Chapter 1030

Chapter 1030: Return (Part 1)

"Master, is this the surprise you mentioned?"

At Hanhai Dao Palace, Wu Zhao, who had rushed over excitedly after receiving Wang Chen’s message, looked at the unfamiliar man standing beside Wang Chen with a bewildered expression.

Shock was certainly there, but where was the joy?

Wang Chen had been in closed-door cultivation for an entire month, and Wu Zhao had been deeply concerned. Now, her heart was filled with a mix of resentment and confusion.

Wang Chen smiled and said, "Indeed."

The man beside him stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said with a grin, "Junior Brother Ling Zhiyuan, greetings to Senior Sister!"

This man was none other than Wang Chen’s external manifestation, painstakingly crafted with great effort. By using the original name, Wang Chen also intended to settle the karmic ties of this body.

The intricacies of this matter were far too complex to be explained in just a few words!

"Senior Sister?"

Wu Zhao was utterly baffled, her expression both confused and endearing.

"Yes," Wang Chen nodded. "From now on, he will assist you in conquering this world!"

Although "Ling Zhiyuan" was merely an external manifestation, he possessed at least seventy percent of Wang Chen’s current strength. His martial arts realm had already reached the seventh-tier, though his methods of cultivation were somewhat lacking.

However, equipped with the movement techniques crafted by Wang Chen, his strength was more than enough to crush any opponent in Cangqing!

Most importantly, "Ling Zhiyuan" possessed a portion of Wang Chen’s knowledge and memories, making him far from a mindless puppet.

Wu Zhao, being exceptionally sharp, immediately grasped the deeper implication behind Wang Chen’s words. Her face paled as she asked, "Master, are you planning to leave me?"

Without hesitation, she threw herself into Wang Chen’s arms, clutching him tightly.

Her delicate frame trembled uncontrollably.

In Wu Zhao’s heart, Wang Chen was not only her greatest pillar of support but also her only family.

She couldn’t bear the thought of what her life would become without him.

"Not now," Wang Chen reassured her. "Even if I leave in the future, it will only be temporary. I will definitely return. This junior brother of yours will help you secure your rule while I’m away."

For now, Wang Chen chose not to reveal the secret of his origins from the Upper Realm.

Hearing this, Wu Zhao finally relaxed a little. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and sniffled, "That’s a relief."

Seeing her like this, Wang Chen couldn’t help but feel a surge of tenderness. "There are some things I will tell you in due time. Knowing them now won’t do you any good."

"Mm!" Wu Zhao nodded vigorously.

She was well aware that her master harbored many secrets, but she also knew that Wang Chen would never harm her.

After all, clinging to the big thigh was always the right move!

Three months later, the Xiliang Army, now expanded by 100,000 troops, boldly launched a campaign to reclaim their nation.

Within half a month, they had successfully occupied Jichuan County.

Soon after, they conquered two southern counties.

The world trembled in fear!

During this period, the regions surrounding Xiliang had been making probing moves, which were repelled, and they thought they could rest easy, but they never anticipated the Xiliang Army to arrive so swiftly.

In the face of the Divine Machine Troops, whether they were loyal to Emperor Yuanjing, the traitors, Prince Ming, or the heretics and monsters, all became nothing more than helpless beings, incapable of putting up a fight.

The Xiliang Army swept across the world, revealing their fierce fangs after defeating the Yan Kingdom!

While Emperor Yuanjing and the various lords were anxious and fearful of becoming the next target, the Xiliang Army seemed content with the three northern counties they had just annexed, beginning to settle the land and calm the people instead of invading further, like a roaring tiger retracting its claws.

However, no one dared to let their guard down, and some lordly factions began to unite, attempting to form alliances to counter the increasingly powerful Xiliang.

But the Xiliang side scoffed at this, completely ignoring them.

At this moment, a remarkable figure emerged, presenting himself to the world.

That was Ling Zhiyuan, the greatest general of Xiliang and the commander of the Divine Machine Troops!

This young man in his twenties was undoubtedly the sharpest sword in Queen Wu Zhao’s hands, unmatched in his prowess.

When the newly affiliated nobles of the three northern counties attempted to cause unrest, when the coalition of lords launched invasions, and when the traitors plotted to assassinate Wu Zhao, Ling Zhiyuan always appeared at the frontlines of battle.

With his mighty strength, he crushed all opponents, killing four sixth-level martial honors and leaving countless noble families devastated, with their homes raided and clans destroyed.

He earned a bloodthirsty reputation that struck fear into all!

In just three years, the now stronger Xiliang launched another offensive, defeating seven counties with an unstoppable momentum, sweeping through the south and east of the Great Liang.

Prince Ming was defeated and personally beheaded by Ling Zhiyuan on Yangming Mountain.

Not only that, wherever the Xiliang Army advanced, they smashed mountains and cleared temples of heretics and evil, causing the previously thriving traitor factions to collapse into disarray, ultimately retreating to half a county, scraping by to survive.

By this point, the Xiliang Army occupied over half of the original Great Liang territory.

Now, only Emperor Yuanjing remained as a rival!

Emperor Yuanjing, having ceded the three northern counties and formed an alliance with the greatly feared Da Qi, received military support from them, making him comparatively strong.

However, this usurper was not well-liked in Da Qi, so when the Xiliang presented a show of force equal to Yuanjing’s, countless people longing for their old country rallied to him.

This made Emperor Yuanjing restless day and night, and he again acknowledged allegiance to Da Qi, offering tributes in exchange for the assistance of a strong Da Qi army.

In this situation, everyone knew that the decisive battle that would determine the fate of Great Liang was coming soon!

As for Wang Chen, he had already vanished from the eyes of the world.

However, even while secluded in the Hanhai Dao Palace, hidden cultivating, he continuously received a steady stream of specific number.

The better Ling Zhiyuan performed, the more strong enemies he defeated, and the larger the territory he claimed, the higher Wang Chen’s specific number soared!

With this immense specific number backing him, he began to explore the essence of this world.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, Wang Chen suddenly felt a stirring in his heart, rose from his quiet room, and went to the main hall of the Dao Palace.

There was an old friend come to visit.

The visitor was none other than Qin Qingxuan of the Yuhua Sword Sect.

Wang Chen smiled and asked, "Miss Qin, what brings you to see me?"

He realized it had been three years since he last met Qin Qingxuan.

Time had left no traces on the face of this stunning beauty; she remained as beautiful and elegant as ever, but there was a new, unexplainable complexity in her eyes as she looked at Wang Chen.

Qin Qingxuan gracefully saluted, "Qin Qingxuan greets the Grandmaster!"

To the current Xiliang, Grandmaster Wang Chen was an extraordinarily mysterious figure; some even suspected he had passed away.

But Qin Qingxuan knew very well that Wang Chen had not only survived but had become even more unfathomable.

Looking at Wang Chen now felt like an ant gazing up at a Giant Beast!

This true disciple of the Yuhua Sword Sect couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.

Suddenly, the words she wanted to say failed to come out!