World's First Traitor System (429)

Chapter 429 - Shifting Tides

A towering figure, clad in dragon robes, traversed the void, covering thousands of meters with each stride, arriving in the distance in an instant.

His voice still echoed above the skies of Chang'an, the Han capital.

"I must go to this battle, a clash between the peaks of the mortal realm. From this day forward, I establish Prince Liu Chan as the Crown Prince of Great Han. The Crown Prince shall oversee the kingdom, and all ministers shall assist him diligently."

"If I return unscathed, the world will enter an era of great strife, and I, along with my beloved ministers, will strive for that sliver of opportunity for the fate of Great Han."

"If I cannot return, the Crown Prince shall succeed the throne. May the Yellow Heaven above bless our Great Han."

In the main square of the Weiyang Palace.

Liu Chan, leading the civil and military officials, knelt in the distance, bidding farewell to Emperor Liu Bei of Han.

Simultaneously.

In Xudu, the capital of Great Wei.

Cao Cao stroked the long spear in his hand, his gaze fixed on the direction of the East Sea.

"With this spear, I shattered the Yellow Turbans, destroyed Yuan Shu, defeated Yuan Shao, and swept across the world unhindered, living up to the aspirations of a true man. Today, I journey to the East Sea, and I shall return!"

With that, he took a step, instantly appearing a thousand meter away.

In another moment, he vanished over the horizon.

The ministers of Great Wei knelt in farewell to the Wei Emperor. Among those kneeling in the front row was Cao Huan.

In Jianye, the capital of Great Wu.

Sun Quan held his sword, preparing to depart.

In the imperial garden of the palace, there happened to be a large, oddly shaped stone, quite conspicuous.

Upon closer inspection, it was a piece of spirit iron ore.

Although it had not been hammered or forged, its superior quality made it exceptionally hard, resistant to ordinary iron.

"This journey is fraught with peril. Why not divine my fortune through a test of Heaven's will?"

With that thought, he drew his sword, carefully studying the strange stone for a long time.

Behind Sun Quan, important Wu ministers such as Zhang Zhao, Lu Su, and Lu Meng all wore puzzled expressions.

Sun Quan raised his sword above his head and proclaimed, "May Heaven bless Great Wu! If I return safely, I shall cleave this stone!"

He also silently prayed in his heart, "Great Ming and Great Ci are my formidable enemies. If these two kingdoms are destined to fall, may Heaven aid me in cleaving this stone! If my Great Wu is ultimately destroyed by one of these two kingdoms, may the sword break and the stone remain untouched!"

Having prayed, Sun Quan brought his sword down!

He did not use any spiritual energy or cultivation, relying solely on his wrist strength and technique.

A deafening clang of metal against stone echoed, causing a sharp pain in the eardrums!

In a flash of sparks, the spirit iron ore was split in two.

The Wu ministers, all of whom had seen that Sun Quan hadn't used any spiritual energy or cultivation, exclaimed, "Your Majesty's swordsmanship is mighty!"

"Hahahaha!"

Sun Quan laughed towards the sky. Then, with a confident stride, his figure was already a thousand meters away, on the horizon.

…

Meanwhile, on the desolate island overseas.

Lu Lun almost screamed!

The Emperors of the Three Kingdoms were risking their lives, leaving their territories, to travel thousands of miles to support Yao Guang?

Was this possible?

Of course, it was possible!

The opportunity to assassinate the strongest person in the world was right before them. Unless the Emperors of the Three Kingdoms were fools, how could they not come in person?

Terrifying!

Other than escaping, Lu Lun could not think of any means of survival.

"Your Majesty..."

He was about to speak, requesting that Jiajing retreat first.

The three thousand six hundred elite Embroidered Uniform Guards were willing to fight to the death, to buy even a moment's time.

"BOOM!!!!!!!!!"

A deafening explosion shook the heavens.

Lu Lun turned back in shock, only to witness the magnificent Zheng He Treasure Ship of Great Ming, for unknown reasons, explode, instantly engulfed in flames, burning fiercely on the sea surface with only remnants of its wreckage remaining.

"Susu, well done," Empress Yao Guang praised. "Sister Ah Chang once sent a secret message, warning me that you might be swayed by Jiajing, that you might fall for him. But I always trusted my judgment in people. You have been hurt by a man before; you would never fall into the arms of another."

