Chapter 370: The Imperial Plan

"You're awake?" Princess Qianyou softly asked as the talismans disappeared.

Zhongshan raised an eyebrow, looking at Princess Qianyou with some confusion. He really hadn't noticed anything?

"Hold on a moment," Zhongshan said, closing his eyes again. His consciousness once more sank into the Purple Mansion.

Yuanying held the ink jade talisman and waved it again, but it seemed that the energy had been depleted, and there were no more phantom talismans.

"Huh?" Zhongshan frowned slightly. Could it be that this ink jade talisman needed some time before it could be used again?

Since he couldn't figure it out, Zhongshan opened his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Princess Qianyou asked with confusion.

"Yuanying stage, achieved!" Zhongshan said.

"Thanks to you!" Zhongshan smiled and placed his hand on Princess Qianyou's perfect **.

Upon hearing Zhongshan's words, Princess Qianyou blushed and shyly responded with a soft "Hmm."

"After court two days ago, what did you ask the Emperor?" Zhongshan asked.

"I asked about you!"

"Me?"

"Yes, I knew you were about to break through, so I asked the Emperor for a cultivation technique for you," Princess Qianyou said.

"Oh?" Zhongshan was surprised.

"The Emperor said your comprehension is extremely high, able to perceive the rules of thunder. Each stroke on 'Manjiangong' is inscribed upon the rules of thunder?" Princess Qianyou blinked her big eyes and looked at Zhongshan.

"Thunder rules? Just thunder rules?" Zhongshan raised an eyebrow.

Could it be that what he had previously seen as the rules of heaven and earth were merely the rules of thunder? If that were true, and the rules of thunder had already made the world resemble a spider's web, then how powerful could all the rules of heaven and earth be?

"Yes, the Emperor said so. Very few people can comprehend the rules of thunder. It's almost impossible to perceive the thunder rules at such a cultivation level, but you actually did it. That's why you're naturally gifted. No wonder it attracted the 'heavenly thunder' that day," Princess Qianyou smiled.

"Well, maybe!" Zhongshan smiled wryly.

Turning around, Princess Qianyou produced a jade slip from her hand.

"This is a cultivation technique from the Emperor's treasury, called 'Thunder Foundation **'. It's the foundation of all thunder in the world, a basic cultivation technique, and also a technique for the Yuanying stage. There are ten levels in total, perfectly suited for you!" Princess Qianyou gently said.

Seeing the cultivation technique in Princess Qianyou's hand, Zhongshan took a deep breath and gratefully put away 'Thunder Foundation **', then affectionately kissed Princess Qianyou on the forehead.

Princess Qianyou seemed to enjoy this moment of happiness very much and smiled.

"Rest for two days. I'll take you somewhere," Zhongshan said after some thought.

"Huh? Where?" Princess Qianyou asked in confusion.

"Tianlang Island, where I came from. I'll take you to meet my relatives!" Zhongshan said.

"Huh? Why wait two days? We can leave now!" Princess Qianyou puzzled.

"Let's wait for two days. Wait for your injury to heal!" Zhongshan smiled.

Hearing Zhongshan's words, Princess Qianyou blushed and angrily punched Zhongshan's chest.

"Hahaha," Zhongshan laughed heartily —

In a remote city in the southern part of the Divine Land.

Inside a chain of inns belonging to the Daryun Merchant Guild, in a private room, a man with a black veil hat covering his face sat. The innkeeper stood in front of him, carefully examining a token in his hand for a while. Then, respectfully returned it to the man.

At the same time, the innkeeper handed a piece of paper to the man and immediately withdrew.

The man opened the note and carefully read the nine words written on it.

"Prepare for war, ascend the Imperial Dynasty."

After reading these words, the man's hand trembled, and the note turned into powder.

"Master, is it starting? The Dark Emperor will soon return!" the man whispered softly.

Tianlang Island, Great Luo Dynasty, Changsheng Hall.

Hidden Zhongshan sat upon the throne, overlooking the entire hall.

"Wei Taizhong!" Zhongshan called out.

Wei Taizhong, the Chief Manager of the Inner Palace, Kui Er's third brother, who had always remained unknown.

"Here!" Wei Taizhong immediately walked to the center of the hall.

"Set up the 'Altar of Heaven', offering to the heavens above and the earth below!" Zhongshan ordered.

"Yes!" Wei Taizhong promptly responded before withdrawing from the hall.

"Yi Yan!" Zhongshan called again.

"Present!" Yi Yan responded immediately.

"How is the northern layout progressing?" Zhongshan asked.

"In the north, there are the Yin Yue Dynasty and the three major dynasties. The Great Ming Dynasty has been mostly sidelined by our people. We await Your Majesty's command to officially begin the 'Imperial Plan', stirring up chaos in the northern territories. After four months, the Great Luo Dynasty can fully advance on the northern battlefield, seizing the fortunes of the northern dynasties and accelerating our dynasty's ascension," Yi Yan said in a steady tone.

