World's First Traitor System (442)

Chapter 442 - Army at the Gates

Ding!

"The [Emperor's Staircase] has detected the host's annihilation of Great Ci, meeting the criteria for a cultivation reward."

"Due to Emperor Jiajing's significant contribution to the annihilation event, the reward has been reduced."

Fan Li's expression turned awkward. Previously, he had always completed missions with high quality, often receiving doubled rewards. Now it was reduced? But it was true; the credit for Great Ci's destruction largely belonged to Jiajing, and Fan Li had nothing to say.

A surge of powerful spiritual energy flowed into Fan Li's Dantian Qi Sea. His cultivation broke through!

Unity Realm, First Stage!

"Eh?" Xiang Ning poked her head out curiously from the dragon carriage, her beautiful eyes examining Fan Li from top to bottom. "What happened to you just now? Your aura seems a little different?"

"Mm," Fan Li nodded. "I just broke through to a new realm."

"Oh?"

Xiang Ning seemed to recall something amusing. Ten years ago, Fan Li had been in the Qi Condensation realm, laughably weak. At that time, Xiang Ning was already in the Nascent Soul stage, her realm far surpassing Fan Li's, a fact she took great pride in. But the memory of that Qi Condensation Fan Li constantly bullying her Nascent Soul self made Xiang Ning grit her teeth in frustration!

"Fan Li, what realm are you now?" she asked. "Let me tell you first, I cultivated very diligently in the Pure Land. I broke through to the Divine Transformation realm several years ago, and now I'm at the sixth stage!"

Hearing Xiang Ning say this, Fan Li showed genuine surprise. He truly was astonished. Without a system, relying mainly on hard work and talent, along with the guidance of Qing Qiu and Han Yue successively, Xiang Ning had advanced more than a major realm in ten years. Her achievement far surpassed that of her peers among the younger generation of cultivators.

"Your Majesty's diligent efforts would surely bring great comfort to the past emperors if they were aware in heaven or the underworld," Fan Li praised sincerely.

"Heehee, I really did work hard!" Hearing Fan Li's praise, Xiang Ning's cheeks flushed slightly, and her gaze towards him seemed capable of spinning threads of affection.

"Wait a minute?" Xiang Ning suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, "What cultivation level are you now? I actually can't see through it?"

"I... uh... I am now..." Fan Li hesitated awkwardly. With his emotional intelligence, he knew revealing the truth now would absolutely dampen Xiang Ning's spirits. He was about to invent a fib when another woman's voice came from within the dragon carriage.

"Unity realm, first stage." Han Yue's tone was cool and detached, a result of her many years of cultivation. Yet, hidden within the coolness was a trace of gentleness.

"Ah?!" Xiang Ning gaped. She pointed a finger at Fan Li, her slender, jade-like finger trembling uncontrollably. "You... you... you cheated!"

Fan Li broke out in a cold sweat inwardly! Cheated? The system was undoubtedly the world's greatest cheat tool; he had to admit it.

"Hmph!" Xiang Ning burrowed back into the dragon carriage, lowering the curtains layer by layer, completely blocking the view from outside.

Fan Li rode his horse alongside the carriage, escorting her. After a brief silence, just as he was feeling the awkwardness of the atmosphere, he heard a faint voice from within the carriage. "Um... Fan Li, are you still there?"

"Your Majesty, I’m here." Surrounded by the one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers of the Garrison Army, Fan Li paid close attention to his bearing and speech, presenting the perfect image of a first-rank high official.

Xiang Ning's voice came from the carriage, yet it held the distinct air of a young girl. "Riding the horse... are you tired?"

Tired? How could he be tired? He was now a dignified Unity realm cultivator, just entering the ranks of the world's powerful! Fan Li was about to say 'I'm not tired,' but Xiang Ning spoke first. "If you feel tired, you can come into the carriage and rest for a while."

Eh? He froze for a few seconds, his gaze darting left and right, seeing no unusual expressions on the faces of the surrounding soldiers.

