Chapter 99 Earth Shakes, Mountains Tremble

Chapter 99: Earth-Shattering

The phantom, towering between heaven and earth, sat upon a divine throne of gold and jade.

He was clad in opulent pure white robes, adorned with intricate silver ornaments and jewels, dripping with magnificence.

From his right shoulder extended a cloak of soft, lustrous white fox fur, fanning out into a wide cape down his back.

His figure was shrouded in hazy mist, yet he emitted a soft, golden glow, while his black-and-white hair made him instantly recognizable.

With just one glance, everyone recognized the phantom as Chu Jiubian.

Yet Chu Jiubian himself remained mounted on his horse.

The phantom was so immense that it was visible not only around the imperial city but across the entire expanse of Great Ning.

Far away in the northern deserts, Jiang Shuoye, engaged with the Tatar army, suddenly heard a thunderous roar and instinctively glanced toward the imperial capital.

His soldiers and the Tatar army did the same.

And then, everyone saw that figure.

Jiang Shuoye’s eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he thought it was the High Priest manifesting, but upon closer inspection, he noticed the figure differed from the High Priest, with only the attire bearing a slight resemblance.

Was that Senior Tutor Chu?

Had the conflict in the capital already begun?

The Tatar army grew restless. Their general, Muhammad, standing at the front lines, turned pale, a chill spreading from his heart and causing him to shiver uncontrollably.

A god.

Great Ning truly had a god!

“A deity has descended!” someone shouted, and the 200,000-strong Tatar army descended into chaos.

In contrast, the soldiers of Great Ning, though just as awestruck, felt their morale soar.

Their nation was under divine protection!

What was there to fear from mere Tatars?

Across Great Ning, believers sensing the divine presence stepped out of their homes and looked toward the capital, where they saw the colossal, sky-obscuring phantom.

Was it the High Priest?

No, it was Senior Tutor Chu!

That face, one only a deity could possess, was exquisitely beautiful, aloof, with pale, glassy eyes gazing down indifferently at the mortal world below like ants.

Though there was only one phantom, people from all directions could see its full frontal view, feeling the weight of its detached gaze.

“A deity! It’s a deity!”

“Heavens! The deity has manifested! The deity has manifested!”

The people dropped to their knees en masse, trembling in awe, clasping their hands in prayer and murmuring “divine protection” as they kowtowed in unison.

Prince Anhuai, Baili Ming, stood in his courtyard, looking up at the giant phantom, and unconsciously knelt, his eyes brimming with tears.

Prince Pingxi, Baili Zheng, walking along the main street, saw the people kneeling everywhere, kowtowing and murmuring, “Divine protection, peace under heaven.”

Peace under heaven.

Baili Zheng gazed intently at the deity but dared not meet its gaze.

With momentum shifting, the Pingxi Army needed to take action.

On the vast plains at the border of Shaanxi and Gansu, Qin Xiao’s 80,000 troops, transferred from the Western Regions, were advancing when they suddenly heard the deafening roar, startling their horses and causing them to look around in alarm.

Soon, however, they realized the sound came not from their surroundings but from above, from the sky.

And from the east.

The direction of the capital.

Terrified, most soldiers had never seen Chu Jiubian and could not recognize the towering figure.

But some knew him. Someone shouted, “It’s Senior Tutor Chu!”

“The Grand Tutor? Senior Tutor Chu?”

“Heavens! It really is Senior Tutor Chu! The Divine Ruler! He has manifested!”

“The Divine Ruler has manifested! Senior Tutor Chu has manifested!”

The soldiers were both excited and fearful, but mostly overjoyed.

They dismounted and knelt in the snow, a dark, endless sea of figures.

Qin Xiao, on horseback, gazed from afar at the deity’s empty eyes, finding them both familiar and strange.

It had been a long time since he had seen such an expression on Chu Jiubian.

The deity’s eyes held no light, no vitality, just as Chu Jiubian had when he first arrived in Great Ning.

