Chapter 98 The Divinity Manifested

Chapter 98: The Deity Appears

Several gazes, almost tangible, fell upon Lu Yao.

Yet, Lu Yao paid them no mind.

Similarly, Chu Jiubian remained expressionless, casting a casual glance over those present.

Such reactions instantly enlightened these shrewd individuals.

Lu Yao couldn’t have conceived such an idea only now and just informed Chu Jiubian; they must have discussed it long ago.

In fact, these people had likely long been prepared for such a course of action.

Those present also speculated about Qin Xiao’s “disappearance”—could it be that he hadn’t actually encountered any mishap but had instead used the opportunity to leave the three-thousand-strong troop and go elsewhere?

The more they pondered, the more plausible it seemed, and unease spread among them.

But now, the vassal princes’ armies had already departed for seven or eight days, and the slogan “Clear the Court of Evil Influences” had been raised. There was no turning back.

Their only option was to press forward toward the capital, gambling that Chu Jiubian couldn’t hold the imperial city and that Qin Xiao had truly failed to defeat the mysterious martial arts alliance leader and was indeed missing.

Before setting out, the vassal princes had anticipated others might exploit their absence, so none had brought all their troops. Even if someone tried to attack their domains amid the chaos, the troops left behind could defend their homes.

Thus, upon hearing the news from the capital that Qin Xiao’s disappearance might be a feigned tactic for a surprise attack, the vassal princes, though concerned, had no intention of turning back. Instead, they accelerated their advance toward the capital.

Under mounting pressure, the noble families and powerful officials in the court grew increasingly tense and restless day by day.

The reason was simple: Chu Jiubian and the Imperial College group appeared far too composed.

Moreover, An Wuji’s Imperial Guards and the City Defense Force, along with the Directorate of Ceremonial and other departments, continued to operate smoothly, as if the daily military reports barely caused a ripple in their minds.

The more confident Chu Jiubian and his allies seemed, the more fearful these others became.

Yet Chu Jiubian paid no heed to their increasingly frequent behind-the-scenes maneuvers. Instead, he worked tirelessly with the engineering students day and night to develop gunpowder and prepare numerous simple bombs.

Chu Jiubian stored all these items in the system warehouse. Combined with those produced by Situ Zhaoyao, the quantity was already staggering.

He also purchased a full hundred remote-controlled explosives from the system store. Though not as powerful as actual landmines, these devices could injure anyone within a two- to three-meter radius when detonated and were particularly effective at startling horses.

Chu Jiubian ordered his hidden guards to dig numerous pits fifty miles outside the capital under cover of darkness, along the route the vassal princes’ armies would inevitably take. These pits were filled with the explosives.

They avoided using landmines for fear of accidental casualties, but remote-controlled explosives posed no such risk.

After burying the devices and covering them with soil, a heavy snowfall over the next two days erased all traces, and no one was alerted.

Additionally, Chu Jiubian had accumulated eleven cards.

He had tried each one but couldn’t draw Qin Xiao.

So, late on the night of the first day of the twelfth month, he used all the cards, summoning every available person.

Perhaps the system had given him special treatment—six of the eleven cards were Wisdom Cards, or talent cards.

Aside from Lu Yao, none of these talents had been summoned yet.

However, several candidates among the potential believers were already students admitted to the Imperial College, so Chu Jiubian temporarily bypassed them, selecting instead believers currently scattered across Great Ning.

These believers were spread far and wide, including within the vassal princes’ domains.

Chu Jiubian summoned them not only because they were worthy but also because doing so provided a convenient channel to communicate with their locations, allowing him to receive updates from across the land quickly and securely.

In these turbulent times, almost no intelligence network could remain entirely hidden.

Qin Chuan had temporarily reduced his message relaying, and Qin Xiao had been silent altogether.

Since his “disappearance” over half a month prior, there had been no word from him.

Before leaving, they had agreed that Qin Xiao would first head to the Western Regions to join the garrison there before advancing into Shaanxi and Gansu to cut off Prince Dingbei’s retreat.

