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Qiongming City. Imperial Palace
Inside the Qionghuang Palace
A richly dressed nobleman stood below the main hall. He was exceptionally handsome and possessed an extraordinary demeanor.
This man was none other than Xu Jinghong, the owner of Rainbow Tower and the first young master of the Qionghuang Dynasty.
Xu Jinghong said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the Sun, Moon and Star Sects have all been wiped out."
Upon learning of this situation, Murong Ran's expression did not change significantly.
She simply said, "I understand."
Murong Ran did not care about the destruction of the three sects.
It could even be said that this was the result of her deliberate manipulation.
Back then, the Sun, Moon and Star Sects assisted her in besieging the Dragon Emperor Xiao Kuangsheng, making a great contribution.
However, afterwards, the leaders of the three sects also made many demands on Murong Ran!
This includes resource crystals, as well as rare and precious materials...
"The three sects have become arrogant and complacent, which has gone too far... Their destruction may not necessarily be a bad thing for the Qionghuang Dynasty."
“The three sects are all backed by forces from the Upper Realm, and I cannot eliminate them personally. Destroying them with the help of the enemy can be considered as eliminating a potential threat for me.”
Xu Jinghong slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, according to my intelligence... Xiao Ruoli and Chu Tianyao, just the two of them, completely annihilated the three major sects."
"This is enough to show that their cultivation levels are already very high."
Xu Jinghong looked at Murong Ran and said in a deep voice, "In the True Realm, I may already be considered at the peak..."
Murong Ran smiled faintly, "Jinghong, with your strength, can you handle one of them?"
Xu Jinghong pondered, "I dare not say that I can definitely do it... but as long as the opponent is below the eighth level of the Nascent Soul Realm, I may be able to fight them."
"You're being modest." Murong Ran smiled slightly. "In the Qionghuang Dynasty, there are two people who are the most unfathomable."
"One is Ye Linyuan, the city lord of Linyuan City. The other is you... Xu Jinghong, the 'Amazing Swan from Beyond the Heavens'."
Xu Jinghong said calmly, "Your Highness is too kind."
Murong Ran's tone suddenly turned stern. "However, Xu Qing's relationship with Ning Zeyuan is extraordinary."
"But Ning Zeyuan is the deputy master of Yanyu Tower, and they are about to go to war... Will you feel troubled, Xu Qing?"
Xu Jinghong said calmly, "I have a very good personal relationship with Ning Zeyuan... it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we are bosom friends."
"However, compared to His Highness, Ning Zeyuan's importance is not so great."
Murong Ran was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Jinghong, if it weren't for your support... I wouldn't have been able to ascend the throne so easily..."
"Over the years... I have let you down."
Xu Jinghong slowly said, "Your Highness need not feel indebted. All my actions were voluntary."
"Right now, Nangong Yanyu has gathered the rebellious troops together... Your Highness should actively prepare for war."
Murong Ran regained her indifferent expression, "Let them gather together, so I can catch them all in one fell swoop."
"Over the years... the Qionghuang Army has never relaxed its training, and I believe it will soon deliver satisfactory results."
Xu Jinghong pondered for a moment, then said, "Times have changed... Your Highness's battle against the remnants of the previous dynasty needs to end as soon as possible."
"If we cannot achieve a swift victory... I'm afraid that Wanyan Yi, the wolf lord of the North, Oda Nobuyoshi of the Sun Wheel Kingdom in the East Sea... and even the demons of Canglong Ridge will be eager to make a move."
"Former allies may become the most terrible enemies."
Murong Ran said calmly, "I know these people are all wolves in sheep's clothing. I will eliminate them one by one in the future."
"Ten years after the establishment of the Qionghuang Dynasty, the fortune of heaven and earth has gathered in my body... My cultivation is advancing by leaps and bounds, and I am about to step into the peak of the ninth level of the Nascent Soul Realm."
Xu Jinghong calmly looked at the Empress before him and slowly said, "Congratulations, Your Highness... However, due to the limitations of the Heavenly Dao, I in the True Realm ultimately cannot achieve invincibility."
"A battlefield with hundreds of thousands of cultivators is a completely different concept from a sect with a few hundred or a thousand people..."
"Even the most powerful cultivators at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul Realm risk perishing when faced with an overwhelming number of Golden Core Realm soldiers."
"Xiao Kuangsheng of yesteryear is a perfect example..."
"As for Wanyan Yi, Oda Nobuyoshi, and Ren Junxing... it is unclear how much their cultivation has improved in the past ten years."
"Especially Ren Junxing... Ten years ago, he was a top-tier expert standing shoulder to shoulder with Dragon Emperor Xiao Kuangsheng at the eighth level of the Nascent Soul Realm..."
"Your Highness must not be careless, lest you find yourself in a situation where you are surrounded by enemies."
Xu Jinghong's frankness did not anger the Empress.
Murong Ran simply nodded calmly. "Jinghong, I know what I'm doing. Honglou's intelligence network covers the entire Lower Realm. I believe you'll be able to learn about any major news immediately."
"The Yanyu Tower is moving very quickly... A large number of independent martial arts practitioners and people of unknown identity are converging on Gu Ning City."
Xu Jinghong asked in a deep voice, "What does Your Majesty intend to do... allow these people to regroup and unite, or should you take action against Ning Zeyuan first?"
Murong Ran calmly said, "Notify Guan Xin, the city lord of Gu Ning City, to lead the city's troops to surround Ning Mansion."
"There are two Nascent Soul Realm experts inside the Ning Mansion. There's no need for a direct attack... just surround them."
"I will have the Qionghuang Army set up camp around the ancient city of Gu Ning, waiting for those remnants of the previous dynasty to walk into our trap."
"Jinghong...keep an eye on Nangong Yanyu's movements."
Xu Jinghong nodded. "Your Majesty, I understand... In that case, I shall take my leave."
Watching Xu Jinghong's departing figure, a complex expression flashed in Murong Ran's eyes.
......
The next morning
Therefore, Guan Xin, the lord of Ningcheng, led his army to completely surround the Ningfu residence...
Approximately five thousand Qionghuang soldiers blocked off the entire street.
They surrounded Ning Zeyuan's government office in layers.
Guan Xin's cultivation level is the first level of the Nascent Soul Realm.
This level of cultivation isn't low, but it's not particularly high either...
The reason he was appointed as the city lord of Gu Ning City was mainly because Guan Xin was Murong Ran's absolute protégé.
He was once the deputy commander of the Qionghuang Army and had a high reputation in the army.
Seeing this formation, Ning Zeyuan already understood seven or eight parts of the situation.
But he still walked out of the Ning Mansion's gate and asked Guan Xin, "Lord Guan? What is the meaning of your large-scale mobilization to surround the Ning Mansion?"
"Could it be that Mr. Ning has encountered tax problems in his business operations over the years?"
Guan Xin glanced at Ning Zeyuan and said coldly, "This is Her Majesty the Empress's decree. I'm sure Mr. Ning already knows the specific reasons."
Ning Zeyuan was silent for a moment. "Lord Guan, I open my shop to do business... but now you've led your troops to besiege this place. How can I possibly continue my business..."
Guan Xin sneered, "Mr. Ning truly lives up to his reputation as a businessman... Even with disaster looming, he's still thinking about business."
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