Upon hearing Ying Zheng's question, Zhao Feng smiled and replied, "The power of the Nine Cauldrons is enough to protect all living beings under Great Qin's rule."
"Once our Great Qin ascends to an imperial dynasty, we can harness the power of the imperial destiny to activate the Nine Cauldrons, stabilizing the Nine Provinces and setting up a protective barrier."
"Within this barrier, demons will be exposed, and celestial beings will find it difficult to enter."
"The strength of the barrier depends on the strength of our national destiny."
"Once established, we will no longer have to fear celestial disasters like falling meteors." Zhao Feng spoke with a confident smile.
"The Nine Cauldrons of Huaxia… A barrier over the Nine Provinces."
"These are truly the sacred artifacts of our people. Their power is incredible!" Ying Zheng's face lit up with excitement.
"Father," Zhao Feng continued, "now that the Baiyue region has been pacified and our internal affairs are stabilized, our next step is to bring the mortal world fully under our control."
"Only by doing so can Great Qin's national destiny grow strong enough to confront those celestial beings in the future."
Ying Zheng nodded solemnly. "I understand."
"Furthermore," Zhao Feng added, "I have obtained a supreme treasure that allows our Great Qin army to traverse space and enter the Immortal Realm."
Ying Zheng's eyes widened in shock. "Truly?"
"Indeed, but I have yet to test it," Zhao Feng said with a faint smile.
"Feng'er, what do you plan to do?" Ying Zheng's expression turned serious.
"Father, I have told you before," Zhao Feng said, his voice grave.
"The Divine Continent was originally part of the Immortal Realm, severed by a mighty ancestor of our people, separating it from the celestial domain."
"This continent holds the last remnants of humanity's destiny an untouched fate not yet seized by those powerful beings."
"This existence of the Divine Continent, this destiny… is precisely why the celestial beings above have been watching closely."
"The presence of Great Qin disrupts their attempts to claim this destiny. The very existence of the Divine Continent itself is an obstacle to their ambitions."
"To them, the Divine Continent, Great Qin, and all living beings here are nothing but prey."
"One day, the Divine Continent will merge with the Immortal Realm, and the celestial beings will descend upon us."
"This fate… cannot be avoided." Zhao Feng's voice was heavy.
"Feng'er," Ying Zheng spoke after a moment of silence. "There is something I don't quite understand."
"Destiny is indeed powerful, but those celestial beings reign supreme. The Immortal Realm is vast surely their destiny should be even stronger. Why would they covet this small mortal land?"
Zhao Feng remained silent for a moment before raising a hand.
A formless, yet tangible force spread through the great hall an invisible yet unmistakable presence.
"This is the destiny of the Divine Continent," Zhao Feng explained. "It is the last remaining human destiny in all of creation."
"Whoever possesses it may have the chance to ascend to even greater heights."
"So, Feng'er… you plan to strike first?"
Ying Zheng instantly grasped Zhao Feng's intentions.
"They cannot descend yet. Since that is the case, why should we passively wait for their attack?"
"I refuse to sit idly by while the future of our people hangs in the balance," Zhao Feng declared coldly.
"What do you need from me?" Ying Zheng asked seriously.
"Unite the mortal world under Great Qin's rule."
"Only then will our national destiny be strong enough."
"Only then can we prepare for what's to come." Zhao Feng's gaze was sharp.
"Very well."
Ying Zheng did not hesitate in the slightest.
He knew what his son was up against.
He understood the battle that awaited Great Qin.
He might not fully comprehend the power of the Immortal Realm.
He might not know the true strength of the celestial beings.
But he did know one thing he would do everything in his power to support his son, no matter the cost.
At that moment
"Your Majesty, Minister Wang Jian requests an audience!"
A voice called urgently from outside the hall.
"Enter."
Ying Zheng turned and responded.
Wang Jian strode into the hall, his eyes flashing with excitement as he greeted them. "Ah, the Crown Prince is here as well."