But Chu Jiubian had received no communication from him, worrying that something unexpected might have happened along the way.

Now, among the believers he had summoned, one was located in Shaanxi.

This man, named Lv Liangcai, was forty years old. Though not exceptionally talented, he had some renown.

Previously, Prince Dingbei had tried to recruit him, but he declined. Later, when the court opened the imperial examinations, he hesitated to enroll due to fear of Prince Dingbei’s influence—a middle-aged man lacking ambition.

But now, standing in the Divine Realm, he looked up at the majestic, towering silhouette of the deity and fell to his knees with a thud.

“You… you… are you a celestial being?” Lv Liangcai stammered.

Noticing the prayer beads on his wrist, Chu Jiubian knew he was a Buddhist, making him more receptive to divine matters.

“I am the High Priest,” Chu Jiubian declared.

The High Priest!

Lv Liangcai had little interest in political affairs but was deeply fascinated by mystical matters.

He had long wanted to visit the capital to catch a glimpse of the renowned Senior Tutor Chu, said to be the reincarnation of a deity, but family matters had always prevented the trip.

Besides the famous Senior Tutor Chu, he had also heard of the High Priest who had appeared in the northern deserts.

One deity descending to the mortal realm might be a trial, but two deities descending surely meant heaven intended to help Great Ning restore its Fortune.

Lv Liangcai had always held this belief, even wishing to serve Senior Tutor Chu loyally if given the chance.

Yet instead of meeting Senior Tutor Chu, he first encountered the High Priest.

Lv Liangcai kowtowed and said, “This humble man, Lv Liangcai, pays respects to the High Priest. How may I serve you? I will spare no effort.”

The Divine Realm naturally encouraged believers to devote themselves to Chu Jiubian, and given Lv Liangcai’s superstitious nature, he was quickly swayed.

“There is indeed a task for you,” Chu Jiubian said.

He instructed him to closely monitor any news of Qin Xiao and to seek him out as soon as he reached the Shaanxi area.

Then, he was to have Qin Xiao report his situation and relay messages back to the Divine Realm through Lv Liangcai.

“If Prince Ning asks about my identity, how should I respond?”

Chu Jiubian lightly tapped the armrest twice and smiled. “Tell him the truth.”

The truth being: “A believer of the High Priest.”

Lv Liangcai respectfully agreed.

Chu Jiubian had the system escort him out of the Divine Realm.

How the other person was surprised and excited upon awakening from the "dream" need not be described.

Subsequently, Chu Jiubian drew forth several other believers, who appeared at the same time. Upon seeing the High Priest, they were either stunned and incredulous or thrilled beyond measure.

Especially after learning that the other believers who’d entered the Divine Realm alongside them came from various regions of Great Ning, they found it even more marvelous.

Nowadays, Senior Tutor Chu’s divine fame is renowned, and these individuals hold great admiration for him. They are also aware that there is another deity in Great Ning known as the "High Priest."

Seeing that the High Priest now asked them to help Senior Tutor Chu, it stood to reason that the two deities were acquainted.

The believers were all candidates for Wisdom Cards, each possessing no small intellect and their own perspectives and understanding of the current situation.

In the current state of the realm, only if the imperial court stands firm can Great Ning enjoy peace and prosperity, and the people live in peace and happiness.

Thus, although they were subjects living on vassal princes’ lands, their loyalty lay with the imperial court.

"Did the High Priest have any commands for us to undertake?" A young man in his mid-twenties stepped forward with a bow. "This one would be honored to serve you."

Assisting the High Priest meant helping Senior Tutor Chu, which in turn meant aiding the imperial court.

He had no reason to hesitate. If not for falling ill and missing the preliminary imperial exams, he would already have entered official service and worked for the court.

Taking the lead, the others quickly followed suit, hastening to pledge their allegiance.

With the reputations of both Chu Jiubian and the High Priest now spread, there was no need to expend effort proving their identities to the believers through unusual tricks, which was a great relief.