But the Chu Jiubian he had protected so devotedly should not be like this.

Qin Xiao’s heart ached uncontrollably.

Had someone mistreated him?

He lowered his gaze, his expression turning colder.

“Mount up,” he said sternly.

The Deputy General nearby heard him and quickly rose to his horse, shouting to the troops behind, “Mount up! Move out!”

The soldiers promptly mounted their horses.

Qin Xiao, clad in armor, led the way, his cape flapping in the wind, the army behind him formidable and imposing.

As the cold wind and snow blurred his vision, Qin Xiao looked up at the distant divine phantom.

He needed to return faster.

Outside the capital.

Accompanying the deity’s manifestation was a pressure limited to a range of several dozen miles ahead—an additional effect of the spectacle, though its influence was confined.

And this thing was burning through Chu Jiubian's points every second.

However, the points were well-spent. The warhorses in the vassal princes' army, sensing the terrifying pressure, restlessly stamped their hooves.

The soldiers standing in formation were even more terrified, instinctively stepping back and throwing the entire ranks into chaos.

The generals at the very front were the first "victims" to face the divine manifestation head-on.

They stood rooted to the spot in disbelief. Even as their steeds shifted uneasily beneath them, they couldn't snap out of it.

There was only shock and fear.

Their hearts nearly leaped out of their throats; they couldn't even manage to issue basic commands.

Without orders, many soldiers dropped to their knees, knocking their heads against the ground repeatedly, babbling pleas for the deity's forgiveness, and pleading that they had no choice, and so on.

The formation completely fell apart, and morale dissolved like grains of sand.

The vassal princes were just as anxious and helpless as their men.

They had known beforehand that Chu Jiubian, daring to stay and defend the imperial city, must have some trick up his sleeve, but they never expected it to be something like this.

"Attack! Strike!" Baili Yue was the first to react. He rode his horse within the ranks, shouting, "This is all he's got! Don't be afraid! Kill Chu Jiubian! Kill him!"

His voice cut through the soldiers' murmurs with piercing clarity.

He Zhen and others at the front of the formation snapped back to reality.

Though fear gripped their hearts and their hands trembled too much to hold their blades steady, He Zhen knew that since they had come this far, there was no turning back.

Advance meant death, retreat meant death—better to fight one last time.

His expression hardening with resolve as he roared, "Kill! Just kill Chu Jiubian!"

The other generals also rallied, shouting, "Retreat means death! Brothers, follow me and charge! Fight for your future glory!"

"They're trying to kill a god! They want to kill a god!" a soldier screamed in panic. "I won't... I won't fight..."

He fled in disarray toward the rear, and more followed suit, scrambling backward.

Prince Dongjiang's heart pounded like a drum. Mounting his horse, he too fled with the crowd.

Prince Dingbei glanced at him and cursed under his breath, "Coward!" But he too urged his horse toward the back of the throng.

However, after putting some distance between himself and the chaos, he reined in and shouted, "Your families and brothers are waiting for you to achieve glory! Deserters will be executed without mercy!"

The soldiers suddenly remembered—their families' lives were in the hands of the princes.

Yes, if they fled now, their loved ones would be doomed.

But to fight against a deity? This... this...

"The deity is merciful!" Baili Yue proclaimed loudly. "Chu Jiubian won't kill indiscriminately. If he could, he would have acted long ago, not waited until now!"

"Exactly! He doesn't dare kill us!"

As these cries grew louder, the soldiers' tension gradually eased.

True, if Chu Jiubian could kill at will, he would have done so already. He wouldn't have waited until the army was at the city gates to reveal his true form and intimidate them.

Chu Jiubian was indeed merciful, but he had already given these people a chance to flee. If they didn't take it, they could only blame themselves.

The shifting crowd was too vast for Chu Jiubian to spot where the vassal princes were hiding, but he knew they must be escaping under their guards' protection.

