Palace of the Fire Phoenix Clan’s Crown Prince.
Within the solemn and majestic hall, today there was an air of warmth and friendliness.
Three people sat in the hall, talking freely and cheerfully.
One of them wore a robe embroidered with a phoenix, exuding noble aura. This was clothing that only the imperial offspring of the Divine Phoenix Empire were qualified to wear.
He was naturally the Crown Prince, Feng Yinshan.
Seated to his left was a white-bearded elder with an air of immortal grace. It was Zhou Yun, dean of Qingxu Academy.
To his right sat a person dressed in a plain cyan gown. Though young, his presence was in no way inferior to the other two. He seemed to carry a domineering aura that commanded heaven and earth, making others wary of underestimating him.
This was, of course, Ling Xiao.
Before Ji Ning and the others headed to East Commandery, they still needed to make a detour to the Northern Desert, join forces with the soldiers and civilians in the desert, and only then proceed to East Commandery.
For their safety, Ling Xiao had also dispatched Xie Li to escort them.
With two great experts of the Yin-Yang Realm protecting them, nothing serious should happen.
After he returned to the city, he received an invitation from Crown Prince Feng Yinshan.
Ling Xiao naturally held good feelings toward Feng Yinshan, so he had to give him this face.
“The King of the Northern Border has abandoned Northern Desert City and wants to follow you to East Commandery. This prince really should not stand in the way, yet if he does so, Feng Ming Qishan will be able to march straight into the Northern Desert. By then, almost no part of the entire Divine Phoenix Empire will be beyond his reach.”
Feng Yinshan was actually somewhat dissatisfied with Ji Ning’s decision, but he could not openly criticise it, so he only expressed his concerns indirectly.
Ling Xiao smiled and said, “I’m afraid what Crown Prince Qishan will receive is not a tasty morsel, but a hot potato that burns the hand.”
“Why do you say that?”
Feng Yinshan asked.
“Your Highness must not forget that Northern Desert City faces the powerful Black Crow Empire. Now that I have killed Temujin Mitu and captured Jiumo Zhiyan alive, the Black Crow Empire will never sit by idly. Once they invade, Northern Desert City will bear the brunt. With the few troops General Ji Ning has, they simply cannot hold it back. Let Crown Prince Qishan deal with that mess.”
Ling Xiao explained.
“Those words are reasonable, but Ling Xiao, you may not know that ever since Feng Ming Qishan took command of troops, he has never lost a single battle. He is even more legendary than Ji Ning. If he manages to repel the great army of the Black Crow Empire, he will gain even greater prestige and popular support.”
Feng Yinshan remained worried.
Ling Xiao replied, “Then let me help Your Highness secure an even greater achievement.”
“An even greater achievement?”
Feng Yinshan was puzzled.
“For example, destroying the True Demon Empire!”
Ling Xiao said calmly, “East Commandery has long suffered harassment from the pirates of the True Demon Empire. We have every justification to send troops. If we cooperate with the armies of the Northern Han Kingdom, annihilating the True Demon Empire is not impossible. Do not forget that Sikong Zun is dead. Right now, the True Demon Empire has only one Yin-Yang Realm demonic king as its top expert.”
“That’s true. This time we shall see whose achievement is greater.”
Feng Yinshan’s eyes instantly lit up. “Then this prince will trouble you.”
“Why speak of trouble? Was this not the plan we drew up together long ago? Besides, for the sake of protecting the peace of my East Commandery, I must do this anyway.”
Some things Ling Xiao naturally would not say openly, such as his intention to rebuild the Sacred Dynasty.
“When do you plan to set off for East Commandery? Whatever you need, just say it. This prince will find a way to provide it.”
Feng Yinshan said.
“Weapons and armour, of course, along with medicinal materials and provisions. With those, I will have solutions. As for timing, once General Ji Ning reaches East Commandery, we can basically begin. I will inform Your Highness of the exact date when the time comes.”
Regarding manpower, Ling Xiao was not worried at all. After all, many people from Tianlong Continent had fled to the sea to become pirates or had been sold by the True Demon Empire as slaves to foreign lands.
Those people were his source of soldiers.
“Good! There should still be plenty of time, so no rush. We must be certain we have sufficient certainty before launching the offensive, otherwise a loss would waste everything we have achieved so far.”
Feng Yinshan nodded.
“Naturally. Before the general assault, I intend to make a trip back to Tianlong Continent. The True Demon Empire is soon holding a grand heroes’ assembly for the entire Tianlong Continent. I absolutely have to go and wreck that event!”
Ling Xiao revealed a fierce smile.
“Heh heh, the True Demon Empire really has the worst luck running into you.”
Feng Yinshan could not help giving a wry smile.
“Your Highness, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. This trip back has been rushed, and there are still many matters I have not dealt with.”
With the main business concluded, Ling Xiao knew Zhou Yun and Feng Yinshan had other things to discuss, so he looked for an excuse to depart.
“No problem at all. Go and attend to whatever you need. If you meet any difficulties, just speak up.”
“Thank you!”
Feng Yinshan and Zhou Yun personally saw Ling Xiao out of the palace.
Watching Ling Xiao’s receding figure, the gentle look in Feng Yinshan’s eyes sharpened.
“Master, what do you think?”
Zhou Yun naturally understood what Feng Yinshan was asking. He stroked his white beard and said, “This Ling Xiao has great ambition. In future he may well become a powerful rival to Your Highness. For now, however, he is an excellent partner, and what he proposed earlier is indeed highly advantageous to Your Highness.”
“I feel exactly the same.”
Feng Yinshan nodded. “Relying on extraordinary wisdom and valour, Ling Xiao actually turned the tables, annihilated more than 1.2 million troops of the Black Crow Empire, killed Temujin Mitu and Feng Zhan, and took Jiumo Zhiyan alive. That alone is enough to astonish this prince.
“What truly shocked this prince beyond expectation was that in the end he even killed Sikong Zun.
“That has resolved this prince’s most pressing crisis and left me even more astonished.
“I fear that neither the small Divine Phoenix Continent nor Tianlong Continent can hold this young man back. Between him and me, there is no conflict of interest.”
“Has Your Highness never thought of unifying the entire Mysterious Realm?”
Zhou Yun asked with a smile.
“I really have not.”
Feng Yinshan shook his head. “This prince knows his own limitations. Of the thirteen great continents in the Mysterious Realm, our Divine Phoenix Continent ranks second from the bottom in strength. With such meagre ability, wanting to unify the Mysterious Realm would be nothing but delusion. In truth, being able to stand above the Five Immortal Islands and control the three continents of Tianlong, Divine Phoenix, and White Tiger would be enough.”
“Your ambition is hardly small.”
Zhou Yun laughed.
“Yet Ling Xiao’s ambition, I fear, is far greater than mine.”
Feng Yinshan shook his head again. “For now we will take things one step at a time. At present he is my capable assistant and must not be offended. A moment’s carelessness could turn him into an enemy.
“You have seen how this person acts, Master. He absolutely repays every slight. Whoever provokes him will never see him swallow his anger.
“Although this prince does not yet fear him, once provoked, he would be troublesome. Moreover, in the competition for the position of Emperor, this prince is already at a disadvantage.”
“As long as Your Highness understands this, it is good. Although Ling Xiao sometimes appears extremely cold and ruthless, he is actually very straightforward. Whoever treats him well, he treats well in return. Whoever schemes against him, he will repay tenfold, a hundredfold.”
Zhou Yun was very gratified.