Believers who could enter the Divine Realm could never betray Chu Jiubian, so he straightforwardly explained the tasks he required of them.

For the time being, their duties were limited to reporting the situation on the ground in real time from their respective regions.

Moreover, the believers did not even need to enter the Divine Realm. As long as they called the High Priest’s name and voiced their messages, the system could pick it up and relay them to Chu Jiubian.

Although Chu Jiubian used up some points, having the system help keep an eye on things at all times was extremely convenient.

Among these believers, several were currently residing within the fiefdoms of Prince Huguang and Prince Dongjiang, distributed across different key counties and crucial areas.

Should the court march its armies, they would inevitably march right through these believers’ territories.

The cards provided by the system seemed prepared in advance, but Chu Jiubian didn’t have time to look into them—he had other things to do.

The Southern Frontier King’s situation was a given. They had long been mobilizing their troops. By the time Prince Huguang left his fiefdom, they had already linked up with the forces from Southern Zhili and were advancing toward Huguang.

With their involvement, coupled with Southern Zhili’s armies also advancing toward Guangdong and Jiangxi, there was no need for Qin Xiao to personally attack the fiefdoms of Prince Huguang and Prince Dongjiang.

His task was solely to take Shaanxi and Gansu.

As for Henan...

Chu Jiubian sent these believers out and then used two Military Cards to summon Prince Pingxi Baili Zheng, who held the fiefdom of Sichuan, and Prince Anhuai Baili Ming, who held the fiefdom of Henan.

A feeling of weightlessness hit him, and Baili Ming let out a startled cry, waving his arms wildly in the air.

The next moment, a phoenix lifted him up while also catching another figure falling from above.

After sitting up, Baili Ming was still shaken, but seeing Baili Zheng beside him reassured him a little, though he remained completely lost.

Was this a dream?

Baili Zheng was much calmer, though the scene before him also startled him. Turning to meet Baili Ming’s confused gaze, he frowned a little and asked, "Prince Anhuai?"

"Yes," Baili Ming nodded dazedly.

A phoenix called out, cutting through the clouds and interrupting their exchange.

Instinctively, the two looked ahead and saw the mist part, revealing a massive, dread-inspiring silhouette of a deity faintly visible within the clouds.

"This is..." Baili Ming was unable to get a full sentence out.

Baili Zheng’s pupils reflected the deity’s form. He instinctively clenched his fists, suppressing the shock and fear in his heart, along with any change in his expression.

The phoenix placed them on the ground, transformed into mist, rose again, and then coalesced into shape before disappearing among the indistinct outlines of upturned eaves and palace roofs in the clouds.

Baili Ming gazed, entranced.

Since leaving the capital after the New Year, he had never felt as relaxed as he did at this moment.

Without fear or caution, he emptied his mind completely, fully immersing himself in this ethereal "illusion."

Baili Zheng, however, gazed at the divine figure and tentatively asked, "Lord Chu?"

As a vassal prince accustomed to authority, his first instinct upon encountering a deity was not to bow or offer greetings but to test the waters.

Chu Jiubian remained silent.

Baili Zheng pressed further, "Could you be the High Priest?"

With such means to bring him and the distant Baili Ming together into this celestial realm, it could only be one of these two deities.

Baili Zheng was not a non-believer. On the contrary, having witnessed Chu Jiubian’s supernatural abilities, he held more reverence than the other vassal princes.

Hearing his question, Baili Ming’s eyes lit up as he looked up at the deity.

Though the face was unclear, the sheer presence alone filled him with awe.

"I have a task for the two of you," the High Priest spoke, his voice and tone entirely different from "Senior Tutor Chu," instantly confirming his identity to the two.

"What task?" Baili Zheng asked.

The High Priest replied, "Dispatch the Pingxi Army to assist Prince Ning in capturing Shaanxi and Gansu."

Though Baili Zheng had never been to the battlefield, he earned the title "Prince Pingxi" because he commanded a formidable Pingxi Army that deterred western tribes from invading.

