Chen Yi returned the salute with a cupped fist.

"General Sun, there's no need for such formality. I simply do not wish to see a general like you fall here. Loyal and righteous individuals like yourself are becoming increasingly rare in the court..."

After a moment's thought, Chen Yi continued.

"Loyalty is a virtue, but one must not be foolishly loyal. Sometimes, orders from the court may not truly be the sovereign's command; they could be the machinations of villains. Only by preserving your own life can you continue to serve with loyalty."

In the second simulation, Sun Cheng'en knew the battle was unwinnable, yet he was still forced to march out and died on the battlefield.

Combining memories from subsequent simulations, Chen Yi could deduce the circumstances. That was precisely the time when the current Great Qian Emperor passed away, and Li Chengqian and his son ascended the throne in quick succession. Three emperors changed within a few months.

With the court situation so turbulent, no matter how wise and capable an emperor might be, it was impossible for them to have a clear understanding of local affairs. Moreover, treacherous ministers held sway, and imperial authority was undermined simultaneously. Therefore, it was hardly surprising that Sun Cheng'en was betrayed and killed.

Sun Cheng'en was only in his forties when he died in battle, yet he had already reached the Spirit Condensation realm. A general constantly preoccupied with border warfare could still cultivate to the Spirit Condensation realm at that age. Chen Yi believed that if Sun Cheng'en had not died, he had an extremely high chance of breaking through to the Martial King Realm in his lifetime.

There were only three-digit numbers of Martial King Realm experts across the Five Regions. Every additional one held significant meaning for the future struggle against the Dragon-Man tribe.

Sun Cheng'en sensed the implied meaning in Chen Yi's words. But some things could only be hinted at; he did not press further. The battlefield situation was perilous, so after just these two exchanges, the two men parted ways, one heading south, the other north.

Chen Yi switched back to the "Half-Emperor for a Thousand Ages" trait and flew at full speed high in the sky, sonic booms trailing behind him.

"Over here!"

Under the effect of "The Aura of Ten Thousand Races," the residual aura traces left by the Dragon-Men's passage were laid completely bare. Chen Yi followed these traces and quickly arrived at the point where all the auras converged.

The Great Shi Kingdom, the capital city, the royal palace!

Chen Yi executed an abrupt aerial stop, hovering directly above the palace. He extended his divine sense to cover the entire capital, beginning his search for the Dragon-Men's stronghold.

"Nothing? That can't be right..."

At first glance, he detected no Dragon-Men, nor did he see any Dragon-Man formations. He could only see the streaks of aura traces. But after a meticulous search, Chen Yi discovered one location his divine sense could not penetrate.

It was directly beneath the main hall of the royal palace. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"This must be the place."

The Dragon-Man stronghold was constructed beneath the Great Shi King's palace. Without a doubt, the Great Shi King was a human traitor!

From a distance, Chen Yi saw the Great Shi King inside the palace, lounging in a massive wine-filled pool. He was bathing, drinking, and frolicking with a bevy of beauties all at once.

This Great Shi King, with his fat head and large ears, was unkempt, his body glistening with oil and covered in thick body hair, resembling a black-skinned wild boar.

No wonder Li Lingyue preferred to leap off a cliff to her death rather than accept the marriage alliance.

Just as Chen Yi prepared to descend, a divine sense locked onto him.

"Hold on there, sir!"

A figure soared up from within the Great Shi capital. The newcomer was also at the Martial King Realm. Judging by his appearance, he was quite elderly, dressed in the traditional attire of the Southern Borderlands.

The other party performed a Central Plains-style cupped fist salute. Chen Yi returned it casually.

"You are..."

"I am the Guardian of this Great Shi Kingdom. My name is Yan Cong."

"Yan... Chimney? Ahem... I am Shen Yi. Senior Yan, what guidance do you have for me?"

"Young friend Shen, I noticed you the moment you entered Great Shi territory. You came straight to this capital, and just now, you could hardly conceal your killing intent. Could it be you intend to assassinate the king and stage a coup? Are you aware that those at the Martial King Realm are not permitted to engage in such acts? I am old and may not be able to defeat you in combat, but sending a message to the Li Imperial Clan is no problem. After that, I fear there would be no place for you under heaven."

