Chapter 334: Chapter 278: The Foreigner
“The real Controller?”
The people of the Zhang Family neither believed nor disbelieved.
The aura of the person wearing the mask was somewhat terrifying, beyond their comparison, and it wouldn’t be worth it to be killed for speaking out of turn.
Of course, internally, most people were skeptical.
If you claim control, then control; who can’t say as much? A mere word isn’t enough to make people believe.
The masked person obviously knew this and continued to speak, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe. Facts will prove everything. You can try having a Grandmaster Level Martial Artist attempt it.”
…
He took out the Incense Fire Pearl again.
No words could be more convincing than facts.
The people of the Zhang Family were moved.
“I’ll do it!”
This was a woman’s voice.
Everyone turned around, only to discover that someone had arrived unnoticed.
“The Queen, Zhang Yueying!”
Zhang Yueying, the apparent queen of the Cang King’s Dynasty, had returned at some unknown time.
Clearly, someone had informed her.
The masked person, as a Great Grandmaster, surely noticed the approach of someone; however, to him, anyone not from Divine Lady Peak was the same.
Moreover, Zhang Yueying was the ideal choice for him.
“It doesn’t matter who it is; it’s all the same,” he said.
The Zhang Family naturally did not wish to remain beneath the shadow of Divine Lady Peak, so they directly agreed to the plan.
In the end, Zhang Yueying used the Incense Fire Pearl brought by the masked person.
“This object, once used, will gradually strengthen your power. In about a month, you will reach the pinnacle of strength, and then you will have the qualification to contest Zheng Xueyue.”
Zhang Yueying, feeling the steadily growing power within her, did not say much but merely asked, “What do you want us to do?”
“Nothing much. As I said, we are the real Controllers of this land; we just don’t want the people from Divine Lady Peak to be in control. The opportunity has been given to you; what to do with it is your affair…so there are no conditions!”
Having said that, the masked person vanished from sight.
The power of a Great Grandmaster isn’t something just anyone can track.
“…”
Seeing the person leave, the people of the Zhang Family were silent.
After a long while, someone finally spoke up.
“Do we really have to follow through with what that person said?”
They were very clear about the power of Divine Lady Peak.
“It’s not about whether we do it or not, but about Divine Lady Peak not giving us a chance!” Zhang Yueying sighed deeply, “That person knew we wouldn’t refuse.”
“Divine Lady Peak didn’t give us a chance? Yueying, what’s going on?” asked an elder of the Zhang Family.
“Our control over the Heavenly Blue Army is weakening, and Divine Lady Peak’s attitude towards us is becoming more lax. Most importantly, people of Divine Lady Peak would never give up the throne willingly, as the Master of Destiny comes from a Royal Family.
Apparently, the Royal Family can determine the Master of Destiny to some extent. Do you think Divine Lady Peak would let us control such a restriction? In fact, I’ve already heard some rumors…”
Divine Lady Peak wouldn’t let themselves be restricted; the Zhang Family didn’t want to sit idly by or submit to others.
The conflict between the two parties was inevitable from the start.
In truth, many in the Zhang Family had already sensed this, but now it had been bluntly stated.
“So it’s an open secret!”
The masked person obviously knew some information and therefore sought out the Zhang Family, presenting them with an opportunity.
“Let’s wait. Regardless, we have no way back.”
Eventually, Zhang Yueying characterized the situation.
The contradiction between the Zhang Family and Divine Lady Peak had always existed; if the Zhang Family didn’t make some moves now, they might never get another chance.
On the other side, not long after leaving the Zhang Family, the masked person arrived at another location, where someone was waiting.
“How did it go?”
The masked person replied, “What needed to be done has been done. There won’t be any problems. The Zhang Family had no choice.”
“Heh, Divine Lady Peak dares to choose such a method. They may have secured the initiative by electing the emperor under Heaven’s mandate, but not without risks.”
The masked person agreed; while their plans required such things, there also had to be a chance of success.
The clash between the Zhang Family and Divine Lady Peak was this very possibility.
“Now we just wait and watch the show unfold. Among the seven great clans, only we are the true Controllers. That person will soon die, and our line must also go back to fight for it. Without the strength of the Master of Destiny, we won’t be able to compete.”
“Execute the plan quickly. It’s unclear if it’s because of him, but this era has too many problems. Just like the seven great clans came into being, this era has Taiping Sect and Shengshi Army. Divine Lady Peak, by all logic, shouldn’t be in such a hurry, forcing us to resolve it early too.”
The masked person also seemed to realize something and said, “No worries; everything is under control. Troubles don’t mean they can’t be solved. If this plan succeeds, it should crush them.”
“Let’s hope so. Even the Master of Destiny there is truly powerful; the king cannot lose!”
The two fell silent.
This era would experience a significant change, and their plan could only succeed, not fail.
Time passed quickly.
It was now the year 547 of the Da Zhou calendar, April.
“Are you ready?”
“We’ve reached the limit. If we can’t succeed now, there’s no hope left. Yueying, your power…”
Zhang Yueying nodded, “Indeed, I’ve reached an unprecedented realm. Stronger than a Great Grandmaster, yet still a Great Grandmaster…”
“Let’s take action then!”
