Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

[Dao Immortal Ranking – Rank 3]

[Li Chunfeng]

[Force: Imperial Observatory of Vast Sea Dynasty]

[Cultivation: Late God Demon Realm Land Immortal]

[Technique: Supreme Unity Prediction Classic]

[Reward: 1x Top-Tier Enlightenment Card (Can be used for enlightenment, increasing comprehension five hundred times, duration ten days!)]

==========

"Li Chunfeng? Who is that? I've never even heard of him. Is he another hidden master?"

"Wait, isn't he from the Tang Dynasty?"

"Yeah, how did he end up with the Vast Sea Dynasty?"

"Could it be another powerful cultivator recruited by the Vast Sea Emperor?"

"Oh my god, Late God Demon Realm! Way too terrifying."

"With someone like him, even if the Vast Sea Emperor doesn't take action himself, who would dare provoke them?"

"A Top-Tier Enlightenment Card, five hundred times the comprehension boost for ten days. With that, Li Chunfeng might become even scarier."

"Right now, only the Ming Dynasty might be able to match the Vast Sea Dynasty."

When the Dao Immortal Ranking was revealed, everyone across the Nine Provinces was utterly shocked.

Especially those familiar with Li Chunfeng, their faces were full of disbelief.

==========

Tang Dynasty Territory.

Atop a beautiful and scenic mountain peak.

Boom!

With a gentle palm strike, Li Chunfeng remained motionless, while Yuan Tiangang was sent flying.

With just a simple exchange, Yuan Tiangang was completely defeated.

The difference between Half-Step God Demon Realm and God Demon Realm was like the difference between heaven and earth.

Completely incomparable.

Fortunately, the two were not fighting to the death, just sparring briefly.

Soon, peace was restored.

Then, they composed themselves.

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang sat facing each other at a stone table.

Teacups and a small tea tray rested on top.

A faint aroma of tea filled the air.

"Dao Brother, why did you pursue me again?"

"The moment the Dao Immortal Ranking was released, I knew I could no longer hide the truth."

"I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly."

Li Chunfeng shook his head helplessly and sighed.

"When did you join the Vast Sea Dynasty?"

"No wonder you always dodged my invitations to join the Tang Imperial Court. Looks like I was too late."

Yuan Tiangang looked at his friend, feeling a bit disheartened.

Perhaps in the future, they would become true enemies.

"Late God Demon Realm... so you were hiding your power from me all these years?"

"And I foolishly regarded you as my rival."

"From now on, we won't be on the same level anymore."

Li Chunfeng shook his head and replied.

"Dao Brother, although I already know the answer, I still want to ask."

"If there were a chance to instantly reach the God Demon Realm, would you accept it?"

"Hahaha, Dao Brother, you know my heart. I could never abandon the Tang Dynasty just to grow stronger."

"Not to mention the God Demon Realm, even the Sage Realm doesn't tempt me."

"You are truly the Yuan Tiangang I know. That pride did not disappoint me."

"Honestly, I both hoped you would accept and hoped you would hold firm to your ideals."

"But with your talent, becoming a legend in cultivation is not beyond reach."

"In the future, we might really become opponents."

"Li Chunfeng, I won't hold back."

"Neither will I."

The two drank together in farewell. No one asked why Li Chunfeng joined the Vast Sea Dynasty.

It no longer mattered.

What's done is done.

"Dao Brother, the strength of the Tang Dynasty compared to the Vast Sea Dynasty is far too weak."

"Soon, the entire Nine Provinces will belong to His Majesty."

"The Qin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty won't stand a chance."

"Maybe someday, the two of us will cooperate again."

Yuan Tiangang understood the implication.

Once the Vast Sea Dynasty conquered the Tang Dynasty, he too, as the Tang Dynasty's Bad Marshal, would be forced to submit.

But, even if it meant death, he would never surrender.

His entire life had been dedicated to the Tang Dynasty.

