spiritual light, releasing dense spiritual qi into the air. But many of its once-green leaves had turned yellow, trembling on the verge of withering.
It was there that the news of Lü Ji's defeat and the fall of Liangzhou arrived.
The injured Emperor Longqing, pale and cold-faced, sat cross-legged on a stone dais.
"Your Majesty, please calm yourself," Huang Hong urged softly.
But the Emperor said nothing. Huang Hong could feel the storm of dragon might rising in the air, filling the cave like a suffocating sea.
In just one month, the empire had been torn apart—the White Robe rose in rebellion, Prince Yan allied with the Seeking Immortals Tower to attempt regicide, and Princes Qin and Qi fought for power, throwing the entire court into chaos. The world itself was unraveling.
"'A son uneducated is the father's failure,'" Emperor Longqing murmured, eyes closed. Though the words condemned himself, the pressure that filled the cavern made every Immortal within tremble, as if the air itself was crushing their chests. "All these years, I buried myself in cultivation and governance, neglecting to guide my heirs. I have shamed the ancestors of Great Sheng."
This time, Prince Yan Cao Zhi's collusion with Seeking Immortals Tower was one thing—but what infuriated him most were those two fools, Prince Qin and Prince Qi.
Blinded by ambition, they'd believed slander and attempted to assassinate Prince Jin Cao Huan, forcing him to flee with Prince Yan, plunging the nation into uproar. A brilliant plan had turned to ruin.
"Your Majesty," said Huang Hong, who had served at his side for decades and knew his heart better than anyone, "things have gone too far. You must continue your seclusion. For now, we can only let the court handle itself. Fortunately, the Shengyun Sect's Immortal Masters are coming to our aid. By my estimation, they should arrive any moment."
No sooner had he spoken than a voice echoed faintly through the waterfall outside.
Moments later, three cultivators entered the cave.
"I, Daoist Daxuan, formation master of the Shengyun Sect, greet the Emperor of Great Sheng."
"I am Ling Yun of the Ling family of Heavenly Water Isle, come to pay respects on behalf of my clan."
The third was a familiar face—Li He of the Li clan, whom the Emperor had met before.
He gave a faint, mocking smile. "Daoist Cao Kai, if you had heeded my warning earlier and eliminated the White Robe Chen Sanshi, would today's chaos have come to pass?"
The Emperor let out a low chuckle. "Heh… Perhaps not."
But his face remained calm, his voice steady. "I'll trouble you all then. Each of you has your duty—help me stabilize this situation. Huang Hong, I will resume my cultivation. You will see to the arrangements."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Leave everything to me."
Huang Hong bowed deeply, gesturing for the three Immortal guests to follow him.
"Our Ling clan's patriarch," Ling Yun said respectfully as they left, "has already gone to guard Mount Mang personally. Rest assured—our ancestral veins will not fall into the hands of the Fallen Leaf Valley heretics."
Ling Yun spoke calmly, his expression unruffled. "And I, together with Senior Li He, will lead the other cultivators north to assist in suppressing the rebellion and repel the foreign invasion."
"Do the Immortal Masters have confidence in this plan?"
Eunuch Huang Hong's tone was even, but his words carried a warning. "That White Robe Chen Sanshi is no ordinary man. In just a few short years of southern and northern campaigns, he's become unmatched across the realm. Most importantly, he holds command over a mysterious 'Heavenly Book Formation' that can influence the heavens themselves—unpredictable, beyond comprehension, and extremely dangerous."
Back when Fang Qingyun came to the capital, he had once submitted a talisman, claiming that when combined with the Heavenly Book Formation, it could move the celestial signs.
But after the White Robe's rebellion and Fang Qingyun's triple memorials to the throne, the truth of that claim had long been obvious.
"I've studied that so-called Heavenly Book Formation myself," said Daoist Daxuan, the formation master, stroking his beard confidently. "That formation was originally designed for cultivators, not mortals. It simply requires formation flags and spirit stones for support. If Chen Sanshi can use it, so can I!"
"Truly?"
Huang Hong raised an eyebrow. "Yet, in all his battles, Chen Sanshi has never once used such aids."
