Chapter 993

Chapter 993: A Storm Approaches

On the peak of an unnamed mountain, Wang Chen gazed out over the expansive land stretching before him.

A fierce wind howled past Wang Chen’s ears, yet not a single strand of his hair was disturbed.

An invisible force enveloped his entire being, shielding him from external influences, yet he felt more connected to the world than ever before.

Having ascended to the Seventh Tier, Wang Chen had touched the very source of the laws governing Cangqing!

This sensation was profoundly wondrous; as his consciousness expanded in all directions, everything around him seemed to respond in kind.

Wang Chen’s Seven Spirits were fully awakened, and he felt as though he had merged with the heavens and the earth.

Had anyone been observing Wang Chen at that moment, they would have been astounded to see him both present and elusive, impossible to pin down or scrutinize, existing within the world yet standing apart from it!

This was the fabled Celestial Being State!

After a long while, Wang Chen quietly withdrew his awareness. His breath solidified in an instant, leaving no trace of anomaly.

In the next moment, Wang Chen leapt from the cliff before him.

His body was as light as a feather, swiftly gliding with the wind toward the horizon, like an eagle soaring freely across the vast sky.

At that moment, Wang Chen sensed a faint trace of qi from the Upper Realm.

Haotian Realm!

His intuition told him that with but a single thought, he could return to the Haotian Realm, his soul reuniting with its true form!

Yet Wang Chen restrained this tempting impulse, for his exploration of Cangqing had only just begun. Though he had touched the world’s essence, he was still far from mastering it.

Wang Chen knew he needed to grasp at least a fragment of the world’s essence to fulfill his mission!

"My lord, you have returned!"

As soon as he arrived back home in Daye City, a beautiful woman approached Wang Chen and helped him remove his outer robe.

Wang Chen smiled softly, pulling her into his embrace and kissing her gently.

This was Xi Jun, who had been escorted to Daye two months prior to reunite with Wang Chen.

Since Xi Jun’s arrival, Wang Chen had entrusted her with the management of all household affairs, making life far more comfortable and pleasant.

Though officially she was a warm bed servant, in truth, she was the mistress of the household!

"My lord…"

Xi Jun shyly pushed Wang Chen away, her large eyes glistening with warmth and affection.

Wang Chen laughed heartily and swept her into his arms: "Come, let us bathe together!"

Xi Jun buried her flushed face in Wang Chen’s chest, though she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of curiosity.

Today, Wang Chen seemed different to her.

Yet she couldn’t quite pinpoint what had changed—there was simply something special about him.

However, she soon had no time to dwell on such thoughts.

After a tender moment together, a weary Xi Jun drifted into a deep sleep on the silken couch, while the still-vigorous Wang Chen donned his outer robe and quietly slipped into the study.

He laid out talisman paper on the table, then fetched a talisman brush and talisman ink, and began crafting legal symbols.

Due to the different laws of the world, the knowledge Wang Chen previously mastered in talisman arts could not be directly applied in the Cangqing realm.

However, after referencing the Ten Directions Daoist Collection, he thoroughly analyzed the Heavenly Merit of this world and thus grasped the secrets of the methods. Now, he could create legal symbols with ease, and even refining magical tools or setting up formations was a simple task for him.

In fact, Wang Chen was not only at the peak of martial arts in the Cangqing realm; his cultivation level in the methods was also absolutely top-notch.

Yet, compared to his Golden Core level, being merely at the peak Qi Training level was not something to boast about.

Wang Chen understood clearly that the pinnacle of martial arts could shatter the void and ascend to the upper realm. But cultivating methods was entirely impossible!

Of course, although the level of methods was low, it still had practical uses. For instance, these legal symbols, which he could give to others for protection, were quite valuable.

Considering that he was about to accompany Princess Qingyun to Dayan, Wang Chen decided to make a few more.

In the following days, the atmosphere in Daye City suddenly grew tense.

The Daqi had invaded the border counties again!

The Daqi, which dominated the northern lands, was undoubtedly a hidden danger for the Liang dynasty. This fierce nation primarily practiced nomadism, and every summer and autumn, they would raid Liang, plundering people and wealth.

Over the years, Liang had tiredly dealt with Daqi’s harassment, investing countless resources in border defenses and troops.

But their measures only treated the symptoms, not the root problem, forcing them to stay on the defensive.

This year, Daqi’s assault was exceptionally fierce, having breached the vital northern stronghold of Yanyun Pass and charging deep into the northern counties, causing heavy casualties among Liang’s border troops and leaving countless civilians homeless.

Many wealthy families from the area fled to the imperial capital for refuge!

As the news spread, fear gripped the hearts of those in the imperial capital. Although celebrations continued, the shadow of war hung over everyone.

As the Blood Guard Qiandu, Wang Chen received more information than ordinary people.

To repel Daqi’s invasion, Liang had dispatched two elite legions from Zhongzhou to the north for reinforcements, with three more legions on the way.

Troublingly, the tribes in southern Liang were also showing signs of unrest, with The Yellow Lotus Cult stirring up trouble, causing Liang great distress.

But for the moment, none of this affected Wang Chen, as the team to accompany and protect Princess Qingyun had been formed, and he was about to embark on the long journey to Dayan!

As always, the day of departure arrived especially quickly. At the onset of early autumn, Wang Chen joined the team as an envoy of marriage.

As Emperor Shaowu’s most beloved sister, Princess Qingyun’s marriage to Dayan held great significance, and the bridal procession was extremely luxurious.

A hundred carriages, three hundred ceremonial guards, and three thousand elite Yulin Guards left Daye City in the early morning.

For some reason, Liang did not widely announce this marriage alliance; they only had many members of royalty come to bid farewell as they left the city.

But this did not include Emperor Shaowu!

Notably, the commander of the Three Thousand Yulin Guards was none other than Uncle Sun, who usually accompanied Princess Qingyun!

Wang Chen only then realized that this fifth-level martial sect master held another identity as the deputy commander of the Yulin Guards.

His true name was Sun Zhengheng.

“Wang Taibao.”

Sun Zhengheng glanced at the eight-horse luxurious carriage in the middle of the convoy and spoke in a deep voice, “I will trouble you again this time.”

Others might not know, but this deputy commander of the Yulin Guards was very aware of Wang Chen’s strength!

Wang Chen noticed the worry in his eyes and asked, “Are you worried about dangers on the road?”

A trace of concern clearly appeared in Sun Zhengheng’s eyes.

This was very unusual.

Not to mention how powerful the escort team was, the alliance between Liang and Dayan was highly significant; who would dare to cause trouble in the territories of these two nations?

Sun Zhengheng paused, perhaps not expecting Wang Chen to be so direct.

After hesitating for a moment, he nodded and said, “Maybe. I just have a feeling this journey won’t be easy.”