If he could send troops to assist, the campaigns in Shaanxi-Gansu and Huguang would proceed more smoothly.

Baili Zheng thought to himself, "As expected."

Previously, Southern Frontier King Baili Hao had repeatedly written to him, urging him to lend a hand to the imperial court. Once the dust settled, he too would reap benefits.

Initially, Baili Zheng had intended to mind his own affairs and manage his people without involvement.

But now that the war had truly begun, he realized Baili Hao was right. Even if he wished to remain passive, the conflict would eventually reach him.

Moreover, once the court quelled the rebellions, the reckoning with the vassal princes would begin.

The Southern Frontier King and Prince Zuiliang had cooperated with the court early on, demonstrating their sincerity. Given the character of the emperor’s faction, they were unlikely to discard allies after use.

Only Baili Zheng, despite his inaction, occupied a strategically vital position. Would the court simply leave him be?

Now that the High Priest had also approached him, his already wavering resolve grew even more unsettled.

However, he still did not agree immediately and stayed silent.

Chu Jiubian did not pressure him.

The man was smart; he would know how to choose.

Only then did Baili Ming speak up, saying anxiously, "High Priest, I... I can't send troops."

He didn't hold military authority, so his words carried no weight.

Moreover, the Anhuai Army had already set out under He Zhen's command and was marching toward the capital, likely to arrive in just a few days.

Chu Jiubian knew he was in a tough spot. Summoning him here was not about the Anhuai Army but to protect him.

Baili Hong really liked his cousin Baili Ming.

Knowing that the war had broken out, the little one had repeatedly expressed concern, worrying that something might happen to Baili Ming.

Chu Jiubian also felt that this young man was naive and pitiable, so he casually reached out to him. After all, he was the last "armed card" left to be drawn.

"I'm giving this to you," Chu Jiubian said, handing him the repeating sleeve crossbow made by Lu Yao.

He didn't tell him to practice with it, nor did he mention that it might save his life at a critical moment. After giving it to him, he waved his hand and had the system send both of them out of the Divine Realm.

Baili Zheng hadn't expected the High Priest to only say that one sentence to him. When he didn't respond, the High Priest did not even try to persuade him, as if it didn't really matter whether he sent troops or not.

Dispensable.

The pride of a deity.

Now he understood.

With Qin Xiao's abilities, he might not need Prince Pingxi's help at all. But Chu Jiubian did not want to waste thousands of points saving Qin Xiao again, so it was better to eliminate that possibility at its source.

More troops meant more security.

After taking care of this, Chu Jiubian glanced at Jiang Shuoye's situation. Seeing him sleeping peacefully in his tent, he knew Jiang Shuoye was confident and did not pay further attention.

Then he left the Divine Realm.

On the day Qin Xiao left the capital, Chu Jiubian moved back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, which made the child feel more at ease.

He opened his eyes to a dim bedroom, with only the faint moonlight outside swaying like a veil.

Chu Jiubian turned over, half his face buried in the quilt.

The room was warm, but his hands and feet were still cold.

If only Qin Xiao were here, he could warm them up quickly.

Chu Jiubian was not sleepy and lay awake, lost in thought.

A faint scent of Qin Xiao lingered in the air, but it no longer brought him the same relaxation and comfort as before.

So annoying.

He turned over again and caught sight of Qin Xiao's pillow.

After a pause, he reached out and hugged the pillow to his chest, finally feeling a bit more comfortable.

But after moving the pillow, he noticed the album hidden underneath it and a small jade jar about half the size of a palm.

What was in the jar need not be mentioned, but Chu Jiubian had never seen that album before.

He knew Qin Xiao took it out to look at it every night, but had never known what was inside nor been particularly curious.

But now...

He picked up the book and flipped through it, page after page of indecent images.

Chu Jiubian showed no reaction, his expression bored and indifferent.

How could Qin Xiao find such things so fascinating?

He put the book back, hugged the pillow, and couldn't help but recall past moments.

