CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: THE GREAT BRIGHT DOMAIN_1

Upon learning that activating the Martial Training Platform would require a large quantity of Spirit Stones, Qin Wudao abandoned the idea of cultivating a large-scale army and switched to the path of elite soldiers.

The Eighteen Riders of Yan Yun and the Qin Dynasty Iron Cavalry were the first troops to train on the Martial Training Platform.

When he returned to the Imperial Capital, Qin Wudao visited the palace and asked the Qin Emperor for fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, nearly emptying the national treasury.

The Qin Emperor didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even ask what they were for and directly approved the request.

With the Spirit Stones in hand, Qin Wudao returned to the East Palace and then took the Eighteen Riders of Yan Yun to the Martial Training Platform. As its master, he didn’t need a Token and could enter whenever he wished.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yun also led fifty thousand Qin Iron Cavalry onto the Martial Training Platform.

"Activate!"

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Qin Wudao threw the Spirit Stones into the Void, dividing them into five portions that were absorbed by the Army Soul Origin, the General Soul Origin, the Spirit Gathering Array, the Hour Array, and the World Array.

Profound Rhymes in Dao emerged in the Void, causing those present to feel as if they had attained sudden enlightenment, and their cultivation advanced significantly.

Zhao Yun flew to the front of the army and shouted, "Fight!" A phantom appeared behind him, clad in armor and holding a Tiger Talisman, emanating an aura of command over the entire army.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The Qin Iron Cavalry roared. Empowered by their army formation, pillars of blood shot into the sky and merged into the phantom behind Zhao Yun, unleashing an incredibly powerful might.

Zhao Yun’s strength began to soar, becoming dozens of times greater than before.

"Crescent Moon Shuttle!"

Not far away, the Eighteen Riders of Yan Yun also gained some insight. They drew their curved swords and moved in perfect unison, as if they were a single person.

BOOM!

High in the sky, a full moon and seventeen crescent moons appeared!

Under the moonlight, the blood-red light enveloping the Eighteen Riders of Yan Yun was shrouded in a layer of hazy white light. Each beam of light exuded a piercing power capable of sundering anything.

And now, with so many beams of light, the power they generated was likely enough to make even a martial artist at the Peak of the Reaching the Holy Realm stage retreat considerably.

These fifty thousand Spirit Stones were not spent in vain! Qin Wudao stood to the side, nodding with satisfaction. He stayed a while longer before leaving the Martial Training Platform. This place was for martial generals and soldiers to cultivate; his imperial aura prevented him from practicing here.

After returning to the East Palace, he immediately summoned Jia Xu to inquire about recent events.

"Your Highness, four major events have occurred since you entered seclusion!" Jia Xu said respectfully as he entered the hall.

"Quite a few!"

If Jia Xu considers them major events, they must be truly significant, Qin Wudao thought, a gleam flickering in his eyes.

"Firstly, the Qin Empire has joined the Dao Domain Alliance, returned the Holy Fire Sect’s territory, and contained the expansion of the Changeable Mansion!" Jia Xu stated solemnly.

Qin Wudao nodded. He was not surprised by this. The Changeable Mansion was powerful and ambitious, so forming an alliance to resist it was a natural response. This was all within his expectations.

Besides, the Qin Empire’s attack on the Sky Fire Domain and the Changeable Mansion’s aid to the Holy Fire Sect had already placed them on opposing sides.

The Qin Empire joining the alliance could only be described as having more benefits than drawbacks.

"The second matter is that the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect has declared war on the Qin Empire to avenge Hua Wanxian. They have mobilized an army of three million and deployed more than a dozen Reaching the Holy Realm martial artists!" Jia Xu paused before continuing.

"And then?" Qin Wudao asked, slightly surprised, his brow furrowed.

He was not surprised that the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect had declared war on the Qin Empire, but rather astonished that ten days had passed without any news of their movement.