Estimating the time, he guessed the vassal princes had reached the minefield. Slowly, he spoke, "I gave you your chance."

His voice echoed coldly and indifferently in everyone's minds.

"Those who follow me shall prosper," the deity's calm tone reached all the people of Great Ning.

"Those who oppose me—"

"Shall perish."

As the words fell, a deafening explosion erupted within the vassal prince's army.

Then, one after another, thunderous blasts rang out randomly in different areas, each accompanied by heavy casualties among soldiers and horses.

The soldiers at the front turned in terror, seeing nothing unusual, yet the flames and thunder seemed unending.

The soldiers were utterly terrified.

Overwhelmed by immense, unknown fear, they fled in all directions, heedless of everything else.

Qin Jiasheng's eyes gleamed as he watched. Seeing some soldiers fleeing chaotically toward them, a smile curled on his lips.

Noticing Chu Jiubian raise his hand, he immediately shouted, "Brothers! Capture these rebels! Kill any who resist!"

"Yes!"

The Qin Family Army's roar was deafening.

The chaotic battlefield was filled with smoke and flames soaring to the sky.

The vast, snow-covered ground was stained red, trampled by countless feet into mud and grime.

The majestic divine illusion watched it all with downcast eyes, not a flicker of emotion on its face.

Beneath the illusion, Chu Jiubian sat on his horse, expression cold.

He lifted his gaze, looking far into the west.

He wondered how Qin Xiao was faring.

At the same time.

The commoners inside the imperial city emerged from their homes, kneeling and kowtowing in their courtyards, murmuring either "deity" or "lord."

Yet none dared venture into the streets, for the imperial guards were already clashing with the private soldiers of the three great families.

The Wang family, originally a scholarly household, had only a few thousand private soldiers. They now guarded their homes and the long street where the Wang residence stood, preventing outsiders from breaking in.

Just half an hour after Chu Jiubian left the city gates, the private soldiers of the great families surged into the streets, battling the imperial guards.

Taking advantage of the Qin Family Army's struggle with the vassal prince's forces, Lu Youwei and others aimed to quickly breach the palace and capture the young emperor.

But they hadn't expected that shortly after the fighting began, Chu Jiubian's divine true form would appear outside the city.

The sheer scale and majesty of the spectacle left the soldiers too terrified to even raise their swords.

Even those high-ranking officials who had witnessed Chu Jiubian's supernatural abilities time and again were struck speechless.

It's over.

That was the only thought in everyone's mind.

Everything Chu Jiubian had displayed before was merely superficial.

So perhaps he had never taken them seriously, and had simply been too lazy to reveal his truly formidable methods until now.

At this point, he was finally showing his true form.

Hearing the words "Those who obey me shall prosper, those who defy me shall perish," everyone's hearts sank.

The sound of cannon fire, audible even from such a distance, made the very ground of the imperial city tremble. This terrifying commotion was not like the fireworks they had seen before—it was something truly fearsome.

Yet even so, they felt that Chu Jiubian was not even using his full strength.

To oppose a deity with mortal bodies—they had been far too naive.

The deity only needed to lift a finger, and they would be utterly defenseless.

In Xiao Yao's horrified gaze, a hint of madness simmered. Breaking the silence, he spoke with a terrifying calm: "Even deities have things they care about."

Several pairs of eyes fixed intently on him.

"If we cannot kill the deity, then we control him." Xiao Yao looked toward the direction of the imperial palace.

Chu Jiubian and that Little Majesty were on very good terms. As long as they captured the palace and took control of Little Majesty, they could use him to control Chu Jiubian.

"Xuanzheng," Qiu Hongkuo spoke.

The sturdy, tall young man withdrew his gaze from the deity and replied respectfully, "Uncle."

Seated in his wheelchair, Qiu Hongkuo spoke with even greater calm than Xiao Yao: "Kill An Wuji."

"Yes." A gleam of excitement flashed in Qiu Xuanzheng's eyes.