"I'm well aware," Daoist Daxuan said with interest. "Which only means he's probably holding some extraordinary treasure that replaces the need for them. Once he's dead, we'll take it along with his head."
"By the way," Ling Yun added, "we cultivators aren't versed in the ways of military command. Who will lead the grand strategy?"
"I happen to know a fellow cultivator," said Daoist Daxuan. "His understanding of formations even surpasses mine. Before he ascended, he lived among mortals—known as a great master of military tactics, and even a chess companion of Han Xiang of Fallen Leaf Valley. The sect has already placed a bounty to summon him back. Once he returns from his travels, he'll surely join us immediately.
"But…" He hesitated, then added, "That will take time. If we must march now, then why not let me take command? To be honest, I've read quite a few military classics myself!"
"That won't be necessary."
Huang Hong quickly interjected. "The court already prepared for this. Days ago, His Majesty issued an edict—ordering the other Immortal Masters to guard the south, while transferring Prince of Zhen'nan to command against the White Robe. His Highness is not only battle-hardened but also a martial cultivator who has reached the True Force Realm. He'll be a powerful ally for you all.
"It's just that…"
He hesitated, voice dropping lower. "Since His Highness broke through to the True Force Realm, he's gone mad during every full moon. No one knows why. I hoped the Immortal Masters might examine him."
"Oh?"
Ling Yun, descended from a martial clan, was intrigued. "Your Eastern Divine Continent is so barren of spiritual qi, yet you've birthed not one but two True Force martial cultivators? Remarkable! Where is this Prince of Zhen'nan now? Take me to him at once."
"He's recuperating in the side palace here on Mount Kunlun."
Led by Eunuch Huang Hong, the group made their way toward the palace. But before they arrived, a thunderous crash echoed down from the mountain, followed by screams.
"The Prince of Zhen'nan has gone mad!"
"His Highness—he's mad again!"
Boom—!
Atop the mountain, a figure burst forth like a wild beast starved for days. He charged downhill in a frenzy—every step shaking the earth. Any servant in his path was struck dead with a single punch, their bodies exploding into blood mist. Obstacles in his way were shattered into rubble.
Upon closer look, the man wore a dark python robe—mark of imperial nobility—but his hair was disheveled, clothes torn, eyes wild with madness.
"Your Highness!"
Eunuch Huang Hong trembled, his voice breaking. "This—this is what I spoke of! But before, it only happened on full moon nights. Why is it happening now—in broad daylight?!"
Even as he spoke, Prince of Zhen'nan, Cao Rong, had noticed them. Like a starving tiger scenting blood, he roared and rushed toward them.
His True Force surged like a tidal wave, the killing intent around him suffocating. His strength even surpassed that of a normal early-stage True Force expert.
"This is…"
Ling Yun's sharp martial eyes caught the signs instantly. "A cultivation deviation caused by energy disarray—he's fallen into inner madness. I can contain him. Fellow Daoists, assist me!"
"Fine!"
The other two cultivators agreed reluctantly. After all, subduing one man meant gaining a powerful ally against Chen Sanshi.
Daoist Daxuan flicked his sleeve. Seven formation flags, each shining with a different color of light, shot into the air. They circled the mad prince, forming a shimmering barrier that sealed him inside. Then, golden chains of light burst from the ground, binding his limbs tight.
Meanwhile, Li He of the Li Clan raised his flying sword—his life-bound weapon.
Unlike ordinary cultivators, Li He had once taken a Foundation Establishment Pill. Though he failed to form a foundation, it had extended his lifespan and allowed him to push his Qi Refining cultivation to an incredible sixteenth level.
With a flash, his sword descended like a mountain splitting the sky.
Boom!
Cao Rong roared, his crossed arms coated in layers of black demonic qi that surged into a protective barrier of True Force, clashing against the sword light head-on.
Seeing an opening, Ling Yun moved in, silver needles flashing in his hand.
After several fierce exchanges, the three finally managed to pin him down. Ling Yun thrust the last silver needle straight into the crown of the prince's head.
At once, the blood veins in Cao Rong's eyes faded. The black miasma around him thinned and vanished. His body wavered, then fell backward with a heavy thud.
