The Chancellor

It's been a week since Zhang Wei was saved by the knight, after many attempts by Zhang Wei he has finally convinced the knight to teach him martial arts.

So from that day on, Zhong Wei started training under the Lui JI. And to his frustration, the knight didn't allow him to use a real weapon but focused on strengthening his body mostly. 

At the moment, Zhong Wei was running back and forth on a small mountain. It was a training chosen by the knight Lui Ji to improve Zhong Wei's stamina and make his body stronger.

In the Morning, Zhong Wei trains in swordsmanship with a wooden stick, and two hours later he starts running back and forth to improve his stamina. Unfortunately, they entered Yexing Province, which was in the north and was cold even during the day.

At the end of each session, Zhong Wei who was tired and only wanted to sleep will be forced to eat a lot of meat which will be prepared in advance by Lui Ji.

On the first days, Zhong Wei felt deeply tired, his body numb but as time passed he started to get used to the training and thanks to the nutrition his body was getting stronger.

"Master, is there any cultivation sect inside the Violet Sakra City." Asked Zhong Wei who had started to call Lui Ji master.

"Hahaha, Violet Sakra City might be a big city but not every big city has a sect inside it. Nonetheless, there is a sect nearby. I don't know the details, but when we arrive I will ask for you." Said Lui Ji, while swinging his sword training. His dream was to reach the general tier.

As for Zhong Wei, he was also training with a wooden stick imitating some moves taught by Lui Ji. He felt tired, but being stubborn he refused to stop, he would never stop until he got his revenge.

.....

After leaving the village, Wang Yu headed fast toward the Spirit Dome City. Initially, he wasn't in a hurry to arrive but the uncomfortable feeling he had after breaking through the Viscera Tempering stage was increasing.

Wang Yu still remembered what he had been told by Zhou Kin that day, as long as he doesn't betray the sect then he can befriend anyone. This could also be seen as a sign for him to get stronger by obtaining resources from the other sects.

Also, Lui Fu told him that the Ice Hell disciples who leave the sect are highly respected by the outside world and the small sects will try to carry favors with them, even the bigger sects aren't exceptions if someone is talented.

Wang Yu only needed some materials rich with Yin Energy and didn't mind accepting a favor from the Spirit Dome City, as long as he can heal himself.

He had tried to buy them from the Ice Hell Sect but such materials were very expensive, so unless he had backing or someone was investing in him then he wouldn't be able to buy them anytime soon, and he didn't want to ask Lui Fu for money.

Fortunately, he will receive a great salary during this period. But still, it didn't keep him from being surprised by how a behemoth such as the Ice Hell Sect would participate in mortal affairs. Especially since the order came from a Vice Elder directly and not anyone else, and according to him the chancellor of the Emperor was an Elder.

Nevertheless, he didn't care much and didn't plan on wasting his time thinking. When the time comes he will understand everything. 

As for now, his only worry was to arrive before time to the Spirit Dome City to obtain what he needed and start his mission.

So during the trip, he took many shortcuts, avoiding only some areas that were considered dangerous even for cultivators, but such areas weren't many so it didn't impact his speed by much.

Among the most dangerous places were the forest of Black Mulberry Trees and Frozen Glass's land.

The Forest of Black Mulberry Trees was a bizarre forest containing many poisonous plants and demons. It earned its name because at its center stood a giant mulberry tree, a third-grade spirit tree that made the entire area perilous, even for those at the Violet Core Realm. As a result, it became a forbidden zone, especially for Violet Core Realm cultivators. For those weaker, the giant tree generally remained indifferent unless they committed significant acts such as destroying a substantial portion of the forest's vegetation, demons, or attacking one of the smaller mulberry trees nearby.

The other dangerous place was the Frozen Glass's land, in that place the temperature would reach very low temperatures, making it uninhabitable by normal demons or vegetation. Only some special spirit herbs and demons who cultivate ice could live in that area. What was special about the Frozen Glass's land was that it contained the entrance to a miraculous realm that contains a lot of special herbs and demons. It's also the place where the Frozen Glass's tournament is held, the tournament that has just ended.

Apart from those two places, there were also the Immortal Cave and the Sword Deity Tomb but Wang Yu didn't know much about them.

Not only did those places have dangers beyond imagination, but they also held opportunities that had changed the Qihou Land before. Nonetheless, what Wang Yu needed to avoid wasn't only those places but also some forests that had some strong demons in the Qi Condensation realm.

So he chose a way that veered from those dangerous areas, but he didn't need to care about the places that were dangerous to mortals. So along the way, he met some beasts with the strongest being at the silver tier or slightly above.

