Chapter 615: Unidentified Flying Object

"Li Si!" Ying called out.

"At your service!"

From beside him, a slightly gaunt man in loose robes stepped forward respectfully.

Li Si looked exceptionally refined, yet his eyes contained a chilling indifference towards all beings. However, in front of Ying, Li Si was merely a minister; no matter how intimidating his aura, it had no effect on Ying.

"Have you traced Zhong Shan's origins?" Ying asked calmly.

Hearing Ying's question, Ao Sihai interjected with a strange expression, "I've already investigated Zhong Shan. Born on Heavenly Wolf Island, he was just a mortal a hundred years ago. Later, he joined the Great Luo Dynasty, and his strength was, at most, just at the initial entry of the Emperor Extreme Realm."

Ao Sihai spoke the truth, but it was not the information Ying sought.

Ying had strict requirements for information sources, preferring to hear from his own people rather than others. Additionally, reports from his own people were typically more detailed.

"Yes, I have some findings," Li Si bowed.

"Oh?" Ying looked at Li Si with interest, while Ao Sihai frowned.

"Zhong Shan's origins are unclear. During his mortal years, his natural talents were extremely poor. Later, he had the fortune of obtaining a Forbidden Breaking Pill, which set him on the path of cultivation. Along the way, he overcame numerous obstacles and founded the Great Ying Dynasty. He joined the Great Luo Dynasty and became the only person in Great Luo history capable of establishing another dynasty. This was due to the favor of Gu Qianyou, a princess with ancient magical abilities. His current strength is at the peak of the Emperor Extreme Realm, and as Ao Supreme mentioned, he has likely reached the initial stage of the Emperor Extreme Realm. Zhong Shan possesses extraordinary intelligence. During the Great Luo Dynasty, he devised the 'Heaven Collapse Plan,' toppling a major dynasty without bloodshed. He has close ties with Nie Fancheng of the Great Li Dynasty and an implicit agreement with Wu Jiutian of the Phoenix Clan. He won the Eternal Sacred Platform at the Ten Thousand Elixirs Conference. His national beast, Di Xuansha, is at the peak of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, and its strength is immeasurable. Recently, he even opposed the Longevity Realm. Despite the Longevity Realm's three Heavenly Extreme Realm experts using the Immortal Slaying Sword and the Snow God World Destroying Formation to encircle Zhong Shan, they ultimately failed," Li Si reported meticulously.

"Impossible! That's equivalent to five Heavenly Extreme Realm experts besieging Zhong Shan. How could he survive?" Ao Sihai exclaimed in shock.

When Li Si began discussing Zhong Shan, Ao Sihai felt a bit irritated, thinking he had already thoroughly investigated Zhong Shan. However, as Li Si provided an incredibly detailed account, Ao Sihai felt frustrated, realizing there were things he did not know. Hearing that Zhong Shan survived an attack by five Heavenly Extreme Realm experts left him astounded. How could this be?

"This is fact," Li Si ignored Ao Sihai's interruption.

"Zhong Shan's subordinates are all extraordinary talents, true dragons among men. No, some are not even human," Li Si continued.

"Uh?" Ao Sihai was taken aback.

"The Dark Emperor holds the Star Pearl," Li Si said.

"Star Pearl?" Ying frowned slightly.

"Indeed, the Star Pearl, one of the top eighteen treasures of all ages. It is said to have been created by a supreme expert in the Great Thousand World, who refined a star into the pearl. Zhong Shan also acquired the 'Tai Chi Diagram' from the Netherworld. His adopted son, Zhong Tian, leads the Daming Temple and the Ninth Legion. He may not be human," Li Si said solemnly.

"May not be human?" Ying frowned.

"The Ninth Legion Commander, Wang Ku, is at the Heavenly Extreme Realm. Based on the recent report comparing his confrontation with Gui Shou, it suggests he is not a being of the living world but a certain type of death spirit from the underworld," Li Si detailed meticulously.

"A death spirit? At the Heavenly Extreme Realm?" Ao Sihai was truly shocked this time.

Is this a small dynasty? How can a dynasty have two Heavenly Extreme Realm experts? How does this compare to the major dynasties?

"As for Zhong Shan himself, although his cultivation is not apparent, his strength is comparable to the Heavenly Extreme Realm," Li Si continued his emotionless report.

"Zhong Shan, at the Heavenly Extreme Realm? How is that possible?" Ao Sihai was incredulous.

"It's a fact. Not long ago, during the confrontation with the Frozen Emperor Dynasty, Zhong Shan not only restrained three Heavenly Extreme Realm experts with the help of his subordinates, but he also faced Nu Qinghui directly. The result? Nu Qinghui was utterly defeated!" Li Si stated solemnly.

"Impossible!" Ao Sihai kept gasping for air. Zhong Shan's rise seemed unbelievable. In just a century? Defeating Nu Qinghui completely?

"Hmm," Ying nodded.

"However, Zhong Shan's greatest strength isn't his subordinates but his empresses," Li Si continued.

"Empresses?" Ao Sihai was puzzled.