Images of his intimate moments with Qin Xiao surfaced abruptly in his mind. Chu Jiubian's expression changed, and his legs tightened unconsciously.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to sleep.

But he grew more and more alert—the man's seductive low moans, strong arms, rough kisses, and thrusts became increasingly vivid.

Chu Jiubian buried his face in Qin Xiao's pillow, reached down, and explored beneath the covers.

Before Qin Xiao left for battle, he had specifically taken the inner garment Chu Jiubian had worn. So what if he thought of the other and did something improper? Who knew if Qin Xiao was also...

He guessed right.

Qin Xiao was also lying in bed at that moment, holding the inner garment, stroking it rhythmically.

The smooth silk grew hot and feverish, eventually becoming damp after a long while.

==

Half a month later, on the fifteenth of December.

Heavy snow fell.

The previous night, Chu Jiubian had received news from Lv Liangcai that Prince Ning's army had reached the border between Shaanxi and Gansu, and the Northern Stability Army had been repeatedly defeated and pushed back into Shaanxi.

This indicated that Qin Xiao had already captured Gansu and was preparing to continue the advance.

Lv Liangcai had set out early that morning to meet Qin Xiao, planning to relay the latest updates to the High Priest once he had them.

Chu Jiubian felt largely relieved.

He had gotten up early and had breakfast with Baili Hong, then dressed in a brand-new set of clothes identical to what he had worn when he first arrived in Great Ning, draping a cloak over his shoulders.

Baili Hong watched him, marveling at his teacher's beauty while also clinging to his leg worriedly. "Teacher, you must be careful. Miao Miao wants you to stay safe."

The four vassal prince armies had converged the previous evening and set up camp fifty kilometers outside the city.

Nearly sixty thousand Qin Family Army troops were stationed two kilometers away, standing ready for battle.

Everyone knew that today would mark the first dialogue between the rebels and the imperial court.

Chu Jiubian, who now held military and political power as the Grand Tutor, was the one who would control the discourse.

"It's alright," Chu Jiubian said, crouching down to hug the child and gently ruffling his hair. "Teacher will be fine, and so will your uncle."

The incident of Qin Xiao's severe injury had frightened the child.

When Qin Xiao departed for the campaign, Baili Hong asked with teary eyes, "Do you have to go?" But he was sensible enough to know Qin Xiao had to leave, so he didn't try to persuade him further, just nodded obediently.

On the morning Qin Xiao departed, Baili Hong watched anxiously, repeatedly urging his uncle to stay safe.

Now, with Chu Jiubian also heading out—even if only a few dozen kilometers outside the city—Baili Hong was still afraid.

Baili Hong had deep trust in Chu Jiubian's words.

Teacher had never gone back on his word before, so if he said both he and his uncle would be fine, then it must be true.

"But Teacher, you still need to be careful. Miao Miao will wait for you to come back," the child said, gazing at him anxiously.

"Alright, I might return tonight," Chu Jiubian said with a laugh.

Baili Hong's eyes immediately lit up.

Without wasting time, Chu Jiubian left a piece of candy for the child, stood up, and strode out of the courtyard gate.

The child ran after him to the gate, watching him disappear into the distance. It was only after Hong Fu and Xiao Yuzi coaxed him for a long time that he reluctantly returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Looking at the empty council hall, he sniffled and climbed into the main seat himself.

A thick stack of memorials lay on the table.

"Eunuch Hong, prepare the ink," the child said, his voice still trembling but his tone firm.

His uncle and teacher were risking their lives; he had to work even harder to live up to their expectations.

Outside, the wind was cold and strong.

Before leaving, Chu Jiubian had placed a heating pad inside his inner garment and put on a mask and hood before mounting his horse.

An Wuji stood beside him, looking up and saying, "Don't worry, my lord. I will secure the palace gates and not give those people any chance to threaten His Majesty's safety."

The Vassal Prince's army was held back by the Qin Family Army, but nearly 40,000 household troops from various noble families had secretly entered the capital, waiting only for the order to assemble.