"On the eve of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect’s army’s departure, they were hindered by the Lin Family and the experts from Gun City! The Lin Family cited the need to maintain the stability of the alliance, while Gun City claimed it was to repay a debt of gratitude!" Jia Xu revealed a slight smile. Avoiding a major battle was indeed a good thing for the current Qin Empire.

After all, wars cost money and considerably drained national strength.

In the past few months, the Qin Empire had first pacified the East Ancient Domain, then waged war against the Holy Fire Sect, exhausting reserves accumulated over ten thousand years. If another major war were to be waged, the domestic economy might collapse.

Repaying a debt? Qin Wudao was somewhat puzzled. He recalled the battle between Nie Jinglong and Zhao Yun and seemed to have a thought. He waved his hand, signaling Jia Xu to continue.

"The third matter concerns King Gao Yang’s rebellion. His Majesty investigated for seven consecutive days without any progress. He then ordered the execution of King Gao Yang’s direct bloodline, and this has already been carried out!" Jia Xu’s voice was somewhat heavy.

Qin Wudao’s expression changed slightly, his face growing solemn. Even the Qin Emperor couldn’t find anything? Who is the mastermind behind this?

"As for the last matter, it is the most critical!"

"After His Majesty joined the alliance, it was discovered that Pill King Wang Tiancheng joined a faction in the Great Bright Domain two years ago!"

At this point, Jia Xu took a deep breath. The words "Great Bright Domain" weighed heavily on him, instilling a profound sense of pressure, for it represented a power that stood entirely above the nine great Dao Domains.

A King-level Dao Domain, the Great Bright Domain! Qin Wudao’s heart sank. This is indeed a huge problem.

The nine great Dao Domains, including the Changeable Domain, were all ordinary Dao Domains, capable of producing at most Saint Realm martial artists. A King-level Dao Domain, however, signified the presence of Saint King Realm martial artists overseeing it.

A Saint King Realm expert was an exceptionally powerful existence, even across the entire Primeval Continent.

Wang Tiancheng was Wang Fu’s master, and Wang Fu had been beheaded by the Qin Emperor. The enmity between them could only be described as a blood feud.

In this world, the bond between master and disciple was no weaker than that between father and son.

"Dispatch the Hidden Guards! Investigate which faction Wang Tiancheng joined in the Great Bright Domain!" Qin Wudao ordered in a grave voice. The King-level Dao Domain is vast and contains numerous factions of varying strength. I can only pray that the faction Wang Tiancheng joined is merely average.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Jia Xu cupped his fists respectfully and then departed.

Wang Tiancheng is a Reaching the Holy Realm martial artist; in the Great Bright Domain, that’s not considered particularly strong. His main reliance must be his Alchemy... Qin Wudao murmured to himself as a ball of black flame appeared in his hand, an alchemical fragrance lingering around it.

My Alchemy skills are not weak either!

On the border of the Da Cang Empire, a travel-worn, gaunt figure clad in an Alchemist’s robe spoke, his teeth clenched, "Brother, I will definitely find Master to avenge you!"

This man was Wang Gui!

Upon learning that Wang Fu had extorted the Qin Empire and been beheaded by the Qin Emperor for recklessly prescribing medicine, he had not hesitated, immediately taking his attendants and leaving the Qin Empire.

"Master, we are five days’ journey from reaching the Sky Water Sect!" an attendant at the Peak of the Heaven Realm saluted respectfully.

"Pick up the pace!" Wang Gui breathed a sigh of relief and continued onward.

Another ten li ahead lay the border of the Great Bright Domain. A city wall, several hundred zhang high, stood there like a colossal dragon sprawling across the endless territory. Formations were arranged upon the wall, and squads of powerful soldiers patrolled back and forth atop it, their faces filled with disdain as they looked towards the Da Cang Empire.

Regional discrimination!

The Martial Artists of the Great Bright Domain had always looked down upon people from the nine great Dao Domains.

Entry into the Great Bright Domain was subject to extremely stringent conditions: only Reaching the Holy Realm martial artists or young prodigies were qualified.

Wang Gui was neither a Reaching the Holy Realm expert nor a young prodigy, but as an Alchemist, he possessed special privileges.