Chapter 45
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Zan Yunxiao met with Zan Wei outside the palace grounds.
The bustling capital remained lively due to the coronation festivities.
Without wasting words, Zan Yunxiao gave an order.
"Wei."
Zan Wei bowed respectfully.
"Father."
Zan Yunxiao spoke calmly.
"Inform Hong Se."
"Tell him to support Hong Yuanji from the shadows."
"Especially during the upcoming war."
Although Hong Se had long abdicated the throne and entered the path of cultivation, his experience as an emperor remained unmatched.
If war truly broke out, Hong Yuanji would need guidance.
Zan Wei immediately nodded.
"Understood, Father."
The two then returned to the Jin Residence.
Night had already fallen over the capital.
Inside the residence, Jin Zhou personally arranged accommodations for the distinguished guests.
While resting in the courtyard, Zan Yunxiao casually spread his spiritual sense toward Jin Zhou.
Soon, his cultivation became clear.
5th Qi Refinement Realm.
Zan Yunxiao nodded slightly.
Not bad.
For someone who began cultivating at an old age, reaching the 5th Qi Refinement Realm was already commendable.
Especially since Jin Zhou spent most of his time governing armies and protecting the border.
Then Zan Yunxiao thought of his own sons.
With a thought, he recalled their cultivation.
Zan Tianming: 3rd Qi Refinement Realm.
Zan Wei: 3rd Qi Refinement Realm.
Seeing this, Zan Yunxiao sighed helplessly.
Jin Zhou had fewer cultivation resources than the direct members of the Zan Clan.
Yet he had reached the 5th Qi Refinement Realm.
Meanwhile, his two sons.
Despite possessing the clan's resources and cultivation manuals.
Had only reached the 3rd Qi Refinement Realm.
Zan Yunxiao rubbed his forehead.
"Just how talentless are those two?"
Then he paused.
Well.
Except for Feilan.
The thought of his daughter immediately improved his mood.
Speaking of which...
What was she doing now?
With a thought, Zan Yunxiao opened the Clan Interface.
The familiar screen appeared before him.
He selected Zan Feilan.
The image shifted.
Inside a secluded mountain cave, a young woman sat cross-legged.
Her cloak had been set aside.
Spiritual energy gathered around her body as she cultivated in silence.
Her aura had become increasingly stable and profound.
Clearly, she had found a good cultivation ground during her travels.
Zan Yunxiao quietly observed for a moment.
No enemies.
No danger.
No troublesome young masters.
Just peaceful cultivation.
Seeing this, he nodded in satisfaction.
Then he closed the Clan Interface.
The screen vanished.
Leaning back in his chair, Zan Yunxiao looked up at the night sky above the capital.
The empire was entering a new era.
Hong Yuanji had ascended the throne.
War loomed on the horizon.
After spending several days in the capital, Zan Yunxiao and his wives prepared to return to the Zan Clan.
As for Zan Wei, he remained behind.
There were still many matters requiring his attention.
Naturally, the Zan Clan's representative had to remain for some time to handle political affairs.
Before leaving, Zan Yunxiao instructed him once more.
"If anything unusual happens, report it immediately."
Zan Wei bowed.
"Understood, Father."
Soon after, Zan Yunxiao departed with Xueyun and Jin Feixue.
The journey back to the Zan Clan was peaceful.
Upon returning, life gradually resumed its normal rhythm.
However, Zan Yunxiao did not relax.
The conversation with Jin Zhou still lingered in his mind.
War.
The neighboring countries were mobilizing.
Cultivators were being recruited.
Even foreign envoys had openly threatened the empire during the coronation.
The signs were already there.
A storm was coming.
And when war arrived.
Strength would determine everything.
Thus, after returning to the clan, Zan Yunxiao announced another period of seclusion.
Inside the mountain cave rich with spiritual energy, he sat cross-legged.
The Heaven Veiling Scripture began circulating once more.
Even after reaching the Soul Transformation Realm, he refused to become complacent.
Because there was always someone stronger.
The white dragon of Zinnia Planet was proof of that.
As for the coming war.
He intended to ensure that no one could threaten the Zan Clan.
. . .
Far away from the Crimson Empire.
Within the Northern Alliance.
A grand hall stood beneath the banners of various tribes and kingdoms.
Several kings and rulers sat around a large table.
Their expressions were ugly.
One ruler slammed his fist onto the table.
"That damned Demon King!"
Another ruler snorted coldly.
"We paid an enormous price to hire him."
"He was supposed to weaken the Crimson Empire from within."
"And what happened?"
"He vanished!"
A third ruler spoke angrily.
"He even took the resources we provided."
The atmosphere became tense.
Years ago, the rulers of the Northern Alliance had secretly contacted the Demon King.
Their agreement had been simple.
The Demon King would spread chaos within the Crimson Empire.
In return, he would receive resources and support.
Yet after receiving payment.
The Demon King disappeared without a trace.
Not even his subordinates remained.
One of the kings frowned.
"I heard rumors that the Demon King was killed."
The hall immediately burst into laughter.
"Killed?"
"Impossible."