...…..

Inside the palace of the Qihou Empire, Su Tiang an old man was inside a special room that even the Emperor wasn't allowed to enter. He wore simple white clothes, the same color as his hair and beard, and had an ethereal and Daoist bearing. 

By the look alone, people would think of him as a wise, kind, and weak grandpa, but this was far from the truth; he was the true controller of the Empire and an Elder from the Ice Hell Sect.

Right now he was sitting and reading some records on bamboo sheets. By his side was Ming Qian, a man in his thirties. He had a big nose and silver hair stood out, and he wore a black robe, giving off a mysterious vibe. There was a focused intensity in his eyes, hinting at wisdom beyond his years, which was not strange because despite looking like a middle-aged man, he was in his eighties but due to his cultivation and taking care of his health he looked way younger than his real age.

Ming Qian was reporting "According to our information, the other two kingdoms started to prepare for the war, and they are making bigger moves this time. Bringing many of the talented disciples into the army, and recruiting more men than usual. It looks like the last resistance of a dying man."

Su Tiang sighed "Unfortunately, many lives will be lost this time." While massaging his temples he said, "What about our preparation, is everything in its place."

"Yes, our sect also didn't hold back. It has sent many of the talented disciples, among them are three we should focus on during this time." Ming Qian continued "The first is Situ Qing, who has the bloodline of Elephant Dragon and is cultivating The Elephant Fury technique which is known for its explosiveness."

"As for the second, he's Tang Nan, the brother of Tang Yu the recent disciple of Senior Mystic Owl. Despite not being as talented as his big brother, he is very good with spears and is known for fighting opponents from a higher realm."

"As for the last, his name is Wang Yu. He was sent to the Servant District due to his bad talent, but in less than two years he managed to acquire the strength of the peak General Tier, and broke through the first level of Qi Condensation to enter the Outer Sect."

Su Tiang nodded "Good seeds, tell me about their personalities."

"Situ Qing is known for his outbursts, he is an honest man but when angered he will destroy everything in the way, not thinking about the consequences.

Tang Nan is intelligent and charming but is very arrogant deep down. Nonetheless, he's good at attracting followers.

As for Wang Yu, we don't know much about him, he's originally from a small village. According to what we've got, he has become calm, cold, and detached after losing his companions when a demon entered the outer part of Ice Hell Forest."

Ming Qian continued, "We received a letter from Zhou Kin that Wang Yu has departed from the sect and he should arrive soon to the Spirit Dome City. As for the others, we should expect them soon"

Su Tiang nodded "Good, assign Wang Yu an advisor, and send a message to the Spirit Dome City to give him the necessary resources to feed, equip, and pay 200 soldiers. Also don't neglect the other disciples sent by the sects, give me a list of their names and their descriptions. And send an invitation to the Grand Marshal, I wish to talk to him."

"As you command Chancellor." Said Ming Qian before bowing and leaving.

…

After leaving the Chancellor, Ming Qian said goodbye to a middle-aged man who was standing at the door.

Ming Qian then walked by the corridor, and soon after he entered a big room where he worked. Much like the place where the chancellor stayed, Ming Qian's was simple. It has four desks, two of them had people sitting and working, they were a man and a woman who were siblings. Seeing Ming Qian enter they both stood and asked him "Master, what did the grandmaster say." said the male who was slightly older in his forties.

"No need to rush, right now the grandmaster is busy with other things. I will tell him as soon as he gets time." Responded Ming Qian before on the table in the center.

Hearing their master's response, both brother and sister returned to their seats.

"Send a letter to the Grand Marshall, tell him that the chancellor wants to meet him soon. Also, send a letter to the lord of the Spirit Dome city and tell him to provide the newly appointed general Wang Yu who is also a disciple of our sect with enough funds to pay, feed and equip 200 soldiers." 

"As you command master." Said the man before starting to write the letter.

Looking at the woman, Ming Qian said "What important news did your agency catch?"

In response the woman handed him a scroll, taking the scroll and opening it, Ming Qian was deeply surprised "Are you sure this is true."

"Yes master, we verified the news from two trustworthy sources. General Gu Tian from the Evergreen Kingdom has met secretly with the third prince of the Holy Kingdom.

As for the content of the meeting, we weren't able to spy on them. They were prepared very well, from this we can deduce that they are planning something big."

Ming Qian stayed silent for some time, "It's either an internal strife inside the Holy Kingdom or a possible alliance between our enemies."

He then added "Be more vigilant, and observant, tell me if anything significant happens, even if you don't think it's big. The war is coming soon, and we need to prepare well."

The two nodded their heads and returned to their work seriously.