Xue Susu smiled bitterly. "It is precisely because Ah Chang is meticulous that she can cultivate the Dao of Archery, which requires the utmost patience and attention to detail. In this aspect alone, I am far inferior to her."

Ah Chang?

The palace maid, Ah Chang?

As the Assistant Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, how could Lu Lun not know who Consort Rou Xue Susu's most trusted palace maid was?

He felt a chill run down his spine!

A Painting Sage Ruler, an Archery Sage Ruler, both terrifying Great Vehicle realm experts, had both been lurking in the Great Ming palace for ten years?

"Not good!"

Lu Lun suddenly remembered that Ah Chang hadn't accompanied them on this expedition!

Where was she?

The Archery Sage Ruler possessed an attack range far beyond that of ordinary cultivators!

"Your Majesty, beware of a sneak attack," Lu Lun could not figure out how to defend, so he could only offer a soft warning.

Unfortunately, how could his thoughts escape Empress Yao Guang?

The Empress laughed. "If merely 'being careful' could defend against Ah Chang's arrow, then she wouldn't be worthy of the title of Archery Sage Ruler. But rest assured, it is not yet time for Ah Chang to act."

"Despicable!"

Lu Lun cursed silently through gritted teeth.

It wasn't time to act yet, because the moment wasn't right.

When Empress Yao Guang and Emperor Jiajing were locked in the fiercest battle, that would likely be the opportune moment for the Archery Sage Ruler to strike!

Lu Lun was drenched in cold sweat. He knew that with his Unity realm cultivation, he couldn't possibly block a fatal sneak attack for Emperor Jiajing.

Even if he sacrificed his life to block it, he would likely fail.

A death trap!

A terrifying death trap!

The enemy's reinforcements were approaching, they couldn't win!

Escape?

Empress Yao Guang was also at the ninth rank of the Great Vehicle realm, and the Archery Sage Ruler was lurking in the shadows. In this vast sea, how could they possibly escape back to land?

"Hmm?"

Empress Yao Guang suddenly let out a soft sound of surprise.

"Jiajing, facing such a desperate situation, you can still remain so calm and composed. Do you not wish to flee?"

"But truthfully, you are the only man in this world whom I admire. If you were to flee in disgrace, unwilling to fight, I would indeed be somewhat disappointed."

Hearing the Empress's words, Lu Lun felt a surge of shame and anger.

The Emperor of Great Ming, the strongest being in the mortal realm!

The dignified Emperor Jiajing, was being taunted by a woman in such a frivolous and arrogant tone?

"Your Majesty..."

Lu Lun wanted to say a few words to comfort his ruler, but to his surprise, he discovered that Emperor Jiajing remained calm and composed, even displaying a faint smile.

"The Emperors of the Three Kingdoms as reinforcements. The Pure Land Sage Rulers mobilized in full force. Are these your only trump cards?"

Emperor Jiajing spoke, his tone even carrying a hint of disappointment.

The Empress frowned. "What do you mean? Is this not enough?"

Jiajing held out a hand.

"Isn't it a Five Kingdoms Alliance?"

"In this battle, what is Fan Li of Chu doing?"

Mentioning Chu, Empress Yao Guang's face showed disdain.

"Emperor Xiang Chong of Chu has low cultivation; naturally, I did not invite him to this battle..."

Jiajing, however, interrupted her. "I am asking about Fan Li."

"Him?" Yao Guang's contemptuous expression was even more pronounced. "In Your Majesty's eyes, does Fan Li have the qualifications to participate in a battle between the peaks of the mortal realm?"

To the Empress's surprise.

Jiajing, upon hearing this, answered without hesitation, "He certainly does."

Yao Guang was slightly stunned.

She recalled Fan Li's relationship with Great Ci, and suddenly, a strange, unsettling feeling arose in her heart.

Perhaps, bringing Fan Li to the island, keeping him under her watchful eye, would have been the wisest decision?

What was Fan Li doing now?

Cooperating with the Three Kingdoms, also stationing troops on the border between Chu and Ming?

Or perhaps...

Empress Yao Guang's lips twitched!

