Go consolidate, go build!
These places more than ever served as the Great Han Divine Dynasty's next military operations and territorial expansion, crucial for the Great Han Divine Dynasty's future development.
"Notify Sun Si Miao to allocate one-third of the elixirs refined by the Pill Hall over the past year to these new territories."
"Notify Zhang Jiao, Taoist disciples must establish the great formations one by one within three years as much as possible!"
...
"Sir!"
At the residence of Prince Sheng Xiao of the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty.
Lan Yu, clad in silver-white armor, pushed open the door. Inside, the room was piled high with documents. Kuai Tong was bent over, as if trying to absorb everything at a glance.
"General Lan!"
Kuai Tong stood up, looking somewhat weary, and sat down in a chair. "I've almost finished reviewing all the documents in this prince's mansion."
"There's a significant discrepancy with the information collected by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
Kuai Tong took a sip of tea.
"As you said, sir, over the past month, while I've been by Prince Sheng Xiao's side, I've learned from his words that these three princes are quite different from what is rumored among the populace."
"Let's start with Prince Zun Shuo, Qing Yu, who joined the army from a young age. According to Prince Sheng Xiao and numerous generals, his profile is largely consistent. Prince Zun Shuo, Qing Yu, is at the ninth layer of Supremacy, with a lifespan of no more than six million years. However, since joining the army, he has developed a bloodthirsty and cruel nature on the battlefield."
"He enjoys physically punishing and abusing soldiers. Most of the generals comply with him merely out of deference to his princely status."
"Prince Yu Xian, Qing Wei, is largely consistent with the rumors. He is gentle and benevolent, filling the void left by the current Immortal Emperor's capricious tyranny. If the position of Immortal Emperor were to fall to him, the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty would surely soar to new heights in no time."
"You are correct!"
Kuai Tong stood up. "Prince Yu Xian, Qing Wei, has an excellent reputation and receives strong support from the Imperial lineage. Even within the court, he has many proponents."
"Prince Zun Ye, Qing Ji, is the most inscrutable, disliking public appearances. However, Qing Ji has many pawns in the court, essentially matching Prince Yu Xian, Qing Wei, in influence. Yet, in my opinion, Prince Yu Xian, Qing Wei, is no match for Qing Ji."
"Qing Ji is good at recognizing and utilizing people. He has deep connections within the court and the army. This man is extremely suspicious and cannot be relied upon!"
Kuai Tong shook his head. "Prince Zun Shuo, Qing Yu, is prone to fits of rage and enjoys killing. I believe he is easy to control!"
"Compared to the other two, he is the most suitable choice for now. Should the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty fall into the hands of Prince Yu Xian, Qing Wei, or Prince Zun Ye, Qing Ji, it would be extremely detrimental to our Great Han."
"But sir!"
"Qing Yu's reputation..."
Lan Yu interjected urgently.
"That doesn't matter. What does a tarnished reputation matter! What I want is someone easy to control, someone prone to fits of rage. Only then will the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty gradually decline!"
Kuai Tong gave a cold smile.
"Prince Zun Shuo, Qing Yu, uses his status as a prince to suppress generals in the army. This is a good thing for a general!"
Kuai Tong looked at Lan Yu. "Prince Sheng Xiao, Qing Han, is advanced in age and his lifespan is drawing to a close. Over the past nearly a million years, he has gradually relinquished considerable military authority."
"If you can now gain Prince Sheng Xiao, Qing Han's recommendation and enter the army, experience battle, and find an opportunity to align yourself with Qing Yu, who respects strength, I believe you, General, will certainly win Qing Yu's trust within the military ranks and gain control of his armies!"
"I will do my utmost here in this mansion to plan for you, General. With fame and accomplishment, you will surely be elevated to the position of a commanding general within a few years!"
"When you control the army, I can begin the matter of the three dragons vying for the throne!"
Kuai Tong stroked his beard and spoke eloquently.
