As Xiao Yunlong entered his secluded cultivation, Liu Ruyan also chose to do the same. After reaching the Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit Martial King realm, she could sense the peculiar energy within her dantian and had even begun to absorb it for her cultivation.
This energy was exceptionally strange and advanced. Even Xiao Yunlong had not dared to touch it carelessly in the past; a slight contact had forcefully repelled his internal energy.
Now that she could absorb this peculiar energy for cultivation, Liu Ruyan's martial arts progress was incredibly rapid, akin to riding a rocket.
In just ten days, she had reached the peak of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit Martial King realm, even taking half a step into the Innate Opening realm. Her cultivation speed far surpassed that of Tang Bowen and others, and she had even caught up to the Five Great Generals.
Ten days later was New Year's Eve. After these ten days of cultivation, Xiao Yunlong had only managed to refine and absorb three of the ginseng roots. At this time, the Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms within him had increased from the original one hundred and forty-eight to one hundred and eighty-nine.
Although there were still five ginseng roots left to refine, tomorrow was New Year's Eve, so Xiao Yunlong decided to end his seclusion.
The entire Northern Frontier camp was already immersed in the joyous and festive atmosphere of the New Year. Due to their triumphant return, Xiao Yunlong had ordered that fireworks and firecrackers could be set off throughout the city this year, limited to New Year's Eve and the first day of the New Year.
On New Year's Eve, everyone had a reunion dinner. Old man Ba Jindou was also present. However, having learned that Xiao Yunlong's martial cultivation was far superior to his own, the outwardly indifferent and easygoing, but inwardly proud and competitive old man, suddenly became much quieter, merely drinking his wine in silence.
Fortunately, the great generals and the dignitaries of the Northern Frontier were aware of his true identity, so they all went to toast him, ensuring he was not neglected or left out.
On the first day of the New Year, Xiao Yunlong took Liu Ruyan to the Martyrs' Mausoleum north of the camp to pay respects to the late Old Northern King. Upon their return, he immediately announced his intention to resume secluded cultivation, which left Liu Ruyan feeling helpless yet filled with concern.
His subsequent seclusion lasted until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Only then did Xiao Yunlong emerge. By this time, he had finally refined and absorbed the remaining five ginseng roots, and his Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms technique had naturally achieved a significant breakthrough.
The number of divine kingdoms had surged from the previous one hundred and eighty-nine directly to three hundred and thirteen!
"With my current cultivation realm, let alone the Yin-Yang realm, even the legendary Divine Dao realm above the Yin-Yang realm, I can completely contend with or even crush them!"
Xiao Yunlong clenched his fists. With his greatly increased strength after emerging from seclusion, he was filled with confidence. He was determined to succeed in his upcoming trip to the imperial capital!
After the Lantern Festival, on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Xiao Yunlong summoned everyone to the council hall.
"Today, I will depart for the imperial capital to begin my path of revenge. However, the Northern Frontier camp cannot be without a leader. Azure Dragon General Li Jiuxiao, you are ordered to temporarily manage the duties of the Northern King in my absence. Vermilion Bird General Nangong Qingzhu will assist you. You two must guard our home well!" Xiao Yunlong said solemnly.
Nangong Qingzhu, who had intended to accompany him to the imperial capital, was about to speak when Xiao Yunlong gave her no chance. With a wave of his hand, he declared, "The rest of you, follow me!"
For this trip to the imperial capital, Xiao Yunlong brought thirty thousand Dragon Blood Guards and had no intention of hiding his movements. He wanted to see who would dare to ambush him again this time.
The group then set off grandly from the Northern Frontier camp, heading directly east.
The moment Xiao Yunlong set out for the imperial capital, almost all the upper-class circles in the capital received the news. Instantly, it was as if a ripple had been created, causing the entire imperial capital to be stirred.
Of course, there were those who rejoiced and those who worried. The most worried were naturally Lan Yongzheng and his son Lan Mingyu.
Now, not only the Northern Frontier but also all the aristocratic families and clans in the imperial capital knew that the reason Xiao Yunlong was ambushed and targeted precisely outside the capital over a year ago was entirely due to the actions of Lan Yongzheng and his son. In fact, this had become an open secret.
During this period, Lan Yongzheng and his son, who should have been happily celebrating the New Year, were instead looking dejected and worried. In just a few days, the portly Lan Yongzheng had even lost several pounds.
Especially when they learned that Xiao Yunlong was heading towards the imperial capital with several great generals, masters, and thirty thousand Dragon Blood Guards, they could no longer sit still.
"Father, we cannot continue like this. We must think of a countermeasure, otherwise, once that fellow named Xiao arrives in the capital, we will likely be in danger!" Lan Mingyu said in a deep voice in the study. His height of over 1.8 meters made him appear tall and slender, with a handsome appearance. He had been known as the Jade-Faced Young Master in the Northern Frontier. However, no one expected that this man, who was Xiao Beiwang's most trusted sworn brother, would turn out to be a hypocrite.
Lan Yongzheng gritted his teeth and snorted, "I don't believe that fellow Xiao Yunlong would really dare to lay a hand on us. After all, I am now a general in the Celestial Strategy Bureau. I don't believe he would dare to kill us!"
"He dares!" Lan Mingyu said coldly. "Father, from what I know of Xiao Yunlong, he absolutely dares to do it. Moreover, you know his methods. He killed the Grand Tutor of the Snow Wolf Kingdom as he pleased, so what are we compared to him!"