Excellent. He had long wanted to fight that Commander of the Imperial Guards, but the other had always refused his challenges. Today, he finally had the chance.

"Be careful." Minister of Justice Qiu Heng patted his younger brother on the shoulder.

Qiu Xuanzheng laughed heartily, picked up his two large hammers, turned, and strode out the door.

Lu Youwei glanced sideways at the family head, Lu Jinfeng, standing beside him.

Lu Jinfeng looked up, his expression unreadable as he gazed at the towering phantom of the deity.

Noticing the gaze from the person beside him, he lowered his eyes.

After a moment of silence, he walked toward the courtyard gate, picked up his long sabre, and left without looking back.

The others turned their eyes to Lu Youwei.

Lu Youwei's face was grave, lost in thought.

On Shenwu Avenue.

The soldiers of the noble families, from commanders to ordinary troops, froze in place upon seeing Chu Jiubian's figure.

Some of the more timid ones immediately dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground, kowtowing.

Where one led, others followed. More and more people knelt, trembling as they kowtowed in Chu Jiubian's direction.

An Wuji looked up, stunned, at the sky.

But he quickly regained his composure and called out, "His Majesty knows that most of you here are acting against your will. Those who surrender will not be killed! Lay down your arms now!"

The family soldiers exchanged glances, and immediately some dropped their weapons, kneeling and raising their hands toward An Wuji.

"Take them into custody." No sooner had An Wuji given the order than he saw a figure charging from the end of the street.

The man moved with superb agility, his physique robust, his two iron hammers whirling through the air with a whooshing sound, bringing a gust of wind as he charged forward.

An Wuji instantly recognized the man. Gripping his spear, he leaped off his horse.

The clang of weapons meeting broke the chaos on the street. An Wuji was pushed back several paces by the man's terrifying strength, barely managing to steady himself.

In the next moment, Qiu Xuanzheng launched another attack.

An Wuji's expression turned serious; he dared not let his guard down.

Qiu Xuanzheng was a martial arts prodigy. An Wuji knew he stood no chance against him. For now, he could only hold him off temporarily. If worse came to worst, he would abandon honor and have his soldiers swarm the man.

But then, another figure appeared at the end of the street.

Catching sight of the newcomer, An Wuji's heart sank.

It was Lu Jinfeng!

Though not as formidable as Qiu Xuanzheng, he was still a martial arts fanatic. An Wuji felt he could hold his own against him one-on-one, but facing both of them at once, he stood no chance.

Just then, a shadowy figure appeared like a ghost at An Wuji's side, effortlessly deflecting the force and pushing him away. The figure then used a curved blade to block one of Qiu Xuanzheng's hammers, pushing him back a few steps with slight effort.

The mysterious appearance of this person drew everyone's attention.

An Wuji, recognizing the deep-set eyes and familiar mask, smiled.

It was Qin Chuan.

So he was still in the capital.

Turning to face Lu Jinfeng, An Wuji said nothing but raised his spear and charged.

Qiu Xuanzheng eyed the mysterious man, his gaze sweeping over the curved blade, his fighting spirit burning brighter.

This man was stronger than An Wuji.

The four of them engaged in a fierce battle.

Yet neither Qiu Xuanzheng nor Lu Jinfeng took command of their soldiers, leaving the family troops disorganized. Many surrendered naturally, pledging allegiance to the court.

Others took advantage of the chaos to flee into the alleys, and the Imperial Guards did not pursue them too aggressively.

After all, they were merely remnants, and all were citizens of Great Ning. They had only been sent to their deaths by the words of those in power.

As evening approached, Chu Jiubian had already ceased his manifestations.

This period of time was enough to deter those in Great Ning.

Fifty miles outside the capital, the vassal prince's army of several hundred thousand soldiers had either died, surrendered, or fled.

The battle had ended at this point, and you could say it was a walk in the park.

