On this day, the situation in the Azure Cloud region was much the same as it had been: mortals from across the Azure Dynasty continued to stream towards its borders, seeking refuge from the ongoing turmoil. Across the three Azure Cloud regions, the great war against the Wu Clan raged on.
Wu Clan raiding parties still launched attacks every few days, but the tide of war was slowly but surely turning in the Azure Cloud region's favor. Territory in what was once the Qi Region was gradually being reclaimed by the Jiang family.
From a high vantage point on a tower of Region Prince Jiang's Hall, Region Prince Jiang Chenghuan stood with Li Yunbing. Pointing towards the lands of the former Qi Region – now designated Azure Cloud's Western Region, a territory utterly devastated and awaiting rebirth – he smiled.
"Brother Yunbing," he said, "This Prince had a most auspicious dream of late. I dreamt that all these territories of the Azure Cloud region, so ravaged by conflict, will be restored to their former glory! And then, Eternal Sun Prefecture, that rich land lying to our rear – it too will fall into our grasp!"
"From that day forward," Jiang Chenghuan declared, his eyes shining, "all of Azure Cloud region shall flourish with each passing day, eclipsing Eternal Sun Prefecture, eventually even surpassing the Imperial Capital itself! We shall be masters of our own domain! And when our Azure Cloud region boasts more Divinity Transformation stage experts, perhaps even cultivators of the Void Refining realm, then even that so-called 'Human Emperor' on his distant throne wouldn't dare underestimate us!"
Li Yunbing simply shrugged. "Brother Chenghuan, you certainly have a grand vision for the future. I, however, am different."
"Oh?" Jiang Chenghuan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
In his experience, Li Yunbing had always harbored ambitions even greater than his own. "Still planning to seize the Human Emperor's throne for yourself then, are you?" he teased.
This was said in jest. In reality, after more than a decade of association, their relationship had evolved from the initial wariness and mutual suspicion of their early days to a level of genuine understanding. And while Li Yunbing, admittedly, was always considering how Jiang Chenghuan could best serve the Li family's interests, it hadn't stopped them from developing a friendship where they could speak frankly on almost any topic.
Li Yunbing chuckled. "You speak of things too far in the future. My current focus is simply on eradicating all those who stand against us."
"That doesn't sound like the Yunbing I know!" Jiang Chenghuan countered with a playful smirk.
"My dear Brother Yunbing, you have the military might of all three regions clutched firmly in your hand. One word from you, and a million soldiers march! Why, the Old Ancestor of my own house specifically cautioned This Region Prince to be exceedingly careful when dealing with you. Nevertheless, this Region Prince is also aware that the world is a wide place," Jiang Chenghuan added, his tone more serious. "And should your Li family ever achieve total dominance, you would, no doubt, still grant This Region Prince some nominal position – a place preserved for appearances' sake, at the very least."
"Your Majesty is truly reading too much into things."
Li Yunbing offered a wry smile. "The place where I grew up was nothing like your upbringing. You were raised in the mansion of a Region Prince, so it's only natural that your concerns span the entire realm. But I… I was raised in a remote backwater. Calling the place where my Li family lived a 'village' would've been generous.
Back then, I was just a little boy. One day, my Fourth Aunt called me over. I didn't understand a thing, just stood there quietly while she told my elder brother to take me and run. I couldn't comprehend it. Everything at home seemed normal—so why did I have to flee?
It was only much later that I learned the truth: the family was on the verge of collapse, and they were desperate to ensure that at least one bloodline survived."
Region Prince Jiang frowned. Everyone knew that the Li family was "like dragons among men"—a clan renowned for their strength and prestige. Yet, from Li Yunbing's brief, understated story, the prince began to see the shadows of the terrible trials the Li Clan must have endured to reach their current standing.
Li Yunbing went on, his voice low. "You might find this hard to believe, Your Majesty, but when I was a child, even the other villagers tricked and mocked me. Even within my own family, they all thought I was a fool. What they didn't understand," he said, his tone growing firm, "was that I simply couldn't be bothered with their petty schemes. All I cared about was training my martial skills, so that I would never have to run away again. I swore to myself that I'd grow strong enough to stand on my own feet.
In time, I fought for and claimed the position of Family Head. And that… that was when I endured the most agonizing days of my life."
"Hooo..." Li Yunbing let out a weary sigh.
Li Yunbing exhaled slowly, his gaze becoming distant.
"All my life, from childhood onwards," he said, "I've been surrounded by good people. Truly good people, who deserve to live always in the sunlight. But I understood with perfect clarity that for them to stay in that light forever, someone had to be willing to handle the filth in the shadows. Becoming the Family Head, in essence, meant becoming that person willing to get their hands dirty. That's when I killed for the first time, carried out my first execution, disciplined the first disobedient villager... Only by such means," he stated, "can our family continue always to walk in the light."
He turned to Jiang Chenghuan with a faint smile. "Your Majesty," he said, "People in our positions, you and I, we have our moments of benevolence, do we not? But the weight of responsibility we carry in our hearts often forces us into the shadows, to deal with the darkness. Truth be told, I am not concerned with whatever ambitions your Jiang Mansion might pursue. But I ask you to remember one thing: my own, single greatest ambition is to see my Li Clan live on in perpetual peace and security. As long as that fundamental principle of mine is not violated, I am more than willing to let my better nature prevail!"
"This..." Region Prince Jiang was left speechless. All of the Azure Cloud region lived in awe, if not outright fear, of Li Yunbing. Yet even Jiang Chenghuan himself had never fathomed that this man's deepest desire, his ultimate wish, was truly so... straightforward. He had always believed Li Yunbing to be even more ferociously ambitious than he was. Apparently, he had been mistaken.
After a long, stunned silence, Jiang Chenghuan finally broke into a smile. He reached out to Li Yunbing, offering his forearm in the traditional Jianghu clasp.
"In that case, this Region Prince shall take you at your word, Brother Yunbing!" he declared. "Our respective ambitions need not clash. Indeed, this Region Prince can already foresee Azure Cloud region's glorious and prosperous future..."
But before Jiang Chenghuan's words had fully faded, as Li Yunbing was reaching out to meet his grasp, atop that high platform, the long hair of Azure Cloud region's two most influential men suddenly billowed upwards. Then, in an instant, all color drained from their faces; both men spun around, their eyes wide with terror!
Before them, having materialized soundlessly as if from thin air, hovered a figure wearing an iron mask. A palpable, murderous aura radiated from them; it was impossible to tell how long they had been observing. "Eternal peace?" the figure said, their voice laced with derision. "A fine 'eternal peace' that is. Time you woke from your little dream!"
"A Divinity Transformation stage expert?!!"
Region Prince Jiang was gripped by a bone-chilling terror. Instantly, both he and Li Yunbing erupted with the full might of their Nascent Soul cultivation. With no thought for anything else, Jiang Chenghuan could only roar, "Brother Yunbing, run!"
Simultaneously, Li Yunbing cried out, "Ancestor, lend me your strength!"
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