"Which one?"

Beiming Xue looked teasingly at Chi Lian Demon Venerable.

"Do you think I'm some reserved maiden who can't speak out?"

Chi Lian Demon Venerable snorted lightly.

"Last night, right here..."

Beiming Xue pointed at the bed.

"Impressive, right?"

Beiming Xue: "??? "

"Ahem... nothing, slip of the tongue." Chi Lian Demon Venerable coughed lightly.

"This time..."

...

Upon learning of Chi Lian Demon Venerable's arrival, Chen Yuan met her with a welcome after exiting seclusion. Besides that... he didn't have much to say.

This left the eager (and anxious) Chi Lian Demon Venerable a bit surprised, wondering if Dongfang Sheng had really deceived her, since Chen Yuan seemed disinterested.

Perhaps it was a strategy of playing hard to get...

That night, Chen Yuan stayed once again in Beiming Xue's room. Last night, she had just become a woman, and they hadn't communicated much. This time, he had to properly test Beiming Xue's depth of skill.

He wanted to experience the prowess of the Demon Cult's Saintess.

Another day passed.

Great news from Qingzhou arrived once more. Tianxu, Ling Xu, and Jiang He had divided their forces into three and completed the full occupation of Qingzhou, with all powers submitting.

The Yan Army was currently tallying the resources they had seized.

Simply put, Chen Yuan's foundation had grown much stronger. Many aristocratic families and sects joyfully welcomed the Yan Army's arrival and dealt a fierce blow to those who were unwelcoming.

Tangshan Prefecture and Chen Yuan's hometown, Nanling Prefecture, prepared feasts to welcome the royal army. Countless Martial Artists and commoners discussed Chen Yuan's glorious deeds in Nanling Prefecture years ago.

Titles like "God of Death" and "Demon Blade" had disappeared, replaced with praises of Chen Yuan, saying he had shown extraordinary potential even back then.

A potential dragon trapped in shallow water, ready to transform upon encountering the storm.

As for those who had served under Chen Yuan as Heavenly Patrol Envoy, they were filled with regret, wishing they could change their past decisions. Chen Yuan had offered to take them, but they felt following him was too risky and ultimately refused.

Those who went with Chen Yuan, like Mo Donghe, Yue Shan, and Yan Qing, had all broken through to the Reach Profound Realm. Because Chen Yuan was their old superior, even those with higher cultivation would show them respect.

Even the water bandits, Yunjiang Four Ghosts, had developed well. They were transferred to Zhen Nan Pass, serving under Grand Marshal Chu Changfeng. There were even rumors about the leader of the Four Ghosts, Zhao Beishan. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

It was said that beyond Zhen Nan Pass, one should find Zhao Beishan.

Their reputation was indeed growing.

Those who stayed behind had not yet broken through to the Gang Condensation Realm and were still toiling as Heavenly Patrol Guards. No, now they had been reorganized as Jinyi Guard.

If it weren't for Zhang Xuan's old affection, transferring them under his command, they would be no different from ordinary Martial Artists.

Many were full of regret, wishing they could change their past decisions.

Opportunities had been right in front of them, but they missed them!

When Chen Yuan's reputation started to rise, they had already begun to regret, and as Chen Yuan's advancement became faster, he now dominated the south, eyeing the Central Plains with the potential to rule.

Their gap had become as vast as between an ant and a bright moon.

Jiang He led part of the Yan Army to occupy Qingzhou's border, threatening the forces of the Goddess Palace, targeting the Gu Family, the leader of the aristocratic alliance.

The Gu Family's patriarch, in his panic, tried to beg for mercy, not daring to make any demands. However, his pleas were immediately intercepted by Jiang He, who burnt them without a glance.

Chen Yuan had no direct enmity with the Gu Family. If anything, it was just killing Gu He in public, but there was bad blood with Yang Huatian, who attributed the fall of Gu Family's Yang Transformation to him.

Because of this, Yang Huatian was hunted by the Gu Family's patriarch, forcing him to abandon some of his foundations in South State and go into hiding to save his life.

These enmities, these accounts, would all be settled.

Ling Xu and Tianxu led another force north of Qingzhou, creating a posture as if they were about to engulf Yang Province, scaring many powers into trepidation.

