Li Xin was clearly unconvinced by the man who had so inexplicably become his lord due to the National Seal. Yet, as the black and white radiance struck him, Li Xin felt no sense of danger; instead, a faint glimmer of longing arose within him.

Thus, he followed the command, ceased resisting, and allowed the black and white light to envelop his body. In just an instant, the death aura that had clung to him suddenly receded.

In its place, a surging vitality exploded forth within his core. What should have been a deadly poison to him, both his Primordial Spirit and his physical body absorbed it with unnerving ease, their very essence undergoing a profound transformation.

Half a moment later, Li Xin stared at his hands in stunned disbelief. They were no longer cold and ashen; they were vibrant, elastic, and brimming with life force.

The viscous, clotted blood regained its mobility, surging powerfully within him. Li Xin pinched his own cheek again, unable to believe it.

He must have pressed too hard, for the pain was sharp and immediate. No matter how he examined himself, he was now unquestionably alive, not a mere lingering corpse animated by malign energy.

Li Xin found it almost impossible to accept, yet everything before him could not possibly be an illusion. Then he heard Zong Shou murmur softly from across the way, “This divine ability actually worked!

What a blessing, what a blessing. I was genuinely worried that if the conflict between the energies of life and death failed, I might have simply ceased to exist—” Li Xin’s eye twitched.

In other words, this fellow had no real certainty and had just used him as a test subject? If only you would keep such thoughts to yourself so I wouldn't hear them, he thought bitterly.

Yet, beneath the turmoil, an inexplicable excitement stirred. His stagnant heart lake, once still as deep water, was now roiling with immense waves.

How many years had it been since he felt such a sensation? Ever since he was buried alive to guard the A-Fang Palace for the Qin Emperor, his emotions had withered completely.

Ten thousand years of vigilance, a lonely wait that he thought would never end— After taking several deep breaths, Li Xin finally managed to calm his agitated state of mind. “What kind of divine ability is this?

To possess such power to reverse life and death?” “The Transformation of Life and Death’s Profound Mechanism! I grasped it by chance and am still unfamiliar with it,” Zong Shou replied casually.

He then added with a hint of apology, “Though it can reverse life and death, the essence of your Primordial Spirit has changed. It likely won't last.

At most, after a year, you will revert to the Death Puppet form, unless I cast this art upon you again.” Only a year? Li Xin had already anticipated this.

If he could truly be transformed permanently, then this youth before him possessed truly heaven-defying power. One year was enough.

To feel the sensation of being a ‘living person’ again—even for just one day—would be a source of profound satisfaction. Furthermore, according to His Majesty’s words, permanence wasn't impossible; it only required the other party to perform the ritual again.

Transformation of Life and Death’s Profound Mechanism. Li Xin committed the name to memory.

“One accepts no reward without merit. Does Your Majesty have any orders for this humble general?” The conversion between life and death was a debt so great it was tantamount to saving his life.

However, if it was only for a year, perhaps it didn't count as a full reprieve. Li Xin was still grateful, and a genuine sincerity colored his words.

Everything in the world could be traded. He would serve this youth in exchange for the right to become a ‘living man’ once more.

“Orders?” Zong Shou hesitated. Previously, trapped within that fragment of time and space, he had been immobilized and unable to think.

Now, considering things carefully, countless matters demanded his attention. The Demonic Sect, the Supreme Primordial Demon Li Biexue—he needed to return to the Azure Heaven Realm quickly to ask Master Xuan Shuang for aid in treating Su Xiaoxiao—and the whereabouts of the Twelve National Suppression Bronze Statues, among other things.

Zong Shou suddenly frowned. Wait, the Twelve National Suppression Bronze Statues?

In the situation back then, even Shi Yue alone would have been powerless to intervene. And the elites from the Daoist, Confucian, and Demonic schools, along with the numerous noble families, who had entered the tomb—either they were intercepting Lin Xuanxuan, or they had died by his hand.

Who could have stopped Yin Yu at that time? In other words, the Twelve National Suppression Bronze Statues had all fallen into the hands of the Great Shang Emperor by now.

Since he was trapped here for a month, Zong Shou hoped this Yuan Chen Emperor hadn't done anything foolish. This man was also a wise ruler; he shouldn't be so impatient as to act rashly— After momentary contemplation, Zong Shou temporarily suppressed his worries and mused, “Take a message back to Mount Qiantian for me, assuring them I am safe.

Furthermore, do you know of a place near the Cloud Realm called the Tianfang World?” Seeing Li Xin nod slightly, clearly having heard of it, Zong Shou continued, “I fear that the Night Demon army may be invading there. Although my subordinate, Lie Que, is an unparalleled general whose command skills are unquestionable, the troops under his jurisdiction are far too few.

Moreover, the strength of the Saint Realm cultivators there is far inferior to the Night Demons. Therefore, I wish to request General Li to proceed there and keep watch over the situation for me.” He did not fully trust Li Xin yet, but the Tianfang World currently relied solely on Ye Xuan to maintain order, which was a source of grave concern.

And the Ao Kun couple should still be recuperating in the Azure Heaven Realm. Even with Lin Shuang looking after him, Ao Kun had not fully recovered after repairing the Dao foundation of Daoist Yuan Jing.

“Your Majesty’s command is for me to garrison the Tianfang World and resist the Dark World Demon Court? Do these Night Demons intend to attack the Cloud Realm again?” Li Xin gave a disdainful sneer.