As Li Chengqian's Benefactor, Chen Yi was naturally clear about this common knowledge. However, all restrictions on the Martial King Realm had prerequisite conditions and special exceptions.

For instance.

"Senior Yan, are you aware that the Great Shi Kingdom is collaborating with the Dragon-Men? Great Shi provides resources and intelligence to aid the Dragon-Men's infiltration of the human world, while the Dragon-Men strengthen Great Shi's Elephant Corps for them. You don't actually believe that Great Shi's recent victories in wars against the Central Plains are due to this fat pig's brilliant military leadership, do you?"

Yan Cong's brow furrowed deeply.

"Dragon-Men? What Dragon-Men? A branch of the Demon Tribe?"

"No. Like the Demon Tribe and humanity, they are an intelligent race from another Void Realm!"

Being this old and a Martial King Realm expert, Yan Cong naturally understood the concept of Void Realms.

"Young friend Shen, are your words true?"

"I am a law enforcer of the Shen Family. My purpose in coming to this surface world is precisely to purge the Dragon-Man strongholds in various locations and strike down the human traitors of this world who collaborate with them. This Great Shi King has already betrayed our human race. Do you still intend to protect him? Do you still expect me to abide by the Martial King Realm agreement established by the Li clan?"

"The Shen Family..."

The prestige of the Shen Family still carried weight. Yan Cong's attitude became even more respectful; he even felt like addressing Chen Yi as 'Senior.'

"Do you have proof, sir?"

"The proof lies beneath this royal palace. If you would accompany me, old senior, you will see for yourself."

Yan Cong hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed.

Chen Yi moved with extreme speed, reaching the ground in an instant.

With a thunderous "BOOM!", he landed forcefully, smashing a large crater in the palace grounds. The impact sent waves splashing through the wine pool and meat forest, scattering the beauties in disarray.

"Great Shi King! Traitor to humanity! I am Shen Yi, law enforcer of the Shen Family of the Starry Domains! I am here to execute the guilty!!"

The great fat pig was instantly scared limp. His cultivation was merely at the second level of the Spirit Sea realm. Faced with a flying Martial King, he was no more than a bug by the roadside. He frantically cried out.

"Assassins! Catch the assassin! Attack the assassin! Protect the king! Protect the king!"

The Imperial Guards poured into the king's private quarters. Normally, they were strictly forbidden from entering. Now, upon entering and seeing the expanse of stark-naked, snow-white flesh littering the ground, the guards couldn't help but swallow hard.

The king sure knew how to have fun.

Just as both sides were about to clash, Yan Cong descended.

"Everyone, stop!"

Seeing Yan Cong, the great fat pig beheld a great savior.

"State Preceptor! Save me!"

The fat pig, still unaware of the severity of the situation, pointed arrogantly at Chen Yi.

"Don't think you're so great just because you're at the Martial King Realm! My State Preceptor can take on ten of your kind! You're violating the Martial King Realm restrictions by directly attacking this king! You'll face the consequences!"

Chen Yi sneered coldly, crossing his arms over his chest, looking at him as if he were a clown.

Yan Cong surveyed the chaotic scene before him, sighed, and flicked his sleeve.

"Your Majesty, whether I can save you this time does not depend on this old minister."

Hearing this, the fat pig panicked again.

"State Preceptor, what do you mean by that?"

"I must trouble Your Majesty to truthfully inform me: what is hidden beneath your palace?"

The existence of an area beneath the palace impervious to divine sense probing was naturally due to an isolation array. Yan Cong was aware of it but hadn't paid it much mind before. Who didn't have their own secrets? He simply never imagined that a petty, regional, separatist king—a great fat pig with unremarkable martial prowess—could stir up such a massive disaster.

Hearing this question, the fat pig grew even more frantic.

"N-nothing... it's just my private treasury..."

Chen Yi let out a derisive snort.

"What a coincidence! I happen to be short on funds lately. King, be so kind as to lend me some!"

With that, Chen Yi took direct action.

He threw a punch towards the ground with immense, earth-shaking force, causing tremors throughout the entire city!

"CRACK! CRACK! CRACK..."

The ground fractured inch by inch.

Another punch, driving straight into the depths of the earth!