Capítulo 538: Chapter 538: Holding the Emperor to Command the Princes
The mighty Skeleton King had actually submitted to an Emperor Extreme Realm cultivator. No one would believe it if it were told, but it had indeed just happened.
The once all-powerful Skeleton King, Wang Ku, now stood respectfully before Zhong Shan, bowing in submission. At least until he reached the immortal realm, he had to serve Zhong Shan.
"A soul flame oath? Isn't that a weakness of the skeleton clan?" Zhong Shan asked, sitting in front of the Yin-Yang Hall, looking at Wang Ku.
Wang Ku, now wearing a blood-red robe that covered his entire body, making him less intimidating, replied with a hint of helplessness, "It's not a weakness. Only in front of Your Majesty does it become one."
"Oh?" Zhong Shan looked at Wang Ku, puzzled.
"In the face of life and death, we skeletons have a method of reincarnation. The higher our cultivation, the greater the chance of reincarnation. I have a fifty percent chance of being reborn in another skeleton body after death, though I would have to start from scratch. So, we rarely make soul flame oaths. But Your Majesty's power earlier was so strange. I felt that if I continued to resist, I would be utterly annihilated," Wang Ku said, his voice tinged with fear.
Mr. Corpse, listening on the side, felt a chill. Xianxian looked curious, while Lin Xiao remained indifferent.
"Indeed," Zhong Shan nodded.
It seemed the world didn't offer such convenient solutions. Zhong Shan had initially thought about binding many strong beings with soul flame oaths to serve him, but it was clearly unrealistic.
"Do you know the current state of the world outside?" Zhong Shan asked.
Wang Ku shook his head, "The last I knew was five thousand years ago. The world must have changed beyond recognition by now."
"Five thousand years?" Zhong Shan stared at Wang Ku. Five thousand years and still not fully healed?
"My injuries were too severe five thousand years ago, damaging my very core and soul. It wasn't until a hundred years ago that my soul began to recover," Wang Ku explained.
"Then continue to heal here," Zhong Shan said.
"Uh?" Wang Ku was puzzled.
"Guard the Yin-Yang Hall for me," Zhong Shan ordered.
Wang Ku looked at the Yin-Yang Hall before him and seemed to realize something. "This place can traverse between the yin and yang realms?" he asked in surprise.
Hearing Wang Ku's words, Zhong Shan's eyes turned cold. The Yin-Yang Hall contained the Yin-Yang Path, something even Sky Extreme Realm experts might not know about, yet Wang Ku saw through it?
Sensing Zhong Shan's suspicion, Wang Ku quickly explained, "Your Majesty, you all have a faint golden yang aura. Such an aura is only present in the yang realm. In the yin realm, it would be a purple aura. I was unsure at first, but seeing how you value this hall, I deduced it."
"Golden yang aura?"
"Your Majesty, the heavy yin energy here will dissipate our golden yang aura in at most a day," Mr. Corpse timely added.
"Hmm," Zhong Shan nodded.
Turning to Wang Ku, Zhong Shan said, "Wang Ku, I don't care who you were before or what you will become in the future. Just remember to behave and complete the tasks I give you until your soul flame oath is nullified. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to obliterate you."
"Yes!" Wang Ku replied, his heart tightening.
Simultaneously, Wang Ku felt a strange sense of gratitude. Zhong Shan didn't ask about his past or who he was. This silence about his identity filled Wang Ku with gratitude.
Suddenly, Wang Ku's body twisted slightly, becoming alert.
Zhong Shan looked over and saw a black dot flash in the distance before appearing in front of them.
Sha Po had returned.
The moment Sha Po arrived, he sensed the presence of a powerful being, someone whose aura was even stronger than his own, and became extremely cautious.
"Sha Po! How did the investigation go?" Zhong Shan asked.
Upon hearing Zhong Shan's words, Wang Ku immediately relaxed but was slightly surprised. This person of flesh and blood, with a cultivation at least at the Emperor Extreme Realm, was following Zhong Shan without a soul flame oath?
"Your Majesty, I only managed to investigate the general area. This place seems to be a forbidden zone where ordinary people and beasts do not venture. To the north, I discovered a human empire!" Sha Po reported, glancing at the blood-robed figure.
"Very well," Zhong Shan nodded.
"Wang Ku, heed my order!" Zhong Shan commanded.
"I am here!"
"I command you to guard this area. Do not allow anyone to approach the Yin-Yang Hall. If anyone tries to force their way in, kill them!" Zhong Shan ordered.
"Yes!" Wang Ku immediately complied.
"Let's go! We're heading to the human empire," Zhong Shan instructed the others.
With Sha Po leading the way, the group soared into the sky.
Wang Ku stared in astonishment at the departing Zhong Shan. He was leaving just like that? Leaving him unsupervised?
With the soul flame oath in place, Zhong Shan naturally felt secure. Leaving Wang Ku behind was the best plan to ensure the safety of the Yin-Yang Hall. Now, it was time to explore this world of the underworld.
As Sha Po listened to Xianxian's explanation about the Skeleton King, he too felt a sense of wonder. Was Zhong Shan really that powerful?
In the air, Zhong Shan asked Sha Po, "In the half day you were gone, what did you find out?"
"I gathered some general information about the underworld and the northern area beyond this forbidden zone," Sha Po replied.
"Oh?"
"There are two great celestial dynasties and two holy lands in this underworld. To the north of this forbidden zone is an empire called the Great Xian Dynasty. The city nearest to this forbidden zone is Changcheng of the Great Xian Dynasty," Sha Po explained.
