Chapter 218: Chapter 142: Contention for the Great Dao, I Alone am Supreme

This would explain why her Ninth Brother was so fearless.

But on second thought...

She felt it was unlikely.

First, she remembered that this maid had been by her Ninth Brother’s side since his time in the Imperial Harem.

At that time, the maid shouldn’t have been a Cultivator yet.

Second, the Vast Immortal Sect had a total of nine Immortal Kings, and each controlled several countries.

Some of these countries were controlled by a single Immortal King, while others were jointly controlled.

Wenchang Country was one such jointly controlled nation, presided over by her master and the master of the Third Prince, Liu Yongxiao.

If any other Immortal Kings wanted to interfere, they would at least give notice beforehand.

’It’s impossible that one would secretly back my Ninth Brother!’

As for the Immortal Kings from other Immortal Sects, that was even more impossible.

To become the Emperor of a country, one must first obtain permission from the Immortal King who controlled it before they could take the throne.

An Immortal King from another Immortal Sect would never secretly support someone with no hope of winning the throne.

It would be a completely thankless task.

So...

Liu Yuzhen couldn’t figure out what was really going on.

Wang Xiao’s expression was calm. "It’s simple. Xiyue has a Hidden Spirit Root. We stumbled into a Great Power Cave Mansion some time ago and received an inheritance. That’s how Xiyue cultivated to her current Realm."

He knew Shangguan Xiyue’s true strength couldn’t be hidden forever.

So he might as well fabricate a half-true excuse.

The resources in this world were plentiful. It wasn’t uncommon for Loose Cultivators to stumble upon a Great Power Cave Mansion and rise to prominence.

Take the founder of Taiyi Dao, for example. Legend has it he obtained an ancient inheritance, allowing him to rise from a mere Loose Cultivator against all odds and become an Immortal Emperor who dominated the world!

He then founded the Taiyi Dao lineage.

Liu Yuzhen was skeptical. "Really?"

"If you don’t believe me, Sixth Sister, then nothing more I say will be of any use," Wang Xiao said calmly.

Liu Yuzhen’s brow furrowed at first, but then it relaxed, and she sighed.

"I would almost prefer it if you really did have an Immortal King backing you. Otherwise, how can you possibly fight our Third Brother with just one True Form Realm Cultivator, even if her methods are somewhat special? He has at least three or four True Disciples at the True Form Realm on his side."

"Besides, without an Immortal King’s approval, even if you did defeat him, how would you ascend the throne?!"

"You’re thinking about the Cultivation Immortality Realm too simply, Ninth Brother. If you’re just willing to bow your head, I can speak to my master and ask her to grant you the throne."

Wang Xiao’s tone was placid.

"Sixth Sister, I have no interest in being a Puppet Emperor who has to beg for his throne."

Liu Yuzhen shook her head.

"So stubborn. In that case, you can only wait for Death!"

She knew her Ninth Brother had made up his mind, so she didn’t try to persuade him any further.

Wang Xiao paid Liu Yuzhen no more mind. He led his army forward, conquering cities and smashing through defenses with unstoppable momentum.

During this time, they encountered no further attacks from Cultivators.

The Witchcraft Gu Immortal Sect had truly abandoned the Witchcraft Gu Country.

Of course.

With twenty or thirty Witchcraft Gu countries under its control, the Witchcraft Gu Immortal Sect wouldn’t miss this one.

「Seven days later.」

Wang Xiao finally led his army to breach the capital of the Witchcraft Gu Country.

The Sovereign of the Witchcraft Gu Country, along with most of the Princes and Princesses, had died for their nation.

The survivors were captured and taken as prisoners, ready to be brought back to Wenchang Country to display the army’s military achievements.

After the city fell...

The army did not disturb the populace. Instead, after dispatching troops to guard the key passes, they chose a place to make camp.

Wang Xiao also had Xu Zhenshu and the other generals bring out wine and meat to reward the troops.

This was Wenchang Country’s first major victory in fifty years.

It was destined to be recorded in the annals of history.

If Wang Xiao were to return now, he would be treated as a hero of Wenchang Country.

「Three days later.」

However, a written order arrived from the rear.

The Emperor of Wenchang Country ordered Wang Xiao to set out for the capital within three days, without a single soldier, or be charged with treason!

At the same time...

Wang Xiao received another piece of news.

Chen Fang, the Chief Eunuch of the Rituals Department who had once pleaded on his behalf, had offended the Third Prince, Liu Yongxiao, and been thrown into the Celestial Prison.

He was about to be executed by lingchi—death by a thousand cuts!

"My lord, we..."

Shangguan Xiyue looked at Wang Xiao.

In all these years, this was the first time she had ever seen her lord’s expression so grim.

"Since he wants me to return, then I will return."

"The Great Dao is forged through conflict. Even if the path is blocked by thorns..."

"I will simply cut them all down."