"State Minister, what news do you bring?" Ying Zheng asked.
"An urgent report from the northern border."
"The Donghu and Xiongnu tribes have mobilized their forces."
Wang Jian's words carried no fear only anticipation.
"Excellent."
Ying Zheng's expression darkened slightly, but a trace of cold amusement flickered in his eyes.
"For three years, my son has reshaped Great Qin, uniting the people of the Divine Continent and securing Baiyue."
"We have been waiting for these foreign tribes to make their move."
"Have we determined their numbers?"
"This time, they come with the intent to destroy us," Wang Jian reported.
"The Donghu have mobilized their entire tribe forty thousand strong."
"The Xiongnu, though weaker, have gathered nearly thirty thousand warriors."
"So they have committed their entire forces to this attack."
"That works in our favor."
"Transmit my decree."
"To the northern border and Lantian Commandery."
"We shall hold our positions and let the enemy come to us."
"When they arrive, we will annihilate them in one fell swoop."
"Those who can be slain shall be slain. The rest shall be enslaved."
Ying Zheng's voice carried an undeniable killing intent.
"Understood!" Wang Jian accepted the order eagerly.
"When the enemy arrives, I will personally oversee the battle at the northern frontier," Zhao Feng added.
"Inform the elite troops of the northern and Lantian armies."
"Understood." Wang Jian nodded without hesitation.
This invasion by the foreign tribes
It was the perfect opportunity for Zhao Feng to gather more power.
To claim more strength for himself.
"Minister Wang, prepare the troops."
"As for provisions and supplies…"
"I will issue an edict to the three governors of the northern regions."
"They will gather the necessary rations and send them to the frontier."
"There will be no shortage of supplies."
Ying Zheng's tone was firm and decisive.
Now, the treasury of the Qin Dynasty was abundant, and the state reserves were even more plentiful.
Therefore
Ying Zheng had long issued an edict to vigorously construct granaries in each province and county to store grain.
No longer was food concentrated in just a few locations, as it had been in the past.
It was precisely because of this that the logistics of military supplies had become significantly easier for Qin.
"I accept the decree."
Wang Jian bowed and slowly withdrew from the grand hall.
"First, we will exterminate the Donghu and Xiongnu tribes, seize their fate energy, and then move on to conquer the western states."
"Currently, the grain stored in Qin's granaries is sufficient to sustain our million-strong elite army for ten years of campaigning."
"Feng'er, you need not worry about the battles in the mortal realm. Whatever you must do, act without restraint."
"As for the mortal world, I shall conquer it for you."
Ying Zheng turned to Zhao Feng and spoke solemnly.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng did not say much. He simply nodded heavily, understanding that this was the utmost his father could offer.
...
Crown Prince's Mansion
Martial Training Grounds
The area was tightly guarded by personal troops, and within the training grounds, five hundred men dressed in black had assembled.
"We pay our respects to the Lord!"
As Zhao Feng arrived, all five hundred men of the Yan Court Dark Guards knelt in unison.
They
Were the true elites of the Yan Court.
Each one had reached the seventh level of the Innate Realm, with some even close to breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm.
Of course
With the spread of martial arts and the abundant resources supplied by Qin, the Grandmaster Realm was no longer an unattainable height.
"Rise."
Zhao Feng stepped forward and commanded in a deep voice.
"Thank you, Lord!"
The five hundred men responded in unison, their gazes unwaveringly respectful as they looked upon Zhao Feng.
"Do you know what I have summoned you for?"
Zhao Feng asked slowly.
"We pledge our lives to serve the Lord!"
"Even if we must brave mountains of blades and seas of fire, we have no regrets!"
The five hundred men responded once more.
The Yan Court Dark Guards were all trained as death warriors.
Loyalty to Zhao Feng was their sole purpose.
Every man present had a loyalty level above 90 absolute devotion.
