Southwest Prefecture

After Xiao Liunian broke through his cultivation, he returned to the Yuan Dynasty army's encampment. He did not intend to break his promise to destroy the national teacher.

"Mumu, is the Imperial Advisor also going to be drawn out into a battle?" The cat asked curiously about where the Imperial Advisor's burial place, chosen by the host, was.

"No need, kill them on the spot!"

The next day, when the Yuan Dynasty generals were waiting for the Grand Preceptor, he did not arrive. The Third Prince led his confidants to check the Grand Preceptor's tent, but they did not find any trace of the Grand Preceptor. There was only a pile of dust on the ground.

"Prince, the Imperial Advisor has disappeared! What should we do?"

The third prince's confidant asked.

"Send a message secretly to the Imperial Preceptor's residence in the capital. The Imperial Preceptor is highly skilled and may have had business to attend to last night and needs to return to the capital," the Third Prince instructed his confidant, his feet sinking into a pile of dust.

"Yes, I will arrange it immediately!" The confidant left the Grand Preceptor's tent to secretly send a message.

"Mumu, who is the Grand Preceptor of the Yuan Dynasty? Why does he give off a feeling of being an alien invader?" Cat suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

"So smart!" Xiao Liunian rubbed the fluffy head, feeling how nice it felt. He was truly an excellent master of fluffy fur care.

"Ha!" Cat Thirteen said that Tongzi was just guessing casually, how could there really be such a thing as an alien invasion?

After killing the two imperial advisors, Xiao Liunian did not return to the group. Instead, he went to the southwest region because a package that would increase cultivation was about to arrive there. Xiao Liunian needed to receive it personally, otherwise, what if the package got away?

"Mumu, there are so many mosquitoes!" Although the system won't get bitten by mosquitoes, the buzzing is really noisy, and it's terrifying when they land on my fur!

So Xiao Liunian chased away the mosquitoes.

"Mumu, what are we doing here?" the cat asked as usual.

"Let each person consolidate their cultivation further," Xiao Liunian said.

"Mumu, could it be that our Phoenix Soaring System has started a new mission to resist aliens and protect Tianji Star?" A flash of inspiration struck the system.

"Probably." Xiao Liunian wasn't too sure either, after all, she wasn't the system, the furry creature next to her was the system itself.

"What exactly is going on?" the system asked.

“This is a rather long story,” Xiao Liunian said.

"To make a long story short," said the cat.

“A long time ago, some people with high martial arts skills appeared out of nowhere, and they had no good intentions. The natives of Tianji Star began to resist and protect their home. They successfully killed several invaders and left people to guard the place where the invaders first appeared. They have been guarding it for many years,” Xiao Liunian said.

"How many years is 'many years'?" the cat asked, indeed it was a very long story.

"I don't know, at least not before Tian Yang," Xiao Liunian guessed.

"Tian Yang? Could it be that she also participated in the defense of Tianji Star?" The system was shocked.

"Probably, and I think her ability to go home might be related to this." Xiao Liunian had once speculated that she might be able to obtain something and go home if she successfully resisted the invasion of foreign enemies together with the local people of Tianji Star, but later it was verified that the guess was wrong.

The system sighed inwardly once again, "The host is too amazing, making me, the system, seem like a useless one. Sigh!" The cat's ears drooped.

Seeing this, Xiao Liunian stretched out his hands and made the two ears stand up again. Then he handed over a few pastries, probably because the cat was hungry from waiting for so long. The cat took the pastries and ate them. They were sweet and delicious.

After the cat finished its snack and went back to its space to sleep for a while, there was some movement in the distance.

"Mumu?" The system instantly became alert.

“It’s them.” Xiao Liunian patted the cat’s head to indicate his confirmation.

"Shall we go now?" the system asked.

"Observe for a while first." Xiao Liunian did not intend to make a move at this moment. After all, the difference between providing timely help and adding to someone's success lies in the timing. This is not the best time for Xiao Liunian to make a move.

Xiao Liunian didn't have to wait long. In just a moment, the intruders crushed the guardian of the place.

"A bunch of ants, yet you dare to try to stop our grand plan? You overestimate yourselves!" Invader Number One said arrogantly.

"Hurry up and deal with it, we have more important things to do," Intruder Number Two said.

Upon hearing this, Intruder Number One raised his hand and launched several swords at the guards on the ground. Just then, a powerful force swept towards the two intruders with unstoppable force, and the two of them worked together to block the sudden attack.

"Since you two have come from afar, why not rest here for a long time?" Xiao Liunian made a dazzling entrance.

The guardians on the ground helped each other to their feet, but they dared not relax in the slightest. The newcomer seemed to have the same enemy as them, but it was hard to say what the others might be.

One of them noticed the newcomer, a flash of shock crossing his face. "Your Majesty? Your Majesty! Why is she here?"

"Who are you?" the two intruders asked.

"Xiao Liunian!" Xiao Liunian lowered his voice, his tone deep and resonant.

"So you're from the Xiao clan. We were just looking for you, but you've come to us on your own initiative. Excellent!" The two had originally planned to leave quickly and not linger, but now it seemed unnecessary. Capturing this member of the Xiao clan would be a great achievement.

The two exchanged a glance and then approached Xiao Liunian from the left and right, while several guardians, led by their leader, prepared to protect Xiao Liunian.

"Step back!" Xiao Liunian said.

Xiao Liunian then strode forward leisurely to meet them. To Thirteen and the others, Xiao Liunian walked casually without showing any signs of gathering power. The power within the two people opposite him instantly dissipated, turning into two piles of ashes.