After about half a stick of incense, his eyelids fluttered open again. His eyes were clear. His mind had returned.
"How strange…"
Ling Yun pressed a hand to his pulse, tracing the movement of qi through his meridians, and clicked his tongue. "Brother, could you show me the cultivation method you've been practicing? Don't worry—I only need to see a few lines."
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Cao Rong slowly gathered himself. He was just as puzzled. His divine art was authentic, his cultivation had reached completion—how could it cause such violent side effects?
He had long suspected something was wrong with the Dragon Scripture, but only after hearing of the White Robe's rebellion did he realize it might not be as pure as it seemed.
Without hesitation, the Prince of Zhen'nan took out a few pages of the manual and handed them over.
Ling Yun skimmed through them. His face darkened immediately.
"This technique…"
Cao Rong rasped, his voice hoarse. "So, my cultivation art—is it fake?"
"No," said Ling Yun grimly, "the technique itself is real."
Ling Yun cursed sharply. "I just can't fathom who could be so vicious! They completely scrambled the sequence of this cultivation method. Normally, when opening the Divine Visions, one begins from the head. Who in their right mind starts from the feet?!
"Wait…"
He suddenly froze, his gaze locking onto the Prince of Zhen'nan with disbelief. "You—don't tell me you actually cultivated it this way and succeeded?!"
"Scrambled?"
Cao Rong abruptly stood up, face pale. "What does that mean for me? What kind of effect will it have on my cultivation?"
"The body's secret meridians must be opened in precise order," Ling Yun said gravely. "You, however, forcefully opened eight Divine Visions out of sequence. That means your future path is completely blocked. To put it simply—you'll forever be stuck in the early stage of the True Force Realm, and never advance another step."
Ling Yun sighed deeply. "To think there's actually someone in this world who managed to step into True Force despite cultivating the wrong sequence! Such talent… not inferior even to that Chen Sanshi, who learned martial arts for only a few short years. What a waste—ruined beyond saving!"
"My path… ended?"
Cao Rong staggered backward as though struck by lightning. His breath trembled. Then he lurched forward again, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Tell me—is there any way to fix it?!"
Back then, all he'd wanted was to focus on martial cultivation, avoiding the court's endless schemes and rivalries. He'd volunteered to guard the southern frontier, training day and night for twenty years without rest.
After attaining the level of Martial Saint, he'd studied nearly one hundred weapon arts—just to strengthen his True Qi by a single strand.
Finally, when he obtained this legendary art—said to surpass the limits of the Martial Saints—he thought he'd finally touched the path of the immortals. And now they told him his path had already ended?
"Calm yourself."
Ling Yun's tone softened slightly. He truly admired this man's raw ability. "If you can get the original version of the technique, and cleanse your body with rare celestial treasures, there's a faint chance you might repair the damage and resume normal cultivation.
"Also, even if you can't break through further, the True Force you showed earlier far surpasses that of an ordinary early-stage cultivator.
"I myself have already opened four of the eight middle Divine Visions. Together with Daoist Daxuan and Li He, if we combine our strength, destroying that so-called rebel army and killing the White Robe should be entirely possible."
"Chen Sanshi… Fang Qingyun!"
Cao Rong's eyes flared red, his face twisted with fury. "I'll kill you both!"
Liangzhou.
The Northern Liang Army—the true inheritor of the region's legacy—had now fully taken control of the city.
From this day forth, this was Chen Sanshi's home. No one could order him away again.
His family, previously relocated to safety outside the city, returned one by one.
He no longer had to hide his cultivation. Now he could openly train beside the back mountain lake pavilion, spirit beads floating around him as they glimmered faintly in the night air.
[Cultivation Technique: Flame-Devouring Art · Qi Refining Layer Three]
[Progress: 566/800]
When Chen Sanshi found the time to refine a few more pills, his Law Cultivation would soon reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining. But the Dragon Scripture was painfully slow—on average, it took five to six months to open a single Divine Vision.
Though this pace was exceptional by any standard, to him it still felt too slow.
Because…
The Emperor was about to reach Foundation Establishment.