As evening fell, Qin Jiasheng ran up to Chu Jiubian from a distance, bowed, and said, "Sir, we only found the body of Prince Huguang and the unconscious Prince Dongjiang. Prince Dingbei, Baili Yu, fled east with several thousand soldiers. General Ruixue has gone after them."

General Ruixue was also from the Qin family; he was a family servant by birth and one of the most capable subordinates under the Qin clan's veteran retainers.

Baili Yu was extremely cunning, and with Gu Masters in his service, letting him escape was quite troublesome.

Chu Jiubian's mind raced.

Since Baili Yu couldn't return to his fief now, the most likely place he would head to was the nearest province, Henan.

Chu Jiubian called over a shadow guard and instructed him to deliver a message to Ruixue, saying that Prince Dingbei would most likely go to Henan, and they should try to capture him before he arrived.

Otherwise, Jiang Yongshou, who was likely aligned with Prince Dingbei, remained in Henan City.

If the Dingbei Army approached, Jiang Yongshou would surely lead the remaining ten thousand or so soldiers in Henan to welcome and protect Prince Dingbei.

The shadow guard accepted the order and left.

Chu Jiubian then took out a powder sent by the Southern Border Saintess from his personal storage space and said to Qin Jiasheng, "Spread this powder in one area. If any soldiers are drawn to it against their will, detain them first."

The Southern Border had recently provided a lot of powder, some to attract Gu worms and some to repel them.

Earlier, Chu Jiubian had sprinkled the powder to ward off Gu worms on the soldiers, but no one in the vassal prince's army had used it. To prevent Baili Yu from releasing more Gu worms in the chaos, it was better to test things out.

"Yes, sir," Qin Jiasheng replied, taking the powder and leaving.

Because a large amount was sprinkled, the scent was strong, overpowering the smells of blood and gunpowder.

Fifteen minutes later, Qin Jiasheng returned to report, "Sir, your hunch was correct. Over twenty soldiers from the vassal prince's army showed abnormal behavior, but our men are all fine."

Chu Jiubian nodded.

The Southern Border Saintess's skills were beyond doubt, especially since this powder was made by her and the more skilled Gu Masters of her clan, making it doubly effective.

"Secure those individuals. After we return..." Chu Jiubian paused, then said, "Imprison them in the imperial dungeons first."

"Yes, sir."

Chu Jiubian took one last look at the battlefield.

This was the first time he had seen such large-scale casualties—countless severed limbs and mangled bodies.

The frigid air was thick with the metallic scent of blood. Chu Jiubian closed his eyes, deliberately pushing aside buried memories.

When he opened his eyes again, he spoke with even greater calmness, "Muster the troops. We're returning to the city."

"Yes, sir," Qin Jiasheng replied, turning to direct the soldiers to secure the battlefield promptly. He also ordered several captains to stay behind and erase any traces of the explosions and corpses, while the rest of the army prepared to return to the city.

Chu Jiubian looked east. In winter, night fell early and quickly.

It was growing darker by the minute.

His thoughts turned to Qin Xiao. He wondered what Qin Xiao was doing at that moment.

If Qin Xiao had already advanced toward Shaanxi, he should be able to capture the city within a few days. It remained to be seen whether he would continue forward into Henan.

Lv Liangcai had gone to find Qin Xiao today. Chu Jiubian wondered if he had succeeded in finding him.

The system promptly replied, "Host, subordinate Lv Liangcai has successfully entered Prince Ning's camp but has not yet had the chance to meet Prince Ning (Qin Xiao)."

Chu Jiubian asked in his mind, "Has he heard any bad news?"

The system analyzed his words and replied, "The system infers that the host is asking whether Prince Ning has been injured. No such news has been received at this time."

Chu Jiubian: "..."

He ignored the system's unwanted analysis.

Still, this meant Qin Xiao was safe and sound, with no issues.

He wondered about the situation in the Southern Border and Southern Zhili, as well as Prince Pingxi. After today's events, Prince Pingxi would surely send troops to support the imperial court in securing the realm.