"Who could kill a powerhouse Nascent Soul Demon King?"
Another ruler waved dismissively.
"That rumor is obviously a lie."
"It's merely an excuse for his disappearance."
"Most likely, he took our resources and fled."
The others nodded in agreement.
None of them believed the rumors.
After all.
A being as powerful as the Demon King did not simply die.
At least, that was what they believed.
Unbeknownst to them.
The Demon King had indeed died.
Not only him.
Even his subordinates had been completely annihilated.
And the one responsible was currently cultivating peacefully within the Zan Clan.
A terrifying existence they had yet to learn of.
Then, discussion regarding the missing Demon King had ended.
Yet the atmosphere remained tense.
One ruler finally broke the silence.
"So, what is our plan now?"
The others fell into deep thought.
Then an elderly king slowly spoke.
"Didn't we already send an envoy to the newly crowned emperor of the Crimson Empire?"
Several rulers nodded.
Another ruler stroked his beard.
"The envoy should return in about three months."
"Once we receive their answer, we will decide our next move."
The hall became silent.
Then one of the kings coldly declared,
"If they submit willingly, then there is no need for bloodshed."
"But if they refuse."
His eyes flashed with killing intent.
"Then there will be war."
No one objected.
To these rulers, war was merely a tool for expansion.
Afterward, the rulers began reporting their military strength.
One by one, they announced their forces.
"The Wolf Kingdom can mobilize three hundred thousand soldiers."
"The Iron Tribe can provide twenty thousand cavalry."
"The Frost Kingdom can contribute one hundred and fifty thousand troops."
Soon, the combined numbers became terrifying.
Over a half-million soldiers.
Enough to shake an empire.
However, in this world.
Cultivators determined the outcome of wars.
Thus, they reported their cultivation forces next.
"We have hired over five hundred Qi Refinement cultivators."
"Additionally, eighty Foundation Establishment cultivators have agreed to participate."
"Golden Core cultivators are scarce."
The speaker sighed.
"Only twenty-four Golden Core cultivators have accepted employment."
The rulers frowned.
Golden Core cultivators were difficult to recruit.
Such experts were already capable of founding clans or becoming elders in sects.
Finally, one ruler spoke proudly.
"As for Nascent Soul experts."
"We currently have five."
The atmosphere immediately relaxed.
Five Nascent Soul cultivators.
Such a force was enough to dominate many nations.
After all, Nascent Soul cultivators were considered old monsters in the cultivation world.
None of them knew.
The Crimson Empire possessed an even more terrifying existence.
One that had already stepped beyond Nascent Soul.
A Soul Transformation cultivator.
Yet Zan Yunxiao's existence remained hidden.
Thus, the rulers remained confident.
One king finally voiced the question that lingered in everyone's mind.
"Why must we conquer the Crimson Empire?"
Silence filled the hall before the alliance leader answered.
"Because they are wasting what they possess."
He spread a map across the table and pointed toward the vast territory of the Crimson Empire.
"Our investigators have spent years gathering intelligence."
"Beneath those lands lie countless spiritual veins and rich spiritual stone mines."
He paused, allowing the information to sink in.
"Yet the Crimson Empire remains ignorant of their existence."
"They cultivate with ordinary methods while immeasurable wealth sleeps beneath their feet."
Another ruler narrowed his eyes.
"Such resources should belong to those capable of using them."
The alliance leader nodded.
"Our kingdoms suffer from exhausted mines and dwindling supplies."
"Some possess only a handful of spiritual veins."
"Others have none at all."
"But the Crimson Empire sits atop one of the greatest concentrations of spiritual resources on the continent."
His gaze swept across every ruler present.
"If we seize those lands, our kingdoms will flourish for thousands of years."
"Our cultivators will become stronger."
"Our armies will become unstoppable."
"And the Northern Alliance will dominate the entire continent."
Greed ignited in every ruler's eyes.
For cultivators, resources meant power.
For kingdoms, resources meant prosperity.
And throughout history, prosperity had always been won through war.
After the meeting concluded, the rulers departed one after another, returning to their respective kingdoms to prepare for the coming war.
Soon, the grand hall fell silent.
Only two figures remained.
The King of the Wolf Kingdom and his chancellor.
The king leaned back in his seat and let out a cold laugh.
"What should we do about the Iron Tribe?"
"They only offered twenty thousand cavalry."
"Such a pitiful force."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Should we simply devour them now?"
The chancellor smiled, his expression filled with greed.
"There is no need to rush, Your Majesty."
"Let them fight alongside us."
"They can serve as cannon fodder and weaken the Crimson Empire."
His smile grew even wider.
"Once the war is over..."
"We will erase the Iron Tribe from existence and seize their lands, resources, and people."
The king laughed loudly.
"A wise plan."
"Those barbarians still believe they are our allies."
Neither of them noticed the irony of their words.
The Northern Alliance had united for mutual benefit.
Yet before the war had even begun, its members were already plotting against one another.
The king and his chancellor exchanged greedy smiles, their eyes reflecting nothing but ambition.
To them, every kingdom, every tribe, and every ally was merely another stepping stone on the path to dominating the continent.