"Good, Yi Yan, lead the Third Legion to oversee this matter. Effective immediately, the Imperial Plan is officially implemented," Zhongshan ordered.

"Yes!" Yi Yan responded promptly.

Yi Yan stepped aside.

"Lin Xiao, Ying Lan!" Zhongshan called next.

"Present!" Lin Xiao and Ying Lan immediately stepped forward.

"You two will lead the First and Second Legions. From the east and west of Tianlang Island, you will subdue all major sects. Except for the Yang Sect, all other sects must either submit, leave Tianlang Island, or be destroyed!" Zhongshan commanded.

"Yes!" Both immediately acknowledged.

"Announce to the world that every three years, the Great Luo Dynasty will hold a nationwide imperial examination to select outstanding talents to strengthen the nation!" Zhongshan issued another order.

"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!" the courtiers cheered loudly.

The Great Luo Dynasty actively prepared for the impending Imperial advancement battle. Meanwhile, above the East Sea.

Princess Qianyou stood on a white cloud, quietly watching below. Down below, Zhongshan's true body stood silently on a calm sea, eyes closed, arms spread out, head lifted.

"Rise~~~~~~~~"

Zhongshan softly called out.

"Boom~~~~~~~~"

Suddenly, a huge thunderbolt descended from the sky in front of Zhongshan, creating a massive hole in the sea with a deafening roar, causing the waves to surge around the crater.

"Boom~~~~~~~~"

"Boom~~~~~~~~"

To Zhongshan's left and right, two more thunderbolts struck down from the sky, causing the sea under Zhongshan's feet to churn violently.

"Boom~~~~~~~~Boom~~~~~~~~Boom~~~~~~~~Boom~~~~~~~~"

Continuous thunderbolts struck down, surrounding Zhongshan from all directions. In an instant, the sky was filled with thunder and rain, pouring down endlessly, while Zhongshan stood at the center of this spectacular thunderstorm.

Within a radius of ten miles, it was filled with thunder and lightning, thunder pouring down from the sky like the collapse of heaven and earth, as if the world was ending.

Underneath, the sea was rapidly sinking due to the relentless magical attacks of Zhongshan, while waves as tall as mountains surged outward for ten miles.

"Lei Ji**! This is Lei Ji**! Along with Zhongshan's own abilities, it's the most difficult energy to control in this world. But before Zhongshan, it seemed to come and go at his command.

First Stage of Yuan Ying! Crossing the threshold of the Golden Core stage, Zhongshan's luck rushed towards him like a flood. Plus, with Princess Qianyou's "care" these days, Zhongshan has been practicing top-level Yuan Ying stage techniques. Added to his naturally thunderous physique and intermittent ability to see thunder rules, Zhongshan has finally reached the first stage of Yuan Ying.

Thunder roared down, and Zhongshan appeared extremely exuberant. This Thunderstorm was not the first time Zhongshan had demonstrated such power in the East Sea. Many fish in the sea had already died from Zhongshan's thunder.

At this moment, Zhongshan opened his eyes and his psychic energy immediately filled them, causing the world to shatter once again.

"Ha~~~"

Zhongshan swung his sword fiercely towards the sea. This swing seemed to gather all the thunder, and a huge sword mark appeared on the sea.

"Tian Tiao! Cut the waves!"

"Boom~~~"

Under the sword, the sea was torn open nearly two kilometers deep. This terrifying slash was not over yet, as a large amount of thunder exploded in the deep sea.

"Boom~~~"

Lightning flashed at the bottom of the sea, and many deep-sea fish fell unconscious and slowly floated to the surface.

"Hoo~~~"

Zhongshan finally exhaled deeply and stood still.

The sea continued to surge, and the corpses of fish continued to float to the surface.

In a sea canyon in the East Sea, there was a formation inside that isolated seawater from the outside, making it dry and clear inside. Numerous night pearls illuminated the entire sea canyon, with many pavilions and buildings built within.

In one of the palaces in the canyon, a gracefully dressed woman, Haomeili, stood quietly. A small golden dragon, about a foot long, hovered over her shoulder.

Before Haomeili, a man said respectfully, "Miss, we've investigated what you've been concerned about these days. The source of the multiple thunder and lightning explosions in the East Sea is one of the targets you depicted, likely 'Zhongshan'."

"Oh? Where is he?" Haomeili asked.

"He's located three thousand miles south of here," the man replied respectfully.

Haomeili frowned and after a moment of thought, narrowed her eyes. "You may leave."

"Yes!" The man immediately agreed and quickly left the hall.

"Little Golden, the old man hasn't returned yet. Let's go out for a walk." Haomeili looked at the small golden dragon.

The small golden dragon nodded in agreement.

Immediately, Haomeili stepped out of the hall and threw the small golden dragon out. The body of the small golden dragon suddenly grew larger and larger, reaching a size of a hundred meters. Haomeili quickly jumped onto its back and flew towards the sea.