They had been raised by the Yan Court since childhood, indoctrinated with the belief that Zhao Feng was their master. They were the sharpest blade in his hands.
Among the five hundred men, five Black Impermanence commanders had already reached the fifth level of the Grandmaster Realm, and the strongest among them, Ying Bu, had ascended to the Grand Grandmaster Realm.
"The Divine Continent is pacified, Baiyue is secured, and soon, Qin shall subdue the northern frontier and bring this world under our rule."
"But"
"Our true enemy does not lie in this world, but in another dimension! They are not mere mortals, but cultivators immortals, and gods!"
Zhao Feng's tone grew solemn, and the gravity of his words filled the air, making every man present feel the weight of the moment.
"Awaiting the Lord's command!"
"We swear to fulfill our duty, even unto death!"
Ying Bu immediately knelt.
"Awaiting the Lord's command!"
The five hundred Yan Court death warriors echoed in unison.
"I command you to enter the Immortal Realm, to infiltrate it, to act as the vanguard of Great Qin's invasion, to establish an intelligence network, and to gather information on the Immortal Realm."
Zhao Feng's voice was deep and firm.
"We accept the mission!"
The warriors responded in unison.
"The Immortal Realm is unlike the mortal world."
"The cultivators within are incredibly powerful. The so-called 'immortals' are but demons in disguise, and the so-called 'immortal sects' are dens of monsters that feed on the blood and spiritual essence of living beings."
"Martial artists, with their powerful blood and vitality, will be particularly attractive to them."
"Therefore, I have granted you the authority to use the Heavenly Profound Mirror to conceal your auras. Combined with the Yan Court's Breath Concealment Technique, it will ensure that ordinary immortals cannot perceive your vitality."
"In addition"
"Within your Heavenly Profound Mirrors, I have prepared one hundred thousand lower-grade spirit stones and one thousand upper-grade spirit stones for each of you, along with various healing and recovery elixirs."
"In the Immortal Realm, spirit stones will certainly be a viable currency."
"Once you have infiltrated the Immortal Realm, your sole task is to establish an intelligence network just as the Yan Court did in the Divine Continent cultivating influence, gathering intelligence, and investigating the conditions of the Immortal Realm."
"In short"
"While carrying out your mission, prioritize caution above all else." Zhao Feng reminded them solemnly.
"We accept the command!"
The death warriors responded in unison.
"Have all five hundred men ensured the continuation of their bloodlines?"
Zhao Feng turned to Zhang Ming.
"Lord, as per your prior instructions, how could I dare neglect this matter?"
"Each of these five hundred men has taken a wife, and all of their partners are already with child. Their bloodlines have been preserved." Zhang Ming immediately replied.
"Brothers"
"I hope that one day, all of you will return alive and reunite with your families." Zhao Feng said in a low voice.
"The Lord's great kindness we shall repay with our lives!" The five hundred warriors declared in unison.
Seeing this
Zhao Feng spoke no further.
Everything that needed preparation had been arranged.
This was also the first time Zhao Feng was deploying spies into the Earthly Immortal Realm.
It was a crucial step in preparation for the future.
"Spatial Mirror!"
With a thought, Zhao Feng activated the Spatial Mirror.
At once, the mirror emerged from his dantian and hovered before him.
"Open!"
Zhao Feng channeled all his true essence into the mirror.
A flash of radiance burst forth, and within the training grounds, a portal materialized in mid-air.
At the same time
Zhao Feng's true essence drained rapidly.
"Go forth!" Zhao Feng commanded.
"Enter at once!" Ying Bu immediately ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
The five hundred death warriors did not hesitate in the slightest, charging toward the space portal ahead.
One by one, they stepped into the gateway and disappeared.
After a while, all five hundred warriors had entered the spatial passage.
"Master."
"Farewell."
Ying Bu bowed deeply to Zhao Feng, his eyes filled with reluctance toward his master and the Crown Prince's residence. But without hesitation, he resolutely stepped into the portal.
