Volume One, Chapter 13: A Dramatic Surge in Power

Meanwhile.

At the Command Headquarters of the Elite Cavalry Battalion.

Long Zhan wore a sullen expression.

Today, Zhao Wujiang had stolen his thunder, which left him deeply displeased.

At the same time, his fifth senior sister had promised to eliminate Zhao Wujiang for him.

Yet now, Zhao Wujiang was lively and well, while Liu Ruyan was nowhere to be found.

“By now, the Dragon Cultivation Sacred Body should be fully prepared. It’s time for me to claim the fifth senior sister. Where has she gone? Damn it!” Long Zhan grumbled in frustration.

Outside the room, a graceful figure draped in purple approached—her beauty captivating and alluring—it was Liu Ruyan herself.

“Fifth senior sister? Where have you been?” Long Zhan hurried forward, eager to embrace her and immediately savor the benefits of the Dragon Cultivation Sacred Body.

Yet just as he reached out, Liu Ruyan suddenly delivered a light palm strike.

Though seemingly slow, it arrived in an instant. Long Zhan failed to dodge and was sent flying backward, crashing hard against the steps.

“Fifth senior sister, you!” he exclaimed, frowning sharply as his gaze flickered.

Before him, Liu Ruyan’s form shifted, transforming into another woman.

She wore a flowing water-blue gown, exuding an ethereal chill.

Unlike Liu Ruyan’s seductive charm, this woman seemed otherworldly, indifferent to any man’s presence.

“Junior brother, your martial arts have grown lax,” the woman said coldly.

Only then did Long Zhan recognize the technique behind the changing figure.

It was one of the sect’s supreme arts—Mirage Water Moon!

And the woman before him was not Liu Ruyan, but his fourth senior sister, Ling Qingxue.

“Welcome, fourth senior sister!” Long Zhan bowed immediately.

Out of the corner of his eye, he stole a glance at Ling Qingxue. Like Liu Ruyan, she remained pure and untouched, an embodiment of icy purity.

Ling Qingxue always carried an air of aloofness that made men seem invisible, and to Long Zhan, her allure surpassed even that of Liu Ruyan.

Yet she had never shown him favor.

So Long Zhan could only wait, hoping that one day when he grew stronger, he might conquer her heart.

“Where is Ruyan?” Ling Qingxue’s figure floated gracefully as she took her seat.

Long Zhan recounted the situation honestly, with some modifications to favor himself.

“Missing? You can’t even deal with a worthless heir like Zhao Wujiang!” Ling Qingxue’s expression darkened, growing colder.

“I know you’ve been waiting for the Dragon Cultivation Sacred Body to mature so you can advance a thousand miles in a single day.

But the Sacred Body is only an aid; you must still train diligently yourself.

Otherwise, you wouldn’t be unable to handle even Zhao Wujiang right now.”

Long Zhan lowered his gaze, cupping his hands respectfully.

“Senior sister speaks wisely. But Zhao Wujiang currently has the protection of the Seventh Princess. If I move against him, I risk incurring the royal family’s displeasure.”

Ling Qingxue cast him a sidelong glance and sighed.

“Zhao Wujiang isn’t worthy of us intervening personally yet.”

Long Zhan was puzzled.

“What do you mean, senior sister?”

Ling Qingxue looked down her nose, coldly explaining, “Before I came, I already learned that someone from Hansang Kingdom went to the Northern Command Prince’s mansion. There must be something going on.

But that’s not important. When the time comes, bring your troops there and accuse Zhao Wujiang of colluding with Hansang, treason against the state.

He won’t be able to refute it.

The emperor is already suspicious of the Northern Command Prince’s mansion; he will surely imprison him.

Then, with your rank, it will be easy to deal with him while he’s in prison.”

Long Zhan’s eyes brightened at the clever strategy.

The fourth senior sister had just arrived in the capital, yet already possessed such information—truly more capable than the fifth senior sister.