Before long, Zhang Yueying arrived at the Divine Lady Peak’s base in the Royal Capital, which could also be considered the true Royal Palace. Zheng Xueyue hadn’t even had the chance to react yet.
“Zhang Yueying, do you know what you’re doing?” Zheng Xueyue asked angrily.
“Just striking first to gain the upper hand,” replied Zhang Yueying.
“What a ‘striking first to gain the upper hand’!”
“Zheng Xueyue, there’s no need to be hypocritical anymore. Whether it’s playing the role of the proxies of heaven to choose the emperor or Divine Lady Peak’s designs on the Zhang Family’s control over the heavens, you know very well what’s really going on!” Zhang Yueying didn’t hesitate and directly tore off the mask of pretense.
Zheng Xueyue glanced at Zhang Yueying.
“You’re powerful indeed, even though I don’t know who gave you such confidence, but they clearly haven’t told you everything, have they?”
She exploded with all her power.
…
In the year 547 of the Great Zhou Calendar, the Zhang Family of the Cang Dynasty rebelled, impacting Divine Lady Peak, but ultimately, they were suppressed by absolute power. However, after the internal strife, Divine Lady Peak’s strength was once again weakened, with the Heavenly Blue Army’s losses being the greatest.
The core of the Cang Dynasty’s military forces suffered severe damage.
The military’s combat power sharply declined.
However, the news was temporarily sealed.
“Who exactly has tempted the Zhang Family?”
The people of Divine Lady Peak didn’t believe the Zhang Family would suddenly find the courage, most crucially, the question of how Zhang Yueying’s power had suddenly reached that level, which seemed very much like their own heritage.
After checking, however, they found nothing on Zhang Yueying.
“It seems we need to recover and recuperate for a while and not act rashly.”
The Cang Dynasty made an internal decision.
Having failed in the battle against the Ming Dynasty, followed by a rebellion, the losses to the Cang Dynasty’s military during this period were too severe to engage in further conflict.
Biding time and concealing one’s capabilities were what was needed most at the moment.
But clearly, others would not give them this opportunity.
In the year 547 of the Great Zhou Calendar, May.
The Ming Dynasty assembled its military and launched an attack against the Cang Dynasty.
“Why would the Ming Dynasty attack at this time? Although we lost last time, the Ming Dynasty also suffered losses.”
“Was it they who incited the Zhang Family?”
Someone instantly thought of a possibility.
The Ming Dynasty had seized the moment perfectly; it could be said that they had been well prepared long in advance, right after the Zhang Family’s rebellion.
No matter how infuriated the people of Divine Lady Peak of the Cang Dynasty were, it couldn’t change one fact: the Cang Dynasty was now no match for the Ming Dynasty.
To this day, Zheng Xueyue still didn’t understand why, despite the Ming Dynasty’s smaller territory, they were stronger than her.
Was the information passed down by her ancestors incorrect?
She had no time to explore this, as the Ming Dynasty’s aggressive approach was overwhelming.
The Cang Dynasty found it difficult to resist and was retreating steadily.
“Just who are you, Ming King?”
By that time, with no insight into the Ming King’s secret, even Zheng Xueyue thought herself foolish.
“Identity? Don’t you know it very well?”
“Humph, nobody expected that you, the Ming King, would hide so deeply. However, although you are strong, you won’t be able to defeat me completely!”
The Ming King, Jiang Dao, still wore a smile.
“Defeat you? There’s no need for that. I only need to erode your strength gradually, wasn’t that your initial plan? Although I don’t know what made you decide to change it, I’m just borrowing it for now.”
Zheng Xueyue, withstanding the Ming King’s attack, laughed upon hearing this.
“Even though I don’t know your identity, I believe your plan will not succeed. You think you have hidden yourself well, but this land has already been home to even more terrifying individuals… Ah, I see, you come from beyond?”
Zheng Xueyue’s words made the Ming King frown.
However, she didn’t elaborate further, seeing the expression on Jiang Dao’s face gave her some clarity.
“It seems I’ve guessed right, but you have no idea who I’m referring to, do you? It appears that no matter how perfect your plan, an unexpected factor has emerged!”
Hearing this, the Ming King’s assault intensified; he was indeed somewhat shaken and could not let the guesses continue. As a result, the Cang Dynasty’s army retreated even faster.
“Humph, willing or not, it won’t change the fate of the Cang Dynasty!”
The continued fighting would lead to the Cang Dynasty’s destruction.
But just then, another army appeared on the battlefield, directly attacking the forces of the Ming Dynasty. Simultaneously, a third person arrived at the battleground between Zheng Xueyue and the Ming King, Jiang Dao.
“The both of you, how about giving me some face and stopping here?”
The voice was familiar to both.
“Huangtian!”
The fighting on both sides ceased.
Especially Jiang Dao, who knew much more—Huangtian was the unpredictable factor; however, some things he had anticipated and was prepared for.
Of course, in his plan, Huangtian was supposed to be dealt with last.
His appearance now was unexpected.
“Huangtian… I will remember you!” In the end, Jiang Dao left the scene.
It wasn’t long before the military forces also withdrew. However, they only left the battlefield, they had no intention of giving up the territory they had occupied.
Zheng Xueyue also took the opportunity to leave.
Huangtian looked over the situation and let out a sigh.
“What a mess this all is!”