"Ahem!" Fan Li cleared his throat. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Indeed I’ve been marching for days and is overwhelmed. I was just feeling sore in the back and legs, with cramps..."

Before he could finish his nonsense, the carriage curtain was lifted a corner by the woman inside. "Stop talking nonsense! Get in quickly!" Xiang Ning's voice was both shy and urgent.

"Oh, oh." Fan Li slipped in like an eel, squeezing through the gap.

Ten years! People really did change! Had Xiang Ning actually 'matured'? Fan Li's mind filled with both proper and improper thoughts, remembering there were two great beauties inside the carriage. This was a situation he had never experienced before!

But as soon as he entered the dragon carriage, Fan Li immediately calmed down. Both Xiang Ning and Han Yue were very composed, and there was no trace of flirtatious atmosphere within the carriage.

"Fan Li, I want to ask a favor of you." Xiang Ning began.

…

Peng City, Great Chu.

Fan Chun first escorted the women away from the territory of Great Ci, then reorganized his troops, totaling fifty thousand soldiers. He led the army to Peng City but did not return to the barracks. Instead, he led the troops directly to the outside of the city gates.

"Send word to the palace!" Fan Chun shouted to the defending general atop the city wall. "Duke Jin Fan Li has achieved unparalleled merit in conquering Great Ci! His Majesty and the hundred officials should come out of the city to welcome him, showing their commendation for Duke Jin! This general and the Garrison Army will await His Majesty's arrival here!"

This wasn't the tone of respectfully waiting; it was blatant coercion! But the Peng City defending general was already one of Fan Chun's subordinates. His face lit up with joy as he shouted, "This subordinate obeys! Please wait a moment, Great General!"

In merely the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, Xiang Chong and Empress Dowager Li were 'invited' out of the city. Accompanying them were the trusted Chen Gonggong and other attendants of the Empress Dowager, along with the civil and military officials of Great Chu.

Over the years, Chen Gonggong's cultivation had slightly improved, reaching the third stage of the Unity realm. But in terms of personal strength alone, Fan Chun could still easily slay him, not to mention the fifty thousand elite Garrison Army soldiers behind him. The Unity realm old eunuch was ultimately just a figure waiting to be slaughtered.

"General Fan?!"

Xiang Chong's face was ashen; he didn't know what trick the Fan clan was playing now. But at this moment, he still wanted to preserve his wealth and status.

"I promise to personally welcome Duke Jin thirty li out, no, three hundred li is fine too. However, I have a good idea that can preserve the ancestral temple of Great Chu in the future, as well as the interests of both myself and the Fan family. Please be lenient, General Fan, and allow me to speak privately with Duke Jin, alright?"

Fan Li had annihilated the Great Ci Dynasty; this time, Xiang Chong was thoroughly frightened. He feared Fan Li would settle old scores and guessed he might have brought Xiang Ning back. If he couldn't even keep the position of Chu Emperor, how could Xiang Chong beg Jiajing for enfeoffment in the future? Unless he persuaded Fan Li!

But Fan Chun's cold, dismissive demeanor plunged Xiang Chong into despair.

Great Ming is about to unify the world, why is the Fan family still thinking of supporting Xiang Ning? he despaired inwardly. As puppet emperors go, am I really worse than Xiang Ning?

Someone with no value could only expect death. Xiang Chong looked at Fan Chun, then at Empress Dowager Li beside him. The Empress Dowager was already pale with fright, her previous composure and elegance completely gone. He couldn't rely on her.

Even a cornered rabbit will bite, let alone Xiang Chong.

Fan Li thinks I'm useless? He'd better not regret it! Once I depose Xiang Ning, the subjects of Chu will still have to recognize me as Emperor!

In fact, Xiang Chong had long devised a plan for self-preservation. He hadn't expected to use it under these circumstances.

I will let the entire world know, Great Chu can only choose me as Emperor!