If he could win her over, wouldn’t Long Zhan’s future be limitless?

“Junior brother, act immediately!”

Soon, a contingent of the Elite Cavalry marched out.

…

Northern Command Prince’s Mansion.

Dungeon.

Liu Ruyan clutched her tattered gown tightly.

Her expression was filled with sorrow and indignation, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Before her, Zhao Wujiang sat cross-legged in meditation.

Liu Ruyan sensed his internal energy pulsing with increasing vigor and dominance.

This man truly had harnessed her Dragon Cultivation Sacred Body, his strength growing significantly!

What a loss!

“Zhao Wujiang, I will repay your humiliation against me today a hundredfold!” she vowed.

Zhao Wujiang glanced at a smear of blood on the ground, feeling the surge of power within, and smiled.

“Fine, then I’ll humiliate you again right now.”

“Wait, didn’t you just—”

But Zhao Wujiang ignored her pleas.

Enhancing his strength using the Dragon Cultivation Sacred Body was the priority.

Meanwhile, outside the cell, the old steward Zhao Manfu reported.

“Your Highness, the Hansang delegation has arrived at our gates requesting an audience.”

[Why would Chiba Rizhao come at this moment?]

[Could it be that after being humiliated by me today, she’s come to pick a fight?]

Hearing that someone sought Zhao Wujiang, Liu Ruyan saw a glimmer of hope.

“Zhao Wujiang, you go handle it. I’ll wait here; I won’t run.”

Zhao Wujiang shouted outside the cell, “I’m busy. Tell them to scram!”

…

Outside the Northern Command Prince’s Mansion.

Chiba Rizhao sat in her sedan chair, lifting the curtain to see the gate still firmly closed, her brow furrowing, her expression growing colder.

“Chiba-kun, Zhao Wujiang wouldn’t dare refuse to see you, would he?” asked the carriage driver, the second-in-command of the Hansang delegation and, like most Hansang natives, short in stature.

“No, he wouldn’t. Even if he lacks the courage to face me, he wouldn’t dare ignore us...” Chiba Rizhao’s slender fingers smoothed her hair, brimming with confidence.

“The Northern Command Prince is dead, and his mansion has fallen into decline. There’s an old saying in Daxia: ‘A wise man knows the times.’ Zhao Wujiang won’t dare put on airs and refuse us.

Look, they’re opening the gate.”

The sound of the gate opening came, and she lifted the sedan chair’s door curtain to step out.

But the gate opened only a narrow crack.

No sign of welcoming guests.

The old steward appeared and snarled, “My lord the heir commands you… to leave!”

Chiba Rizhao froze mid-step.

She stared at the steward in disbelief, doubting her own ears.

With the Northern Command Prince’s mansion in decline, how could Zhao Wujiang have the courage to offend her?

“Baka!” Chiba Rizhao exclaimed angrily.

The carriage driver glanced at her but remained silent.

Chiba Rizhao knew she had just confidently declared Zhao Wujiang wouldn’t dare refuse her.

Yet now she had been slapped in the face.

The small folk must be laughing at her in their hearts.

Her chest heaving with fury, her wide robe no longer concealed her poised figure.

Her eyes darted as she deliberately said, “Tell Zhao Wujiang again—does he not intend to claim the Northern Command Prince’s remains?”

The steward was taken aback.

Their old master had fallen in battle in the northern border, and indeed, the body had never been recovered.

Had it fallen into the hands of these Hansang scoundrels?

He realized the gravity of the matter.

Immediately, he went to the dungeon to interrogate.

Soon after, the steward returned.

Chiba Rizhao smiled confidently.

“It seems Zhao Wujiang already knows his father’s remains are in our hands. He had better open the gate quickly.”

Yet the steward did not even open the gate slit, only poking his head out.

“My lord the heir said, burn the remains for him.

Scatter the ashes anywhere.

If scattered in Daxia, the soul returns to its homeland.

If scattered in Hansang, it will suppress your petty state.”