It seemed he would have to enter the Divine Realm again tonight—not only to gather information from all sides but also to inform Prince Anhuai and warn him to be on guard.

Prince Anhuai (Baili Ming) held no real power in the city, and the soldiers followed Jiang Yongshou's orders. Thus, Baili Ming's priority was simply to protect himself.

If the Dingbei King truly entered the city, two tigers couldn't share one mountain, and Baili Ming's situation would become even more difficult.

Of course, after entering the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian could also open Lv Liangcai's card screen to see how he communicated with Qin Xiao.

And how Qin Xiao would react.

Meanwhile, in the palace.

Baili Hong had been reviewing memorials in the Hall of Mental Cultivation all day, eating only a little for lunch. In the afternoon, Hong Fu brought some snacks, but the young emperor, who usually loved date cakes, barely touched them.

Hong Fu stayed with Baili Hong for the rest of the afternoon instead of returning to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

As night fell, Hong Fu stepped outside again and called Xiao Yuzi over, asking, "Still no news from outside the city?"

"Not yet, Master," Xiao Yuzi replied optimistically. "But the young master is so capable. He must be cleaning up the battlefield and preparing to return now."

It took over an hour to travel from the capital to the battlefield on horseback. The return journey with the army would be even slower.

"Go. Notify me immediately if there's any news."

"Understood."

"Also," Hong Fu added, "maintain close surveillance on that person the young master instructed us to monitor."

Xiao Yuzi grew serious. "Don't worry, Master. Commander An's men and the shadow guards are all in place. We won't let him cause any trouble."

The only victim of Gu poison in the palace, the one who had slipped through the net, had yet to show any unusual behavior.

The moon reached its zenith.

Chu Jiubian led the army back to the imperial city. Upon hearing the news, Baili Hong was so excited that he ran out barefoot.

"Your Majesty, slow down!" Hong Fu was also happy, a smile appearing on his face. "Let this servant dress you properly, or the young master will chide you later."

Remembering that his teacher would worry, Baili Hong obediently allowed Hong Fu to dress him in cotton clothes and trousers, draped a thick cloak over him, and placed a hand warmer in his arms before stepping out.

Chu Jiubian walked down the street, where the signs of battle had already been cleared away. Heavy snow covered the ground, masking all the bloodstains as if nothing had ever happened.

However, the usually bustling shops on both sides of the street were closed today, and no one was out and about—clearly, the day’s battle had frightened the people.

Though the citizens were not present, they'd hung lanterns along the streets and shops, illuminating Chu Jiubian’s path back to the imperial palace.

For a moment, he spaced out, recalling standing on a vast awards stage, surrounded by fans holding up light sticks.

A faint smile slowly spread across his lips.

In the distance, he saw many lanterns lighting up the palace gates, clearly held by palace attendants. Among these lights, there was also a palanquin.

It must be Baili Hong, too antsy to stay put, coming out to greet him.

Chu Jiubian’s smile widened, and even his eyes softened with tenderness, though he himself remained unaware of it.

“I’ll head back first. I’ll leave the rest to you,” he said to Qin Jiasheng beside him.

Qin Jiasheng flashed a toothy grin. “Don’t worry, sir.”

Although those below were unaware, the influential younger members and elders of the clan knew full well that Qin Xiao had handed over the family head's token to Chu Jiubian.

Thus, for them, Chu Jiubian’s commands now outranked even Qin Xiao himself.

After giving his instructions, Chu Jiubian turned his horse and rode toward the palace.

Qin Jiasheng watched from afar as Chu Jiubian dismounted at the palace gates, where a small, plump figure came running toward him.

Chu Jiubian crouched down and scooped up the child who rushed into his arms.

Nowadays, hardly anyone in the empire dared to criticize them, so even if Baili Hong occasionally showed his emotions or acted informally, no one would say a word.

