[Nine Provinces – Advisor Ranking has now been fully updated]
[Three months later, a new ranking will be refreshed again]
In the sky, the Golden Ranking radiated endless brilliance.
Then, it transformed into a streak of light.
And vanished once more.
The sky returned to a clear blue.
No one knew what the next ranking would be.
Countless people across the Nine Provinces were filled with anticipation.
In recent days, they had already grown accustomed to the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking.
It had even become the sole source of entertainment for many.
Especially when seeing the names on the ranking, they would feel inexplicably excited.
Even though they knew they couldn't make the ranking themselves, it didn't stop them from passionately supporting someone who did.
Talking about the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking had become a topic of idle conversation after meals.
Life felt a bit more interesting because of it.
==========
Song Dynasty.
Capital City.
Crown Prince Eastern Palace.
"Bang!!"
The Crown Prince of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Huan, eldest son of Emperor Zhao Ji, drunkenly slammed the table in front of his trusted advisor, his face full of anger.
"Tell me, why?! Why does Father want this Crown Prince to be a scapegoat now?"
"He clearly harbors no good intentions!"
"He doesn't want to be remembered as the emperor who lost the nation, but does he think I'm willing to be?"
"It was he who brought the Song Dynasty to its current state, and now he wants me to take the blame?"
"Moreover, while he claims to abdicate to me, it's just in name only. All the real power is still firmly in his grasp. What is he playing at?"
"Does he really think this Crown Prince is so easy to push around?"
"Your Highness, you're drunk!"
Listening to the Crown Prince's drunken complaints, the advisor couldn't help but shake his head, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
He once again tried to advise him.
"No, this Crown Prince is not drunk."
"You don't understand. These past years have been torment. I've constantly lived in fear."
"And lately, I've felt especially anxious, as if something vital is slipping away from me."
"It must be something Father has done that gave me this feeling."
"I can't just sit here and wait for doom."
The advisor smiled faintly upon hearing this:
"Since Your Highness feels this way, in my opinion, it is because you've been suppressed for too long."
"If you do not wish to be a puppet, then Your Highness must take action."
"At present, the imperial title is secondary. What truly matters is the firm grip on military and political power!"
"Advisor, are you suggesting we seize it from Father?"
"No. The success rate would be too low."
"Your Highness, previously that would be true, but now, all military forces are busy quelling rebellions and repelling foreign invaders."
"Even Lord Huang Shang and the Imperial City Division are out on missions in other regions."
"Right now, the capital is the emperor's weakest point."
"If Your Highness acts now, the chances of success will dramatically increase."
"Once successful, Your Highness will have complete control over all authority."
"Then, Your Highness will finally be able to showcase your talents and revitalize the Song Dynasty according to your own vision."
"Wouldn't that be far better than allowing His Majesty to continue ruining the dynasty?"
"This..."
Zhao Huan was moved.
He had long held resentment toward Zhao Ji.
In his view, the Song Dynasty was once powerful beyond imagination.
But now?
It was on the verge of collapse.
Once the Song Dynasty fell, he wouldn't escape unscathed either.
He hadn't enjoyed any of the benefits, yet bore all the burdens.
How could he accept this?
He must experience the taste of true power.
Perhaps under his rule, the Song Dynasty might rise again.
Thinking of this, Zhao Ji in the Imperial Palace suddenly became an eyesore to him.
Seeing the foolish excitement on Zhao Huan's face.
The advisor beside him remained outwardly calm, but inwardly full of contempt.
Zhao Ji was incompetent and muddle-headed, but Zhao Huan was even worse.
The Song Dynasty had truly reached its end.
Even so, the dynasty still held value to be exploited.
With proper maneuvering, it could still bring unimaginable benefits to the Vast Sea Dynasty.
That's right.
This "advisor" was not truly an advisor.
He was in fact a spy planted within the Song Dynasty by Jia Xu many years ago.
Over the years, he had provided the Vast Sea Dynasty with countless valuable pieces of intelligence about the Song Dynasty.
Ensuring that the Vast Sea Dynasty never fell behind in struggles with other nations.
This "advisor" had already fully grasped the nature and weaknesses of the Song Crown Prince.
He may have ambition, but lacked the ability.
Worse than Zhao Ji.
Not capable of accomplishing anything, yet more than capable of ruining everything.
To Jia Xu, this was an excellent chess piece.
==========
Within a mysterious mountain range.
Deep inside an Imperial Mausoleum, inside a grand hall.
"Ancestor Chen Tuan, Zhao Pu, Shi Shouxin. You three are talented. Why not follow me from now on?"
Zhu Houzhao looked at the three people before him and, after a long internal debate, decided to recruit them.
Their strength was notable, their temperament not weak, and more importantly, they still had potential to grow.
With proper cultivation.
They might even advance to the God Demon Realm in the future.
Of course.
He would not use National Fortune to help them improve their realm.
That part, they would need to earn through their own hard work.