Thanks to his Fourth Senior Brother's schemes, the fight between the Seeking Immortals Tower and the old Emperor had delayed the process, but it wouldn't last forever.
He couldn't exactly storm the capital or Mount Kunlun right away.
So while marching south to "cleanse the Emperor's side," his cultivation couldn't fall behind either.
He would need to make another trip to the cultivation world, complete his transaction with the Bai family, and hopefully obtain some pills that could accelerate his True Force cultivation.
War wasn't a matter of days or weeks. A campaign of conquest and siege could last months, even years. But his plans for cultivation and warfare could advance together without conflict.
Once the Flame-Devouring Art reached the fourth layer, he would enter the mid-stage of Qi Refining, allowing him to perform object flight. Traveling between the mortal and immortal realms would then be far faster.
Collecting his thoughts, he calculated the time.
The generals in the city should have already gathered. It was time to plan the next great campaign.
Military Camp — Central Command Tent.
Aside from the officers assigned to guard key positions, nearly every major general was present.
"Xu Wencai. The map."
Chen Sanshi strode in, his presence sharp as lightning.
"Salute to the Grand Commander!"
The generals rose together, clasping their fists in unison.
The title of Grand Commander no longer mattered. Whether or not a court existed, he was now the absolute leader of 100,000 iron riders.
"Your Excellency, please take a look."
Xu Wencai had long prepared everything.
Before them hung a massive map—more than ten feet long, spanning the entire realm.
In less than two months, the world had changed beyond recognition. Every line, every territory, needed to be re-examined and strategized anew.
After Chen Sanshi took his seat, Xu Wencai lifted his feather fan and began his briefing.
"Commander, gentlemen.
"The world is in utter chaos.
"First, our own situation.
"We, the rightful Northern Liang Army, now command 14,0000 troops—including the Hongze, Great Halberd, and Eight Battalions, plus the garrison soldiers who recently surrendered from Youzhou. We now hold 61 prefectures across Liangzhou and Youzhou.
"Next, the other three nations.
"Southern Xu fields an army of 500,000, led by the Grand Tutor known as the 'Tomb Tiger.' They've begun a massive offensive to the south. The Great Sheng Court has stationed Immortal Masters and Mister Mo himself to defend against them.
"Western Qi, with 200,000 troops, has entered Mingzhou—seeking both to march south into the Central Plains for Mount Mang, and to push north through the Jianmen Gorge to assault Yanzhou.
"Currently, Yanzhou is defended only by the Heavenly Strategy, Anshan, and Tiger-Leopard battalions, plus a handful of local guards. They're caught between two fronts.
"In a short while, we can seize the opportunity to take over the Heavenly Strategy Battalion entirely. As for the Anshan and Tiger-Leopard battalions, they likely won't withstand the pressure—they'll retreat from Yanzhou to the Central Plains, regroup with the Inspectorate Army, and fortify Mount Mang against Western Qi's advance.
"Then, there's Eastern Qing.
"Not long ago, the Eastern Qing Empress abdicated to Duke Zhou of the Shen clan, who likewise allied with Immortal Masters. In merely two months, they've reclaimed three provinces, including Ziwei Mountain, and even captured Yunzhou, which borders our Youzhou.
"Meanwhile, the Prince Jin and Prince Yan hold three provinces around Lingzhou, near Ziwei Mountain, with 80,000 troops. But their terrain is poor. I estimate they'll soon be forced to retreat and defend only two provinces—their situation is grim.
"And finally…"
Xu Wencai's fan slowed, his voice sinking as he looked toward Chen Sanshi.
"…the Imperial Court."
"Right now," Xu Wencai said grimly, "the Imperial Court is truly surrounded on all sides. Aside from the Capital Army and a handful of troops stationed near the capital itself, they've mobilized almost everything they have.
"Moreover, they've sent the Prince of Zhen'nan, Cao Rong, along with several cultivators, leading 400,000 Central Plains soldiers to the northern front. Their momentum is fierce."
When he finished, Wang Zhi scratched his head. "Damn… this is a real mess!"
"Sure is."
