Chapter 269 - 186: The Old Timers

Chapter 269: Chapter 186: The Old Timers

"It will start with me. Aside from the child in your womb, I will control the spread of my bloodline from now on."

Saint Hong’s words first surprised Bai Yun’Er, then filled her with joy.

This meant that only her child with Saint Hong could possibly inherit his Ancient Bloodline and become the heir to the Holy Country.

This was, of course, a good thing for Bai Yun’Er.

Saint Hong had taken over thirty consorts. If any of them gave birth to princes with Talent superior to her own son’s, his position would be in jeopardy.

Now that Saint Hong had explicitly stated he would control the spread of his bloodline, it meant the child in her womb would very likely be the sole inheritor of the Ancient Bloodline.

This was a decision Saint Hong had made after careful deliberation.

Before learning the secrets of the Profound Realm from his imperial father earlier today, Saint Hong’s philosophy had been ’the more children, the more blessings.’ He intended to let his Ancient Chaos Demon Dragon Bloodline flourish and spread.

Now, Saint Hong had to be more thorough in his considerations.

He had to think not only of himself but also of his descendants.

’If I really sire dozens, or even hundreds, of Rebirth Realm experts, won’t they just end up slaughtering each other when the Profound Realm inevitably faces a true crisis?’

「In the days that followed.」

Not long after, Saint Hong began to issue decrees!

He forbade the common people from practicing Martial Arts!

Any commoner who wished to learn Martial Arts now had to pass an assessment and enter a designated Martial Arts Hall to study!

Otherwise, they would be punished for treason!

The assessment process allowed for a great deal of manipulation. As for those with superior Talent Root Bone, Saint Hong naturally had other plans for them.

Although the decree was strict, it appeared on the surface to be a beneficial way of standardizing Martial Arts training for the common people.

Furthermore, with the Holy Country having now unified the realm, Saint Emperor Saint Hong—the man who had destroyed Daliang—enjoyed immense prestige, even surpassing that of the now-reclusive Lu Changfeng.

Thus, the decree was implemented without obstruction.

Those with outstanding Root Bone were naturally identified by Holy Country officials and brought under centralized control.

Saint Hong had no shortage of ways to ensure these individuals "accidentally" died during missions, thereby controlling the number of potential Rebirth Realm experts.

At the same time, Saint Hong reorganized his military, establishing the Icefield Army and the Extreme North Army.

He began attempts to reopen the Ancient Dao that passed through the Extreme North Icefield and the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

His intention, of course, was to unify the entire Profound Realm.

...

「The Hundred Thousand Mountains.」

Construction on the road to the Corpse Bone Mountain Guardian Land once again began to push northward.

This time, however, it was under the command of the Extreme North Army.

The deeper they ventured into the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the more members of the Demon Race they encountered.

The Extreme North Army was forced to deploy more and more frequently.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Extreme North Army was Hua Youran—a Grand General appointed by Saint Hong, and also uncle to both Saint Hong and Hua Yiran.

Name: Hua Youran

Root Bone: Upper A

Talent: High-Grade Talent [Saber Madman], High-Grade Talent [Flying Swan].

Bloodline Talent: [Ancient Floral Fiend 45%]

Over the past twenty-plus years, with occasional help from Hua Yiran and his own outstanding Talent, Hua Youran had already broken through to the Peak of the Rebirth Realm Primordial Spirit Body.

By unleashing his Bloodline Power, he could exhibit strength comparable to the True Spirit Body Realm.

It was this, combined with his cautious and steady nature, that led Saint Hong to appoint him as Commander-in-Chief of the Extreme North Army.

Inside the command tent, Hua Youran was personally overseeing his mapmakers as they drew a map of the surrounding area.

To one side lay a collection of maps related to the Ancient Dao, procured in an attempt to find the most direct path.

Hua Youran was now in his fifties.

The Hua Family’s two Demon Generals from Lu Changfeng’s era, Hua Zhuri and Hua Yulong, had already retired due to their advanced age.

Since the Hua Family had secluded themselves to become a Cultivation Family, they had produced a seemingly endless stream of talent. In the Holy Country of today, they were considered one of the most prominent families.

As the uncle of the current Emperor, Hua Youran was also under immense pressure.

Finding the Ancient Dao across the Hundred Thousand Mountains and conquering the nation on the other side—this was the monumental task resting on Hua Youran’s shoulders.

"I’ve found it!"

"This appears to be part of the Ancient Dao!" a mapmaker exclaimed, excitedly holding up two old maps.

Hua Youran strode over in a few quick steps and took the two maps.

After comparing them, Hua Youran was able to confirm that this was, in fact, the Ancient Dao leading north.

Taking a deep breath, Hua Youran ordered, "Someone, assemble the army!"

At the same time, Hua Youran immediately sent a message to Saint Hong.

Saint Hong’s reply arrived swiftly. It read: *I’m counting on you, Uncle.*

Hua Youran immediately understood the implication.

He immediately took personal command of the Extreme North Army and led them northward along the newly discovered Ancient Dao.

Within the Extreme North Army, besides Hua Youran, there were ten other Rebirth Realm experts.

There were a hundred Bone Refining Realm experts, and the rest of the five-thousand-man force consisted entirely of Tendon Transformation Realm Martial Artists!

Though few in number, the army’s strength lay in its elite composition!

This was a crucial advantage for traversing the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Ordinary soldiers would die in droves if they were so much as grazed by the fallout from a battle with the Demon Race.

The army marched out, with the Rebirth Realm experts, led by Hua Youran, at the very front.

This was because a ’Primordial Medicine’ at the head of the column could maintain the army’s Spiritual Power supply.

Sikong Jue of the Sword Killing Demon Sect was in charge of clearing the way ahead. He cleaved through the giant trees and massive boulders that had long since overgrown the path, restoring the Ancient Dao.

Name: Sikong Jue

Root Bone: Upper A

Talent: High-Grade Talent [Sword Eye]

Bloodline Talent: [Ancient Sword Bone Dragon] 45%.

As one of Lu Changfeng’s earliest followers—and also one of the youngest of that cohort—Sikong Jue was still in active service under Saint Hong today.