In the eighth month of the third century of the Great Han, Tian Xing, who emerged from the core of the Immortal Realm, spent fifteen years extensively searching the important territories in the southern part of the Immortal Realm with no success. The vast sky offered no trace of any aura. As his aimless search continued, Tian Xing gradually became exhausted. One day, within the Sun-Moon Heavenly Court, he heard of the Great Han Sacred Court and conceived a plan, heading towards Chang'an, the capital of the Great Han Sacred Court.
Several months later, Tian Xing entered Chang'an City and detected a trace of Lu Bu's aura. Although both controlled two Emperor's Fates, Tian Xing did not sense anything unusual. After lingering for a few breaths, Tian Xing found no differences in the Great Han Sacred Court and reluctantly left Chang'an City, returning to the core of the Immortal Realm.
In the 301st year of the Great Han, Yang Hao's daughter, Yang Ying, underwent her first ancestral bloodline return. Mount Danxue attached immense importance to this event, and subsequently postponed Kong Xuan's visit to the Great Han Sacred Court.
By the end of the 354th year of the Great Han, the Nine Blade Immortal Emperor entered the Ancient Star Road. Three years later, astonishing news spread like wildfire, instantly engulfing the entire southern region of the Immortal Realm.
"What?"
"That figure from the Void Demon Race has entered the Blade Sea!!!" Upon hearing this, countless beings were utterly shocked. The five major powers in the southern region of the Immortal Realm, ranked by strength, were Po Men Palace, Sun-Moon Heavenly Court, Blade Sea Alliance, Seven Star Pavilion, and the Great Han Sacred Court, which ranked last.
The Blade Sea Alliance, already immensely powerful with three Immortal Emperors, had now had the Nine Blade Immortal Emperor enter the Ancient Star Road. For an unknown price, he had persuaded the Void Immortal Emperor. The Void Immortal Emperor, leading the remaining demon beings, joined the Blade Sea Alliance. With nine Emperor's Fates, he now stood as an equal to the Nine Blade Immortal Emperor, who controlled eleven Emperor's Fates, becoming a major power within the Blade Sea Alliance, and the Void Demon Race reappeared in the world.
In the Ministry of Military Affairs of Great Han's Chang'an City.
"Sacred Emperor!"
Zhuge Liang returned from Mengzhou and participated in this crucial military matter. He waved his feather fan and said softly, "Sixty-nine years ago, our Great Han raised an army of righteousness to conquer the Void Demon Race. We also joined forces with Mount Danxue to launch the Northern Expedition and Southern Conquest. Although we occupied Wushan Immortal Court and fourteen territories of the Void Demon Race, our Great Han army suffered immense casualties, and our national strength weakened. It is only now that our national strength is gradually recovering and showing a steady upward trend."
As Zhuge Liang spoke, the ministers of the Ministry of Military Affairs nodded gravely. Li Si and Xiao He both sighed. The war sixty-nine years ago had undoubtedly dealt a massive blow to the Great Han's national strength. Over the past few decades, numerous policies had been implemented, and the national treasury had been opened wide, allowing them to gradually reverse the decline.
"Sacred Emperor, esteemed ministers, please look!" Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan, and maps of the eastern and southern Immortal Realm appeared.
He pointed to the map of the southern Immortal Realm and said, "The five major powers of the southern Immortal Realm are in contention. Po Men Palace, with four Immortal Emperors, has an unshakeable hegemonic position. The Sun-Moon Heavenly Court ranks second, with a solid foundation. These two powers can only be befriended, not opposed!"
"Now, with the Void Demon Race integrated into the Blade Sea Alliance, the prestige of the Blade Sea Alliance has further increased. Once the Void Demon Race joins the Blade Sea, our relationship with them will inevitably be antagonistic. Henceforth, they will surely obstruct us at every turn and will attack to overthrow our Great Han when the time is right."
Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan, pointing to the Seven Star Pavilion in the northwest of the southern Immortal Realm. He said, "Compared to Po Men Palace, Sun-Moon Heavenly Court, and Blade Sea Alliance, the strength of the Seven Star Pavilion is relatively weaker. I believe that our Great Han should focus on developing and consolidating its national strength. Once our national strength is strong, we can strategize against the Seven Star Pavilion and annex it to bolster our Great Han forces!"
Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan, and the territories of the southern Immortal Realm disappeared, leaving only the eastern part of the Immortal Realm. He furrowed his brow and said, "The overall strength of the eastern Immortal Realm is several times stronger than the south. Our Great Han's Mengzhou, Fengzhou, and Dingzhou territories, relying on Mount Danxue, are temporarily safe. However, it is extremely difficult for our Great Han to make a breakthrough in the east. A forced push might even lead to national peril."
"After much deliberation, the only way is to consolidate our national strength. When the time is ripe, we need only dispatch General Lu Bu to lead a million troops, and we can surely sweep away the Seven Star Pavilion. Only with a strong national power can we contend with the Blade Sea Alliance!" Zhuge Liang bowed slightly.
"Sacred Emperor, what Lord Zhuge has said is precisely what we have been thinking." Du Ruhui stood up and bowed slightly. "A few days ago, an Immortal Emperor's aura suddenly entered Chang'an City. I suspect some power has begun to pay attention to our Great Han. For now, we need to conceal our sharpness. Our Great Han's national strength is not yet sufficient to be frequently active in the world."
"Sacred Emperor!" Mao Xiang hurried in and knelt on both knees.
"What is it?" Yang Hao looked at Mao Xiang.
"Mount Danxue," Mao Xiang said, taking out a feather. "Princess Han Yue's bloodline is at a critical juncture of ancestral return."
"Congratulations, Sacred Emperor, congratulations, Princess!" The heroes present all rose and congratulated Yang Hao. Yang Ying's True Phoenix bloodline ancestral return was a significant event.
"Order Lu Bu to enter Mount Danxue on my behalf!"
Yang Hao stood up and gently pointed, revealing a fiery red stone inscribed with powerful phoenix dao patterns.
"As you command!" Mao Xiang took the fiery red stone and left the Ministry of Military Affairs. Yang Hao, with his hands behind his back, walked to the hall entrance and said softly, "The Great Han's national strength is recovering. The national treasury need not be closed; it should be further opened. The Void Demon Race joining the Blade Sea Alliance is unfavorable to our Great Han. As my esteemed official Zhuge suggests, consolidating and enhancing national strength is paramount!"
"We respectfully obey the Sacred Emperor's decree!"
"We respectfully obey the Sacred Emperor's decree!"
"We respectfully obey the Sacred Emperor's decree!"
The heroes bowed in unison. After Yang Hao left the Ministry of Military Affairs, they stood up, exchanged pleasantries, and then departed from the Ministry of Military Affairs to their respective posts, contributing their part to the enhancement of the Great Han's national strength.
......
In the first month of the 355th year of the Great Han, Lu Bu, alone, rode his Red Hare horse to Mount Danxue.
"Lu Bu!"
Looking at the arrogant human before him, Kong Xuan frowned slightly. Once upon a time, he himself had such an attitude, looking down upon the quasi-emperors of the Immortal Realm. Once upon a time, he had been full of pride, watching the changes in the Immortal Realm from afar. Now that he had attained enlightenment, he realized the difficulty of cultivation. The long imperial road was fraught with peril. The experience of a hundred years on the Ancient Star Road had worn away his sharp edges. It seemed as if he had become a different person after returning from the Ancient Star Road, spending his days in Cloud Tower Palace, diligently cultivating.
"Not bad!"
Lu Bu held the reins in his hands, gazing at Kong Xuan and said, "This general is acting under the Sacred Emperor's orders to lend a hand in Princess Han Yue's bloodline ancestral return!"
"You?"
At this moment, Yu Yi appeared beside Kong Xuan. He glanced at Lu Bu, who controlled two Emperor's Fates, and said, "Even though both father and mother were unable to intervene in Yang Ying's bloodline ancestral return, how can you possibly succeed?"
It was not that Yu Yi looked down on Lu Bu, but rather that even the Tai Xu Immortal Emperor and the Shi Yuan Immortal Emperor could not assist Yang Ying.