How could he ever betray it?

==========

Ming Imperial Palace.

Zhu Houzhao looked at the secret report delivered by Dark One.

The rebellion at Shanhai Pass led by Wu Sangui had been completely crushed.

Even the rats within the military were flushed out and eliminated.

All his patience in not dealing with Wu Sangui sooner had finally paid off.

Previously, Phagpa had acted too cautiously, missing several golden opportunities.

Who would have thought that replacing him with Dong Tianbao would produce results so quickly?

In terms of strength, ruthlessness, and decisiveness, Dong Tianbao was perhaps more outstanding.

But his flaws in character made him easy to manipulate.

In the future, he would make for a very useful pawn.

A piece that could be used to counterattack even the Yuan Dynasty's Temujin.

One plan after another formed in Zhu Houzhao's mind.

With a smirk, he knew the real game was only just beginning.

Zhu Houzhao didn't value Dong Tianbao too much.

But Li Chunfeng was a different story entirely.

This time, he had not placed Li Chunfeng within the Ming Imperial Court.

Instead, he assigned him to the Vast Sea Dynasty.

As one of the few God Demon Realm cultivators under his command, Li Chunfeng was qualified to know Zhu Houzhao's true identity.

Of course, that didn't mean Zhu Houzhao trusted him blindly.

Fortunately, the rewards from his "Lying Flat System" included many powerful tools.

Once used, he didn't have to worry about betrayal.

Instead, they would serve him loyally.

In the future, Li Chunfeng might become one of his most crucial forces.

He had accepted him only after long evaluation and careful planning.

Someone like Yuan Tiangang was no less talented than Li Chunfeng.

Unfortunately, he failed the assessment.

So, Zhu Houzhao temporarily gave up on him.

Since Li Chunfeng was now one of his core assets, he would naturally receive top-tier training.

Li Chunfeng's rapid advancement to the God Demon Realm was the result of his secret support.

Thankfully, the outcome did not disappoint.

And Li Chunfeng was not the only one he had recruited.

There were many others just as gifted, some even more so.

While some had disappointed him, most of those he truly valued had never let him down.

When the true war breaks out in the future, their strength would shock the entire Nine Provinces.

Forget just a single dynasty.

Even if all dynasties united, he would not be afraid.

Still, until the true secret of the Nine Provinces was uncovered, he would keep his forces in reserve.

He needed to understand the true purpose of the Nine Provinces Golden Ranking.

==========

Tang Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

"How could this be? Li Chunfeng is actually a God Demon Realm cultivator?"

"Isn't he a close friend of Yuan Tiangang?"

"I invited him to serve in the Tang Imperial Court many times, and he refused each time."

"I never expected him to become a subject of the Vast Sea Dynasty."

"Does Yuan Tiangang know about Li Chunfeng's true identity?"

"Or... will he also betray me and join the Vast Sea Dynasty?"

Li Shimin stared at the name on the Dao Immortal Ranking with doubt in his eyes.

Yuan Tiangang had contributed greatly to the Tang Dynasty.

But what about the future?

He had always been loyal and diligent, but what was his true goal?

Was it really just for the eternal prosperity of the Tang Dynasty?

In the end, the Tang Dynasty belonged to the Li family and had little to do with Yuan Tiangang personally.

For him to be so loyal, did he truly have no personal ambition?

Yuan Tiangang neither sought power, nor wealth, nor beauty.

He even showed no interest in Dragon Essence.

The more perfect he seemed, the less trust Li Shimin had in him.

Right now, the Tang Dynasty was newly founded, its strength still limited. He had no capable subordinates.

He could only rely on Yuan Tiangang.

But his doubts continued to grow.

Once that doubt reached a certain threshold, it would shatter their relationship.

At that point, he could not guarantee he wouldn't personally act against Yuan Tiangang.

Of course, Yuan Tiangang seemed to sense Li Shimin's thoughts.

But he didn't take it to heart.