“What need is there for such bother? With just fifty thousand Great Qin Iron Cavalry, this general can flatten one of their provincial governorships!

If I had three hundred thousand, I am confident I could withstand the might of an entire Night Demon nation—” His words caught short. Li Xin suddenly remembered that the Great Qin of those days had long since perished.

And the Great Qin Iron Cavalry that once dominated the world had long since vanished. It was said that after ten thousand years of declining spiritual tide, how could such elite forces possibly exist in this era?

His final battle back then had been filled with similar confidence, yet it ended in utter defeat— Zong Shou was startled by Li Xin’s proud bearing, which reminded him. The Dark World Demon Court had been expelled from the Cloud Realm in the past, and all twenty of their provincial governorships had been annihilated—it was the work of the First Qin.

In the eyes of a renowned general like Li Xin, he certainly had cause to look down upon the Night Demon race. Three hundred thousand Great Qin Iron Cavalry to resist one nation.

The entire Night Demon race comprised only five nations. One nation possessed twelve governorships, meaning at least forty million elite troops— Zong Shou let out a wry laugh.

“Although I lack the Great Qin Iron Cavalry, I possess forty thousand Black Fox Iron Cavalry, who are considered a continuation of that lineage, with comparable fighting strength. Furthermore, there are the thirty thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry.

Has General heard of them?” He calculated carefully; if war erupted in the Tianfang World, this was the maximum force he could muster. Li Xin nodded slightly.

How could anyone versed in military matters not have heard of the fame of the Blood Cloud Cavalry? In many aspects, they even surpassed the Qin Cavalry, though forging their armor was difficult.

The Great Qin had once intended to acquire them in the past but lacked the Blood Essence Divine Iron ore veins, so they ultimately abandoned the idea. Li Xin was also slightly surprised, not expecting this young monarch to possess such powerful forces.

Even by the standards of ten thousand years ago, they were not weak. “In my estimation, the Night Demons’ incursion this time, even if not their entire nation, will certainly involve forces exceeding ten governorships.

Can General Li command my cavalry to resist them?” Zong Shou had been reluctant to entrust command to Li Xin before confirming his trustworthiness. However, upon reflection, using someone with his level of command ability merely to resist those Night Demon Saint-level Venerables felt like a waste.

Lie Que had to defend the Tianfang World and could not be easily moved. If the cavalry could only be used for static defense, how were they different from infantry?

Zong Yuan had the talent to command cavalry, undoubtedly no less than Li Xin, but his current cultivation was too low, making participation in such a large-scale battle extremely perilous. “This general accepts the command, and I vow not to disappoint Your Majesty’s expectations!” Li Xin was a decisive man, swift in action.

He knelt, cupped his fist, took the imperial edict proving his identity from Zong Shou, and prepared to depart. Just then, Zong Shou suddenly recalled something, produced an ice coffin, and asked curiously, “Do you recognize this person?

To be buried alongside the Qin Emperor, his identity must be rather extraordinary—” Li Xin glanced over, and his gaze was immediately drawn to the figure within the ice coffin. After a long pause, an inexplicable emotion surfaced in his eyes.

“It is Lord Wu’an!” “Lord Wu’an? Is it truly Bai Qi?” Zong Shou was momentarily stunned, his internal surprise almost indescribable.

He had indeed suspected it earlier, but hearing it confirmed by Li Xin’s own mouth still sent a shockwave through him. “It is indeed Lord Wu’an!

A pitiful soul—” Li Xin paused as if about to say more, then concluded solemnly, “If Your Majesty can wake him, you may gain another powerful ally. However, Your Majesty must also know that it will be exceedingly difficult for anyone now to make him willingly submit.

His current comatose state also has another reason. Otherwise, my Emperor—no, the late Emperor, the late Emperor would have long since revived him to add another Marshal to Great Qin.

Therefore, I urge Your Majesty to be extremely cautious—” Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, wanting to ask what exactly he needed to be cautious about. But Li Xin seemed hesitant, unwilling to elaborate further.

After offering his respects, he vanished into the void. Zong Shou sighed inwardly, understanding that this was because Li Xin had not yet truly opened his heart and placed his full faith in him.

Standing still, Zong Shou pondered for a moment in confusion, then put the ice coffin away, and withdrew the Yuan Yi Sword back into that temporal fragment. Li Xin would not mislead him casually; this statement must have its own underlying cause.

The matter of reviving this Lord Wu’an could not be treated without the utmost care. And at this moment, it was not just the Tianfang World; the situation within the Cloud Realm was also cause for deep concern.

He had originally planned on another ten days to thoroughly assimilate the essence dragon energy within this place. However, it now seemed he had to accelerate the refining speed.

Even if it meant leaving behind some hidden dangers, he could no longer afford to wait! ※※※※ Before Baisheng Pass, a newly constructed, yet unfinished pass city stood tall.

The stones and fire oil pots hurled by the siege catapults descended like meteors, one after another. A swarm of arrows blanketed the top of the ramparts.

In several places, lines of siege ladders were arrayed. Soldiers, like ants, were climbing the walls, assaulting the defensive lines.

The military strength on either side was incomparable. Fortunately, the defenders held the fortress, allowing them to maintain resistance.

Meanwhile, Kong Yao stood before the ruins of the former watchtower, watching the opposition with an icy expression. “His Majesty has sent word—” (To be continued.

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