The Xuanyuan Imperial Clan had mobilized the top warriors of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, embarking on an expedition from Emperor Province to Xuan Province. Their grand procession spread swiftly across the realm, and news of it traveled like wildfire.
To the outside world, however, the Jiang Dynasty seemed oddly quiet. For days, there had been no movements, no preparations, nor any visible countermeasures.
Rumors swirled:
Some claimed that the Jiang Dynasty had accepted its doom and abandoned all resistance.
Others speculated that they were secretly negotiating with the Demon Realm, hoping to execute a strategic ploy akin to “relieving the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao.”
But amidst the sea of rumors, none held any verified truth.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Jiang Dynasty remained tranquil. Many inhabitants of Xuan Province cast their gaze toward the Tianyuan Forbidden Zone, yet still, no defensive preparations were apparent from the dynasty.

Inside the grand hall of the Jiang Dynasty, the court’s high-ranking officials gathered. Among them were Jiang HuanYu’s consorts, the Sword Emperor of the Sword Realm, and numerous other powerhouses.
However, a profound transformation had occurred within this group compared to before.
Take Xiao Qingli, for instance.
She had used the remaining six Heavenly Emperor Realm Advancement Cards to push her cultivation to new heights, reaching Emperor Sovereign Realm First Heaven! Her innate talent and physique had also undergone significant improvement—her Nine Nether Divine Physique evolved into the Nine Nether Immortal Physique, elevating her combat strength to an unprecedented level.
With her monstrous talent and the enhancement of her immortal physique, Xiao Qingli could now kill an ordinary Emperor Sovereign Realm Fifth Heaven expert with ease. Paired with her ultimate weapon, the Nine Nether Immortal Sword, she was second only to Jiang HuanYu in the Jiang Dynasty.
As for Jiang HuanYu, he had fully utilized the system’s Epic Enhancement Opportunity and Emperor Realm Advancement Cards on his subordinates.
His elite guards—Zhan Yi, Zhan Er, Zhan San, Zhan Si, Zhan Wu, An Er, An San, An Si, and An Wu—had all advanced from the Quasi-Emperor Realm to the Great Emperor Realm, with their cultivation now at the Eighth Heaven after the epic enhancements.
The remaining personal guards, over two hundred in number, were all at the Myriad Laws Instant Heaven Realm, merely a step away from becoming Quasi-Emperors.
Among his strongest followers, An Yi, Arrow God, Dan Chen, Fei Peng, and Chong Lou were now at the peak of the Great Emperor Realm.
Zuo Xuanqi, Han Wanxiang, Tie Poyun, Wan Jian Shen, Xiao Bai, Qi Tianxing, and Bai Mengmeng had similarly reached the pinnacle of the Great Emperor Realm.
Even Jiang HuanYu’s consorts—aside from Xiao Qingli—had advanced to the Great Emperor Realm, including Consort Yun and Yun Zixian.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Kongming and the Heavenly Poison King, despite lacking Heavenly Emperor Realm Advancement Cards, achieved breakthroughs to the Peak of the Heavenly Emperor Realm through their epic enhancements. They now stood as the strongest under the Emperor Sovereign Realm.
Even the Sword Emperor, also at the Heavenly Emperor Realm’s peak, admitted he lacked confidence in defeating them in single combat.
One extraordinary development was the resurrection of the Evil Emperor Yun Che.
After his body was reconstructed and the tribulation was dismissed by Jiang HuanYu, he successfully returned to life, his cultivation restored to Emperor Sovereign Realm Second Heaven. Now serving as the Jiang Dynasty’s National Advisor, his loyalty was beyond question, especially with his daughter favored by Jiang HuanYu. Rumors suggested that they were planning to have a child, which filled Yun Che with boundless joy.
Finally, Jiang HuanYu used the remaining three physique enhancement opportunities on Qian Xinrou, Ten Thousand Sword God, and Zhuge Kongming.
Qian Xinrou’s Heavenly Wisdom Divine Physique evolved into the Heavenly Wisdom Immortal Physique, significantly enhancing her intelligence and strategic thinking.
Wan Jian Shen’s Sword Heaven Divine Physique transformed into the Heavenly Sword Immortal Physique, elevating his combat prowess.
Zhuge Kongming’s Seven Star Divine Physique advanced to the Seven Star Immortal Physique, further strengthening his capabilities.
These transformations not only boosted their overall power but also introduced qualitative changes. For Qian Xinrou, her newfound wisdom surpassed that of Jiang HuanYu and Xiao Qingli combined. In tests conducted by Jiang HuanYu, her strategies and solutions consistently proved superior.
For Jiang HuanYu, this enhancement was a win-win. He harbored no doubts about Qian Xinrou’s loyalty, and with her extraordinary intelligence at his side, he could delegate complex matters to her, freeing himself from excessive mental strain.
“Your Majesty, based on the timeline, the Xuanyuan Clan’s forces should arrive in Xuan Province within the next few days,” reported Tie Poyun from the grand hall.
“Shall I lead the troops to intercept them at the borders?”
Jiang HuanYu shook his head with a relaxed smile. “No need to overthink it. They’re nothing but a pack of jesters. Let them come—I will deal with them personally. There’s no cause for concern.”
Then, turning his gaze, he addressed Zuo Xuanqi, “Prime Minister, how goes the investigation I tasked you with?”
Zuo Xuanqi stepped forward and replied earnestly, “Your Majesty, I have kept a close eye on the Demon Realm as per your orders. According to our spies, the five major clans of the Demon Realm are mobilizing their armies.”
“It seems likely they intend to break the truce and invade Emperor Province while it is vulnerable.”
Hearing this, Shura Yanran and Shura Wuyuan furrowed their brows.
“Prime Minister, if the Demon Realm’s armies are gathering and preparing to breach the truce, it suggests they’re betraying their promises,” Shura Yanran remarked.
“However, knowing my father, he would not lightly break a contract or go back on his word. Could there be some misunderstanding?”
“Indeed,” Shura Wuya added. “I know my son well—he wouldn’t act against his principles without good reason. Perhaps there’s more to this than meets the eye.”
Zuo Xuanqi, however, pressed on.
“Your Highness, while your sentiments are understandable, the reality remains that the mobilization is led by none other than the Demon Realm’s strongest, Heavenly Demon Emperor, and second strongest, Shura Emperor.”
“It is precisely their involvement that has convinced the other three clans to break their vows and gather their forces. A full-scale invasion of Emperor Province appears imminent.”
These words left Shura Yanran, Shura Wuya, and even those familiar with the Shura Emperor’s character deeply shaken.
Could this truly be the work of the Shura Emperor, a man known for his integrity? Or was there a hidden conspiracy lurking in the shadows?