However, An Wuji had command of 20,000 Imperial Guards and the City Defense Force, enough to hold out for a long time—certainly until Chu Jiubian returned to the city.

"Then I leave the city to you. If anything urgent happens, summon me," Chu Jiubian said.

He had already drawn An Wuji's card, but hadn't told him.

Still, as one of his followers, the system could detect him. If An Wuji faced mortal danger, Chu Jiubian would receive the message immediately.

"You still have that thing with you, right?" Chu Jiubian was referring to the pistol he had given An Wuji, who had used it skillfully.

An Wuji patted his waist and smiled. "I have it, my lord. Don't worry."

Chu Jiubian nodded, spurred his horse, and headed toward the city gates.

The Imperial Guards on the surface were ready for battle, and the hundreds of Qin Family Army shadow guards in the shadows were also busy.

Some monitored the thirty civilians infected with Gu worms, others kept an eye on the powerful nobles, and even more protected Baili Hong and Chu Jiubian.

But Chu Jiubian only brought twenty shadow guards with him.

He didn't bring them to fight on the battlefield but for other purposes.

In the chaos of battle, these shadow guards, with their exceptional qinggong skills and ability to conceal their presence, could perform more specialized tasks.

Chu Jiubian left the palace alone, passing through Divine Might Avenue. The usually bustling streets were eerily quiet today, with only a few people in sight.

When war breaks out, it's always the common people who are the most fearful and anxious.

Then let's end this quickly.

Chu Jiubian rode out of the imperial city.

Of the 2,000 Qin Family Army soldiers left in the camp, 1,000 had been sent to wait for Chu Jiubian. Once he arrived, they would advance together.

Fifty kilometers away, both sides were ready for battle.

The Qin Family Army stood firm, neither advancing nor retreating. The commander was a young Qin general named Qin Jiasheng.

Around the same age as Qin Xiao, he had learned the art of warfare from Grand Marshal Qin.

Previously, he had dared not join the army or enter politics because the Qin family was in a precarious position. But now, with the Qin family truly in power, he could finally realize his ambitions.

He stood at the front of the formation, not mounted on a horse.

Behind him, the soldiers held only weapons and shields, as if there were no cavalry.

On the Vassal Prince's side, Anhuai Army Commander He Zhen sensed something unusual.

But upon second thought, he figured the Qin Family Army might not expect a battle today, hence their lack of full preparedness.

In reality, the bitter cold affected everyone—not just the soldiers, but even He Zhen, the vassal princes, and the generals found their tents freezing.

Everyone wanted to finish this battle quickly, so they had agreed the previous night to launch an attack today.

With hundreds of thousands of troops against a mere 60,000 Qin Family Army soldiers, victory should be as easy as slicing through melons and vegetables.

Once they captured the imperial city, they and their soldiers could finally sleep warmly and eat a hot meal.

At daybreak, heavy snow fell relentlessly.

He Zhen stood at the front lines with the generals of the other three vassal princes, beginning their taunts.

It was customary to start with a round of insults.

Qin Jiasheng was not to be outdone. Leading his soldiers, he hurled taunts back, calling them "rebels" and "shameless," his curses even fouler than those of the seasoned veterans.

The generals grew furious, nearly charging forward in rage.

But just then, the dense ranks of the Qin Family Army parted, creating a wide path.

He Zhen squinted and saw a figure on a tall horse slowly approaching.

The person wore a hood and a mask, a dark cloak concealing their figure, making it impossible to identify them.

But it was easy to guess: this must be the legendary divine incarnate, Grand Tutor Sir Chu Jiubian.

The generals and soldiers had only heard of Chu Jiubian by name but had never seen him in person. Now, as he appeared, they held their breath in awe.

This was a deity.

Though the generals and princes claimed his methods were weak, an instinctive fear remained.

Under the gaze of hundreds of thousands, Chu Jiubian first removed his gloves, then his mask, storing them all in his spatial inventory.

