Chapter 56: Secretly Crossing Chen Cang

[Xiao Tianhe let out a long sigh: 'What I lost to wasn't strategy, but the human heart! The terrifying strength that erupts in desperation isn't something my soldiers—who only had courage because of their numbers—could ever compare to! I lost, and I accept it without complaint!']

[Zhou Sheng'an took in Xiao Tianhe's remaining troops, bringing his total forces to 300,000.]

"So it really turned out like this! Teacher is invincible! A million-strong army? Just paper tigers!"

Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed red with excitement, and her breathing grew rapid.

This overwhelming victory Zhou Sheng'an secured was exactly what she had been hoping for!

Right now, she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into Zhou Sheng'an's arms.

But the next moment, the newly updated entry felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her head.

[You go to Zhou Sheng'an's command tent, wanting to personally congratulate your teacher. But upon seeing Empress Zhu galloping toward him, you leave in heartbreak and immerse yourself in cultivation.]

"..."

Even though she knew that a Zhu woman would never be able to resist a Zhou Sheng'an like that…

But Empress Zhu had gone too far!

And besides…

"Elder Aunt is an ambitious woman. She would never completely commit to Teacher. She wants to be Empress Regnant, and in the future, she'll only have two princes to carry on her line. To her, Teacher might one day become an obstacle."

Zhu Zhuqing let out a sigh. There was no sentiment in an imperial household. She had no doubt about Empress Zhu's ruthlessness.

Vaguely, she sensed a coming storm…

…

Moon Pavilion.

Tang Yuehua, writing at her desk, raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"They actually won… That's the Star Luo Empire's million-strong army. Even Heaven Dou wouldn't be able to hold them off without the help of Spirit Hall. How did he pull it off?"

She murmured to herself. In the simulation, she was near the Zhu Kingdom, so she quickly learned what had happened.

Precisely because of that, she was confused and couldn't understand how Zhou Sheng'an had achieved victory.

As a woman with limited understanding of warfare, she didn't truly grasp Zhou Sheng'an himself, nor did she understand the army he'd trained—which could already be considered the strongest legion. She couldn't comprehend his strategies, especially his use of psychological warfare, which struck the Star Luo Empire like a dimensional blow.

"Still… he can't keep winning, can he? Even if he and Star Luo fight to mutual destruction, the Heaven Dou Empire will definitely step in. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. Zhou Sheng'an, you've ultimately failed to consider the bigger picture."

Tang Yuehua let out a soft sigh, feeling a bit of regret for Zhou Sheng'an's brilliance.

Fortunately, this was all within a simulation—otherwise, if that brilliant Grand Sage Master from the previous simulation had died due to war, it would've been a tragic waste.

Zhou Sheng'an's recklessness, however, did make her reassess him a little.

In her mind, leveraging Zhou Sheng'an's strength no longer seemed all that difficult.

…

The scene shifted to Changmen Pass in the Zhu Kingdom.

After defeating Xiao Tianhe, Zhou Sheng'an didn't march into the Zhu Kingdom's capital. Instead, he stayed at the border.

On the city wall, Zhou Sheng'an, Empress Zhu, Zhu Zhuqing, and the old general Xiao Tianhe stood gazing into the distance. They were awaiting the arrival of the Zhu royal family.

Zhou Sheng'an had no ambitions to become emperor. In fact, his sights were still set on reaching Level 100 and becoming a god. It had been more than two years since he left Heaven Dou City, and in that time, he'd risen over thirty levels!

He was already a Level 69 Soul Emperor!

As for worldly matters, he mainly wanted to repay Empress Zhu for her recognition back then.

He would become a god, and in turn, help her ascend as the Empress of Star Luo.

Empress Zhu turned her gaze from the distance to Zhou Sheng'an.

"Sheng'an, why not return to the capital? The Zhu Kingdom has natural defenses, and we've destroyed the plank roads. The Star Luo army won't be arriving anytime soon."

Zhou Sheng'an gently shook his head.

The "natural defenses" she referred to were the Wumeng Mountain range separating the Zhu Kingdom and the Star Luo Empire.

Previously, a plank road had been constructed to allow for horses and carts.

Both Xiao Tianhe's massive army and Zhou Sheng'an's cavalry had used that route.

Xiao Tianhe gave a wry smile.

"I lost to General Zhou. The Star Luo Empire must be shaken by now. They might even destroy the plank road in panic."

"If that happens, only soul masters can pass. No large army could possibly get through."

He shook his head with a laugh.

"So, Sheng'an, what's your plan? I say we focus on developing the Zhu Kingdom first," Empress Zhu said enthusiastically. She was now the ruler of the Zhu Kingdom.

Zhou Sheng'an still shook his head.

"Empress, I handle external matters, you handle internal ones. How the Zhu Kingdom develops is up to you. Guarding the border against Heaven Dou's invasion is Old General Xiao's responsibility. As for me—I intend to swallow Star Luo whole."

He smiled faintly, radiating immense confidence.

Looking at Zhou Sheng'an's face, Empress Zhu couldn't help squeezing her thighs together. Her body reacted instinctively, though a shadow flashed across her heart… Zhou Sheng'an was becoming uncontrollable.

Xiao Tianhe spoke solemnly.

"General Zhou, you must've guessed who commands the forces beyond the mountain, haven't you? Star Luo's second greatest general—General Mingxiu! Ranked fifth among the ten famous generals!"

"If I am to defend the Zhu Kingdom's Great Dispersing Pass from Heaven Dou's forces, I'll need at least 250,000 soldiers—and elite ones at that!"

He looked at Zhou Sheng'an with grave intensity.

Empress Zhu also turned to him.

"Sheng'an, it's true. Our current strength is still weak. We're no match for Star Luo. These years, it's enough to just absorb the cities within the Wumeng Mountains."

But Zhou Sheng'an still shook his head.

"I'll clear out those cities within a month and gather all the remaining forces. At the same time, I'll have people pretend to repair the plank road. But in truth, I'll lead them through a narrow path to launch a surprise attack."

"Narrow path?" Xiao Tianhe looked at him in confusion.

Zhou Sheng'an nodded slightly, lips curling into a smile.

"That's right. I will be victorious. Within a year—no, within half a year—I will flatten Star Luo. Be ready to take over the new territory."

"Teacher, what are you planning to do?"

Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but ask.

"There are too many nations on the Douluo Continent. It's about time they were unified." Zhou Sheng'an smiled.

Zhu Zhuqing stared at him in a daze.

To outsiders, it just looked like she admired her teacher deeply.

But no one knew what kind of rebellious thoughts were going through her mind.

…

[On December 17th, Douluo Calendar 2025, Zhou Sheng'an used the strategy of openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing Chen Cang. He ambushed and crushed Star Luo's second general Mingxiu, shocking the empire.]

[Zhou Sheng'an's fame spread far and wide. He was promoted as the fifth greatest general on the Douluo Continent.]

[The top general, Heaven Dou Empire's Marshal Ge Long, publicly declared: "Perhaps one day, Zhou Sheng'an and I will clash. And I shall be the one to bring his end, in the name of Heaven Dou."]

[In less than a month, Zhou Sheng'an captured eighteen cities in a row. Star Luo's garrisons were terrified at the mere mention of his name!]

[Regent Dai Ergong dispatched Star Luo's number one general, MacArthur, with 500,000 troops to intercept Zhou Sheng'an!]

[On December 23rd, Douluo Calendar 2025, the Heaven Dou Empire launched a three-pronged offensive on Star Luo's borders.]