Fan Hailing grinned and quickly flattered, "This is what they call, 'When the White Robe rises, the world trembles.' Without our Commander holding things together, all the monsters and demons of the realm would've crawled out by now!"
"Quite right," Xu Wencai said, smiling faintly before turning serious again. "Since the Northern Liang Army has risen in rebellion, we can't just sit tight in one corner. We have to find a way to push outward.
"But if we want to enter the Central Plains, we must first take Chunqiu Prefecture, known as the Gateway to the Central Plains. And that—" he tapped the map "—is our biggest problem.
"As it stands, we are surrounded on three sides."
"Yes, yes!" Fan Hailing eagerly chimed in again. "Luckily our Commander wiped out the southern tribes two years ago, or we'd be surrounded on four sides by now."
Chen Sanshi rubbed his forehead. "General Fan, the army just entered the city. Go handle the logistics and reorganization. I'll call you back if needed."
"Yes, Commander!"
Fan Hailing bowed and left without another word.
"Continue," Chen Sanshi said.
Xu Wencai nodded. "Being surrounded on three sides means any move we make could trigger all fronts at once. If we attack one direction, the other two will surely strike our rear. And right now, we lack both the manpower and supplies to fight on three fronts simultaneously."
He paused before continuing. "So, my advice, Commander, is this: fortify the walls, stockpile grain, and delay the crown."
Chen Sanshi raised an eyebrow.
"Yes—claim the title of King!" Xu Wencai explained, his voice steady but forceful. "Before the capital fell into chaos, even if we raised troops under the pretext of 'cleansing the Emperor's side,' people would still call us traitors. But now, things are completely different.
"The Emperor has secluded himself, allowing Princes Qin and Qi to wreck the court and plunge the realm into chaos. That's not just a matter of corrupt ministers deceiving the throne—it means the Emperor himself is inept and blind!
"Moreover, Mister Fang and I have been spreading the truth among the people—the real story behind the 'Ten Days of Yunzhou' and the 'Three Prefectures of Guandu.' As the wars worsen, the Emperor's true face will become clear to all.
"At that point, we won't be called rebels anymore. We'll be 'heroes who rise against tyranny—righteous men acting on Heaven's will!'
"The Prince of Jin will surely proclaim himself Emperor to rally his followers.
"We can do the same in Northern Liang—declare a new kingdom. Once our power solidifies, we'll march south, breach the passes, and claim the world!"
There was a saying—a dynasty's fate has its limit.
If the Prince of Jin crowned himself Emperor now, few would recognize him. But over time, as the old dynasty's destiny withered, public sentiment would shift, and rebellion would become legitimacy.
But Chen Sanshi shook his head almost immediately. "No."
He rejected Xu Wencai's carefully laid ten-year plan for Northern Liang's rise without hesitation.
Because—
It was too slow.
Yes, he could continue cultivating, strengthening himself, inching closer to the Emperor's level. From a purely strategic standpoint, stabilizing the two northern provinces, capturing Yanzhou and Yunzhou, and gradually consolidating control before expanding southward was the logical, cautious path.
But they were forgetting one thing—
The Ancestral Veins.
If the ancestral veins revived, the heavenly seals would weaken, and higher-level cultivators would pour into the Eastern Divine Continent. By then, everything they had built would crumble overnight.
Therefore—
This war for the Central Plains could not be delayed.
Dragging it out would only doom Northern Liang, his brothers, and the countless common folk.
"Two years!"
Chen Sanshi's hand slammed down on the table, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Revise the plans. Within two years, I'll march on the capital of Chang'an!
"I don't care about your talk of kingship. I don't have the time or the interest.
"In two years, I'll take Cao Kai's dog life myself!"
The entire tent fell silent.
Everyone froze.
War was never swift.
Even Wang Zhi and the other senior brothers had expected a long, grueling campaign.
But their youngest brother—their Commander—had just declared he would conquer the capital in two years.
Two years.
Barely enough time for one or two major campaigns at most.
Yet his words carried a blazing certainty, a kind of defiance that could burn through heaven itself.
This wasn't the plan of a cautious commander.
It was the vow of a man who had already chosen his fate—
To strike fast, strike hard, and seize the heart of the world before destiny itself could change.