"You, you're from Blackwater Platform?!" the middle-aged man exclaimed in terror upon seeing the black-armored figure.

Zhao Zheng smiled slightly and waved his hand, signaling to take the middle-aged man away for questioning.

This time, the people from Blackwater Station cooperated very well with Zhao Zheng's actions. After Zhao Zheng gave the signal, two men in black armor immediately came out and dragged the middle-aged man into another room to begin the interrogation by Blackwater Station.

At this moment, Hu Hai gave instructions in Zhao Zheng's mind.

"From now on, you don't need to take action yourself. Just instruct the Blackwater soldiers to carry out their tasks based on the intelligence."

Zhao Zheng nodded slightly, without making a sound.

Soon, the Blackwater Station presented a piece of intelligence to Zhao Zheng. Without even glancing at it, Zhao Zheng pointed directly at the flag leader of the Blackwater Station and said...

"From now on, you don't need to worry about me. Just give the orders, your banner chief."

After saying that, he smiled at the flag leader.

The flag lord was immediately surprised. Although the greatest meritorious service had been secured, taking down the remaining strongholds would still require a considerable number of meritorious service. Zhao Zheng was so generous, directly rewarding them. Everyone knew that the Blackwater Platform was only loyal to the Northern Nether Empress, and that trying to win them over was useless.

Even Eunuch Li, standing behind Zhao Zheng, looked on with surprise.

Although he didn't understand Zhao Zheng's meaning, the flag leader of Blackwater Platform still nodded and said so.

"good."

He uttered a single, cold word, then took the intelligence and began giving orders to his men.

Blackwater Platform quickly sprang into action, leaving a team in the room for Zhao Zheng to ensure his safety.

Zhao Zheng did not stay at the original inn to wait for the Blackwater Station's report, but went straight back to his Yan Prince's Mansion and lay down to rest.

In the morning, Zhao Zheng quickly finished washing up with the help of Eunuch Li.

However, while serving Zhao Zheng, Eunuch Li whispered something.

"Your Highness, you rested last night, so I took the liberty of dismissing the Blackwater Platform people. Around 3:30 AM last night, there wasn't a single Miao spy left in the entire capital. We captured over a thousand Miao spies this time, including even one at the Immortal Realm. However, some unpleasant things have also spread in the capital that are not good for Your Highness."

At this point, Eunuch Li paused slightly, and seeing Zhao Zheng's expressionless face, continued.

"Furthermore, Her Majesty the Empress is very satisfied with Your Highness's arrangements and is already assigning you a position. Moreover, according to my humble opinion, it should be a powerful army."

"Don't react at all, stay calm. This eunuch is no ordinary person," Hu Hai immediately warned.

Zhao Zheng, who had been about to cheer, suddenly nodded indifferently, as if he had been doused with water.

Eunuch Li took all of this to heart.

"Oh, and I must return to the palace now. Your Highness, please take good care of yourself. Her Majesty the Empress's decree should be issued soon."

Eunuch Li whispered his instructions.

"Yes, I understand, sir. Father-in-law, please take care of yourself. Who knows when we'll meet again?" Zhao Zheng sighed.

Eunuch Li smiled, then immediately pushed open the door and left the Prince of Yan's residence.

Looking at Eunuch Li's retreating figure, Zhao Zheng truly felt powerless at this moment, because he was now fighting alone.

"Don't think about anything else. One day, everything you want will appear. So there's no need to force it. Also, be careful in the capital. If anything goes wrong, that bitch won't let us off the hook."

Hu Hai's voice echoed in Zhao Zheng's mind.

As Zhao Zheng watched Eunuch Li's retreating figure, he couldn't help but clench his fists and nodded slightly.

…………

"By imperial decree of the Northern You Empress, Zhao Zheng, son of the Prince of Yan, has rendered meritorious service in slaying the Miao rebels and is hereby granted the title of Right Grand Master, leading an army of five thousand to guard the South Cliff Pass."

With the appearance of this imperial edict, the entire capital of the Great Ying Empire was plunged into heated discussion.

Zhao Zheng immediately came into the view of many forces.

These forces were dumbfounded when they studied Zhao Zheng, because Zhao Zheng's father was the King of Yan, and now the royal family commanded many elite kings.

Putting aside everything else, the current Yan Yun Iron Cavalry alone can make the nomadic tribes of the northern frontier cry out in terror. Therefore, one can imagine how powerful this King of Yan is now. With Zhao Zheng being sent to a post outside the capital, there is nothing that can threaten this King of Yan.

That's why everyone was a little dumbfounded.

However, upon seeing the place where Zhao Zheng was sent to and the merits he had made, he immediately ignored them.

