Wang Yiwu was showing his support for Zhongxuan Zun in his own way!

Although he was unable to leave the death camp and could not return to Linzi, he wanted the people of Linzi to know that he, Wang Yiwu, still existed in this world.

He used his achievement of killing Hua Fangyu of the Outer Building using the Divine Skills Formation to tell Linzi that the first rank of Qi Country’s Inner Mansion was still uncertain!

Moreover, he used this terse report, containing but a single sentence, to build momentum for Zhongxuan Zun.

Tianfu, the foremost mansion under heaven.

Jiang Wang was nothing to worry about, and Zhongxuan Sheng even less so.

Zhongxuan Sheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "Well played!"

As for Jiang Wang...

He was not particularly surprised by Wang Yiwu’s accomplishment. He had never doubted Wang Yiwu’s strength and talent. Being historically the first from Tongtian Environment was, in itself, a milestone.

Having unmatched achievements in the military not derived from mere flattery.

The commander with Divine Skills was known as "the general of ten thousand troops, the fierce of the realm." How such a person would shine after being tempered on the battlefield was truly unpredictable.

No one would deny Wang Yiwu’s potential for the future.

The outcome of the next clash was unforeseeable until the confrontation.

Of course, Jiang Wang had ample confidence in himself. No matter how strong Wang Yiwu was, since he had been surpassed by him... once surpassed, always subdued.

The only thing that surprised him was the context behind Wang Yiwu’s accomplishment — the Army of Spring Death had marched from Summer Country, breaking through a hundred li in a day!

Since their defeat years ago, Summer Country had retreated to the Southern Territory and now did not share a border with Qi Country.

There were several small countries acting as a buffer in between.

Why this battle? How could the Army of Spring Death suddenly invade Summer Country? How could Wang Yiwu breach the defenses of Jianfeng Mountain and kill Summer Country’s defending general, Hua Fangyu?

"Did you already know that this war would happen?" Jiang Wang asked Zhongxuan Sheng.

To him, it seemed Zhongxuan Sheng must have expected this, being able to inquire about the quick dispatch with a smile.

However, Zhongxuan Sheng shook his head: "How could I have known in advance? I was just not surprised by His Majesty’s move... This is typical of His Majesty’s strategies."

He sighed, "The boldness of today’s Son of Heaven truly surpasses the four seas!"

The human body has the Four Seas: the Spinal Sea, Trunk Sea, Limbs Sea, and Head Sea, also known as Sky-reaching Sea, Five Mansions Sea, Star Sea, and Primordial God Sea.

Cultivators often reflect the mortal world with their flesh bodies.

People also commonly use "the Four Seas" to denote the whole world.

Jiang Wang was himself still speculating about the forces behind the consecutive events of "Cui Zhu Assassinating the Lord" and "Zhang Song Weeping at the Shrine," contemplating their next move.

He was also anxious about the uncertain and treacherous situation in Qi Country, feeling like a storm was brewing ahead.

He was guessing how the Son of Heaven would respond, how he would purge the court without harming too many innocents, suffering substantial self-damage...

Yet the Emperor Qi had already made his choice.

Now was only the third day after the grand master’s ceremony and also the third day since the Cui Zhu assassination case.

The movement of the Army of Spring Death couldn’t have started just today.

This meant that on the day Cui Zhu stabbed the Emperor Qi, declaring "thirty-first year of Shenwu, Cui Zhu stabs Jiang Shu!"

Emperor Qi had already made a very decisive response.

In response to "Cui Zhu Assassinating the Lord," in response to "Zhang Song Weeping at the Shrine"...

Regarding the next moves and various actions possibly led by the forces behind the scenes...

Emperor Qi’s response was very straightforward.

War.

A war of extreme aggression and dominance.

With an unquestionable victory, it would crush all resistance, sweep away all conspiracies, and suppress both domestic and international foes!

"Cui Zhu assassinating the lord" merely aimed to prove the instability in Qi Country.

Bring about a national war to show everyone whether Daqi was stable!

"Zhang Song mourning at the ancestral temple" simply intended to prove that Daqi’s harsh treatment of its meritorious officials led to a rift between the emperor and his subjects.

Bring about a national war to show everyone whether Daqi was united in heart and mind!

The Emperor of Qi did not care about the forces lurking beneath the water, nor could he possibly be led by forces hidden in the dark, entangled in endless suspicions and pursuits.

He let the Imperial City Inspection Mansion investigate, and the watchmen provide military support, but his real move was with the Army of Spring Death!

Since it was openly said the assassin was from Summer Country targeting Emperor Qi, then attack Summer Country!

That morning, Zhongxuan Sheng said, it didn’t matter whether the assassin was from Summer Country or not.

So that was what he meant...

It didn’t matter how the assassin worded it or whether Summer Country recognized it.

What mattered most was whether Emperor Qi considered that the assassin was from Summer Country!

With the strength of Qi Country today, looking around the Eastern Region, as Jiang Wang had advised, "touch me and perish."

Starting a war within the bounds of the Eastern Region made little sense; it could easily alarm other states and ruin Qi Country’s long-term strategies. Attacking Summer Country, however, was different.

Firstly, it was a war with a just cause.

Between Qi and Summer, there was already deep-seated national animosity. Summer Country, having renamed its era "Divine Wu," showed that its aspiration to redeem its pride through wartime exploits remained unaltered. Additionally, there was the "Summer Country assassin" who dared to launch an attack during a grand ceremony in Qi Country. Surely, it was a justifiable cause for war!

Secondly, Summer Country was a major power in the Southern Territory. By attacking such a country, Qi Country could display its power. The so-called "strike the chicken to scare the monkey" wouldn’t work with just an egg... striking the monkey would indeed be effective!

The Son of Heaven had not anticipated the subsequent "Zhang Song’s mourning at the ancestral temple," but undoubtedly, his response obliterated the impact of this incident!

This was indeed an action befitting the Son of Heaven, an overwhelming strategy. All conspiracies, hostility, ambitions, resistances... like high mountains collapsing, it obliterated everything.

Looking back, what does this incident tell us?

The Army of Spring Death was said to breach a hundred miles within a day, and indeed, it was among the elite of Qi, second only to the Heavenly Covering Army.

But they couldn’t possibly fight from morning to night directly from Qi to Summer; at least in the buffer zone in between, various powers needed time for coordination. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

To slap Summer Country, they couldn’t simply obliterate all smaller states on the way—if they did so, Summer Country would also have time to prepare. Connecting Jing and Mu was also an option.

And how long would it take to coordinate these small states to let the large army pass? Two to three months? Half a year?

Qi Country’s Military Affairs Hall provided the answer—

Two days.

Where the Army of Spring Death traveled, those small states made way. It was as if the Qi army was strolling in their own courtyard!

In two days, they cleared the path for the army and rushed to the borders of Summer Country. Then in one day, they breached a hundred miles and captured Jianfeng Mountain!

Especially Jianfeng Mountain, which held significant historical importance—this famous mountain within Summer territory represented the furthest expansion to the southwest during the heyday of Old Yang.

Qi Country, with its unparalleled military might, declared to the Eastern Region and the whole world—

Today’s might of Qi rivaled Old Yang!

Jiang Wang couldn’t help but exclaim, "This truly is a regal move by the Son of Heaven; with this move, the situation was settled."

It was more than just settling the situation; the move had shattered the entire chessboard!