As for cultivation resources?
As long as they completed enough missions, Zhu Houzhao had no shortage of them.
His daily "lying flat" rewards were that generous!
Especially when he truly lay flat.
The rewards would be even more bountiful.
Whenever Zhu Houzhao felt the rewards were lacking, he would just continue lounging in the Imperial Harem.
After a period of time, everything would be replenished again.
That was his confidence.
Hearing Zhu Houzhao's offer, Chen Tuan, Zhao Pu, and Shi Shouxin exchanged glances.
They were all smart people.
If they refused, with the personality and strength of the man before them, he would not hesitate to kill.
Glancing at the corpses on the floor, they shuddered.
So many Land Immortal Realm beings, all killed without hesitation.
So ruthless.
If he could kill so many, he definitely wouldn't mind killing a few more.
"Aren't you afraid we might betray you in the future?"
Chen Tuan asked curiously.
"Heh!"
Zhu Houzhao gave a chilling laugh.
It sent a shiver down their spines.
"Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Kuangyi both died by my hand."
"Zhao Kuangyin's petty scheme tormented you all for over a hundred years!"
"Do you really think, if I wanted to plot against you, I'd be any worse than him?"
"Believe me. If you betray me, you'll envy those already dead!"
"At that time, you'll deeply regret ever turning against me."
Though their hearts were uneasy, Chen Tuan and the other two nodded thoughtfully.
"Ancestor, whatever you decide, we will follow."
It seemed that after more than a century together, Zhao Pu and Shi Shouxin had come to trust Chen Tuan fully.
Perhaps not only due to strength, but also his bearing.
"Your Majesty, now that we submit to you, what is it that we must do?"
"If you ask us to do things that go against our values, then it's better to kill us now!"
"Interesting! Don't worry. I have many powerful subordinates!"
"The missions I assign, you might not even qualify for them yet!"
"Not just anyone can carry out my orders!"
"You still have a long road ahead!"
Zhu Houzhao shook his head.
Then he took out three milky-white pills.
And tossed them over.
"These pills will remove the influence of the Song Dynasty's National Fortune from your bodies and minds."
"There will be a brief drop in your realm, but with diligent cultivation, you will recover quickly."
"From now on, you will no longer be bound by the Song Dynasty's National Fortune."
"However, achieving rapid realm breakthroughs as before, will no longer be possible."
"As for what you need to do, once you return to the Ming Dynasty, someone will explain everything."
The three hesitated for a moment.
But eventually gritted their teeth and swallowed the pills.
In the next moment.
A warm energy began cleansing their bodies.
Though their realms dropped rapidly, their true essence became more refined.
Their entire beings felt light and free.
Their hearts seemed to be cleared of all murkiness.
Even with the realm drop, they felt unusually liberated and joyful.
All the resentment, anger, and unwillingness from the past hundred years vanished.
"Thank you for the medicine, Your Majesty. We shall serve loyally and never dare betray you!"
"Let's hope so. I look forward to your future performance."
Zhu Houzhao remained indifferent.
The pills just now had something added to them.
Even if they wanted to betray him later, it likely wouldn't be possible.
Just think of Luo Xian from the Heaven Gate organization. How hostile she once was to him.
But after taking a single pill, she now served him with absolute loyalty.
Never once betraying him.
Even her former master, Di Shitian, had now become her target.
"Your Majesty, this poor Taoist has something to report!"
"Oh?"
"Your Majesty, this Imperial Mausoleum was built at great cost by Zhao Kuangyin."
"From the start, he hid unimaginable treasures and wealth here."
"To prepare for any future needs!"
"Now that Zhao Kuangyin is dead, this place naturally belongs to Your Majesty."
"And all its treasures and wealth as well."
An unexpected surprise?
Zhu Houzhao was quite interested.
If it was something Zhao Kuangyin had personally hidden, it surely wasn't ordinary.
==========
Outside the Imperial Mausoleum.
When the Dark Guard Vice-Leader saw Zhu Houzhao emerge unscathed.
His expression brightened.
He immediately stepped forward respectfully:
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Rise. What's the situation outside?"
"Your Majesty, earlier a mysterious force of nearly a thousand troops suddenly emerged from the mausoleum and charged toward the forces of various dynasties."
"In this period, all the nations have suffered heavy losses."
"Now the battlefield has been thrown into chaos. That mysterious army won't last much longer."
"And what of Guo Jia?"
"Lord Guo is unharmed. Although his losses look serious, he is not in any danger."
"Good. It is time to close the net."
"By the way, where is Song Dynasty's Huang Shang?"
"Ignore the others for now. That man Huang Shang must not be allowed to leave so easily."
"If we can't capture him alive, then we must eliminate him completely!"
Zhu Houzhao's eyes turned cold.
From the beginning of his plan, he had never intended to let Huang Shang return to Zhao Ji's side.
Either submit willingly.
Or die.
There is no other path!