Chapter 375 - 135: How Dare He? The Way to Maximize Benefits, I Will Be Behind You

She was reluctant to believe that any of these people would betray her, but just in case, she followed the plan she had devised with Jiang Lan and informed them about the Dragon-Suppressing Seal.

However, to create a convincing decoy, she had her subordinates find a similar object, which she then had placed in various locations deep within the Imperial Palace and guarded by heavy troops.

She also informed her trusted subordinates of this matter, having them dispatch their own people to guard the different locations.

This way, if a problem arose at any of the locations, they could investigate immediately and find out who the mole and the spy were.

After the conflict in Qianyuan Prefecture ended, the Imperial Capital did not calm down in the slightest.

As the Southern Hunting drill drew near, some of the more remote Vassal Princes and Commandery Princes, who were farther from the Imperial Capital, began sending their people over the past few days. The Immortal Sect Lineages that had not yet arrived also began to appear.

In addition, the Hundred Kingdoms and Overseas Kingdoms subservient to Great Xia, as well as various Alien Races, all sent their own representatives.

Rosy light scattered and colorful mists billowed as Cloud Boats, jade vessels, painted boats, and Flying Swords descended from all corners of the sky.

Every day, one could see war chariots, covered in the marks of harsh travel and battle, rumbling into the city.

They escorted many members of the Barbarian Race, sent from the borders of the Southern Wilderness Province to serve as death-row prey for the upcoming Southern Hunting drill.

The Southern Hunting drill was different from the conflict in Qianyuan Prefecture.

Failure to attend would be considered disrespect to the Royal Family. To a certain extent, it could even be interpreted as an act of rebellion, branding one a traitor.

Even the powerful Vassal Princes and the Dukes and Marquis of Different Surnames, who held their own territories and commanded their own armies, had to tread carefully during this period.

Formidable armies with murderous auras had returned from all corners of the land to wait outside the Imperial Capital. There were Aerial Cavalry riding Gale Tigers, Heavy Cavalry clad in full armor and armed with long spears, and more...

High in the sky, massive War Fortresses and other War Tools forged by the Celestial Craftsmanship Creation Institute floated ominously. Their immense, terrifying presence hung in the air like ancient Demon Mountains.

Even farther out, beyond the sky, hovered War Flying Ships. Their surfaces were engraved with countless Runes, and their interiors housed entire Little Worlds capable of holding terrifying armies hundreds of thousands strong.

Over the past few days, brilliant gates of light had also been appearing within the Imperial Capital. From them charged troops of Knights, bathed in blood and reeking of an Evil Qi that shot to the heavens, as if they had just emerged from countless slaughters.

The mere sight of them thundering across the sky on their Fierce Beasts created a terrifying roar like that of a charging army, a surging tide that struck fear into the hearts of all who witnessed it.

And all of this was but the tip of the iceberg of Great Xia’s true power.

The many Immortal Sect Lineages and ancient, distinguished Noble Families who had come to observe were all profoundly shaken.

Any single one of these forces could easily annihilate an entire Immortal Sect. And this was Great Xia in its supposed decline; it was still terrifyingly powerful.

It made one wonder about the glorious era of Great Xia’s founding emperor, who had dominated his age, purged the Immortal and Demon Sects, conquered the Hundred Kingdoms, and intimidated the entire world with his unparalleled might. It was a sight one could only dream of.

"Great Xia’s fortunes may be waning, but its power is still not to be underestimated. These armies are terrifyingly strong."

"Across the Nine Provinces Land, only the Celestial Central Province can boast such a grand spectacle. The other provinces remain chaotic and turbulent to this day, rife with Sects and Noble Families, each dominating their own territory. Even the majesty of the Proud Moon Dynasty and the Gouchen Dynasty doesn’t measure up to one percent of the Great Xia Dynasty’s."

"Though they are all called dynasties, Great Xia has the makings of a true Immortal Dynasty..."

On a barren mountain outside the Imperial Capital, several figures stood gazing at the magnificent city, where Dragon Fortune steamed and soared into the sky. A look of amazement was on every one of their faces.

The clothes they wore were different from the styles within Great Xia. And although they had used a Secret Technique to learn Great Xia’s official language, their conversation was tinged with the accent of an outer province.

The one speaking now was a young man of medium height with handsome features.

He wore a long, dark gray brocade robe. His hands were somewhat broad, but his skin had a jade-like luster. His face was adorned with totem-like markings, and he wore many ornaments, mostly silver, along with some bracelets made from polished teeth and bone.

"Great Xia only enjoys such prosperity because it holds a geographic advantage. If our ancestors had not been driven to the desolate lands of Xiling Province, then we would have our rightful place here in the Celestial Central Province, where the Dragon Vein’s fortune converges..."

Beside the young man, a petite, purple-haired woman spoke, her voice clear and crisp.

She wore several silver ornaments in her hair, a gourd and a flute hung from her waist, and a curved blade less than half a foot long was fastened to her back. She had crimson markings at the corners of her eyes, and a palm-sized, iridescent spider rested on her shoulder.

"Regardless, we’re only here to watch the spectacle. Once we enter Great Xia’s capital, watch what you say."

A middle-aged man with long, unbound hair and a dark complexion spoke up. He was clearly the leader of their group.

"Uncle Ya, I’m curious. Those Daoist Sacred Lands in Dongyuan Province failed in their bid for supremacy and retreated there. They’ve been coveting the Celestial Central Province for so long, so why haven’t they made a move?"

"Do you think the powers from Dongyuan Province will make a move during Great Xia’s Southern Hunting drill? The Monarch of Great Xia has mobilized so many armies; won’t the border regions be left unguarded?"

The purple-haired girl pouted, showing little respect for the middle-aged man leading them. Instead, she brought up a topic that interested her.

The middle-aged man glanced at her, seemingly helpless, and said, "The Barbarian Race of the Southern Wilderness Province hasn’t even declared all-out war on Great Xia yet. Why would those Daoist Lineage Influences from Dongyuan Province be in any rush?"

"The clan chief instructed me to keep a close eye on you after we arrived in Great Xia. Please, Miss, don’t say such things again. If the people of Great Xia were to overhear you, who knows what they might think..."

As they spoke, the group continued toward the Imperial Capital of Great Xia.

Xiling Province was famous for its high mountains, rolling hills, and numerous Huze Mountain Ranges. Miasma filled the air, and insects and beasts were abundant.

Its cities were mostly built on small, open plains, generally divided by family, tribe, and city, extending outward in a radial pattern.

The family they hailed from was one of the top-ranking clans in Xiling Province; otherwise, they would not have been invited to observe the ceremony.

In addition to Xiling Province, the other provinces across the Nine Provinces Land that currently maintained peaceful relations with the Great Xia Dynasty and had no ongoing conflicts also received invitations.

However, unlike the major Noble Immortal Sects within the Celestial Central Province, attendance was not something that had to be treated with the utmost gravity.

In fact, quite a few powers simply ignored the invitation after receiving it. But those that lacked the nerve to offend the Great Xia Dynasty not only had to attend, but also had to prepare a substantial gift.