Reduced to a captive, Fan Li felt his situation was even more pathetic than Xiang Chong’s. However, of the three Celestial Empire envoys, Shangguan Wan’er’s power clearly dwarfed the others. Her strength was almost incomprehensible. Though perhaps not on par with Emperor Jiajing, she seemed to approach Empress Yao Guang’s level.
Fan Li had briefly underestimated these Celestial Empires after witnessing the relative weakness of the Later Jin and Tang envoys. He was quickly learning his lesson.
Great Chu, Dragon God Palace.
One of Fan Li’s clones was forced to cease his cultivation and opened his eyes.
“Take me to Jin City. Make haste.”
Wu Gang sensed the clone’s awakening and knew something was amiss. “Emperor Xiang has summoned you to the palace for a discussion, Master. You haven’t yet attended.”
Fan Li knew Xiang Chong wished to discuss the Later Jin occupation of Xiongzhou.
“Feign illness. I will not go,” Fan Li said coldly. “Let Xiang Chong handle it himself. Hasn’t he always wanted to be in charge? To reclaim Xiongzhou, I suggest he lead the army personally.”
Having witnessed Shangguan Wan’er’s power, Fan Li now believed Wu Zhao’s strength far surpassed Shi Jingtang’s. Later Jin? Insignificant. He had to prioritize the Great Zhou Celestial Empire.
“Inform Fan Chun that the garrison army’s rest period is over. They are to enter a state of war. If necessary, they are to deploy to the Southern Ridge Mountains to assist me against the Great Zhou Celestial Empire.”
“The fifty thousand Ming Wolf Troops’ integration should be expedited. Hu Zongxian is a talented commander, not a duelist.”
“And on your way, stop by Lu City and bring Lu Chunqiu. Great Jin requires both him and Wang Ban to defend it.”
Deep within the Southern Ridge Mountains, on a strangely vast and flat plain, Fan Li witnessed firsthand the power to move mountains and fill seas.
The Southern Ridge Mountains were a landscape of peaks and valleys, not plains. Yet, here, the mountains had been leveled, creating a wide expanse of flat land. Was the Great Zhou Celestial Empire’s army truly this powerful?
Even more disturbing than the flattened landscape were the mountains of corpses piled upon it. The corpses of wild beasts, both ordinary animals and cultivated spirit beasts. In life, they had been distinguished by their rarity and value. In death, they were all the same – mere sustenance, food.
Fan Li finally saw the one hundred thousand celestial soldiers of Great Zhou. They were not the ethereal, otherworldly beings he had imagined. Up close, their armor was worn and tattered, some even resembling beggars. Their weapons, though spirit treasures, were dull and chipped. They butchered the beast carcasses easily, skinning, bleeding, and chopping the meat before cooking it.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
Their eating habits were even more barbaric than their butchering. They gulped down blood-flecked broth and chewed on half-cooked chunks of meat, unconcerned by the gore splattered across their faces.
Fan Li knew soldiers were often rough around the edges, but compared to these, even his Great Chu garrison army seemed like refined nobility.
“The Chancellor returns!”
A general spotted the arrival of three people but only stared at Shangguan Wan’er. His shout prompted a chorus of cheers from the one hundred thousand soldiers, welcoming her return.
Fan Li was astonished. This woman commanded such respect amongst these hardened warriors? Their gazes, directed at Shangguan Wan’er, held a deep camaraderie.
“Soldiers!” Shangguan Wan’er raised her arms. The one hundred thousand soldiers fell silent, awaiting her words.
“I have found ‘Power’ and ‘Sex’! Once we have gathered ‘Wine’ and ‘Wealth,’ we can welcome His Majesty’s return!”
“Long live Great Zhou!”
“Long live Great Zhou!”
“Long live Great Zhou!”
The soldiers cheered like thunder.
Fan Li frowned. Shangguan Wan’er’s words troubled him.
Welcome His Majesty’s return?
Did this Great Zhou Celestial Empire lack an Emperor?
On the day of their arrival, the entire world had heard the voices of Wu Zhao, Li Yu, and Shi Jingtang.
“What are you thinking?” Shangguan Wan’er approached Fan Li and asked with a smile.
“…The Emperor of Great Zhou…”
“The Great Sage Emperor Wu Zetian!” Shangguan Wan’er corrected him.
Fan Li nodded. “Where is Emperor Zetian? I wish to meet her.”
“Oh?” Shangguan Wan’er smiled enigmatically. “Worthy of being one of the four, you are indeed intelligent.”
Fan Li finally understood. He was “Power,” not “Sex”? He glanced at Qing Qiu. So, she was “Sex”? Sensing his gaze, Qing Qiu met his eyes. Her expression was calm, but her tail twitched, betraying her emotions.
“I suppose there’s no harm in telling you.” Shangguan Wan’er’s words drew Fan Li’s attention back to her. “His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Zetian, is currently slumbering. We require the Four Exceptional Individuals Formation to awaken His Majesty and restore their rule over Great Zhou. We, the soldiers of Great Zhou, pledge our unwavering loyalty to the Great Sage Emperor Zetian, until death!”
Fan Li cared little for Wu Zetian’s character, but this “Four Exceptional Individuals Formation” sounded suspiciously like a ritual sacrifice. ‘I am a clone, so it matters little. But what about Qing Qiu?’
The Traitor System’s notification sounded.
“Dangerous environment detected!”
“Temporary mission activated: Dust to Dust, Ashes to Ashes.
“Mission objective: Prevent Wu Zetian’s rebirth in the mortal realm. Failure may result in her unifying the world, jeopardizing the host’s traitorous status.”
“Mission reward: One Substitute Doll, capable of creating a perfect clone.”
“Special clause: Reward issued in advance to increase mission success probability.”
Fan Li felt a weight in his sleeve. The Substitute Doll. He knew the value of clones. Despite completing numerous system missions, he had only received the Substitute Doll reward four times. Its rarity was undeniable. But how should he use it?
As he pondered, a chorus of voices, chanting in reverence, echoed through the air.
“Great Sage Emperor Zetian, may your immortal lifespan endure, your reign eternal as the sun and moon!”
Had Wu Zetian arrived?
Fan Li was confused. Shangguan Wan’er had just said Wu Zhao wasn't present. And the system mission was to prevent her rebirth. So where was Wu Zetian? Was she alive or dead? Who were the Great Zhou soldiers worshipping?
“Come forward and pay your respects to the Great Sage Emperor Zetian!” Shangguan Wan’er’s voice was sharp, brooking no disobedience.
Fan Li looked towards the source of the chanting, his jaw dropped in astonishment. He had expected to see a person, even a corpse. But that wasn't what he saw. Before him stood a smooth, imposing, wordless stele…