As long as he grew strong enough, and perhaps someday reached the God Demon Realm, even if Li Shimin suspected him, he would still be indispensable.

Such a relationship could be incredibly solid.

But it could also be extremely fragile.

Several Emperors across the Nine Provinces noticed this dynamic.

If the timing was right, they could truly turn the two against each other.

At the very least, Zhu Houzhao had already seen through it.

In fact, when he tried to recruit Yuan Tiangang, he already had a strategy in mind.

But it would require too much time and effort, and might create enmity between the Ming Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty.

The risks didn't match the reward.

So, for now, that plan was set aside.

But in the future, it would definitely be revisited.

When the time came, it would depend on whether the Emperor and his subject could withstand the test.

==========

Qin Dynasty.

"Sir, how is Monarch Wu'an doing now?"

"Is his life out of danger?"

Ying Zheng asked Shang Yang.

"Your Majesty, thanks to your Dragon Essence, though incomplete, it was enough to save his life."

"With some rest, he will recover."

"But returning to the battlefield will not be possible anytime soon."

"Zhao Yong's self-destruction wounded his very core. Full recovery will be difficult."

Shang Yang replied calmly.

"That is fine. Let him rest."

"With Wang Jian and Meng Tian, the battlefield is well-covered."

"By the way, has Xiong Qi been found?"

"And where is Wu Qi?"

"Xiong Qi has long colluded with the Agricultural School and gathered a new force."

"During the time he faked his death, he recruited a significant number of troops."

"His army is larger than we imagined."

"Hmph, they are all traitors. We'll capture them all eventually. Let them be smug for now."

Ying Zheng declared with authority, again showing his contempt for Xiong Qi.

"Also, this Li Chunfeng on the Dao Immortal Ranking... who is he?"

"Late God Demon Realm! That's extremely powerful."

"And he belongs to the Vast Sea Dynasty. Their strength continues to rise."

"Even Zhu Houzhao's Ming Dynasty may not be able to match them."

"Have you investigated his background?"

Ying Zheng had long had plans for the remnants of the Six States and the Hundred Schools of Thought within the Qin Dynasty.

He would eliminate them one by one.

It was just a matter of time.

But beyond the Qin Dynasty, the situation was even more dire.

Powerful figures were emerging endlessly.

Gradually, the Qin Dynasty seemed to be falling behind.

This made him uneasy.

"Li Chunfeng was originally from the Tang Dynasty and closely connected to Yuan Tiangang."

"We do not know why he joined the Vast Sea Emperor."

"Perhaps his situation is similar to our own Xiao He."

"My lord, the Qin Dynasty cannot remain passive."

"Send elite scouts across the Nine Provinces to seek out extraordinary individuals!"

"Recruit them at all costs, bring them under our banner."

"Especially those in the Land Immortal Realm, the more the better."

"If they join the Qin Dynasty, I will reward them handsomely. Nobility and lands will be no issue."

"As long as they make contributions, no reward will be too great."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will take care of it immediately."

"This is a good thing. I believe it won't be long before the number of strong individuals in the Qin Dynasty surpasses the Ming Dynasty and the Vast Sea Dynasty."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

List of Characters:

Number One Under Heaven ( 天下第一 )

・Zhu Houzhao ( 朱厚照 ) — Emperor of Ming Dynasty

Great Tang Twin Dragons Legend ( 大唐双龙传 )

・Li Shimin ( 李世民 ) — Emperor of Tang Dynasty

Qin's Moon ( 秦时明月 )

・Ying Zheng ( 嬴政 ) — Emperor of Qin Dynasty

A Step Into The Past ( 寻秦记 )

・Shang Yang ( 商鞅 ) – Prime Minister of Qin Dynasty

Painting Jianghu ( 画江湖 )

・Yuan Tiangang ( 袁天罡 ) — Master of Bad People

・Li Chunfeng ( 李淳风 ) — Imperial Observatory of Vast Sea Dynasty