It should be noted that Nanya Pass is located in the southwest of the Great Ying Empire, where it faces threats from the Central Plains states and the Western Desert cavalry.

Therefore, Nanya Pass was truly a death trap for Zhao Zheng, who had no cultivation whatsoever, so these powerful figures immediately abandoned their idea of ​​investing in Zhao Zheng.

However, these powerful and influential people are still willing to send small gifts.

When Zhao Zheng set off, the Prince of Yan's residence was piled high with all sorts of gifts.

However, Zhao Zheng's mind was not on these gifts, but on the imperial edict in his hand, which he was frowning over.

"Ancestor, the Empress's arrangement was incredibly ruthless."

Zhao Zheng said through gritted teeth.

"Heh, this wasn't the Empress's doing. It must have been someone in the royal family who disliked you and that's why they targeted you. After all, it was you who wiped out the Miao forces in the capital."

Hu Hai sneered, already fully aware of the characteristics of the royal family.

"Doesn't the Empress care? After all, I shared such a large portion of the merit this time."

Zhao Zheng still didn't quite understand.

"Hahahaha." A wanton, mocking laugh echoed in Zhao Zheng's mind.

"You're overthinking it, kid. You're nothing in that bitch's eyes. Whether she even remembers you is another matter entirely. Do you think this appointment was written by the Empress? Let me tell you responsibly, it's impossible."

Hu Hai's mockery made Zhao Zheng clench his fists involuntarily, his eyes filled with resentment.

Seeing Zhao Zheng like this, Hu Hai nodded in satisfaction, because only in this way would Zhao Zheng not relax his guard.

"However, Nanya Pass is actually not bad either. It's easy for you to build a mysterious army here. The vast desert in the west is not something that Beiyou can explore with its current resources. So it's very easy to accumulate your first pot of gold here."

Hu Hai then pointed out the advantages of Nanya Pass.

Zhao Zheng nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

Leading a group of Yan Yun cavalry, Zhao Zheng headed straight for Nanya Pass.

After all, Zhao Zheng was the only son of the King of Yan. No matter how dissatisfied the King of Yan was with Zhao Zheng's behavior, he still lent a helping hand.

Therefore, Zhao Zheng's 5,000-strong army consisted of a group of battle-hardened veterans, and there was even a 1,000-strong Yan Yun Iron Cavalry.

However, Zhao Zheng learned from the general in charge that the King of Yan was furious after learning about Zhao Zheng's appointment to a post outside the capital and his actions in the capital. He even smashed his most treasured Ziyan Bottle.

However, seeing that this was accomplished by Zhao Zheng alone, the King of Yan still had to swallow the bitter pill. He directly handed over half of his army to the governor of Northern Yan and petitioned to open up his territory for the officials of the capital to manage.

Therefore, the King of Yan's love for Zhao Zheng was ingrained in his very bones. However, these actions also show that this King of Yan, who ruled over a region, had absolutely no intention of establishing his own independent regime.

Zhao Zheng was stunned upon hearing this news.

He originally thought that his biological father left him in the capital because he didn't care about him at all. But at this moment, Zhao Zheng realized that his biological father still loved him very much.

After all, he had emptied his savings for himself.

"How is it? You're very moved, aren't you? You feel sorry for your father, right?" Hu Hai saw through Zhao Zheng's worries at a glance.

"Haha, what's the big deal? You don't need to be afraid. Your father, as a descendant of royalty, has become a king who commands hundreds of thousands of troops. So your father's methods are definitely far superior to yours. So don't worry about your father."

Hu Hai couldn't help but comfort him, saying that after all, it was Zhao Zheng who had caused trouble for his father this time, so it was normal for Zhao Zheng to be a little annoyed.

"I understand, Ancestor. I will definitely make a name for myself in Nanya City."

Zhao Zheng said with great ambition.

"Report! The road ahead is blocked, and a large group of young men has appeared." A knight appeared in front of Zhao Zheng and reported with clasped hands.

Zhao Zheng frowned slightly and said.

"How many people have actually asked why these young men have gathered here?"

"There are about five hundred people, all of them young men from Beiyou. However, it seems that these young men were preparing to participate in the Zixiao Pavilion's assessment. But a few days ago, we received intelligence that the Zixiao Pavilion had been closed. It seems that Daoist Cangyan and many elders of the Zixiao Pavilion have all entered seclusion. There is not a single person to be seen."

The knight reported loudly.

"Okay, I understand. Be careful to disperse the crowd, we'll get through here later."

Zhao Zheng calmly gave the instructions.

"Yes, ma'am."

The knight clasped his hands in a fist salute and then descended.

