Chapter 728: Zhong Shan’s Strategy Against Xiao Wang

Chapter 728: Chapter 728: Zhong Shan’s Strategy Against Xiao Wang

"Yes, it's Wei Taizhong's," Jian Hong confirmed.

Looking at the Nine Dragon Token in his hand, Zhong Shan frowned slightly. In the mortal realm, Jian Hong had never met Wei Taizhong, but Wei Taizhong knew of Jian Hong because of Zhong Shan.

"How did you two meet?" Zhong Shan asked with a frown.

"After I died, I entered the Underworld, and my spirit appeared near the northern Sunflower Mountains. At first, I was very weak, so I cultivated there. Not long ago, Wei Taizhong passed by and got into a battle with a myriad of ghost cultivators, which caught my attention. He saw me and immediately called out my name, and that's how we met," Jian Hong explained.

"Oh?"

"But the Sunflower Mountains are also home to an old demon named Sunflower Demon, who forcibly took Wei Taizhong as his disciple."

"Oh?" Zhong Shan grew even more intrigued.

"One day, Wei Taizhong came to find me. He said you had descended from the mortal realm, but he had to go to the Great Thousand World with the Sunflower Demon and wanted me to bring you a message," Jian Hong continued.

"To the Great Thousand World? The Sunflower Demon has the ability to traverse between realms?" Zhong Shan's eyebrows furrowed deeply.

"I don't know," Jian Hong shook her head.

"What message did he want you to bring?" Zhong Shan asked solemnly.

"He said, 'Your Majesty, my master holds old Wei in high regard. I've learned the origin of that Asura from my master, and I have requested to accompany my master to the Great Thousand World to find Yinglan. In this realm, I cannot assist Your Majesty. When you reach the Great Thousand World, I will bring Yinglan to continue serving you!'" Jian Hong relayed.

Hearing Wei Taizhong's message, Zhong Shan took a deep breath and fell into a moment of silence. Jian Hong waited patiently.

After a while, Zhong Shan looked at Jian Hong and said, "I have met Xiao Wang. He has become a prominent figure in the Underworld. Do you not want to see him now?"

Jian Hong's expression grew complicated at the mention of Xiao Wang, showing a mix of deep love and inner conflict.

Shaking her head, Jian Hong said, "I haven't thought it through yet. I don't want to see him now."

"Oh?" Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to it.

"I still can't come to terms with it. I don't know how to face him. Wei Taizhong once advised me, but I still can't let go," Jian Hong shook her head.

"Do you have a place to go for now?" Zhong Shan asked seriously.

"No, I just wander wherever I can," Jian Hong replied.

"If you have nowhere to go, why not stay here for now? We can talk about things from the mortal realm," Zhong Shan suggested. Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

After a moment of contemplation, Jian Hong nodded, "Alright."

"Someone, come!" Zhong Shan called out.

"Your Majesty!" Two attendants entered the study.

"Take Jian Hong to reside in Xiaoxiang Garden. While she is here, she will be the master of Xiaoxiang Garden," Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes!" the two attendants responded promptly.

"Thank you, benefactor!" Jian Hong said, not pretending to be modest, and nodded to Zhong Shan in gratitude.

After Jian Hong left, Zhong Shan stood at the doorway, his brows furrowed deeply.

"Taizhong, if you could persuade the Sunflower Demon to take you to the Great Thousand World, why couldn't you persuade him to come see me? Are you afraid to see me, or did you deliberately send Jian Hong to me? Jian Hong?" Zhong Shan shook his head, a hint of sigh in his tone.

Zhong Shan's smile widened. "Good. Now, let us continue to plan our next moves and solidify our position in the Underworld. Victory will be ours."

"Xiao Wang staying behind closed doors? That's exactly what I want. One less main force? Lin Xiao and Shui Wuhen's armies are more than enough. Slower conquests are acceptable as long as Dragon Slayer City is dealt with properly!" Zhong Shan asserted confidently.

Yi Yan's expression changed, and he suddenly asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, do you intend to recruit Xiao Wang?"

"Hahaha, you know me well!" Zhong Shan laughed.

"But Xiao Wang is a member of the Tian family. Would he agree?" Yi Yan frowned.

"Xiao Wang's talent surpasses that of Tian Xiaozi. Tian Xiaozi prides himself on being smart, but his intelligence is not enough to suppress Xiao Wang. From the Yan Hong Dynasty in the mortal realm, it's clear that Xiao Wang's ambitions are grand, and he won't submit to anyone easily. Unfortunately, his luck has always been poor," Zhong Shan evaluated.

After some thought, Yi Yan asked, "Does Your Majesty intend to completely defeat him first, so that he subconsciously sees himself as inferior to Your Majesty, and then seize the opportunity to recruit him with grace?"

Zhong Shan smiled at Yi Yan. "Nothing escapes your notice!"

"Your Majesty overpraises me. But stationing Shui Jing and Zhao Suoxiang at Feather Fan City is not a short-term endeavor. Is it worth spending such a long time on this?" Yi Yan asked.

"Xiao Wang alone is worth more than twenty imperial dynasties. Do you think it's worth it?" Zhong Shan said firmly.

Only Zhong Shan truly understood Xiao Wang's capabilities. Moreover, the political benefits of recruiting Xiao Wang far outweighed the investment. How could Zhong Shan miss such an opportunity?

"Your Majesty is wise!"—

The standoff between Dragon Slayer City and Feather Fan City lasted a full ten years—ten long years!

Mr. Shui Jing never left Feather Fan City, and Xiao Wang had no choice but to remain in Dragon Slayer City. The two armies were at a stalemate.

In Dragon Slayer City, within the City Lord's Mansion.

"Father, in these ten years, our army has only taken two cities. Your presence here means many of our military orders cannot be swiftly executed!" Xiao Yuanfeng, Xiao Wang's adopted son from the mortal realm, said with a frown.

Xiao Wang frowned deeply.

"Father, is Feather Fan City truly that difficult to capture? I am willing to lead an expedition to take Feather Fan City!" Xiao Yuanfeng exclaimed.

"No. In direct combat, you are no match for Zhao Suoxiang. Even I am not his equal. Attacking would only lead to our defeat. We wouldn't take Feather Fan City and would lose Dragon Slayer City as well," Xiao Wang shook his head.

"But Father, ten years! You've been guarding this city for ten years. Think of what we could have accomplished in that time. Spending ten years here is truly a waste, Father!" Xiao Yuanfeng said anxiously.

"This city cannot fall. Ten years, twenty years, I will hold this place!" Xiao Wang said firmly.

"Shui Jing keeps sending people to provoke us. Their words get more insulting each time. If it were me, I would have lost patience long ago," Xiao Yuanfeng said anxiously.

"That's precisely why you are not the commander of the three armies!" Xiao Wang shook his head.

"But the officials in the capital mock us every day. They call us incompetent, saying we're like turtles hiding in our shells, afraid to fight for ten years!" Xiao Yuanfeng said angrily.

Anger flashed in Xiao Wang's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. "Let them laugh. Those vermin are not worth our concern!"

"Yes!" Xiao Yuanfeng could only endure silently.

"Reporting to the commander, an envoy from Feather Fan City seeks an audience!" a guard reported.

"Oh? An envoy from Shui Jing?" Xiao Yuanfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Let them in!" Xiao Wang commanded.