The crowd watched as he made those things vanish into thin air. Before their shock could even register, they saw him remove the hood connected to his cloak, revealing a hairstyle completely foreign to Great Ning people, along with a face as beautiful as a deity's.

Chu Jiubian had spent a "fortune" from the system to purchase a one-hour special effect.

The effect now enveloped him, giving him a halo-like glow around his body. Combined with the function that prevented others from touching him, the snowflakes drifted around him without landing, forming an empty space around him.

This magical sight, paired with the atmosphere he intentionally crafted, added a divine aura to his face that mortals wouldn’t dare disrespect.

Not only the common soldiers but even He Zhen and the others couldn’t take their eyes off him.

Had the Qin Family Army been able to see his face, they would surely have been as stunned as the rebel army.

Hearing of Chu Jiubian's appearance, the three vassal princes from the carriages behind also emerged.

Of the four forces, only Baili Ming had not come in person. The others—Prince Dingbei, Prince Huguang, and Prince Dongjiang—had all arrived.

They stood atop their carriages, peering toward the front of the army, trying to make out what was happening, but they were simply too far away.

"Let's go take a look," Prince Huguang Baili Yue suggested.

Prince Dingbei Baili Yu had the same idea and agreed right away.

Prince Dongjiang Baili He, who had initially felt too cold to go to the front, realized that if the other two struck any deal with Chu Jiubian, he would be left out.

So the three mounted their horses and rode from the rear of the crowd to the front.

Upon seeing Chu Jiubian's current appearance, they were just as stunned.

But they quickly composed themselves.

"Grand Tutor, we hope you are well," Baili Yue spoke loudly. "Today, the three of us brothers have gathered here merely to see the Emperor for ourselves and ask how he fares. We hope you will not stand in our way."

This statement implied their concern that Chu Jiubian might be mistreating Baili Hong and that they had come to verify whether Baili Hong was under any threat.

It aligned well with their banner of "purging the court of corrupt influences."

Chu Jiubian's cold stare fell upon him, but he remained silent.

Baili Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping over Chu Jiubian from head to toe, boldly sizing him up.

Both the Qiu and Lu families had written to him, saying they wanted Chu Jiubian for themselves.

But Baili Yu wanted him for himself as well.

Aside from the supernatural abilities the man possessed, Baili Yu was deeply taken by his looks and presence.

"Your silence, Sir, does it mean you have a guilty conscience?" Baili He curled his lips, his eyes full of mockery and menace, making it difficult for others to meet his gaze.

Yet Chu Jiubian stared him down for two breaths, then swept his gaze over the several generals and the hundreds of thousands of troops behind them, saying, "This is your last chance. Those who surrender will not be killed."

His tone was calm and cold, and he did not raise his voice, yet his words seemed to echo, ringing out, reaching every soldier, even those in the very back of the vassal princes' army.

Is... is he a god? His words truly can resonate directly in one's mind!

The soldiers couldn't help but feel sheer terror.

The army's morale wavered.

The faces of the vassal princes also changed.

Their fear deepened, and they instinctively wanted to retreat.

But Chu Jiubian laughed.

It was a soft sound, as if lost to the wind.

Yet, accompanied by his light laugh, a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder suddenly erupted in the sky, making everyone’s hearts pound and spooking the horses.

Chu Jiubian's horse, with cotton stuffed in its ears, remained undisturbed by the noise, only snorting and shifting its legs slightly.

Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, the vassal princes immediately turned their horses around and headed toward the rear of their forces.

Amid the chaos, several shadowy imperial guards moved like ghosts among the soldiers, planting something on the three lords before retreating just as quickly.

A golden firework exploded in the sky. Chu Jiubian, knowing the hidden guards had left the vassal princes' ranks, breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, in the next moment, a deafening dragon's roar resounded. Everyone looked up in panic and saw a colossal dragon, so vast it blotted out the sky, materialize for two breaths before disappearing.

In its place, above Chu Jiubian's head, appeared a massive and majestic phantom of a deity, its eyes slightly lowered, staring coldly down at the mortal world.