Zhao Zheng's caution was not without reason. He only had a few dozen cavalrymen with him, while the main force had long since passed through the Western Desert and arrived at Nanya Pass. Therefore, these few dozen cavalrymen were definitely not enough to protect Zhao Zheng in the face of a force of hundreds.

Among these cavalrymen, the strongest was only a Golden Core cultivator, so Zhao Zheng didn't feel very safe.

However, when Zhao Zheng touched the martial arts stone in his pocket, he became confident.

Putting everything else aside, even if the Haotian Sovereign were to emerge, Zhao Zheng would be confident in his ability to challenge him. However, there seems to be a rumor circulating in the Xia Kingdom that the Haotian Sovereign has perished.

Zhao Zheng gently shook his head, dismissing the strange thought, and then asked the ancestor in his mind.

"Ancestor, what are your thoughts on the Zixiao Pavilion? If it weren't for the Zixiao Pavilion's intervention, our Northern You's iron cavalry might have already conquered the Central Plains."

"Hehe, the timing of Zixiao Pavilion's closure is quite subtle. However, Zixiao Pavilion can become your ally in resisting the Northern Nether Empress."

Hu Hai spoke in a mysterious and unpredictable manner.

"ah."

Zhao Zheng was dumbfounded, because in his mind, although the Northern Nether Empress was an opponent, the Purple Cloud Pavilion was definitely a formidable enemy.

"What 'ah'? I used to have a good relationship with Daoist Cangyan, so you can use that to help yourself. After all, the Supreme One is still too powerful for you."

"But isn't Daoist Cangyan from an outside force?"

"That's utter nonsense. Why would Daoist Cangyan waste his time stopping Empress Beiyou? Was he just bored? Of course, it's to avenge me, which is why he's making that bitch suffer."

Hu Hai boasted in Zhao Zheng's mind.

Zhao Zheng opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he held back, after all, what the ancestor said was correct.

As for why they didn't directly use the Martial Arts Crystal to defeat the Northern You Empress, it's because there's no reason to use a father's ashes to beat his daughter. So, neither Zhao Zheng nor Hu Hai mentioned using the Martial Arts Crystal to kill the Northern You Empress.

"Young Master, those youths have been cleared away. It's passable now." The knight clasped his hands and approached Zhao Zheng again.

Zhao Zheng calmly nodded, then mounted his warhorse and took the lead.

The young men on both sides looked at Zhao Zheng, this young prodigy, with astonishment, even though he was a young prodigy without any martial arts cultivation.

The sound of horses' hooves slowly faded into the distance, and the group of young men finally came to their senses. One of them couldn't help but ask a question.

"Whose young master is this? He even leads such an elite force."

Those who knew Zhao Zheng's identity immediately responded.

"Now he's not some young master anymore, but the captain of Nanya Pass, commanding five thousand veteran soldiers from Beiyou."

"Ah, so young, could it be that he's just relying on his father's achievements?"

"Ha, if you knew his father was the Prince of Yan, you wouldn't think that way."

Immediately, another knowledgeable young man couldn't help but roll his eyes and say something.

The vast majority of people here are knowledgeable young people; otherwise, they wouldn't have chosen to go to the Central Plains to learn the Zixiao Pavilion's techniques and then return to the Northern You Empire to repay the Northern You Kingdom.

After all, Zixiao Pavilion is a well-known sect on the continent.

It is still a sect full of freedom.

Although Zixiao Pavilion frequently opposes Beiyou Kingdom, it is very open to people from Beiyou Kingdom, as long as they do not reveal any of Zixiao Pavilion's secrets during their stay.

Although Zixiao Pavilion belongs to a sect, it is more like an academy in function.

To cultivate talent for various forces on the mainland.

However, it is precisely because of this situation that Zixiao Pavilion has remained the number one sect on the entire continent.

However, there is one thing that everyone on the mainland knows: Daoist Cangyan of Zixiao Pavilion has a great deal of conflict.

However, Zhao Zheng was unaware of their discussion. He led his cavalry and quickly arrived at Nanya Pass. Upon entering Nanya Pass, he saw the distant desert and couldn't help but recall something.

Meanwhile, Ye Yi, the mastermind behind everything on the mainland, was setting up these secret realms.

As for the old man's pseudonym Hu Hai, Ye Yi handed it over to the world for safekeeping. After all, Ye Yi was so busy with important matters in various worlds, how could he possibly have time to spend with Zhao Zheng for so long?

Therefore, in order for the Xuanhuan Continent to become stronger again, there must be no shortage of secret realms where people fight each other. Ye Yi can also justifiably offer some treasures in the secret realms to help create strong people.