Chu Jiubian held the child openly and walked boldly into the palace.

Hong Fu walked beside them, his back straight, appearing from a distance more like a young nobleman than a palace attendant.

Everyone knew of the grace he had before entering the palace.

Qin Jiasheng had, of course, looked up to him growing up.

But now, it was good—he had found his confidence again.

Everything in the palace was handled. The cleanup inside and outside the city, the arrangements for the surrendering armies of the vassal prince and the noble families, and the temporary imprisonment of the leaders of the three great families were all being overseen by Lu Yao and An Wuji.

The advantage of having many competent people was now evident.

As for the subsequent trials of these individuals—whether it involved seizing assets, exile, execution, or granting another chance—the fair Chief Minister of the Dali Temple, Gu Qingzhi, would handle it.

Moreover, with half of the court officials likely to be dismissed, the reassignments and appointments of new officials would be managed by Lu Yao.

There was little left for Chu Jiubian and the others to worry about.

After Chu Jiubian and Baili Hong returned to Yangxin Hall, Nanny Zhong from the imperial kitchen personally prepared two bowls of noodles for them, accompanied by light side dishes.

One large bowl and one small bowl, for the two of them, large and small, both ate happily.

Chu Jiubian, having eaten only one meal in the morning, was truly hungry now.

Baili Hong, who had no appetite earlier, found his appetite returning now that his teacher was back.

After eating and drinking their fill, they took a walk to digest their food, and Chu Jiubian accompanied Baili Hong as he washed up and brushed his teeth.

The child, after applying the kid's lotion Chu Jiubian had bought from the system, lay down in bed, pale, soft, and sweet-smelling.

Blinking his big, bright eyes, he looked at Chu Jiubian and asked, “Teacher, how much longer until uncle returns?”

If his uncle returned, his mood would improve even more, and he’d be able to eat even more.

Chu Jiubian calculated carefully and said, “Probably in over two weeks.”

“That’s soon!” Baili Hong’s eyes turned into smiles.

Chu Jiubian smiled too. “Alright, bedtime.”

“Mm.”

After the child fell asleep, Chu Jiubian returned to the West Courtyard.

After washing up, he lay down on the bed, feeling the day's tiredness fade away.

He closed his eyes and entered the Divine Realm.

First, he contacted Situ Zhaoling, asking her to request that the Saintess, Situ Anli, go to Henan if convenient.

Qin Xiao would likely encounter Prince Dingbei soon, and if the Gu Master under Prince Dingbei tried to harm Qin Xiao, Situ Anli’s presence could stop him.

“Understood. I will speak with my mother once I'm out,” Situ Zhaoling replied.

She then reported on recent developments, explaining that the Southern Frontier King’s forces had joined with the armies of Nanzhili, advancing into Prince Dongjiang’s territory from both sides.

However, Prince Dongjiang’s resources and power were indeed substantial.

Although he had brought more than 100,000 soldiers with him, nearly 100,000 troops remained in his territory, along with three particularly fierce generals.

These men held the territory firmly, making it hard-pressed for the Southern Frontier King and his allies to advance.

Chu Jiubian took half of the explosives he had prepared in his space and gave them to Situ Zhaoling.

Situ Zhaoyao knew how to make explosives herself, but due to technological and material limitations, explosives in this era were unreliable and unsuitable for long-distance transport.

However, if Chu Jiubian provided them, she could deploy them directly on the battlefield.

Situ Zhaoling took them gladly, smiling as she thanked the High Priest. Before leaving, her eyes lit up, and she added, “By the way, High Priest, did you see Grand Tutor Sir today? He was so impressive!”

Chu Jiubian smiled and said, “I did.”

Situ Zhaoling wanted to say that the High Priest and the Grand Tutor were the perfect match.

But the image of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao standing side by side flashed in her mind, and she couldn’t bring herself to claim that Qin Xiao was unworthy.

It didn’t matter, though.

