Chapter 54 A Father’s Pride
The audience hall fell into complete silence.
Hong Yuanji remained seated upon the Dragon Throne, his expression unreadable as he looked at the kneeling ruler.
Beside him, Prime Minister Hong Yanshu quietly observed the man without saying a word.
After a long silence, Hong Yuanji finally spoke.
"I accept your surrender."
The ruler of the small kingdom visibly relaxed, but before he could speak—
Hong Yuanji's voice turned cold.
"However..."
"If the information you have provided is false..."
"If this is merely a scheme to deceive the Crimson Empire..."
He slowly rose from the Dragon Throne.
The pressure of an emperor filled the entire hall.
"...then your head will be the first to fall."
The ruler immediately lowered his head until it touched the floor.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
"I swear upon my kingdom that every piece of information is true."
"If even a single report is fabricated..."
"I willingly accept death."
Hong Yuanji stared at him for several moments before nodding.
"Very well."
He looked toward the imperial guards.
"Escort him to a guest residence."
"Treat him as an honored guest."
"But place him under constant watch."
"No one is to allow him to leave without my permission."
The guards immediately bowed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As the ruler was escorted out of the audience hall, Hong Yuanji turned to the ministers.
"Prime Minister."
Hong Yanshu stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
Hong Yuanji handed him the bundle of intelligence.
"Verify every piece of information."
"I want to know whether this man truly came to defect..."
"...or whether he has walked willingly into his own execution."
Hong Yanshu accepted the documents respectfully.
"This minister understands."
He immediately began reviewing the intelligence.
The ministers also gathered around, their expressions growing increasingly serious.
If the information proved genuine...
The Northern Alliance had unknowingly handed the Crimson Empire one of the greatest opportunities since the war had begun.
. . .
Within the following months...
Hong Yanshu personally verified every piece of intelligence provided by the ruler of the small kingdom.
To everyone's surprise...
Every report was accurate.
Using the intelligence, the Crimson Empire quickly launched a series of carefully planned operations.
Small elite forces slipped behind enemy lines under the cover of darkness.
One after another...
The Northern Alliance's grain depots were set ablaze.
Boom!
Huge fires illuminated the night sky as months' worth of provisions were reduced to ashes.
At the same time, imperial troops ambushed the Northern Alliance's main supply routes.
Convoys transporting grain, weapons, and military equipment were repeatedly attacked.
The Northern Alliance suffered heavy losses without even engaging in major battles.
Inside the imperial palace, Hong Yuanji received the latest reports with a satisfied smile.
"The intelligence was genuine."
He looked toward the ruler of the small kingdom.
"You have fulfilled your promise."
"As agreed..."
"Once this war ends, the Crimson Empire will extend its protection to your kingdom."
The ruler immediately knelt.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"I will never forget this kindness."
Hong Yuanji nodded.
"You may return to your kingdom."
"But continue your role within the Northern Alliance."
The ruler understood immediately.
"You wish for me to remain their ally..."
"...while secretly serving the Crimson Empire."
Hong Yuanji smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
"The less they suspect you..."
"The more valuable your information will become."
The ruler cupped his fists respectfully.
"I understand."
"I will continue supplying intelligence until the war is over."
Soon afterward, he quietly departed the imperial capital and returned to his kingdom.
To the eyes of the Northern Alliance...
He remained a loyal member.
But in reality...
He had become the Crimson Empire's most valuable spy.
From that day onward, secret reports continued to arrive in the imperial palace.
Each report revealed the Northern Alliance's troop movements, supply shipments, military meetings, and future plans.
Without realizing it...
The Northern Alliance had allowed an enemy to sit among them.
And every decision they made was now being delivered directly into the hands of Emperor Hong Yuanji.
. . .
Meanwhile...
Inside the Zan Clan.
Zan Yunxiao was seated beneath the pavilion, leisurely observing the war through the Clan Interface.
With a thought, the live image shifted to the Imperial Palace.
He watched Hong Yuanji discuss military affairs with Hong Yanshu and several ministers.
Soon, his gaze landed on the ruler of the small kingdom.
He quietly observed the entire exchange.
After listening to their conversation, Zan Yunxiao raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't expect this..."
"One of the Northern Alliance's own allies actually betrayed them."
He found it somewhat surprising.
He had anticipated that the Northern Alliance would eventually crumble because of prolonged warfare and dwindling supplies.
However, he had not expected internal betrayal to arrive this early.
Zan Yunxiao smiled faintly.
"So the cracks have already begun to appear."
"Once distrust spreads among the alliance's rulers..."
"They'll begin suspecting one another."
"And an alliance built on greed can never survive suspicion."
He leaned back in his chair.
"The Northern Alliance thought they were besieging the Crimson Empire."
"But they never realized..."
"Their greatest weakness was within their own ranks."
Just then, another thought crossed his mind.
"Speaking of which..."
"I wonder what Feilan is doing now."
Without hesitation, he searched for Zan Feilan.
The image on the Clan Interface gradually became clearer.
At first, Zan Yunxiao frowned.
"What is this?"
The scene before him was no longer a peaceful mountain trail or a quiet town.
Instead...
It was a battlefield.
War cries echoed across the plains.
The banners of the Crimson Empire and the Northern Alliance fluttered violently amidst smoke and flames.
Thousands of soldiers clashed in a brutal struggle.
Explosions from talismans erupted across the battlefield.
Zan Yunxiao's expression became serious.