As the leader of Yan Court, he had no choice but to go.
Watching as Ying Bu was the last to enter, Zhao Feng murmured,
"Hopefully, they can establish a foothold in the Earthly Immortal Realm."
Zhao Feng had been experimenting with opening a passage to the Earthly Immortal Realm ever since obtaining the Spatial Mirror.
At first, he used birds and beasts for testing.
Because each time the Spatial Mirror opened a gateway, the destination was unpredictable. After numerous attempts, Zhao Feng finally confirmed that he had successfully connected to one of the four great continents of the Earthly Immortal Realm. However, the exact location remained random.
Only after extensive trials did he finally feel confident enough to proceed.
Northern Frontier, Great Desert
A vast expanse of land stretched endlessly.
The banners of the Donghu and Xiongnu tribes fluttered in the wind.
Under the banners of their respective royal courts, the two tribal rulers convened.
Numerous generals from both factions were gathered there.
"Greetings, Chanyu Tuoba."
"Greetings, Chanyu Modu."
The kings of the two tribes clasped their fists in salute.
"For our two tribes to set aside past grievances and form an alliance, there's no need for excessive words," Tuoba Hu declared.
"Once we breach the Qin Kingdom, we shall split the Divine Continent equally."
"I swear upon the blood of my Northern Frontier clansmen!"
Tuoba Hu, the ruler of the Donghu, turned to Modu, the newly crowned Chanyu of the Xiongnu.
"Brother Tuoba, you are too polite."
"Without your help, I wouldn't have ascended to the throne so easily."
"This time, since your forces outnumber mine when we conquer Qin, Donghu shall claim sixty percent of the spoils," Modu said with a hearty laugh.
In history, Modu was a formidable leader of the Xiongnu ruthless enough to kill his own father and harbor immense ambition.
He even went on to annihilate the Donghu.
However, due to Zhao Feng's interference, while Modu had still assassinated his father, his plans to subjugate Donghu had already taken a different turn.
"After Qin falls, we shall split the Divine Continent!"
"This is my solemn vow," Tuoba Hu declared firmly.
"The Qin Kingdom took my father's life, slaughtered my people this blood feud can never be forgotten!"
"This time, Modu, your willingness to join forces is a debt I will never forget," he continued with a fierce gleam in his eyes.
Ever since he became king, Tuoba Hu had lived every day in hatred, dreaming of vengeance of washing the Qin Kingdom in blood and tearing Zhao Feng to pieces.
The murder of his father, and the massacre of his royal court he would never forget.
"The wine is prepared!"
At that moment, a Donghu general stepped forward, carrying two large jars of wine.
"Pour it out!"
Tuoba Hu commanded.
The general immediately filled two bowls to the brim.
Without hesitation, Tuoba Hu took out a small dagger and sliced open his finger.
Seeing this, Modu also cut his finger without a second thought.
Their blood dripped into the bowls of wine.
In the Divine Continent, blood-oath alliances were a known custom, and in the Northern Frontier, the tradition remained the same.
"Today."
"I, Tuoba Hu, lead my people southward to attack Qin and form an alliance with the Xiongnu."
"Once we have destroyed Qin, we shall share the Divine Continent!"
"I swear this blood oath, with the heavens as my witness!" Tuoba Hu declared solemnly.
"I, Modu, lead my people southward to attack Qin and form an alliance with the Donghu."
"Once we have destroyed Qin, we shall share the Divine Continent!"
"I swear this blood oath, with the heavens as my witness!" Modu echoed.
Then, they both raised their bowls and drank the blood wine in one gulp.
"Hahaha!"
The two of them laughed heartily.
Then, turning to their assembled generals, they roared in unison:
"Men!"
"The alliance is sealed!"
"With our combined might, we shall destroy Qin!"
"The lands of Qin shall belong to us, the warriors of the steppe!"
"The blood debts of the past we shall repay them in full!"
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