"Since you, sir, have a detailed plan, I shall proceed according to your strategy. However, this letter of recommendation?"
Lan Yu chuckled wryly.
"Don't worry. I've already spoken to Prince Sheng Xiao about this. The southern rebellion has occupied three prefectures. The banditry is not significant. You will be sent to quell the rebellion as a副将 (fùjiàng - deputy general)."
Kuai Tong narrowed his eyes. "It would be best to secretly dispose of the main general during this mission and claim the merit for quelling the rebellion for yourself. Upon your return, you should be promoted, and then gain experience at the border for a few years."
"Sir, rest assured!"
...
Since the Great Han Divine Dynasty had waged war against the four great powers, its million-strong army had marched beyond its borders and, in over half a month, swept through the Demon Sea Marshes, the Thunder Cloud Palace, the Great Profound Palace, and the Celestial Origin Divine Dynasty.
For a time, the prestige of the Great Han Divine Dynasty swelled to its zenith. However, soon after, the Azure Profound Immortal Emperor failed in his breakthrough, his lifespan depleted, and he began the process of selecting a new generation of Azure Profound Immortal Emperor. The "three dragons vying for the throne" immediately captured the attention of the beings in the Western Frontier, and the Great Han Divine Dynasty was gradually forgotten.
Ten years flew by in the blink of an eye. The relations between the major powers in the Western Frontier had eased somewhat.
Yang Hao, in order to consolidate and digest the more than one hundred prefectures he had acquired, ceased his army's offensive. Even so, Zi Yun Mountain and Sword Palace lived through these ten years in constant trepidation.
Surrounded by powerful enemies, they dared not make a sound.
In ten years, a shocking change occurred in the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect. The sect master of the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect's lifespan was exhausted, and he passed away in the Sacred City.
Several major powers dispatched representatives to offer condolences. Unexpectedly, as soon as the old sect master of the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect was buried, his eldest disciple, Xian Yu, along with several fellow disciples, led a million-strong army to surround the Sacred City.
The Grand Elder of the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect, Bu Xing, personally cast a divination and informed the disciples from all directions that Xian Yu bore the destiny of an emperor, bestowed by the Great Dao, and was not to be defied.
As soon as these words were uttered, many disciples shed tears. Xian Yu led his army into the Sacred City and occupied the sect. The remaining elders all submitted.
In less than a year, Xian Yu controlled the one hundred prefectures of the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect, abolished the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect, and renamed it the Zhu Lu Immortal Dynasty.
He would ascend the throne in the Sacred City in a year, bestow official titles upon many, and invite powers from all directions to attend the ceremony.
Compared to the shocking changes in the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect, the "three dragons vying for the throne" in the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty did not generate much excitement.
The Azure Profound Immortal Emperor's failed breakthrough meant he had been secretly observing for the past decade, without making any pronouncements to the world. Therefore, the three princes and the civil and military officials were all secretly exerting their influence without openly confronting each other.
Over these ten years, through Kuai Tong's planning, Lan Yu led thirty thousand troops to quell the southern rebellion and was subsequently transferred to the border region bordering the Heng Tian Immortal Dynasty.
In five years, Lan Yu, alongside the border commanding general, repelled three invasions from the Heng Tian Immortal Dynasty, killing over thirty enemy generals. His bravery in charging the enemy formations deterred the opposing army and earned him prestige among the border troops of the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty.
Through the recommendation of the border commanding general and his merits accumulated over nearly five years, he was enfeoffed by the Azure Profound Immortal Emperor as a Fourth-Rank General of Martial Might, commanding one hundred thousand troops, and was transferred to the border with the Bei You Great Yin Immortal Dynasty. Sudan Novel Network
A year later, friction between the two dynasties intensified, eventually igniting anger. The Great Yin Immortal Dynasty mobilized a million-strong army and pressed into the border of the Azure Profound Immortal Dynasty.