"The Great Xian Dynasty, Changcheng?" Zhong Shan mused.
"Yes!" Sha Po confirmed.
"Let's go. Find a way to take control of Changcheng first!" Zhong Shan declared.
"Yes!" everyone responded immediately.
One year later, in the Yang Realm, Qingzhou, at the residence of Yi Yan.
Yi Yan looked at the pile of letters on his desk, a disdainful smile playing on his lips.
"Marshal, these are invitations from sixteen imperial dynasties!" Tie Xue reported respectfully.
"Hmm. What do you make of it?" Yi Yan asked.
"They want to lure you away, Marshal," Tie Xue also smiled.
"What do you think I should do?" Yi Yan asked with a grin.
"The Great Zheng Dynasty, though only named a dynasty, has the substance of an imperial dynasty. Becoming an imperial dynasty is only a matter of time. There's no need to pay attention to these sixteen dynasties," Tie Xue advised respectfully.
Tie Xue knew this was Yi Yan's way of training him.
"And what about this one?" Yi Yan handed over another letter.
Tie Xue immediately picked it up and read it carefully. Suddenly, his eyes widened.
"The Tai Sui Celestial Dynasty?" Tie Xue exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, the Tai Sui Celestial Dynasty! I suspect that not only I, but Shui Jing and Shui Wuhen have also received this letter by now," Yi Yan said, his eyes narrowing.
"Uh, this…" Tie Xue furrowed his brow deeply.
"What do you think?" Yi Yan asked.
Tie Xue's expression shifted several times before he made up his mind. "Refuse. The Great Zheng Dynasty will eventually become a celestial dynasty. I am certain of it!"
"Hahaha!" Yi Yan nodded in satisfaction.
"But, can Shui Jing and Shui Wuhen resist such temptation? A position in the celestial dynasty!" Tie Xue worried.
"Since His Majesty assigned the three of us to Qingzhou, he has confidence in our loyalty. Rest assured!" Yi Yan said.
"Yes!" Tie Xue nodded.
"Also, take this," Yi Yan handed over a small vial.
"What is this?"
"Concentrated Soul Elixir."
Upon learning its purpose, Tie Xue treated it as a treasure. This elixir was invaluable. With it, even death wouldn't be the end.
Tie Xue was unaware that Zhong Shan had descended into the underworld; otherwise, his loyalty to the Great Zheng Dynasty would have been even more steadfast.
Over the past year, everything in the Yang Realm remained as usual, with the Great Zheng Dynasty quietly biding its time.
In the underworld, over the course of a year, with Zhong Shan's immense wisdom and the capable individuals around him, Zhong Shan successfully became the lord of Changcheng.
Only a year!
To outsiders, it seemed miraculous, but to Zhong Shan and his companions, it was expected.
In the lord's residence in Changcheng, Zhong Shan and his companions celebrated their success. After the banquet, once the guests had left, the five who had come from the Yang Realm gathered once again.
"Your Majesty, securing Changcheng provides us with a solid base," Lin Xiao said with a smile.
"No, it's not enough. I want the entire Great Xian Dynasty!" Zhong Shan declared.
"The Great Xian Dynasty? Is Your Majesty planning to wage war?" Mr. Corpse asked, frowning.
"Wage war?" Zhong Shan turned to look at Mr. Corpse.
"If we don't go to war, how can we take over the thirty-two cities of the Great Xian Dynasty? This city is one of the weaker ones. If we attempt a military campaign, it will be difficult. Moreover, we have only been here for a year, and our foundation is shallow. Not many will join us in a rebellion. It's a tough situation!" Mr. Corpse shook his head.
"I could go to the palace and wipe out the royal family," Sha Po suggested roughly.
Hearing Sha Po's suggestion, the others rolled their eyes.
"Killing the royal family won't help. The other cities would either fight independently or pledge allegiance to other dynasties, creating even more problems," Lin Xiao explained to Sha Po.
"Do we really have to conquer one city at a time? Just relying on us won't be enough," Xianxian frowned.
"It's difficult. Some of my spells that are mysterious in the Yang Realm are not as effective here in the underworld. Our main issue is our shallow foundation; after just one year, it's hard to rally the entire world," Mr. Corpse said, frowning.
"Lin Xiao, what do you think?" Zhong Shan asked.
"I am willing to lead the army to take down the Great Xian Dynasty. We can slowly conquer the entire dynasty through military campaigns," Lin Xiao immediately volunteered.
Zhong Shan shook his head as he looked at Lin Xiao.
"I have complete confidence in your ability to lead the army and take down the Great Xian Dynasty, but the cost would be too high. It would drain our resources, and blood would flow like rivers. It would take too much time, and we might face numerous assassination attempts," Zhong Shan said, shaking his head.
"I'm not afraid!" Lin Xiao insisted.
"I know you're not afraid, and you are very wise. But you tend to be inflexible. Your analysis of the overall situation isn't as good as Yi Yan's and Shui Jing's," Zhong Shan said.
Lin Xiao frowned, "Then what does Your Majesty plan to do?"
Zhong Shan was using Yi Yan and Shui Jing as examples to teach Lin Xiao and prepare to impart more knowledge.
"To become a supreme commander, one must not only be a brilliant strategist but also understand politics," Zhong Shan explained.
"Uh?"
"Watch this battle closely. I will teach you how to grasp the overall situation. To achieve the greatest results with the smallest investment and take down the Great Xian Dynasty, we must use a clever strategy," Zhong Shan said.
"What clever strategy?" Lin Xiao asked.
"Hold the emperor hostage to command the vassals!" Zhong Shan declared.
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