Sir Chu was so capable and outstanding—it wouldn’t be impossible for him to have it both ways.

But she didn’t dare say this to the High Priest. Smiling, she bid farewell and left.

Chu Jiubian then reviewed the messages from the other believers, all of which the system had recorded for him.

There were no major changes in the situation; everything was going according to plan.

Prince Pingxi, Baili Zheng, has also sent out his troops, dividing them into two forces: one heading to Shaanxi to join forces with Qin Xiao, and the other advancing toward Huguang.

Then, Chu Jiubian summoned Prince Anhuai, Baili Ming.

The young man had been cowed by Chu Jiubian earlier that day, and now, upon seeing the High Priest, he showed even greater reverence than before.

But when speaking of his own situation, he felt even more ashamed and at a loss.

"I... I've been confined to my residence, unable to see or hear any news from the outside," Baili Ming explained. He had been placed under house arrest by Jiang Yongshou.

Jiang Yongshou hadn’t deprived him of food or drink, nor had he mistreated him. In fact, he made time every day to visit Baili Ming, speaking with him kindly.

He remained as gentle and caring as ever, like the most forbearing elder.

Baili Ming could see that Jiang Yongshou was worried and anxious, and that everything he did was genuinely for Baili Ming’s own good.

That's exactly why Baili Ming felt even more uncertain about what to do.

He didn’t even have a reason to blame Jiang Yongshou.

Baili Ming was not suited to be a lord.

This was something he himself knew, and it was also the conclusion Chu Jiubian had drawn at that moment.

"If that’s the case, then stay safely in your residence and protect yourself," Chu Jiubian said. "When the Northern Stability Army marches into Henan, you’ll need to be even more cautious about your safety."

He said all this for Baili Hong’s sake.

Otherwise, someone as much of a pushover as Baili Ming wouldn’t have been worth his attention.

Upon hearing that the Northern Stability Army was coming to Henan, Baili Ming was first startled, but then, recalling Jiang Yongshou’s recent behavior, it all made sense to him.

For a moment, he didn’t know whether to feel sorrowful, disappointed, or relieved.

He had been unwilling to believe it before, but now he was certain.

Jiang Yongshou, the advisor he had regarded as an elder and relied upon so deeply, was actually Prince Dingbei’s man.

The High Priest’s words of concern made him feel a sense of security he hadn't felt in a long time, and his eyes welled up with tears. He felt all the more useless.

All he could do was set aside his identity as a vassal prince, kneel down, and kowtow.

It was the only thing he could offer at that moment.

But in the future, if there was ever a way for him to serve the High Priest, he would do so without hesitation, even at the cost of his life.

Chu Jiubian looked at his thin and weak figure and suddenly asked, "If He Zhen were to die at the hands of the court, what would you do?"

Baili Ming wasn’t surprised. "He has done wrong. Whatever happens to him is deserved," he said.

Even as he spoke, tears streamed down his face.

After so many years, how could he not have feelings for He Zhen, who had watched him grow up?

Chu Jiubian didn’t tell him that He Zhen had also fled with Prince Dingbei and might reappear before Baili Ming in a few days.

But in the end, He Zhen would inevitably meet his death.

He only hoped that when the time came, Baili Ming wouldn’t blame Baili Hong and needlessly hurt the child’s feelings.

Still, those selected by the system were sure to have sound character.

So, in that regard, there was little to worry about.

Suddenly, a system prompt sounded in his ear: "Host, follower Lv Liangcai has successfully met with Prince Ning. Would you like to open the card screen?"

Chu Jiubian paused, sent Baili Ming out of the Divine Realm, and immediately instructed the system to open the screen.

On the screen, Lv Liangcai stood bowing in a simple tent.

Seated casually in the main position ahead was Qin Xiao, dressed in soft armor.

He rubbed a brocade handkerchief embroidered with jasmine flowers in his hand, his tone slightly peculiar as he said, "A follower of the High Priest, huh..."