"Mumu, with so many ministers watching, this way of dying in ashes is unnecessary, isn't it? At least leave us a whole corpse?" the system transmitted, thinking to itself that it might be possible to take out a loan, turn itself into a villain system, and become the boss in a different arena.

“Okay, next time I absorb other people’s power, I will be more careful next time,” Xiao Liunian promised.

The absence of the phrase "if possible" does lend it some credibility, the system complained.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" The crowd bowed.

“Your Majesty, the King of the Southwest, you may dispense with the formalities!” Xiao Liunian said.

King Shangguan Zhen of the Southwest said, "Your Majesty acted righteously, stopping the invaders from taking further action! We are deeply grateful!" He then prepared to bow again.

“Since I sit in this position, it is my duty to protect the people. The King of the Southwest need not do this.” Xiao Liunian reached out to support Shangguan Zhen.

"You have guarded this place for many years for the greater good, and I admire you greatly. Please accept my bow." Xiao Liunian cupped his hands.

Everyone was shocked; this was too much to bear.

Thus, the system, which was playing hide-and-seek in the space, witnessed the famous scene of everyone bowing to each other.

The host is doing a very good job as an emperor. Could this be a case of practice makes perfect?

“King of the Southwest, everyone was injured in the battle just now. We should treat our injuries as soon as possible, and discuss other matters later,” Xiao Liunian said.

After everyone left, only Shangguan Zhen and Xiao Liunian remained.

"Your Majesty! This way, please!" Shangguan Zhen said.

“King of the Southwest, I have come here for two reasons. One is to seal this place, and the other is to discuss with Your Highness the future development direction of the Southwest Army,” Xiao Liunian said.

"What does Your Majesty intend to do?" Shangguan Zhen asked.

"This is a military training plan. Before I left the capital, I arranged for someone to come here to assist the Prince of the Southwest in training his troops. I expect they will arrive in the Southwest within five days. Time is of the essence. I hope that when the enemy launches a large-scale invasion, the Southwest army will have some ability to fight back."

"The necessary military supplies can be submitted by the King of the Southwest, and the court will allocate them to the Southwest within reasonable limits," Xiao Liunian said.

"Isn't Your Majesty afraid that I might take this opportunity to do something else?" Shangguan Zhen couldn't help but ask.

Even the kittens in the system have this question.

“The Shangguan family has guarded this place for many years, with members risking their lives to repair the seal every year. They must not be treacherous officials in the court. The one who needs to risk her life to repair the seal this generation should be the Second Miss,” Xiao Liunian said.

"I am also somewhat familiar with sealing techniques, and I will temporarily repair the seal during this trip to buy more time for Tianji Star."

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Shangguan Zhen stopped him.

"Your Highness is overthinking this!"

Xiao Liunian walked to the seal, and his power surged forth, flowing into eight directions before disappearing into nothingness. Of the two people's power he had just absorbed, 1.5 people's power was used to repair the seal, leaving 0.5 people's power remaining.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Shangguan Zhen kowtowed.

"King of the Southwest, you flatter me. There's no need for such formalities. As I have said, since I sit in this position, I should naturally do my part!"

"Please send a letter to the Second Miss, Your Highness, informing her that she does not need to return to the Southwest for the time being, and that she should continue to protect Lord Shangguan in Jiangnan," Xiao Liunian said.

"I have other important matters to attend to, so I will not stay any longer!"

"Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off!"

"Mumu, didn't the Second Miss disappear? Could it be that she went into seclusion to cultivate a divine skill and then sacrificed her life!" As soon as Xiao Liunian returned to the rest area after instantly flashing back to the marching team, Thirteen Cats couldn't wait to jump out.

"I was so suffocated!" The cat picked up the herbal tea on the small table and drank it all in one gulp.

"That's right!" Xiao Liunian picked up his cup and slowly replenished his water.

"If we don't go to the southwest this time, will that second young lady die?" Cat Thirteen asked.

"Not only that, the entire Shangguan family, the King of the Southwest, will probably not escape either. After the Shangguan family is wiped out, a new round of power struggles will naturally begin. When the Second Miss of the Southwest Prefecture returned, the seal had already been destroyed. She chose to risk her life to repair the seal and buy more time for Tianji Star," Xiao Liunian said.

"Actually, I find it strange. If that's the case, why not spread the word about the alien invasion and unite all the forces of Tianji Star to fight the enemy together?" Cat was curious, but it understood the principle that there is strength in numbers.

"The words 'defending against the enemy' sound simple, but the manpower, material resources, and financial resources required are enormous. Who can give up a peaceful life to prepare for what may just be a fictitious enemy?" Xiao Liunian said. People are always skeptical of things they haven't seen with their own eyes, sometimes right and sometimes wrong.

"Mumu, is this battle going to be tough?" the system asked.

"A blunt knife against a cannon," Xiao Liunian said.

"Does that mean a lot of people will die?" The cat's ears drooped.

"Thirteen, you have such rich emotions. Are all your systems as human as you?" Xiao Liunian gently tugged at the cat's drooping ears.

“Of course, our system is systematic too! It’s not a robot.” The cat pawed away Xiao Liunian’s hand.

"Great, amazing!" Xiao Liunian said while yawning. After a while, Xiao Liunian, who was lying flat, fell asleep.

Left alone by the cat, Thirteen looked at Xiao Liunian sleeping and thought, "Where did that time management master go? He stopped pretending after he got the leader! Humph! The leader can lie down too, the leader can sleep too!"