He immediately searched through the chaotic scene.
Soon...
He found the familiar figure he had been looking for.
Zan Feilan.
She still wore her cloak, but it had already been torn in several places.
Her sword flashed brilliantly as she exchanged blows with an enemy cultivator.
The opponent radiated an overwhelming aura.
A Golden Core Realm cultivator.
Clang!
Their swords collided, producing a deafening metallic roar.
The impact sent both of them retreating dozens of meters.
The enemy cultivator narrowed his eyes.
"I didn't expect a young woman like you to possess such strength."
"You must be one of the Crimson Empire's hidden geniuses."
Zan Feilan remained silent.
She simply raised her sword once more.
Her Golden Core spiritual energy surged from her body.
Seeing this, Zan Yunxiao raised an eyebrow.
"So..."
"She joined the war on her own."
He had never ordered Zan Feilan to participate.
Knowing her personality, however, he quickly understood.
His daughter must have encountered the battlefield during her travels and decided to lend the Crimson Empire a hand.
Zan Yunxiao did not panic.
Instead, he calmly observed the battle through the Clan Interface.
With her current cultivation...
She was fully capable of contending with an ordinary Golden Core cultivator.
Nevertheless, he continued watching closely.
Although he trusted Zan Feilan's strength...
As her father, he would never ignore a battle that placed her life at risk.
As Zan Yunxiao watched the battle through the Clan Interface without blinking.
On the battlefield...
Zan Feilan and the enemy Golden Core cultivator continued exchanging blows.
Clang!
Boom!
Their swords collided repeatedly, sending powerful shockwaves across the battlefield.
The surrounding soldiers instinctively retreated, unwilling to be caught in the clash between two Golden Core cultivators.
Inside the Zan Clan...
Zan Yunxiao leaned forward slightly.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"That's it, Feilan."
"Don't give him a chance to breathe."
Although no one else was around to hear him, he found himself quietly cheering for his daughter.
On the battlefield, the enemy cultivator suddenly roared.
"Die!"
He unleashed his strongest technique, causing spiritual energy to surge violently around him.
Zan Feilan remained calm.
She slowly raised her sword.
A brilliant sword light condensed around the blade.
Without hesitation, she unleashed her technique.
Moonveil Severing Sword Art!
A dazzling crescent-shaped sword qi swept across the battlefield.
The enemy cultivator's eyes widened in horror.
"No—!"
Slash!
The sword qi passed through him.
For a brief moment...
Everything became still.
Then, a thin line appeared across the cultivator's body.
His body split apart before crashing lifelessly onto the ground.
The battlefield fell silent.
"The... the Golden Core cultivator is dead!"
The Northern Alliance soldiers stared at the corpse in disbelief.
Panic quickly spread through their ranks.
"Our strongest cultivator has fallen!"
"Retreat!"
"Retreat!"
The orderly formation instantly collapsed.
The Northern Alliance soldiers abandoned the battlefield, fleeing in every direction.
The Crimson Empire's soldiers erupted into deafening cheers.
"We won!"
"The enemy is retreating!"
"Victory belongs to the Crimson Empire!"
Inside the Zan Clan...
The moment Zan Yunxiao saw the enemy fall, he suddenly sprang to his feet.
"Hahaha!"
"Well done, Feilan!"
"That's my daughter!"
He couldn't help but shout in excitement, his voice echoing throughout the quiet courtyard.
His face was filled with pride.
"As expected of my daughter!"
"You cut him down with a single strike!"
If anyone from the Zan Clan had seen him at that moment, they would have been stunned.
The calm and dignified Patriarch, who rarely showed his emotions...
Was now cheering like an ordinary father celebrating his daughter's victory.
The moment Zan Yunxiao finished cheering for Zan Feilan's victory—
A pair of familiar voices suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard.
"Husband, what happened?!"
"Husband!"
It was Xueyun and Jin Feixue.
The two hurried into the courtyard with worried expressions.
The instant Zan Yunxiao heard their voices, his smile instantly disappeared.
He calmly sat back down in his chair.
His posture straightened.
His expression returned to that of the calm, dignified Patriarch of the Zan Clan, as though nothing had happened.
A moment later, the two women arrived before him.
Jin Feixue looked around in confusion.
"Husband, what happened?"
"We heard someone shouting."
Xueyun nodded in agreement.
"It was so loud that we thought something had happened."
Zan Yunxiao remained perfectly composed.
He slowly took a sip of tea before replying in a calm, low voice,
"I didn't hear anything."
He looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression.
"Perhaps..."
"You've both been cultivating for too long."
"Your minds are playing tricks on you."
"Sometimes, spending too much time in seclusion makes people hear strange noises."
Xueyun and Jin Feixue exchanged doubtful glances.
"Really?"
Zan Yunxiao nodded without the slightest change in expression.
"Mm."
"You're probably just imagining it."
The two women looked around the peaceful courtyard once more.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
There were no signs of a disturbance.
After a moment, Jin Feixue scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"...Maybe you're right."
Xueyun smiled helplessly.
"It seems we were overthinking."
The two soon returned to their cultivation.
Only after they had completely left the courtyard did Zan Yunxiao let out a quiet sigh of relief.
A faint smile crept onto his face once more.
"Looks like I got a little too excited..."
He glanced at the still-open Clan Interface, where Zan Feilan was receiving the cheers of the imperial soldiers.
"As expected of my daughter."
This time, however...
He made sure to keep his voice down.