"Zhong Shan has four empresses. Not long ago, he resisted several Heavenly Extreme Realm experts for the sake of these empresses. The Fourth Empress, Bei Qingsi, is a descendant of immortals. Her ancestor was once the world's greatest expert and left behind a powerful ice-based bloodline after becoming immortal. The Third Empress, Gu Qianyou, is the former princess of the Great Luo Dynasty, extraordinarily wise, with a blood contract with the Tiger Clan. The Second Empress, Tian Ling'er, is protected by the Vermillion Bird and, importantly, she bears the surname 'Tian'," Li Si explained.

"Tian? A descendant of the Tian family?" Ying frowned.

"Perhaps the only descendant left in the mortal world," Li Si said gravely.

"Hmm," Ying nodded, clearly giving it significant thought.

Ao Sihai opened his mouth but ultimately did not interrupt Li Si.

"As for Zhong Shan's First Empress, Gan Bao'er, she is the most noteworthy and should be treated with utmost caution," Li Si continued.

"Oh? To the extent that I should be cautious?" Ying's eyes glinted with interest as he looked at Li Si.

"Gan Bao'er is the leader of the Eternal Pill Sect," Li Si said with a bow.

"The Eternal Pill Sect?" Ying looked at Li Si, waiting for more information.

"The Eternal Pill Sect may seem distant, but according to the portrait of Gan Bao'er brought back by Xu Fu from the Ten Thousand Elixirs Conference, I must emphasize that she cannot be ignored!" Li Si said solemnly.

"Oh?"

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

With a flick of his wrist, Li Si produced a memory crystal. The projection vividly displayed Bao'er's portrait.

Seeing the portrait, Ying's pupils contracted.

"It's her?" Ying's eyebrows furrowed.

"It shouldn't be her," Li Si shook his head.

"In recent times, I established a special reconnaissance unit dedicated to Gan Bao'er. While Gan Bao'er may not be the same person from the past, there seems to be some connection. When the Great Ying Dynasty was upgraded to an imperial dynasty and Gan Bao'er's life was threatened, a supreme expert from the Great Thousand World tore through the barriers of the two realms to save her!" Li Si reported.

Ao Sihai was utterly confused by the conversation. Who were they talking about?

Ying closed his eyes and thought deeply. Finally, he opened them and said, "Gan Bao'er is her, and she isn't Gan Bao'er."

Ao Sihai looked at Ying strangely. What did that mean? How could she be and not be at the same time?

"Your Majesty, are you saying...?" Li Si's eyes showed a hint of shock.

"Indeed, it has been tens of thousands of years. She ascended to the Great Thousand World back then. I originally thought she was too eager for success, but it turns out the Great Thousand World was her true destination. She has reached the level of 'fate alteration and derivation,' not to be underestimated!" Ying said, squinting his eyes.

"Fate alteration and derivation? She actually mastered such an otherworldly ability?" Li Si's eyes also showed a trace of shock.

Ao Sihai looked at the pair of sovereign and minister with an odd expression.

"Fate alteration and derivation? What is that? An otherworldly ability? What does it mean?" Ao Sihai's eyes flickered with confusion. He had never heard of such terms before.

"Your Majesty, how should we proceed?" Li Si asked, his eyes betraying a hint of strangeness.

"The Great Ying is currently ascending in rank, correct?" Ying pondered.

"Yes," Li Si nodded.

"Once the Great Ying successfully ascends to an imperial dynasty, you will represent the Great Qin to visit the Great Ying. Investigate thoroughly and demand Zhong Shan return the Dragon Clan's heirloom seal," Ying commanded.

"I will obey," Li Si immediately responded.

"Thank you, Emperor of the Great Qin!" Ao Sihai breathed a sigh of relief. For Ao Sihai, as long as the heirloom seal was returned, nothing else mattered.

After nearly half a year of flight, Lingxiao Heavenly Court finally left the East Sea and officially entered the land of Shenzhou.

As they approached an imperial dynasty, in a military camp, a group of generals was in a meeting when suddenly a scout rushed in.

"Reporting to the commander, three million miles east, at an altitude of a million miles, an unidentified flying object has appeared!" the scout reported.

"..."

The generals in the hall all had black lines on their foreheads. Was this scout new? How did he gather his information? An altitude of a million miles? An unidentified flying object?

"Absurd! Three million miles east is not within our borders. What's flying high in the sky got to do with us?"

"Also, a million miles high? That would have to be a peerless expert. How could you see that? With your cultivation, seeing an expert flying at a height of a hundred thousand miles would already be your limit. Are you daring to deceive us?"

"Unidentified flying object? Since you saw it, couldn't you make out its shape?"

As the generals mocked, the scout broke out in a cold sweat.

The commander looked on coldly. Who trained this scout? Such nonsense! Didn't he know there were important matters being discussed?

"Commander, generals, every word I said is true. If you step outside the hall, you can see for yourselves. Many soldiers in the camp have already stopped training and are looking at the sky," the scout quickly explained.

"Uh?" The generals were slightly stunned.

What the scout said seemed utterly absurd, but why was he so confident? The generals, filled with doubt, scrutinized the scout again. Finally, one general stepped outside.

As soon as the general stepped out, he seemed to freeze in place.

"Commander, there really is an unidentified flying object!" The general stood outside, staring, mouth agape in disbelief.

Hearing this, the other generals were shaken and one by one, they went outside.

Just like the previous general, they all looked towards the east, displaying expressions of extreme incredulity.