She suddenly thought of a possibility:

Could Fan Li be sending troops to attack Great Ci?

Just that weak man, did he have that kind of courage?

"What if Fan Li dares to send troops?"

"The Chu garrison army numbers only two hundred thousand, while Great Ci's soldiers number far more than two hundred thousand? I specifically recalled Bai Rong, she is now at the ninth rank of the Unity realm, can she not hold off Fan Li?"

Thinking this, Yao Guang felt a sense of relief in her heart.

"Half a day."

"?"

Yao Guang looked at Emperor Jiajing with confusion.

What was he talking about?

What half a day?

Jiajing said calmly, "You said earlier that within half a day, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan would arrive to assist you?"

"That's right," Yao Guang frowned.

This was her scheme, was there something wrong with it?

The three Emperors personally leading their armies to help her besiege Jiajing was also in Cao, Liu, and Sun's best interests; the three would definitely come in person to assist.

Jiajing looked up, glancing at the sky.

"Then, we shall cease hostilities for three hours. Lest it be said that I am taking advantage of a woman."

Empress Yao Guang's dignified and graceful face instantly flushed with anger!

She hated being told that women were inferior to men!

But these words came from Jiajing's mouth, and the strategy of outnumbering the enemy was her own design. Yao Guang had no choice but to accept the ceasefire!

"Three hours from now, it will be your time of death," Empress Yao Guang said coldly.

Under the projection of the Sky Mirror, people throughout the world, whether nobles, reclusive experts, or commoners, all paused their activities.

They all looked up at the sky, shocked and focused, 'admiring' this peak battle.

Shocking!

There was actually someone in the world who could scheme against Emperor Jiajing of Great Ming!

Yao Guang truly deserved to be the foremost female cultivator of this era, and the well-deserved Empress!

However, at first, people were shocked by Yao Guang's grand scheme.

Ten years of planning, two Sage Rulers infiltrating, colluding with four kingdoms, it was truly astonishing!

But now, Jiajing's calm and composed demeanor caused a strange, twisted feeling to arise in the hearts of the people of the world.

Could it be... that everything was within Emperor Jiajing's expectations?

Time passed, little by little.

The confident smile gradually disappeared from Yao Guang's face.

Three hours was a long time, especially when spent waiting idly, it felt exceptionally long.

Three hours was also a short time, for cultivators, it was but a fleeting moment.

During this time, Jiajing had kept his eyes closed the entire time, as composed as an old monk in meditation.

Influenced by him, the three thousand six hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards, including Lu Lun, also shook off their initial panic and fear, regaining their usual cold-bloodedness and composure.

"Elder Sister... why haven't they arrived?" Sage Ruler Jin De also felt something was amiss, she lowered her voice and asked.

Empress Yao Guang's face gradually turned grim.

After a long silence, she finally squeezed out two words from between her teeth, "Shut up!"

The half-day deadline had already passed.

But Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan had not arrived. What did this mean?

"Curious?"

Emperor Jiajing slowly opened his eyes.

His tone also carried a hint of mocking ridicule.

Without waiting for Empress Yao Guang's answer, Jiajing also raised his hand and sent a beam of light towards the sky.

"The Sky Mirror?"

"Pure Land spirit treasures are quite interesting. I spent some time studying them in my leisure, and I also replicated one."

The [Sky Mirror] Jiajing projected instantly forcefully occupied half of the sky.

Thus, when people looked up at the sky, they could see several different scenes playing simultaneously.

One scene showed Jiajing and Yao Guang on the desolate island.

The other three scenes featured Cao Cao, Sun Quan, and Liu Bei, respectively.

"I ask the Wei Emperor to halt."

Atop a high mountain peak, Cao Cao, who was traveling through the air at great speed, was intercepted by someone and forced to land.

Cao Cao's face was grim.

Facing him was an old man, wearing the official robes of a first-rank Great Ming official, his appearance aged, as if he were about to breathe his last.

"Grand Secretary of Great Ming, Yan Song?"

"Hehe, the Wei Emperor has good eyesight, it is indeed this old servant," Yan Song bowed in greeting, not beating around the bush, directly stating, "This old servant dares to ask the Wei Emperor to return to Xudu, and not continue eastward."