"Damn it, if I had known this would happen, we wouldn't have done such a thing back then. We originally thought that those aristocratic families and clans in the capital would have completely killed this brat during that ambush. Who knew he would escape and grow completely now? These aristocratic families and clans are truly useless!" Lan Yongzheng snorted.
Lan Mingyu said helplessly, "Father, what's the point of saying this now? We've already done it. Everything in this world has a price. We gained the opportunity to enter the Celestial Strategy Bureau, so we must pay other prices accordingly!"
"Yu'er, you have more ideas. Tell me, what should we do next?" Lan Yongzheng asked, feeling a severe headache and having no clue.
Lan Mingyu furrowed his brows and pondered, "The current situation is that with our own strength, we are absolutely no match for Xiao Yunlong. Even the Celestial Strategy Bureau is no match. Given that Xiao Yunlong could kill the Snow Wolf Kingdom's Red Robe Grand Tutor, those fellows in the Celestial Strategy Bureau are likely not his opponents. Therefore, even if we hide in the Celestial Strategy Bureau for protection, it will be useless."
"Then, according to you, once that fellow named Xiao arrives in the capital, we father and son are doomed?" Lan Yongzheng asked with wide eyes.
Lan Mingyu shook his head and smiled, "Fortunately, I kept a backup plan. Actually, it's quite fortunate. I told you about this before. Three months ago, I met a mysterious big shot by chance. He intended to take me as a disciple, but he had an urgent matter at the time, so it was temporarily postponed. He just left me an emergency contact method, saying that if there were any unexpected situations, I could find him through that method."
Lan Yongzheng nodded, "I do remember you telling me about this. However, I used the Celestial Strategy Bureau's connections to investigate, but I couldn't find any information about this person. And you said this person was from the capital, which confuses me. What is his background?"
"He left in too much of a hurry at the time, so I didn't ask carefully. However, one thing is certain: his martial cultivation is extremely high, so high that it reaches the heavens!"
Lan Mingyu smiled as he said this. He continued, "Father, you also know that I have already taken half a step into the Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit Martial King realm. By rights, my martial cultivation is already considered that of a master. But before that mysterious big shot, I had the feeling that he could instantly kill me with just a breath. Furthermore, his several attendants were all Innate Opening realm experts!"
"Excellent, truly excellent! When I was very young, I had your fortune told. The master who told your fortune said you were a person with great destiny. That's why I consulted your opinion before deciding to defect to the Celestial Strategy Bureau in the capital. Now it seems that the fortune teller was absolutely correct!"
Lan Yongzheng laughed heartily and said, "According to what you said, as long as that mysterious big shot is willing to help us, then we have nothing to fear. More importantly, once he takes you as a disciple, it will be a transformation in your life's journey!"
Lan Mingyu nodded and said without reservation, "Father, you might not believe it when I say it, but I have a feeling that when I met that mysterious big shot, the majestic aura he exuded made me feel that his authority and status were likely even higher than the Celestial Strategy Bureau, and even higher than the Wen Tiange!"
"Higher than the Celestial Strategy Bureau and Wen Tiange? Could it be that legendary..." Lan Yongzheng said, then suddenly stopped.
"Legendary what?" Lan Mingyu quickly asked.
Lan Yongzheng steadied himself and said in a long voice, "The Dragon Guard Pavilion, the legendary Dragon Guard Pavilion, the most mysterious and most powerful place in our Dragon Country!"
"Dragon Guard Pavilion? Is it really above the Celestial Strategy Bureau and Wen Tiange?" Lan Mingyu asked.
"Yes, the Dragon Guard Pavilion is very mysterious, and the selection of its members is extremely strict. If, as you say, he is truly from the Dragon Guard Pavilion, and you become his disciple and are fortunate enough to enter the Dragon Guard Pavilion in the future, then our Lan family will truly have a foothold in the capital. In time, we will surely prosper!"
Lan Yongzheng became excited as he said this, while Lan Mingyu's eyes shone with intense hope.
At this very moment, in the Wang family of the imperial capital, although they were one of the four great aristocratic families of the capital, the direct descendants of the Wang family had been worried for some time.
In the study, the silver-haired Old Master Wang sat in a grand chair, with his two sons, both over fifty years old, standing before him.
"You've heard the news, haven't you?" Old Master Wang suddenly asked.
"Yes, that person has already left the Northern Frontier camp. If we calculate the time, he should arrive in the capital by sunset today!" the eldest son, Wang Youdao, who was now the head of the Wang family, said.
Wang Youde on the right asked, "Father, why did you suddenly call us here? Are we going to plan another interception?"
The silver-haired Old Master Wang shook his head and said, "Things are different now. That brat named Xiao is the center of attention, and he has numerous experts by his side, not to mention thirty thousand Dragon Blood Guards. It's not easy to ambush him anymore. More importantly, that brat has completely grown up, and it's no longer easy to kill him!"
"Then, Father, what should we do next?" Wang Youdao asked.
"Given the current situation, we probably can't rely on those Kunlun Hidden Sects in the Western Regions. For now, we can only invite Chong'er back!"
As Old Master Wang said this, he waved his hand and said, "You two go and contact him. Tell Chong'er to return from that place as soon as possible. I believe only he can deal with that brat named Xiao!"
"Yes, Father!" Wang Youdao and Wang Youde bowed slightly and then withdrew.