The Heavenly Demon Hall, having made an agreement with Chen Yuan, under his urging, bypassed via Jiao State for a surprise attack on Lanzhou, striking the Buddhist forces heavily.

Previously, when collaborating with Xiang Qianqiu, the Heavenly Demon Hall attacked Buddhist forces, but it was mostly superficial, with no major losses on either side.

This time, however, both sides engaged in a real fight.

Buddhists and demons were formally clashing.

The Thirty-Six Nations' coalition appeared vast but was vulnerable. If not for the Spirit Mountain's Monk Soldiers and the enlightened Asura clan, the Buddhist forces in Lanzhou might have retreated to the Western Regions.

It wasn't until three Bodhisattvas from Spirit Mountain stationed in Lanzhou that the decline of the Buddhist forces was finally halted.

If one looked at the map, they would find that Chen Yuan was dividing his troops in multiple directions, single-handedly confronting all surrounding forces.

Including the Buddhists, Gu Family, Yang Province forces, and the southern demons.

His power had already exceeded those of other rebel leaders by a large margin.

At this moment, the Sima Clan from Central State also sent more resources to Chen Yuan, further demonstrating their loyalty at such a time.

The Yan Army launched aggressive attacks, and the Yan King Mansion, as the pivot, kept advancing. Initially based in Shuzhou City, it quickly moved towards Qingzhou.

When the royal carriage entered Qingzhou, Chen Yuan suddenly felt nostalgic for Ping'an County and immediately ordered a move to station there.

...

...

When the news of the Yan King's arrival reached Ping'an County, it caused immense jubilation among countless commoners. Some were unfamiliar with Chen Yuan, some had heard of him like a household name, some were once his subordinates, and some almost had conflicts with him. But that was in the past, and now they all cheered.

Because Chen Yuan's ancestral home was Ping'an County!

If Chen Yuan were to become the emperor in the future, the entire Ping'an County would benefit, and taxes would be reduced to a ridiculous level.

This was tradition; when it pertained to self-interest, they couldn't help but be pleased.

The group most excited were others.

But while they rejoiced, the officials of Ping'an County were at a loss, anxious, because they didn't know the proper way to welcome Chen Yuan's return.

Previously, he was a high-ranking official, welcomed with grand ceremony, but now, Chen Yuan was a rebel, a powerful rebel who killed the emperor. Rumor had it he commanded an army of millions, with experts as many as clouds and rain.

He had occupied nearly half of the Central Plains Thirteen States, just a step from proclaiming himself emperor. In fact, one could say he was already almost indistinguishable from the emperor.

The Wu'an Duke Mansion, ordered by the former court, had been completed, but who would dare suggest Chen Yuan live there now? Wouldn't that be seeking one's own death?

After all, Chen Yuan was now a rebel leader... no, a righteous force against chaos and tyranny.

The current County Magistrate of Ping'an County, Wu Qingfeng, racked his brains and eventually had someone summon Wang Ping, deciding to let him, the former childhood playmate of the Yan King, take charge.

Even if he did something wrong, he wouldn't get angry, right?

Wang Ping's status had greatly risen. After the Yan Army officially entered Qingzhou, he became the target of numerous favors, and the daughters of families who once looked down on him cried their eyes blind.

They constantly scolded themselves for lacking insight, missing out on a person like him.

Even Wu Qingfeng's men couldn't get him to come out. Finally, Wu Qingfeng personally visited, spoke at length (from the heart), and only then did Wang Ping agree to help.

But it wasn't that Wang Ping was deliberately being pretentious; he genuinely didn't know what to do, afraid of offending Chen Yuan.

While he was close to Chen Yuan, there were limits. If Chen Yuan were displeased by his actions, he might not get angry, but the bond between them would be lost.

After weighing the situation, he decided to reach out to the Yan Army on his own, revealing his identity.

The Yan King Mansion then issued an order.

They converted the former Wu'an Duke Mansion into the Yan King Mansion, residing there upon entering the city.

Within a few days, the grand Yan Army officially arrived in Ping'an County. Outside the town, tens of thousands bowed, shouting long live the Yan King!