As he spoke, Yan Song's aura surged, his cultivation rising continuously, until it reached the ninth rank of the Unity realm and still did not stop!

Boom!

A thunderclap echoed in the clear sky, as if announcing Yan Song's power!

A flash of surprise crossed Cao Cao's face.

"Great Vehicle realm?"

"Indeed," Yan Song bowed again. "This old servant was permitted by His Majesty to advance to the Great Vehicle realm."

Cao Cao sneered, "What of the Great Vehicle realm? I reached the Great Vehicle realm many years ago! Are the ministers and subjects of Great Ming so arrogant as to believe they are invincible within their rank, even capable of defeating those with the destiny of an Emperor?"

Yan Song, upon hearing this, slowly shook his head.

Behind him, many figures gradually appeared.

"This old servant is newly advanced to the Great Vehicle realm, my rank is naturally inferior to the Wei Emperor's."

"Moreover, the Wei Emperor likely possesses a portion of [Xirang]. If this old servant were to provoke the Wei Emperor, I would surely die."

"Fortunately, this old servant has many foster sons and grandsons. They, like this old servant, are loyal to our Great Ming's Jiajing Emperor, and are willing to die for their sovereign."

"For the Wei Emperor to kill us all, it would likely take a day and a night."

"But by then, the battle on the overseas island would have ended. There would be no need for the Wei Emperor to make the arduous journey."

Cao Cao listened to Yan Song's words, his expression changing several times.

"If I can encounter Grand Secretary Yan, then Liu Bei and Sun Quan must not be idle either?"

Yan Song bowed again, smiling without answering.

Cao Cao fell silent.

He seemed to be hesitating, struggling, wrestling with a decision!

Finally, after a long while, he let out a long sigh!

"The tides are turning."

"Unfortunately, the time is not in my favor."

With that, Cao Cao turned and, without hesitation, headed back towards Xudu.

Seeing Cao Cao leave, Yan Song finally let a drop of cold sweat trickle down his forehead.

He trembled as he retrieved a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, when a man with a fawning smile approached him.

"Foster father, why did you let the Wei Emperor go?"

The speaker was none other than the Great Ming Minister of Works, Zhao Wenhua, Yan Song's foster son.

Old Yan Song immediately glared at Zhao Wenhua!

"Fool!"

"If Cao Mengde truly went all out, killing you and me might not even take a day and a night!"

"Let him go?"

"It was he who let us go!"

Yan Song sighed deeply.

"He is a true Emperor, calculating every detail, knowing that the most important thing at this time is to preserve his strength."

"Wasting effort on us would be unwise for the Wei Emperor."

Zhao Wenhua, however, didn't understand at all.

Unwise?

Why was it unwise?

Yan Song saw through his thoughts at a glance and sneered, "Don't even think about it, you wouldn't understand with that brain of yours. Otherwise, why would I be the foster father, and you the foster son?"

Simultaneously.

Above a long river, Liu Bei was filled with fury.

Facing him were the members of the Great Ming's Qingliu faction, led by Xu Jie, including Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Li Chunfang, Yin Shidan, and Chen Yiqin.

Xu Jie's spiritual energy surged, his cultivation instantly rising to the first rank of the Great Vehicle realm!

He bowed and said, "To fight or to retreat, the decision rests solely with the Han Emperor. We, as subjects of Great Ming, can only fight to the death and not retreat, to repay the loyalty due to our sovereign."

Finally, after a long while, Liu Bei made his decision.

Retreat!

A vast, expansive plain.

The two opposing sides were Sun Quan and Lu Bing.

Behind Lu Bing stood three hundred and sixty-five Embroidered Uniform Guards, the lowest rank being a sixth-rank Bailiff, the highest being an Assistant Commander, the same rank as Lu Lun.

These three hundred and sixty-five were the strongest Embroidered Uniform Guards from all over Great Ming.

Lu Lun had taken the elite Embroidered Uniform Guards stationed in the capital, so Lu Bing could only select personnel from other regions.

He slowly drew his embroidered spring saber, his cultivation also instantly unleashed!

"Great Vehicle realm, first rank?"

Sun Quan narrowed his eyes, his face revealing a trace of surprise.

Lu Bing was about to speak and persuade him, but he saw Sun Quan turn around directly, heading back the way he came...